18 March 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] North Carolina Judge Orders Homeschool Mother to Put Kids in Public School
[2] PCUSA Vote to Weaken Fidelity and Chastity Amendment Behind after Voting by Sixty-Four Percent of Presbyteries
[3] ARP First Presbytery Spring 2009 Meeting Approves Memorial to Synod to Sever All Fraternal Relations with the PCUSA
[4] Is Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Planning to Terminate Calvinist Professors?
[5] Time Magazine Ranks “The New Calvinism” as Third of Ten Ideas Currently Changing the World
[6] CRCNA Board of Trustees Agrees to Budget Cuts
[7] Atheist Magician Penn Fraser Jillette Encourages Christian Evangelism
[8] Tullian Tchividjian Becomes Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
[9] WARC Delegation Urges South African Reformed Denominations to Keep Alive Merger Negotiations
[10] Dutch Reformed Church Donates Office Equipment to Organization Fighting the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
[11] Pro-Life Leaders Hold News Conference in Wichita, Kansas at Beginning Stages of George Tiller’s Trial for Performing Late-Term Abortions
[12] WRC/BPC Presbyterians and Education Conference Messages Available On-Line


[1] North Carolina Judge Orders Homeschool Mother to Put Kids in Public School

North Carolina Judge Ned W. Mangum on 6 March 2009 ordered Venessa Mills to cease homeschooling her three children and to enroll the children into public schools.

Venessa Mills was in court for divorce proceedings precipitated by her husband’s repeatedly committing adultery, of which Mr. Mills admitted to under oath.

Venessa Mills presented abundant evidence showing that the Mills children are well adjusted and well educated, with all three children academically ahead of their grade level, and with two of the three children academically ahead by two grade levels.

Judge Mangum ruled overwhelmingly against Mrs. Mills on every point. Despite the evidence presented about the Mills children’s academic achievement, the judge stated the children would do better in public school. When issuing his verdict, Judge Mangum stated that his decision was not ideologically or religiously motivated. He did however, tell Mrs. Mills that public school will "challenge the ideas you've taught them." Additionally, Magnum ruled that custody of the children will be split fifty-fifty between Venessa Mills and her ex-husband.

Homeschooling students and parents from across North Carolina will descend on the Capitol in Raleigh for a rally on 24 March 2009 to show their representatives that homeschooling families have a voice in North Carolina education-related legislation.

Further information about this legal case is available through the Homeschool Injustice blog.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com


[2] PCUSA Vote to Weaken Fidelity and Chastity Amendment Behind after Voting by Sixty-Four Percent of Presbyteries

As of 10 March 2009, in voting by sixty-four percent of Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) presbyteries on the amendment to weaken section G-6.0106b of the PCUSA Constitution that requires “…fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness” for ministers being ordained, forty-two presbyteries have voted in favor of weakening the amendment and sixty-nine have voted to oppose the weakening amendment.

In order to enact the weakening amendment, eighty-nine presbyteries would have to vote in favor. The remaining presbyteries have until 28 June 2009 to complete voting on the weakening amendment.

Nineteen presbyteries that voted not to weaken the Fidelity and Chastity Amendment the last time the issue was presented have voted in favor of the weakening amendment during the current voting.

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


[3] ARP First Presbytery Spring 2009 Meeting Approves Memorial to Synod to Sever All Fraternal Relations with the PCUSA

In the spring 2009 meeting of First Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church, a memorial to the upcoming June 2009 Synod meeting was approved that calls for the ARP Church to sever all fraternal relations with the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA).

In other business, First Presbytery voted down a proposal to request Synod to divide the Presbytery; went on record as supporting church planting in Scotland, requested the assistance of Outreach North America and World Witness, and gave permission for the treasurer of First Presbytery to receive funding for this project; and elected elder Bob Stone as moderator and the Rev. John Currid as vice moderator for the fall 2009 term, and elected the Rev. Vaughn Hathaway as moderator for the spring 2010 term.

