SAN JOSE — Being a minister of a growing church used to be about the “three Ps” said the Rev. Mark Lau Branson, speaking at the Congregational Transformation luncheon June 23, during the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “Preaching, pastoral care, and program would be the basic job description.
In all the voting, unrest, and violence of Zimbabwe in recent weeks, a poll of a different type emerged from the deliberations of the peacemaking and International Issues committee Tuesday (June 24).
After more than 13 hours of deliberations, the Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues passed a number of commissioner resolutions expressing a wide spectrum of thought and belief within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). The committee had more than 70 requests to speak during its open hearings.
“It was good news that at least in this election, Mugabe got no votes,” said a Zimbabwean church leader who, for security reasons, cannot be named.
The National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus presented Rev. Mehdi Abhari The Fahed Abu Akel Award in honor of the General Assembly’s 214th Moderator. Considered by Iranian Christians worldwide as their senior pastor, confidant, and scholar, Rev. Abhari was ordained as a minister of the Evangelical Church of Iran.
SAN JOSE – A committee meeting Tuesday afternoon (June 24) is recommending that the 218th General Assembly issue a new authoritative interpretation that – if the assembly approves it -- would have the effect of continuing to allow candidates for ordination to declare conscientious objections to language in the ordination standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) requiring candidates to practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if the are single.
SAN JOSE – A committee is recommending that the 218th General Assembly approve a constitutional amendment to strike from the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) language that restricts ordination to those who practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single.
A 114-page report was examined by 68 committee members and critiqued by 20 overture advocates -- and 25 additional speakers -- in an open meeting of the Form of Government Revision Committee Monday (June 23).
SAN JOSE — Presbyteries of all sizes, and covering all parts of the country, were honored for their financial support of Presbyterian mission at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 218th General Assembly, meeting here June 21-28.
NEW YORK -- The U.S. religious landscape is far more nuanced than many might have believed, according to a survey detailing a broad range of U.S. religious, social and political beliefs. One finding is that most people in the United States, including evangelical Christians, are not particularly dogmatic about their religious faith.
SAN JOSE, June 23, 2008 ˜ Because they are able to adapt and change quickly, small churches are frequently better able to respond to community needs, an innovative small church pastor told 100 people attending the Small Church Luncheon at the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) here June 23.
SAN JOSE — The General Assembly Committee on Health Issues, on their first full day of meeting (June 23), considered an overture to recommend the development of a comprehensive HIV and AIDS policy for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that reflects the ways the disease disproportionately affects Latino and African-American segments of the United States population, and the magnitude of global pandemic.
SAN JOSE, June 23, 2008 ˜ After nearly seven hours of conversation, occasional confusion and spirited debate, a sharply divided Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions approved Overture 13-06 from Newark Presbytery, voting by a margin of 33 to 26 (with two abstentions) to ask the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to make five changes to the 1962 translation of the Heidelberg Catechism which since 1967 has been used in The Book of Confessions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
SAN JOSE – The committee considering gay ordination at this General Assembly is so far holding its fire – it’s agreed to talk through most everything on its agenda before formal voting.
On this 25th anniversary of the reunion of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (northern stream) and the Presbyterian Church in the United States (southern stream), people who were there look back.
SAN JOSE — With a whirlwind of gospel energy sweeping the room, attendees at the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association [www.pcusa.org/phewa] (PHEWA) Awards and Music Celebration recognized outstanding ministries of justice and danced to musicians at the General Assembly launch of the Winds of Hope, Winds of Healing Project.
Members of the Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues spent the afternoon Monday (June 23) considering six overtures regarding the Iraq War. The overtures coming before the committee ranged from the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, assistance for Iraqi refugees, war profiteering, and building peace in Iraq.
SAN JOSE — The Committee on Review of General Assembly Permanent Committees and Commissions will take action today (June 24) on recommendations to change the ordination examination process for Ministers of the Word and Sacrament made by the Presbyteries‚ Cooperative Committee on Examination for Candidates (PCCEC).
There is a lot of talk in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) about declining membership and the need to reach out to youth as the future of the church — it just doesn’t usually come from the youth themselves.
SAN JOSE -- The Rev. Victoria Kelly was a high school math teacher in Atlanta—even winning teacher of the year one time—when she heard God calling her to a career in the military.
SAN JOSE -- Folk-singer, songwriter David LaMotte does not apologize for being an idealist. An award-winning musician with a Presbyterian pedigree as long as his hair, LaMotte told more than 900 at the General Assembly Breakfast that he had titled his presentation “World-changing 101.”
SAN JOSE -- “It’s easier to be committed to unity at the expense of inclusion or be committed to inclusion at the expense of unity,” said John Buchanan to more than 200 attendees at the Covenant Network luncheon today (June 23) at the meeting of the 218th General Assembly.
More than 800 people used to attend the Baghdad church served by His Eminence, Avak Asadourian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Iraq.
Overture 11-19, Commitment to Peacemaking was unanimously approved today (June 23) by the Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues.
Two overtures relating to human trafficking were approved today (June 23) by the Committee On Peacemaking and International Issues and will be presented later to the General Assembly.
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