Editor’s Note: This is the twelfth essay in a series dealing with theological topics of interest and importance to Presbyterians. The essays are a response to the General Assembly Task Force Report on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church, but also a considered effort to probe the Reformed heritage and find fresh theological language with which to move beyond the poles that divide us.
In recent days, various stories in the church press have addressed perceived conflicts between the General Assembly Council and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation, including references to a supposed attempt by the GAC to bypass financial controls and inappropriately access donor funds for General Assembly programs, projects and missions.
There is a cry in America. This cry pierces the air around us — sometimes silently or ignored; sometimes blaring like an infant’s wail — but it is a lament that has persisted for so long … for too long.
What could be better than being well-educated, but slightly bored, children jumping into a wardrobe closet and finding a magical land called Narnia where you have cool adventures with your siblings, and become royalty? Well, how about finding yourselves transported, a few years later, poised to return as conquering heroes?
Both are action-adventure movies, and with both, suspension of disbelief is easier done with tongue firmly planted in the cheek. We’re just having fun here, we’re not really trying to convince you that it’s real, so just sit back and enjoy the story.
SAN JOSE – The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has elected as its moderator, Bruce Reyes-Chow, the youngest candidate in the race, and the only one of the four candidates who did not wear a necktie.
SAN JOSE, July 22 – The woman stood in the bright afternoon sun, her head bowed, tears streaking her face. A Presbyterian minister – who had never met her before, who was in town for General Assembly and happened to be walking by – opened his arms and pulled her into a comforting embrace. Before long, tears streaked his face too.
As the mobility rituals of summer begin — one in five families changing homes, education years ending, new jobs starting, church-shopping under way — this is a good time to remember the basics of welcoming visitors:
SAN JOSE – Four candidates have stepped forth to fill the office of Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). On June 22, the late Sunday afternoon session of the 218th General Assembly heard nominating speeches for the four men seeking to fill the office being vacated at the end of the General Assembly by Clifton Kirkpatrick,
The Rev. David Zuverink of Los Gatos, California, presented this year’s Witherspoon Society Whole Gospel Congregation Award to the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, California.
The Witherspoon Society held its award luncheon on Sunday June 22 where it presented the Andrew Murray Award to Clifton Kirkpatrick “in grateful recognition of his good spirited ministry as stated clerk, his commitment to ecumenical partnerships,
SAN JOSE – This was a first for a Presbyterian General Assembly: an opening worship service (Sunday morning, June 22) held simultaneously in two locations in Silicon Valley, linked by the power of technology.
SAN JOSE — Minutes after being elected moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Saturday night, June 21, Bruce Reyes-Chow said during a press conference he was eager to get back to his hotel room.
A same-sex wedding made possible by a recent California Supreme Court decision was held June 21 at the conclusion of the More Light Presbyterians’ traditional reception and dinner during the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
After First Church, Palo Alto, Calif., received the More Light Presbyterians’ Inclusive Church Award, two of its members, Derrick Kikuchi and Craig Wiesner, received the National More Light Presbyterians David Sindt Leadership Award.
SAN JOSE — Four Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) new church developments — two in California and one each in Pennsylvania and Oregon — have been named winners of the 2008 Sam and Helen Walton Awards, it was announced June 21.
SAN JOSE — From near and far, recent and past, they gathered for the World Mission Personnel and Alumni Reception Saturday night, June 21 at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly meeting.
PNS/SAN JOSE — For Joey Lee, the new executive presbyter for the Presbytery of San Jose (www.sanjosepby.org), it is appropriate that the presbytery is welcoming the 218th General Assembly with the theme of Micah 6:8.
The board of directors of The Presbyterian Outlook has awarded its 2008 Ernest Trice Thompson Award for church leadership to Clifton Kirkpatrick, an ecumenical leader who has served as stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for the past 12 years.
Hundreds of More Light Presbyterians filled the ballroom at the Marriott Hotel Saturday night for their traditional General Assembly Reception and Dinner. Once the dinner plates had been cleared, and the cake was eaten, it began to look like the reception was almost over. But the marriage ceremony had not yet begun.
SAN JOSE - Surrounded by about 40 colleagues, friends and family members, Joseph D. Small was honored at a gathering of his peers June 20. Small was presented a Festschrift, a book of collected theological essays honoring Small’s achievements and leadership in the field of ecclesial theology.
SAN JOSE – The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) kicked off this morning with some bursts of hope – with voices from the leadership of the denomination telling of their work and their conviction that, in the words of Robert Wilson, vice-moderator of the 217th General Assembly, “we are better together.”
SAN JOSE – “We have presbyteries crying out for this kind of thing” and “now is as good a time as any,” said Joan Gray, moderator of the 217th General Assembly – speaking of the proposed revision to the form of government of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
SAN JOSE, June 21, 2008 — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in “deep need of renewal” and is on the verge of just such a renewal, outgoing General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick told 752 commissioners and 274 advisory delegates and corresponding members to the 218th General Assembly of the denomination during Saturday’s orientation.
(PNS) Mark McCalla, pastor at Highlawn Church in Huntington, W.V., was June 19 in what police are investigating as a homicide.
PNS/SAN JOSE — The official 2007 statistics for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) were released June 20 by the Office of the General Assembly on the convening day of the 218th General Assembly.
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