+ Associate Reformed Presbyterian Center, 1 Cleveland Street Suite 110, Greenville, South Carolina, 29601, 864-232-8297, Fax: 864-271-3729

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


[4] Is Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Planning to Terminate Calvinist Professors?

In a Christianity Today article dated 10 March 2009 titled, “Tiptoeing through TULIP - Layoff allegations reveal Calvinism tensions at Baptist seminary,” writer Jim Jones investigates allegations that, “[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) president] Paige Patterson had met with professors and implied that the seminary, which is facing economic problems, might first target Calvinist professors if it had to resort to layoffs.”

In a February 2009 blog post, Pastor Wade Burleson of Enid, Oklahoma, raised the issue after receiving the information from SWBTS professors who attended the meetings with Patterson. Burleson surmises that his blog article resulted in the seminary temporarily retreating from its alleged plan to fire the Calvinists.

SWBTS characterizes the allegations as false information, with one SWBTS professor urging Burleson to "repent of your lies and slanders." In a subsequent blog article, Burleson declined to repent, and provided further details about recent goings-on at SWBTS.

+ Christianity Today International, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, 630-260-6200, Fax: 630-260-0114, mwhite@christianitytoday.com


[5] Time Magazine Ranks “The New Calvinism” as Third of Ten Ideas Currently Changing the World

In an online article titled “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now,” Time Magazine ranks “The New Calvinism” as the third most influential idea currently changing the world. First place goes to “Jobs Are The New Assets,” which extols the value of “human capital” in a world where the value of other assets is markedly shrinking, and second place goes to “Recycling the Suburbs,” where vacant retail property is being converted to libraries, schools, and other municipal functions.

“10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now” author David van Biema says, “Calvinism is back...John Calvin's 16th century reply to medieval Catholicism's buy-your-way-out-of-purgatory excesses is Evangelicalism's latest success story, complete with an utterly sovereign and micromanaging deity, sinful and puny humanity, and the combination's logical consequence, predestination: the belief that before time's dawn, God decided whom he would save (or not), unaffected by any subsequent human action or decision.”

Van Biema continues, “Calvinism, cousin to the Reformation's other pillar, Lutheranism, is a bit less dour than its critics claim: it offers a rock-steady deity who orchestrates absolutely everything, including illness…by a logic we may not understand but don't have to second-guess. Our…purpose…is fulfilled simply by "glorifying" him. In the 1700s, Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards invested Calvinism with a rapturous near mysticism…[H]ard-core Reformed preaching (Reformed operates as a loose synonym for Calvinist) [is currently limited] to a few crotchety Southern churches.”

John Piper, Mark Driscoll, and Albert Mohler are cited by the author as the leading voices of “The New Calvinism.”

+ Time Magazine, Time & Life Building, Rockefeller Center, New York, New York 10020-1393, 800-843-8463


[6] CRCNA Board of Trustees Agrees to Budget Cuts

The Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has approved a series of financial measures geared toward helping the church to weather the current financial crisis.

The cost-cutting measures include CRCNA employees in both the U.S. and Canada having to increase their contribution for employer-provided health insurance, a reduction in the amount the CRCNA pays toward employee pensions, and a four percent cut in pay in lieu of a pension reduction for ordained employees who are part of the ministers’ pension plan.

Additionally, US$2 million in budget cuts in other areas will be made.

+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org


[7] Atheist Magician Penn Fraser Jillette Encourages Christian Evangelism

Magician and outspoken atheist Penn Fraser Jillette of the magic act “Penn and Teller,” in a YouTube video posted at ThinkChristian.net, says he has no respect for Christians who do not share their faith.



Penn tells about a “polite and kind” businessman who handed him a Gideon Bible and shared the Gospel message. Touched by the man’s gesture, Penn said, “If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and you think it’s not worth telling someone about it, how much do you have to hate him to not proselytize? To believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell people? This man cared enough about me to proselytize.”

