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Task force members consider the broader forces shaping the future for ‘mainline’ denominations

LOUISVILLE — Mike Loudon's church in Lakeland, Fla., thinks of itself as "very evangelical," he said — but it loses people, folks who think his Presbyterian church isn't conservative enough, to Assemblies of God or Southern Baptist congregations. Sacramento, where Scott Anderson's from, has been named one of the most integrated cities in the country. There, he said, one of the fastest growing congregations is called the "spiritual life center," which promotes no clear dogma or doctrine at all.

Leader development is top request from PC(USA) international partners

It’s true: the advertising folks would hate it. There’s absolutely no jingle in the phrase, "International Leader Development."

But the idea itself has plenty of pull. Think of Christians from many countries, some of them new converts, some religious minorities in a volatile political landscape, hungry for pastors who can teach them about the Bible and God.

Mark Achtemeier leads task force through the key points of Christian doctrine

LOUISVILLE — Whether the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in a time of crisis — theological, constitutional or just plain lethargy, with some people ready to post explanations of their views onto the front doors of church institutions while others pull the blankets up to their ears in delicious slumber every Sunday morning, effectively unconscious to the Presbyterian church — is a matter of debate.

Louisville Seminary President John Mulder resigns due to health concerns

LOUISVILLE — John M. Mulder, 56, president of Louisiville Seminary for 21 years, has resigned due to health concerns.

Meeting in Louisville Saturday (Oct. 26), the seminary's board of trustees "determined his resignation is in the best interest of the seminary and is effective immediately," according to a seminary news release.

Tankersley, Stuart urge no special session for GA

Dear 214th General Assembly Commissioners:

It has come to our attention that there is an effort being made to reconvene the 214th General Assembly for the purpose of dealing with what some consider to be a constitutional crisis in the PC(USA). It seemed appropriate for us, both having stood for the office of Moderator of this past Assembly, to remind our fellow commissioners of the theme of our Assembly.

Henry Van Dyke: Another ‘Wise Man’

In 1895, Henry Van Dyke, pastor of the Brick church, New York City, wrote The Story of the Other Wise Man, which is still in print and still a favorite at Christmastime. It is about a Persian, Artaban by name, who follows the Christ star. Because he stops on his pilgrimage to assist the needy, he misses meeting the three Magi in Bethlehem. He continues his quest after the Christ for 33 years, ministering to others with gifts originally meant for the Christ-child. Finally he comes to Golgotha. There he hears Christ's words: 'Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40).

In this story, translated into many languages, Van Dyke, another wise man, continues to touch our lives. In addition to being a pastor, Van Dyke was a popular writer, professor and diplomat, who deserves notice on Nov. 10, his 150th birthday.

Post-war Guatemala Faces Many Challenges

GUATEMALA CITY — Rocked by 36 years of civil war which took at least 200,000 lives, this Central American nation continues to struggle with the haunting memories of that conflict and the poverty and crime which have followed.

It’s a precarious peace. Most of those who committed atrocities during the war have gone unpunished. Some who have pushed for justice have paid with their own lives.

Presbyterians for Renewal counsels against special GA session

News release from Presbyterians for Renewal

Special GA not needed; would be expensive, says Committee on the Office of the GA

The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) is telling commissioners to the 214th General Assembly (2002) that the PC(USA) is not in a constitutional crisis and there is no need to recall the Assembly, which met last June in Columbus, Ohio, into special session.

Changes recommended to accommodate move to biennial General Assemblies

LOUISVILLE — With a change to biennial assemblies on the horizon for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — the 2002 General Assembly voted for the denomination to start holding its annual policy-setting meeting every other year, beginning in 2006 — some new ground rules have to take effect.

And the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly is recommending that, when the change takes effect:

Coalition gathering talks of fixing the PC(USA) – a ‘broken organization’ – with ‘radical reform’

ORLANDO — One of the best lines to come out of the Presbyterian Coalition's national gathering Oct. 3-5 came from Jerry Andrews, a pastor from Chicago, saying that as a Coalition leader "I have preened and postured and posed for you" and "almost perfected the art of whining," but now "the days of whine and poses are over."

Victims who told their stories should be recognized as heroes says leader of inquiry

LOUISVILLE — The women who told investigators that they had been sexually abused by a Presbyterian missionary while their parents were missionaries in the Congo — and whose revelations have led the leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to say publicly that they will try to strengthen denominational policies to prevent such abuse from happening in the future — were "being asked to open a wound in front of strangers" and should be "embraced and recognized as the heroes that they are," a lawyer who led the PC(USA)'s independent committee of inquiry said Tuesday.

Changes recommended in handling sexual abuse reports; cases were largely ignored for 40 years

LOUISVILLE — An independent committee investigating allegations of physical and sexual abuse involving the children of missionaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has determined there is "overwhelming" evidence that one charismatic, well-respected Presbyterian missionary sexually abused at least 22 girls and women over nearly a 40-year period, both in Africa and in the United States, from 1946 through 1985.