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How our Reformed faith informs our teaching with adults

Recent studies indicate that only about half of our church members grew up Presbyterian, and many of these left our Presbyterian congregations during their teen years only to return later as they begin to establish families. As a result, an understanding of our Presbyterian heritage and the tenets/themes of our Reformed faith is not part of the background or memory of most of our members.

As people make a commitment to the ministry of teaching adults, they often come to the task with a sense of call, a love of learning, a desire to pass along the stories of our faith, and an earnest hope to make a difference in the lives of others. However, many are unaware that being Reformed implies particular viewpoints regarding the ways that we teach the adults with whom we work. To that end, we look to the major tenets of our faith tradition to consider how they inform our teaching.

Gradye Parsons nominated to be Stated Clerk

LOUISVILLE -- The Stated Clerk Nomination Committee has chosen Gradye Parsons, currently director of operations for the Office of the General Assembly, as its nominee to be the new stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

            The General Assembly, meeting in San Jose in June, will make the actual decision -- and it's likely that other candidates will step forward to challenge Parsons for the position.

            But the nomination committee, in a news release issued April 3, announced that it had selected Parsons from among 14 candidates as the nominee it would recommend to the assembly -- with committee moderator Steve Grace saying in the news release that Parsons "brings a wonderful blend of experiences and creative leadership" to the position.

Lindner leaves National Council of Churches after three decades of ecumenical service

NEW YORK -- Eileen W. Lindner, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister widely known as editor of the Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches and as a tireless leader and chronicler of the ecumenical movement, has announced her departure from the National Council of Churches USA on May 15.

         Lindner, former NCC deputy general secretary research and planning, has served as director of organizational development since a reorganization of the NCC on Jan. 1. "Fund raising is a crucial position for any non-profit organization and this has never been more true for the Council than it is now," Lindner said. "The role of fund raiser needs to be focused much more sharply than is possible in my current position."

Kirkpatrick to serve as visiting professor at Louisville Seminary

LOUISVILLE -- Clifton Kirkpatrick has been appointed as visiting professor of ecumenical studies and global ministries at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary beginning next fall.

The announcement was made during the "Voices of the Church Dinner," held March 4 in conjunction with Louisville Seminary's annual Festival of Theology and Alum Reunion. Kirkpatrick was the guest speaker.

Kirkpatrick is currently stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) He is also president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and serves on the governing boards of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and the Council of Presidents, United States Chapter, of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.

A gathering of all “nations and tongues” planned April 10-13 in San Antonio

LOUISVILLE -- The need for the church to revitalize and strengthen its commitment to evangelism in a rapidly growing multicultural world will be the focus of the ninth annual Multicultural Conference of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in San Antonio, Texas.

The official theme of the April 10-13 event is "Gather All Nations and Tongues: Good News for All Congregations," inspired by the prophesy of Isaiah 66:18.

"We hope that Isaiah's prophesy will be a blessing and inspiration for our gathering as we seek to claim, celebrate, and live our calling as a multicultural church, preaching the good news to all with emphasis on spiritual growth, peace and justice," said Raafat Girgis, a conference planner and the PC(USA)'s associate for multicultural ministries.

Ongoing work after mission consultation; Council to consider details April 23-25

What happened in Dallas in January seemed to be a turning point for many who were there: a coalescing of people from across the spectrum of Presbyterian life, joining together to sign a covenant promising to work together in support of international mission.

In the time since then, some of the groups those 64 people represent have endorsed the covenant -- groups such as Presbyterians for Renewal and Presbyterian Global Fellowship. And others who weren't at the Dallas consultation have also offered their support -- including the Presbytery of Central Washington of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

“Souper Bowl” scores record; Presbyterians top $1 million

LOUISVILLE -- Souper Bowl of Caring officials say Presbyterian churches collected more than $1 million in February's annual anti-hunger campaign.

As of March 5, organizers say, 2,356 Presbyterian churches nationwide had raised $1,001,523 -- and collections haven't been fully reported. The total marks the second straight year that Presbyterian collections broke the $1 million mark.  

