Presbyterian (PCUSA) News

Service draws church members, TV cameras, Cuban officials

May 24, 2013

Colorful liturgical dancers and a praise band help lead opening worship. —Jerry L. Van Marter

Special to Presbyterian News Service

Eva Stimson

HAVANA

Rarely do worship services in the United States draw attention from the national government and news media. 

Two-day consultation wraps up with call to work for end to sexual violence

May 24, 2013

Presbyterian News Service

Jerry L. Van Marter

HAVANA

Building on a global effort led by the United Nations to address the issues of sexual and reproductive health, the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) has concluded a two-day consultation here to develop plans for action in this region, one of the most hard-hit in the world by sexual violence.

May 24, 2013

Religion News Service

David Gibson

WASHINGTON

News that scientists had for the first time recovered stem cells from cloned human embryos prompted dire warnings from religious leaders who say the research crosses a moral red line and could lead to designer babies.

May 24, 2013

Inter Press Service News Agency

Daniela Pastrana

distributed by Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency

MEXICO CITY

Radio Totopo was founded in February 2006 in the Pescadores neighborhood, the oldest and poorest part of the city of Juchitán in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. But the authorities closed it down in late March, even though Congress is debating a constitutional reform that would recognize community radio stations.

Fresh approaches to e-vangelism in the digital age

May 23, 2013

—Pew Research Center

Special to Presbyterian News Service

Jim Nedelka

NEW YORK

In today’s digital world, answers to almost all of our burning questions, whether they are about the burning bush or Moses’ tablets, are instantly available at our fingertips. But for Christians, especially denominational leaders, one question persists as it has for millennia: “How best do we spread the Word of God?”

May 23, 2013

Office of the General Assembly

Emily Enders Odom

Communications Coordinator

Louisville

All but one of 19 constitutional amendments under consideration have been approved.

May 23, 2013

Religion News Service

Ron Csillag

TORONTO

A new national study shows that while Canada remains overwhelmingly Christian, Canadians are turning their backs on organized religion in ever greater numbers.

May 23, 2013

Office of the General Assembly

Neal D. Presa

Moderator of the 220th General Assembly (2012)

Louisville

I am happy to make available to you the remarks that I delivered on May 21, 2013, on the plenary floor of the Church of Scotland General Assembly in Edinburgh, where I am representing the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

May 23, 2013

World Communion of Reformed Churches

Kristine Greenaway

DODOWA, Ghana

Ghana’s Presbyterian churches today are expressing their spirituality in ways that are more African in origin and expression, say Ghanaian church representatives.

Accompaniment programs, unified voice of churches critical to peace process, church leaders tell CLAI

May 22, 2013

Presbyterian News Service

Jerry L. Van Marter

HAVANA

Colombia’s churches, supported by their international partners, must develop a single “ethic of peace that comes from Biblical values,” a number of that country’s faith leaders told a packed room at the Havan Libre hotel here May 20 on the eve of the sixth General Assembly of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI).

Pastor will be acquisitions editor for biblical studies

May 22, 2013

Presbyterian Publishing Corporation

LOUISVILLE

The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation is pleased to announce that the Rev. Bridgett Green will begin work as acquisitions editor for biblical studies on July 1. Green, a doctoral candidate in New Testament at Vanderbilt, will work part-time until she completes her Ph.D., at which point she will become a full-time editor with the Press.

May 22, 2013

Religion News Service

Adelle M. Banks

WASHINGTON

Evangelist Franklin Graham blasted the Internal Revenue Service probe of conservative nonprofit groups as “un-American,” saying both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the relief group Samaritan’s Purse were audited by the IRS.

Group signs covenant to address needs of students, congregations

May 22, 2013

World Mission

LOUISVILLE

Theologians and church leaders from Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and the United States met at Silliman University and Divinity School in Dumaguete City, Philippines, April 26-28, to discuss the changing shape of theological education.

May 21, 2013

Office of the General Assembly

Emily Enders Odom

Communications Coordinator

Louisville

O God of love, whose Spirit in creation moved over the face of chaos, bringing life: hear our prayers, as we bear witness this day to the awful power of wind, whose might raged over your people in Moore, Oklahoma, changing lives and landscapes in an instant .  Even now, as first responders still labor to seek those who are lost and succor those who are bereaved and bereft, even as stories of terror and hurt are still unfolding,

WE TOUCH YOUR HAND OF MERCY

May 21, 2013

Religion News Service

Alessandro Speciale

VATICAN CITY

Gains in Asia and Africa are making up for losses in Europe among the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, according to Vatican statistics released May 13, signaling a shift of the church’s center of gravity toward the Global South that was heralded by the election of the first Latin American pope.

Award supports volunteers exploring vocation”

May 20, 2013

Presbyterian News Service

ATLANTA

Young Adult Volunteers Kiva Nice-Webb and Sarah Wildt have been recognized by The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) as young leaders with gifts for ministry and a passion to serve others.

May 20, 2013

Presbyterian News Service

Jerry L. Van Marter

The Rev. Kyser Cowart (K.C.) Ptomey Jr., professor of pastoral ministry and leadership at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary died May 9 at his home in Nashville, Tenn., after battling cancer. A service of witness to the resurrection will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville on May 18. His life and witness will be celebrated at Austin Seminary on May 24.

LYON, France

May 20, 2013

World Council of Churches

Two French churches from Reformed and Lutheran traditions have united to become the United Protestant Church of France.

May 20, 2013

Religion News Service

Adelle M. Banks

WASHINGTON

They have pledges. They have merit badges. And they may go camping. But they’re not the Boy Scouts.

An update on PC(USA) Special Offerings; Pentecost Offering is May 19

May 17, 2013

Sam Locke

Grace eNews

Grace Presbytery

reprinted with permission

LOUISVILLE

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has four Special Offerings (One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peacemaking and Christmas Joy) and for over a year, Sam Locke has been responsible for the information materials that support these offerings.