WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — As a young girl, Debra Matthews was inspired to "step into greatness" at a Stillman College step show. The young adults who were performing weren’t much older than the thousands of youth gathered at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium here this week.
“Ramona and Beezus,” based on Beverly Cleary’s popular children’s book series, features a cute little ten-year-old named Ramona (Joey King, who’s perfect for the part).
(ENI) — The recently retired senior Vatican official responsible for ecumenical affairs has said his biggest regret during his tenure in Rome is that he did not achieve an agreement on a common communion with Protestants.
(ENI) — Archbishop Desmond Tutu, — Nobel Peace Prize laureate has announced his intention to wind down his public engagements, when he turns 79 in October.
(ENI) The 70-million strong Lutheran World Federation has struggled to live up to its
own vision of inclusiveness regarding the role of women, LWF General Secretary
Ishmael Noko, has told LWF members.
(ENI) — The outgoing president of the Lutheran World Federation has appealed to delegates at a global Lutheran gathering in Germany to hold together and avoid splits in the face of differences over issues of sexuality.
NEW IMMIGRATION HYMN
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me …" — Jesus
Editor's Note: Presbyterian hymnist Carolyn Gillette is introducing a new hymn through The Presbyterian Outlook relating to Biblical persons who were "strangers in a foreign land" called "Abraham Journeyed to a Far Country."
“Restrepo” is the real-life war movie. It’s so raw and spontaneous that we can’t help but be moved by witnessing what it’s really like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan.
It is not too surprising that Hollywood would be on the vanguard of those advocating for societal acceptance of homosexual couples. After all, anything goes in Tinseltown, where hedonism is good publicity, and no marriages last for very long, anyway, no matter which genders are involved.
“Inception” is one of those clever, suspenseful movies that delight the sci-fi-techno crowd, but is truly frustrating to the more linear thinkers, who want their story lines clean, clear, and chronological.
“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” may borrow from a lot of recent fantasy tales, but it’s kid-friendly, interesting, well-cast, and funny, which is a winsome combination for any movie.
“Cyrus” is a love triangle with a twist, in an ironic atmosphere.
“Winter’s Bone” is one of those slice-of-life films that transport the viewer to another place and point of view. It’s set in present-day rural Missouri, but it feels like the back-country Ozarks of another era.
MINNEAPOLIS – The 219th General Assembly, meeting July 9, discussed the funding difficulties of the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The 219th General Assembly is encouraging all Presbyterians, especially those who are clergy and church leaders, to know their HIV status – saying that testing will make them a “visible example” and will “help eliminate the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS testing.”
On its final night of deliberations, the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) considered the report on its Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues (minus a major report on the Middle East, which was presented by another committee and considered separately earlier).
MINNEAPOLIS — The 219th General Assembly has rejected by 275-407 a motion today (July 9) to reconsider the actions it had taken the previous evening on same-gender marriages.
MINNEAPOLIS — Eight overtures that would have empowered Presbyterian pastors to perform marriages for same-gender couples in states where these marriages are legal were effectively tabled with little discussion in a late-night session of the full 219th General Assembly July 8.
MINNEAPOLIS — About 20 protesters from a group called Soulforce disrupted the plenary of the 219th General Assembly tonight (July 9), and..
The 219th General Assembly voted 530-96 today (July 9) to approve a report on pay equity called “Neither Poverty Nor Riches: Compensation, Equity, and the Unity of the Church.”
MINNEAPOLIS – Presbyterians’ determination to be an “exhibition of the kingdom of heaven to the world,” found expression in the recommendations of the committee so named adopted today (July 9) by the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
MINNEAPOLIS – The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly overwhelmingly approved an amended report on conflict in the Middle East that aims at a careful balance between Palestinian and Israeli narratives of injustice and the path to peace.[caption id="attachment_22002" align="alignright" width="360"]
MRTI’s Brian Ellison addresses the General Assembly. Photo by Erin Dunigan.[/caption]
Church commissioners voted 558-119 today (July 9), for a committee’s rewrite of a report that in its original form was widely perceived by some church members as pro-Palestinian and factually suspect.
The General Assembly also endorsed, by a 418-210 vote, the Middle East Peacemaking Issues Committee’s recommendation that it denounce Caterpillar’s profit-making from sales of heavy equipment that Israel uses for non-peaceful purposes, including the destruction of Palestinian homes. Church committees considered divestment but advised against it — meaning that the church’s Board of Pensions and Foundation will continue to hold Caterpillar stock worth nearly $11 million, plus $685,000 in the company’s bonds.
After revising the report on Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the 53-member Peacemaking Issues committee voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend it to the General Assembly.
MINNEAPOLIS — After a long discussion, with many questions about the financial implications, the 219th General Assembly voted today (July 9) directing the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide benefits to the same-gender spouses and domestic partners of church employees and their children on the same basis as it provides benefits to employees who are married.
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