May 30, 2007

[ ] Mission Church Finds Meeting Place
[ ] Japan's First ARP Church
[ ] Murder In Moscow
[ ] Church Officials Told To Delay Action


MISSION CHURCH FINDS MEETING PLACE

Rev. Mr. Bob Illman reports that Connections Presbyterian Church (a new work of Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery) is planning to start worship services for the core group on June 3. The mission developer said, "We have located a meeting place, Liberty Middle School, located behind Bruster's Ice Cream on County Line Road in Madison.

+ Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, One Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC 29601


JAPAN'S FIRST ARP CHURCH

Northeast Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is in the process of receiving five Korean congregations into its membership, one of which is reportedly the first ARP church in Japan.

The pastors and congregations include Hyo Shin Bible Presbyterian Church and Yae Dam Presbyterian Church, Flushing, New York; The Joyful Church of New York, Fresh Meadow; Ommuri Community Church, Sugar Hill, Georgia; and Church of the Lord, Osaka, Japan. Rev. Young Hwa Chung, pastor of Church of the Lord, was a former member of Pacific Presbytery and pastor of Antioch World Mission Church in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Georgia congregation will be received into Second Presbytery.

A fellowship for Korean pastors and congregations and others interested in working with them in Northeast Presbytery was established at a called meeting of the Hyo Shin Presbyterian Church in April. Although not an instrumentality of ARP polity, the fellowship will provide activity reports at all stated meetings of the presbytery.

A Transition Committee was also appointed to assist the Korean Fellowship to become fully integrated into the presbytery.

+ Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, One Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC 29601


MURDER IN MOSCOW

In the wake of the tragic murders in Church of Moscow, Idaho, Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick urged Presbyterians to lift up the congregation and community in prayer.

Jason Hamilton first killed his wife at home on 19 May, then killed Moscow police officer Lee Newbill, and wounded two others at the city courthouse the morning of 20 May before retreating to First Presbyterian Church. There the killer abducted the church sexton, Paul Bauer, whom he killed before turning the gun on himself.

A private funeral was planned for 30-year-old Crystal Hamiltonwho police say was shot before her husband headed to the courthouse to continue his killing spree. A memorial service is scheduled in June for Paul Bauer, 62.

Norman Fowler, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, with 18 members of the congregation had planned to leave on Monday morning to help with Hurricane Katrina relief in Mississippi, but instead led the community in a prayer service for Bauer and the other shooting victims, including the gunman.

+ Rev. Norman Fowler, First Presbyterian Church, 405 S. Van Buren, Moscow, Idaho, 83843

+ Presbyterian Church (USA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202


CHURCH OFFICIALS TOLD TO DELAY ACTION

A Washington County, Pennsylvania, judge has told Washington Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to wait until next week to make a case for its right to oversee a disgruntled congregation. Common Pleas Judge Paul Pozonsky denied a motion to remove a temporary restraining order that prevented the presbytery from installing an administrative commission for the 646-member Peters Creek Presbyterian Church. A hearing on the matter, previously scheduled for 30 May 30, will proceed.

On 6 May the session, which is part of the theologically conservative New Wineskins movement in the Presbyterian Church (USA), called a 10 June congregational meeting to vote on leaving the denomination. However, due to presbytery action, that vote has been delayed until the civil courts can take action.

Washington Presbytery is establishing a procedure to guide churches leaving with their property, but it would require four months of discussion, and will not come before the full presbytery for a vote until July.

+ Peters Creek Presbyterian Church, 250 Brookwood Rd., Venetia, PA 15367 (724) 941-6210

+ New Wineskins Initiative, 7435 E. Oxford Court, Wichita, KS 67226 (888) 754-9693