+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803, crcna@crcna.org

+ The Gideons International, Post Office Box 140800, Nashville, Tennessee 37214, 615-564-5000, tgi@gideons.org


[8] Tullian Tchividjian Becomes Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

Tullian Tchividjian, 36, grandson of Billy Graham, has accepted the call to serve as senior pastor at Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (CRPC), and the New City Presbyterian Church (Evangelical Presbyterian Church) of 650 people which Tchividjian founded has merged with the 2,200-member CRPC. The combined congregation will remain in the CRPC’s current denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America. CRPC was pastored for forty-seven years by D. James Kennedy who died in September 2007 at the age of 76.

Tchividjian’s call was endorsed unanimously by the sessions of both churches and by a ninety-one percent favorable vote of the CRPC congregation.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org

+ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 17197 North Laurel Park Drive Suite 567, Livonia, Michigan 48152, 734-742-2020, Fax: 734-742-2033, webmaster@epc.org


[9] WARC Delegation Urges South African Reformed Denominations to Keep Alive Merger Negotiations

A World Alliance of Reformed Churches delegation that had been mediating now-stalled unification talks between the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) and the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), expressed their desire for the talks to resume saying, “We lament the apparent breaking of once shining hopes. Nevertheless, we do not lose heart.”

The other two churches involved in the unification process are the Reformed Church in Africa (RCA) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA).

+ World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 150 route de Ferney, Post Office Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, 41-22-791-6240, Fax: 41-22-791-6505, warc@warc.ch

+ Dutch Reformed Church, Posbus 13528, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, 012-342-0092, Fax: 012-342-0380, algemenesinode@ngkerk.org.za

+ Uniting Reformed Churches , Private Bag X1, Belhar, Cape Town, Western Cape 7507, South Africa, 021-952-2151 Fax: 021-952-8638, pjadams@polka.co.za

+ Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, Posbus 2368, Pretoria
0001, South Africa, 012-322-8885, Fax: 012-322-7909, kobus@nhk.co.za

+ Dutch Reformed Church in Africa, Post Office Box 2103, Vryburg 8600, South Africa, 53-914706


[10] Dutch Reformed Church Donates Office Equipment to Organization Fighting the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

The Dutch Reformed Church has donated a computer and photocopying machine to the Kgomotso Counseling Centre (KCC) in Tsabong, Botswana to assist the center in providing timely service to the community as they continue to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge.

The KCC was founded by Christians with a view to helping people change their behavior towards HIV/AIDS, and provides psychosocial support for orphans and those living with HIV/AIDS.

+ Government of Botswana, P.O. Box 240, Gaborone, Botswana,
267-373-200, Fax: 267-353-101, parliament@gov.bw

+ Dutch Reformed Church, Posbus 13528, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, 012-342-0092, Fax: 012-342-0380, algemenesinode@ngkerk.org.za


[11] Pro-Life Leaders Hold News Conference in Wichita, Kansas at Beginning Stages of George Tiller’s Trial for Performing Late-Term Abortions

Jury selection for abortionist George Tiller’s trial on nineteen counts of performing illegal, late-term abortions began on 16 March 2009, with the trial expected to begin on 23 March 2009.

Tiller is known for performing late-term, partial-birth abortions, where the baby’s head-only is delivered face down, the abortionist plunges forceps into the back of the baby’s skull, and then suctions out the baby’s brains before crushing the baby’s skull and completing the delivery of the now-dead child.

A press conference by Reformed Presbyterian pastor the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, Troy Newman of Operation Rescue, and other pro-life leaders was held 16 March 2009 in front of Wichita, Kansas’ Sedgwick County Courthouse where plans for Tiller's criminal trial were discussed.

