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Mission and money: GAC discusses shortfall

The General Assembly Council is doing a lot of big-picture thinking -- about how to set spending priorities when dollars are limited, about how decisions should be made and money raised and distributed in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

But sometimes, there's a day for the smaller pieces -- they don't add up to the big picture, but can provide some clues as to what's happening and to the complexity involved.

The General Assembly Council, in the third day of its spring meeting in Kentucky, met in committees -- with each considering particular parts of the denomination's work. Here's some of what they talked about.

ACSWP trip to Middle East, Staff dismissals discussed

LOUISVILLE -- Should a Presbyterian delegation that went to the Middle East last fall have met with leaders of Hezbollah? And should two of the denomination's national staff members who went on the trip have lost their jobs because of that meeting?

The General Assembly Council got right to the brink of discussing that on March 31 -- and then went into closed session.

Philadelphia Presbytery to dissolve ties to Avodat Yisrael

The Presbytery of Philadelphia has decided to dissolve its relationship with a controversial Messianic congregation, Avodat Yisrael, as of July 1.

Starting July 1, Avodat Yisrael will no longer be formally related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and will receive no additional funds from the denomination, although it's possible the congregation could try to make a go of it on its own.

Judicial Commission rules on Williamson case

The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission has ruled in a controversial case involving Parker T. Williamson, chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor-in-chief of the Presbyterian Layman, ruling partly in favor of Western North Carolina presbytery and partly for Williamson.

The judicial commission, in an April 4 decision, sustained Williamson's complaint that the presbytery's policy governing validated ministries -- involving work other than being a pastor of a church -- was inadequate and should have been more detailed. But the commission disagreed with his contention that the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic had made a mistake in its handing of the case and that the synod commission should have ruled that the presbytery acted improperly against him because the Lay Committee had issued a paper called "A Declaration of Conscience."

Study reveals teens care about faith; Specific tenets, practices more elusive

Teenagers care about religion -- a recent survey, the most comprehensive ever done on teenagers and faith, found that four of five adolescents surveyed described religion as very important to them.

Religion matters to adolescents, the survey found, and for the most part, teenagers are not rebelling against their parents' faith -- most are sticking, at least so far, with the faith tradition in which they've been raised.

Survey: Religious teens tend to be more academic, confident, chaste

The most comprehensive survey ever done on faith and adolescence finds a teen nation where more than four in five youths say religion is important in their lives.

But the new survey of more than 3,000 teenagers and their parents also indicated that many teens know little about their religion.

Many other activities compete for their time, but among religiously active teens -- those who attend services weekly and belong to a youth group -- their faith appears to be making a significant difference in their behavior.

The National Study of Youth and Religion, described as the most comprehensive research ever done on faith and adolescence, revealed that such teens are more likely to:

Religious teens embrace abstinence; critics say it’s an unrealistic ideal

Luvirt Parker was 16 years old when he first pledged at a "True Love Waits" rally to remain a virgin until his wedding day. Seven years later, the Cleveland State University graduate was back to tell several hundred youths at Mount Zion Church of Oakwood, Ohio, that he has remained true to his word, and is looking forward to being married in April to a woman who shares his beliefs. "There's nothing like knowing you're pure before God. Your conscience is clear," Parker said.

New Bible translation targets young market

Even over latte at a coffeehouse, Andrew Apsite keeps God's word close at hand.

At the downtown Urban Mill, the 18-year-old reaches into his backpack and pulls out "The Message Remix," a modern-language paraphrase of the Bible. "When I don't know how to deal with something, I look for comfort and advice on how to deal with my issues," says Apsite.

A Talk with Michael R. Walker

Editor's Note: Michael R. Walker, the new executive director of Presbyterians for Renewal, has definite ideas about the current situation in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the role of PFR within that context. Walker and his wife, Christina, just moved from Princeton Theological Seminary -- where he's been working on a doctorate in history and ecumenics --  to Louisville with their two children, Michaela, who's four, and Christian, two. He responds to the following questions:

Q: Please tell me a little about yourself and where you're from.

A: I'm from Florida. I grew up just outside of Orlando. And I didn't grow up in the church -- not the Presbyterian church or any church actually. I gained a vocabulary for the Christian faith, though, by attending First Presbyterian Church of Orlando on occasion. When I would spend the night with friends on Saturday night, many of my friends went to church at First Pres. Orlando, so it really didn't matter who I spent the night with, often that's where I ended up at church. And Howard Edington was the preacher there. And he spoke with a kind of passion and conviction that I hadn't heard anybody speak about anything with, and so it really captivated me.

BOP reviewing policies on reserves, governance

In an effort to maintain members' trust and sustain its reputation, the Board of Pensions (BOP) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is reviewing several of its guidelines and policies.

The self-review takes in everything from the pension plan's contingency reserve to how it recruits and trains prospective members and governs itself. "Every few years, we undertake significant review, especially of the valuation methodology for the pension plan and the death and disability plan," said Robert W. Maggs Jr., the board's president and CEO. "We are trustees ... for over $6.5 billion dollars, and over 56,000 people count on us for their benefits or financial assistance. We can't risk reputational harm because of non-compliance or a bad governance process."

With that in mind, the 32-member board of Presbyterian clergy and lay members from throughout the United States is at both ends of the microscope.

PC(USA) mission goals explored at GAC meeting

For the first time, the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is meeting in the spring -- and the next General Assembly isn't roaring directly outside the door, demanding to be let in.

So these denominational leaders are using the time, that extra little bit of breathing room, to think big-picture, to talk about how some of the strategic initiatives it's set in play -- efforts to look comprehensively at denominational funding and governance, for example -- are working out.

Charles Townes wins 2005 Templeton Prize

Charles Townes, the Nobel laureate whose inventions include the maser and laser and who has spent decades as a leading advocate for the convergence of science and religion, has won the 2005 Templeton Prize. The prize, valued at more than $1.5 million, was announced March 9 at a news conference at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York.