So far some 14,654 organizations and congregations from a variety of U.S. religious denominations have reported collecting a record $9.5 million, according to Souper Bowl officials.

“Ground-blessing” for Columbia Theological

Columbia Theological Seminary plans a "ground-blessing" at the site of a new $9.6 million student residence hall April 1, at 5 p.m., on the Decatur, Ga. campus. The "green" building is expected to be one of the first buildings to earn LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

“Ground-blessing” for Columbia Theological

Columbia Theological Seminary plans a "ground-blessing" at the site of a new $9.6 million student residence hall April 1, at 5 p.m., on the Decatur, Ga. campus. The "green" building is expected to be one of the first buildings to earn LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Service held for widow of former PSCE president

Beryl Elizabeth Birdsong Kraemer, 98, widow of Charles E.S. Kraemer, who was president of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union-PSCE), died March 1 in Charlotte, N.C. A memorial service was held March 19 at First Church in Charlotte.

N.J. Presbyterians host GA moderator candidates April 25

LOUISVILLE -- A group of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations in New Brunswick Presbytery is hosting a "meet and greet" event on April 25 at which all four candidates for moderator of the upcoming 218th General Assembly (2008) have agreed to attend.

        The evening event, sponsored by a group calling itself the Central Jersey Moderator Candidate Host Committee, will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, N.J.

        "It's wonderful that the members of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville and other area Presbyterians get a chance to meet the future leader of the PC(USA) General Assembly," said Jeffrey Vamos, pastor of the host church.

Wilson College’s Orr Forum April 14 to explore being “publically religious”

In a diverse nation where many minority groups participate in a dominant society yet maintain their cultural differences, questions arise about how the faithful practice their religious beliefs. Should they keep their religion to themselves or shout it from the rooftops? These and other questions will be explored April 14 at the Wilson College 2008 Orr Forum on Religion. The theme of the forum is, "On Being Publicly Religious."

A daylong series of events is planned, culminating with the Orr Lecture at 7:30 p.m. in Laird Hall, when Nancy Ammerman will present "Religious Communities and the Good of the World." The lecture is free and open to the public. "I think Dr. Ammerman will make an argument, or at least suggest, that religious communities have a role to play in the common good. They have a contribution to make," says David True, chair of the Wilson College Department of Philosophy and Religion. "That doesn't mean that religions aren't capable of huge wrongs or can't be divisive. But many Americans find meaning in religious communities and traditions, and they find it in diverse ways. That's a big point for her -- that American religion contains a great deal of diversity and individuality."

Carter named president Of Johnson C. Smith

(PNS) Johnson C. Smith University Board of Trustees has announced that Ronald L. Carter will become the university's 13th president on July 1. Carter will leave Coker College in Hartsville, SC, where he has served as provost and dean of faculty since 1997.

Pew Forum survey finds shifts in Americans’ religious identity

A major new survey of the religious leanings of American adults has found that the country's spiritual landscape continues to shift -- with barely half of adult Americans identifying themselves as Protestants and with 16.1 percent claiming no religious affiliation at all.

The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey found that for many Americans, religious affiliation is anything but permanent. More than a quarter of American adults (28 percent) have left the faith tradition in which they were raised, switching to another religious tradition or to no affiliation at all. If switching from one stripe of Protestantism to another also is counted, 44 percent of American adults have either changed their religious tradition, gone from no faith tradition to choosing one, or dropped any affiliation at all.

Nebraska elder is fourth candidate for moderator

LOUISVILLE -- Elder Roger Shoemaker, a member of Southern Heights Church in Lincoln, Neb., has become the fourth candidate to stand for moderator of the upcoming 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Shoemaker, 74, was endorsed Feb. 16 by Homestead Presbytery.

The only elder in the race, he joins Bill Teng of National Capital Presbytery, Bruce Reyes-Chow of San Francisco Presbytery and Carl Mazza of New Castle Presbytery as a candidate for the denomination's highest elected office.