Daily prayer vigils are planned at the courthouse and evening prayer vigils will be held at local churches for the entire time the jury selection and trial is taking place. A national call was made to the faith and pro-life community and to national leaders to come pray in Wichita once the trial begins.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Christian Defense Coalition, 540-538-4741


[12] WRC/BPC Presbyterians and Education Conference Messages Available On-Line

As a part of the 25th Anniversary celebration of Western Reformed Seminary, the seminary held a joint conference with the Northwest Presbytery of the Bible Presbyterian Church on the subject "Presbyterians and Education." The five messages of the conference now are available online. The PowerPoint slides accompanying three of the messages additionally are available in PDF format.

The five messages are:

1. "The Presbyterian Tradition of an Educated Clergy," by John A. Battle;
2. "Presbyterians and the American University," by Christopher K. Lensch;
3. "The Unity of Truth," by Stephen Brinegar;
4. "J. Gresham Machen's Predictions Concerning Public Education," by James Huff;
5. and "The Covenantal Education of Children," by G. W. Fisher.

+ Western Reformed Seminary, 5 South G Street, Tacoma, Washington 98405, 253-272-0417, Fax: 253-627-4882, registrar@wrs.edu

11 March 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois Pastor Shot and Killed During 8 March 2009 Morning Service
[2] PCUSA General Assembly Council (GAC) Executive Committee Announces One-Week Furlough and No 2010 Salary Increases for GAC Staff
[3] Illinois Christian Schools Told to Silence Prayers before Sporting Events
[4] U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama Forces Tax-Funding of Failed Embryo Research
[5] NAE Protests Obama Administration 2010 Plan to Limit Tax Rate for Itemized Deductions for High Income Taxpayers
[6] Christian-Themed Movie ‘Fireproof’ Out-Grosses Oscar-Winning Movies ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Milk’
[7] International Expert on Celtic Spirituality to Preach at Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church
[8] The Shack Author Speaks at Trinity Christian College
[9] Taiwan Church Renamed in Memory of Missionary Joyce McMillan
[10] RTS’s Dr. Frank James Accepts Provost Appointment at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
[11] Inheritance Publications New Books for 2009
[12] Annual Dutch Supper 17 March 2009 at Hollandale Reformed Church
[13] Petrus van Mastricht’s Theoretico-Practica Theologia to be Translated from Latin and Dutch to English
[14] Presbyterian Church In Canada Offers Daily Biblical Devotion, Intercessory Prayer, Podcast


[1] First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois Pastor Shot and Killed During 8 March 2009 Morning Service

Dr. Fred Winters, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois, was shot to death during the 8 March 2009 8:00 a.m. service by a gunman that walked in during the service, went up to the pulpit, and shot the pastor three times.

Two church members then tackled and subdued the gunman who had pulled out a knife and stabbed himself, and during the struggle, the two church members suffered knife injuries.

Jeffrey Hawkins, executive director of the Christian Security Network commented: "The shooting [on 8 March 2009] is a tragic situation, but unfortunately, one that has been witnessed many times over the years. This most recent violent incident against a Christian church in a small town in downstate Illinois is another reminder that these incidents are not going to stop and can occur anywhere, at any time. The only recourse that churches have to is to acknowledge that it can happen to them and to be prepared. In the first two months [of 2009] alone, the Christian Security Network has tracked 139 incidents in 31 states against Christian churches, schools, and ministries."

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Christian Security Network, Post Office Box 53933, Cincinnati, Ohio 45253, 800-805-7126


[2] PCUSA General Assembly Council (GAC) Executive Committee Announces One-Week Furlough and No 2010 Salary Increases for GAC Staff

In an attempt to overcome a multi-million US$ shortfall brought on by the global economic crisis, the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) General Assembly Council (GAC) Executive Committee announced on 6 March 2009 that GAC staff will have an unpaid one-week furlough 17-23 May 2009 and will receive no salary increases in 2010.

The GAC estimates that the furlough will save about US$450 thousand in the 2009 budget, and that eliminating the 2010 staff pay increases will save about US$900 thousand in the 2010 budget.

