26 March 2008

Presbyterians-Week Headlines

[1] Seeking Papists and Pagans in the Emerald Isle
[2] Florida Is Drifting Away from the PC(USA)
[3] Conversion Goes To Court in Egypt
[4] Canadians Heading South
[5] New Dutch American Hymnal
[6] Good News for Arizona

[1] Seeking Papists and Pagans in the Emerald Isle

Ulster’s theological giant and cultural peacemaker is going on the road with the gospel. After more than 50 years at the head of Northern Ireland’s traditional Protestant movement, Dr. Ian Paisley is going into what for anyone else would be a major career expansion. Having stepped down as Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church and soon to leave the corresponding civil post, in Northern Ireland has begun to reach the island’s large Roman and irreligious populations with the Biblical gospel.

This time instead of traditional tents, the evangelists will work from a fully converted and equipped camper van which will drive evangelists the length and breadth of Ireland and Britain. The gift of is valued at £50,000.

According to published reports, for over three decades Paisley has built up Free Presbyterian congregations in Monaghan and Donegal and has recently opened new churches in Cork and in Donegal.

+ Dr. Ian Paisley, Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church, 356 Ravenhill RoadBT 5 Belfast, Ulster, Northern Ireland


[2] Florida Is Drifting Away from the PC(USA)

Peace River Presbytery has agreed to dismiss to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Good Friday the majority of the leadership, staff, and congregation of a large southwest Florida church. Church property is a different matter.

More than 1,100 of the Covenant Presbyterian Church’s 1,340 members are making the move to New Hope Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The congregation had voted roughly thee to one for departure. The disruption followed refusal by Peace River to transfer the congregation to the New Wine Skins Presbytery.

The emerging congregation will be given an opportunity to purchase from the residual congregation items that the remnant does not choose to keep.

+ Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, Florida 33901


[3] Conversion Goes To Court in Egypt

Christian-born converts to Islam in Egypt wishing to return to their former faith have found their way blocked by an appeal before the country’s Supreme Constitutional Court. Judge Muhammad Husseini asked Egypt’s top judicial body on 4 March to review the constitutionality of a law granting citizens the right to change religions.

Egypt’s top administrative court used Article 47 of Egypt’s civil law to justify allowing 12 converts to Islam to return to Christianity last month. Husseini has demanded that the constitutional court rule on whether Article 47 conflicts with the Egyptian constitution’s second article, which designates Islam as the main source of legislation.

Mainstream interpretations of Islamic law forbid apostasy, leaving Islam. “This is a new legal fight that the Supreme Constitutional Court has never dealt with in the past,” said human rights activist Hossam Bahgat. “We see it as the single most important court case since the [1980] amendment that made Islamic sharia the main source of legislation.”

+ Compass Direct News Service, PO Box 27250, Santa Ana CA 92799


[4] Canadians Heading South

Despite threats of lawsuits and the firing of their clergy, by Bishop Ingraham, whose same sex blessings have divided the global church, the largest church in the diocese, St. John's Shaugnessey in Vancouver voted recently to leave the Canadian Anglican Church to join the Southern Cone. Some six additional parishes have reportedly taken the same action. According to published reports an additional 15 congregations are in one stage or another of abandoning the Canadian denomination.

Defections have taken place primarily in conservative western Canada.

+ The Anglican Church of Canada, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2

[5] New Dutch American Hymnal

Plans are under way for a new hymnal for use in the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America. The hymnal's editorial team met for the first time in February. Applications are being taken from all sectors of both denominations to participate in the development process.

+ Reformed Church in America, 475 Riverside Drive, 18th Florida. New York, NY 10115

[6] Good News for Arizona

Good News Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gilbert, Arizona, moved into Perry High School's building on 2 March. The brand new school on a main road--Queen Creek—provides extensive exposure.

Perry High School opened in July 2007 with 800 freshman and sophomores. The facility will eventually house approximately 3,000 students who will have access to a 600-seat auditorium, 1,265-seat gym, and a 4,355 seat football stadium.

+ Good News Church (ARP), 1919 E Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, Arizona 85297