by Rob Bell
Harper One. 198 pages.
reviewed by LOUISE G. WINFIELD
“I’ve written this book for all those, everywhere, who have heard some version of the Jesus story that has caused their pulse rate to rise, their stomach to churn, and their heart to utter those resolute words, ‘I would never be a part of that.’”
DETROIT – The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People
has approved grants totaling $ 150,430 to 9 self-help projects in the
United States.
LOUISVILLE (PNS) With violence flaring in Sudan as the July 9 independence
of South Sudan nears, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders have called on all
Presbyterians to pray for peace in the East African country.
The cleric's comments follow faith groups' interaction with the agency on June 7 and
8 during a preparatory meeting in Nairobi for the 17th Conference of Parties (COP-
17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in
Durban, South Africa in November.
LOUISVILLE (Office of the General Assembly) Fulfilling part of its mandate from
the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Middle
East Monitoring Group (MEMG) has finished its work on a study guide for the Kairos
Palestine document.
SKANEATELES, N.Y. More than 30 Christian educators prayed, discerned and
reframed their ministry during an annual meeting of the Northeast Association of
Christian Educators (NEACE), held here April 26-28.
A former president of Columbia Theological Seminary, C. Benton Kline Jr., died on June 20 following a brief illness.
CANTERBURY, England (ENI) Leaders of the Church of England and
the Methodist Church have been urged to work more closely in the future in
order to strengthen Christian unity.
GENEVA (ENI) The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council have approved plans
for three-way talks that will include Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and
Mennonites.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (PNS) The Rev. Adel Malek didn’t necessarily intend to
become a Presbyterian minister. An engineer by profession, he and his
wife moved from Egypt to the United States in the late 1980s. Malek
worked as an engineer until he retired last December.
LOUISVILLE (PNS) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Stated
Clerk Gradye Parsons has issued a call to prayer for Christians in
Nepal, where proposed new laws could severely curtail religious
freedom.
WASHINGTON (PNS) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders are urging Congressnot to pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) until labor and human rightsconditions..
The story line in this film might sound way too agenda-driven to be enjoyable: adult
son’s mother dies of cancer, then his father announces that he is coming out of the
closet.
NEW YORK – With funding from the Lilly Endowment, Union Theological Seminary in New York has launched a “New Media” Web site that explores how pastors and lay leaders can employ new technologies to strengthen their communities.
BANGALORE, India (ENI) Nearly two years after 10 Christians were killed and nearly 100 houses burned in the Punjabi town of Gojra, Pakistan, a
special court has suspended the trial of suspects in the carnage after a key witness fled Pakistan.
LOUISVILLE (General Assembly Mission Council) Most Presbyterians worship in congregations that celebrate the Lord’s Supper once a month, and most like that frequency. One-third of ministers, however, would prefer weekly Lord’s Supper celebrations.
JERUSALEM (ENI) The security situation in Egypt has "deteriorated considerably" since former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down Feb. 11, leaving a security vacuum and Christians feeling "threatened more than ever," according to aid workers.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has awarded a $50,000 grant to an interfaith mission from New Jersey that is working to provide medical care and education in Haiti.
JERUSALEM (ENI) Israeli and Palestinian politicians condemned an arson attack on a West Bank mosque, but Palestinians also accused Israel of "turning a blind eye" to the attacks, which they suspected were carried out by Jewish settlers.
There are some directors who shoot their movies in a way that you can’t even tell they’re
there.
As editor of a magazine that speaks to the whole church, I feel compelled to talk with Presbyterian friends in particular groupings of conviction – while allowing the rest to overhear the conversation. I begin with those celebrating the adoption of Amendment 10-A. In the next issue, I’ll write to those grieving its adoption. Finally, I’ll address those who stand in the middle.
LOUISVILLE, KY.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Big Tent conference will be held in Indianapolis after all, now that potential conflicts with proposed immigration legislation have been worked out.
Vote may be prelude to ‘seismic’ change
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has dropped its prohibition on ordaining sexually active gays and lesbians — prompting some to rejoice in a move towards equality and others to lament what they see as the denomination’s spiritual decline.
by Gregory A. Love
Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. 259 pages.
reviewed by DIETER U. HEINZL
In a time when the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues to debate what might be causing the decline in membership in American mainline denominations, Gregory Love takes a page from Karl Barth’s playbook to remind us of the Christian’s vocation: pointing to the risen Christ who reconciled all creation (which happens to include us human beings) to God’s self through his death on the cross.
edited by elizabeth Steele halstead, Paul Detterman,
Joyce berger and John witvliet
grand rapids, mich. william b. eerdmans. 288 pages.
Reviewed by Roy W. Howard
This extraordinary biblical commentary is like no other. What kind of commentary combines poetry, art, prayer, exegetical comments and theological reflections along with liturgical insights that strengthen communal worship?
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