3 December 2008

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Christian Observer December 2008 Issue Articles and Features
[2] Gouda, Netherlands Vaste Burcht Reformed Church Firebombed by Four Teens of Moroccan Origin
[3] Columbia Theological Seminary Searching for New President
[4] Troon, Scotland Flush with Church of Scotland Churches
[5] New Belgic Confession Blog
[6] 12th Annual Philip Edgcumbe Hughes Memorial Lecture Series Theme is “The Bible and the Liturgy”
[7] Church of Christ in Thailand Requests Prayers
[8] Reformed Ecumenical Council Welcomes the Presbyterian Church of Vietnam as New Member
[9] Pastor George M. Docherty Dies - Helped Get 'under God' in U.S. Pledge of Allegiance


[1] Christian Observer December 2008 Issue Articles and Features

The online Christian Observer has several new articles for December 2008 including:

The 5th of November - How History Makes Guy Fawkes More Than Fireworks by Sjirk Bajema
A Brief History of the Social Gospel by Dr. John A. Battle
CHANGE? by Dr. Joe Renfro
Evil Restrained? by Glenn Ferrell
Felipe y el Etíope by David E. Quisbert

Additionally, Dr. Robert LaMay’s Sabbath School lessons for December, Teen Talk articles by Dr. Chuck Baynard, daily Bible studies by T. M. Moore, and links to the Christian Observer blogs are available.

+ Christian Observer, 9400 Fairview Avenue, Manassas, Virginia 20110, 703-335-2844, christianobserver@christianobserver.org


[2] Gouda, Netherlands Vaste Burcht Reformed Church Firebombed by Four Teens of Moroccan Origin

The Vaste Burcht Reformed Church of Gouda, Netherlands was firebombed Saturday afternoon 22 November 2008. Three teenaged boys of Moroccan origin were later that day arrested and jailed overnight.

Police reported that a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the door of the church, damaging the bottom part of the door and the doormat.

+ EuropeNews, europenews@web.de


[3] Columbia Theological Seminary Searching for New President

The Board of Trustees of Columbia Theological Seminary has elected a search committee for the selection and recommendation to the board of a new president.

Confidential inquiries about the search process and nominations should be sent to Lee Bowman at bowmanl@fpclex.org, or to her attention at First Presbyterian Church, 171 Market Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507.

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005


[4] Troon, Scotland Flush with Church of Scotland Churches

In a 26 November 2008 letter to NEWS.scotsman.com, Margaret Robertson of Troon, Scotland describes how there are three Church of Scotland churches in Troon within 200 meters of each other, each of which is only half full on any given Sunday.

Robertson says that the churches have elderly congregations on fixed incomes that are required to raise their contributions to pay for the salary of minister, secretary, organist, beadle and cleaner, plus the maintenance and heating of old and drafty buildings. Robertson additionally says that the three ministers in Troon occupy large manses which require regular maintenance.

Robertson closes her letter by asking, “Why then does the Church of Scotland drag its feet when amalgamation is so urgently needed?”

In an unrelated advertisement above the letter, NEWS.scotsman.com announces “Haggis Hunt 2008/09,” offering prizes for spotting a “common haggis” on one of ten web-based “haggis-cams” (including cameras in London, England and New York, New York, “for the benefit of the haggis diaspora”). The advertisement closes with the query, “Why not also swot up on your haggis lore with our extensive Haggisclopedia?”

+ The Scotsman, Barclay House, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH8 8AS, 0131-620-8620

+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH2 4YN, 0131-225-5722


[5] New Belgic Confession Blog

As a way of promoting the theology and history of the Belgic Confession (Confessio Belgica), the Rev. Daniel R. Hyde, pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church of Carlsbad, California, has begun a blog using his book With Heart and Mouth: An Exposition of the Belgic Confession to provide resources on the Belgic Confession and provide a forum to discuss its teaching.

+ Confessio Belgica, 760-803-0981, pastor@oceansideurc.org


[6] 12th Annual Philip Edgcumbe Hughes Memorial Lecture Series Theme is “The Bible and the Liturgy”

The 12th Annual Philip Edgcumbe Hughes Memorial Lecture Series will be held 5-7 December 2008 at The Chapel of the Cross in Dallas, Texas.

The featured speaker is Dr. Allen P. Ross who will present three lectures on the theme “The Bible and the Liturgy - An Inductive, Biblical Study of Worship from Eden to the New Jerusalem.”

Dr. Allen P. Ross serves as Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School. Previously, he has taught at Trinity Episcopal School of Ministry and at Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Ross’ publications include Creation and Blessing: A Guide to the Study and Exposition of Genesis, Holiness to the Lord: A Guide to the Exposition of the Book of Leviticus, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, and most recently, Recalling the Hope of Glory: Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation.

+ The Reformed Episcopal Church, c/o Bishop Royal U. Grote Jr., 4142 Dayflower Drive, Katy, Texas 77449, 800-732-3433, RoyalREC1@aol.com


[7] Church of Christ in Thailand Requests Prayers

Due to the worsening political crisis in Thailand, the leader of the Church of Christ in Thailand, the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)’s partner church there, has urged Christians around the world to pray for his country.

The PCUSA has 10 mission workers serving in Thailand.

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005


[8] Reformed Ecumenical Council Welcomes the Presbyterian Church of Vietnam as New Member

At its October 2008 meeting, the Reformed Ecumenical Council Executive Committee approved the Presbyterian Church of Vietnam’s (PCV) application for membership. In September 2008, Executive Committee member Lazarus Purwanto attended the first General Assembly of the PCV in more than 30 years, and returned with a positive report of a young, vibrant church emerging after decades of limited activity.

The PCV consists of 8000 worshipers among 60 congregations, about a third of which are fully organized and self-sufficient.

+ The Reformed Ecumenical Council, 2050 Breton Road Southeast, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, 616-949-2910, rvh@recweb.org


[9] Pastor George M. Docherty Dies - Helped Get 'under God' in U.S. Pledge of Allegiance

The Rev. George M. Docherty, 97, died Thanksgiving Day, 27 November 2008, at his home in Alexandria, Pennsylvania.

Docherty was credited with helping to push the U.S. Congress to insert the phrase "under God" into the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance after delivering a 1952 sermon at Washington DC’s New York Avenue Presbyterian Church heard by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in which he said the pledge should acknowledge God.

Docherty was born in Scotland, and served ministries there until coming to Washington DC in 1950.

+ Daily Herald, 1555 North Freedom Boulevard, Provo, Utah 84604, 801-373-5050, rwright@heraldextra.com

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005