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


[3] Illinois Christian Schools Told to Silence Prayers before Sporting Events


The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has banned Christian schools from broadcasting prayers or any religious announcements over their public address systems on days they host state sports tournaments, because the IHSA considers such prayers and announcements to be illegal.

Senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund David Cortman comments, “Not only does it not violate the Establishment Clause, but it violates the free-speech rights of private schools.”

+ Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995, 800-232-6459

+ Alliance Defense Fund, 15100 North 90th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, 800-835-5233, Fax: 480-444-0025


[4] U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama Forces Tax-Funding of Failed Embryo Research

U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama on 9 March 2009 revoked a 2001 administration policy and begin for the first time using federal tax dollars to encourage researchers to destroy living human embryos for stem cell research. President Obama also revoked the previous administration's Executive Order 13435 (20 June 2007) authorizing federal funding of stem cell research that produces the same or superior pluripotent stem cells produced by living human embryos without any need to destroy such embryos.

Advocates International General Counsel Sam Casey commented, “President Obama's Executive Order is legally limited and only authorizes NIH [National Institutes of Health] action 'to the extent permitted by law.' Existing law currently bans the expenditure of any federal funds for the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on fetuses in utero under 45 CFR 46.204(b) and section 498(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289g (b))."

Given this existing federal funding ban, Casey doubts that NIH will be able to safely do much more than they are already doing without violating existing federal law. That is why, Casey says, he is so "dumbfounded that President Obama, by his actions today, also seems to have revoked NIH's executive authority to do much of the lawful stem cell research they were doing."

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com


[5] NAE Protests Obama Administration 2010 Plan to Limit Tax Rate for Itemized Deductions for High Income Taxpayers

The National Association of Evangelicals has written a letter to U.S. Congress leaders raising their concerns about the likely impact of Barrack Hussein Obama administration plans starting in 2010 to limit to those taxed at a rate of 28 percent or less the ability to take itemized deductions on their income tax returns.

The proposed tax law change would raise the cost of living for high income charitable donors subject to the higher tax rates, and thus could lead to reduced charitable giving.

+ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 17197 North Laurel Park Drive Suite 567, Livonia, Michigan 48152, 734-742-2020, Fax: 734-742-2033, webmaster@epc.org

+ National Association of Evangelicals, Post Office Box 23269, Washington DC 20026, 202-789-1011, president@nae.net


[6] Christian-Themed Movie ‘Fireproof’ Out-Grosses Oscar-Winning Movies ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Milk’

Several hours before the 22 February 2009 Academy Awards presentation was aired on television, National Public Radio (NPR) broadcast a seven-minute feature story about the January 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF), and SAICFF’s efforts to showcase and reward hopeful films that honor Jesus Christ.

NPR Religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty opened her story, entitled "Christian Filmmakers Creating an Industry of Faith," with this probing question: "What was the biggest grossing independent film in 2008? No, not 'Slumdog Millionaire.' Not 'Milk.' It was a movie you've probably never heard of.” [‘Fireproof’ starring Kirk Cameron].

SAICFF founder Doug Phillips commented, “The distinction between Hollywood's toxic culture of death and the burgeoning Christian film movement of life was highlighted in bold this weekend. On the one hand, the world watched as Sean Penn accepted the 'Best Male Actor' award by the Academy for his portrayal of homosexual activist Harvey Milk, even as Kate Winslet received the 'Best Female Actor' trophy for her performance in 'The Reader,' a pornographic story about a female Nazi war criminal seducing a fifteen-year-old boy."

Phillips added, “Those who attended our recent festival saw films rewarded that build up rather than tear down the family -- independent films such as 'Fireproof' that outsold 'Milk' in theaters by a wide margin. Even as Hollywood fails, Christian filmmaking is prevailing in exalting virtue, and the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival is helping to lead the way in this important cultural reformation in the arts."

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com


[7] International Expert on Celtic Spirituality to Preach at Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church

The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) of Woodlands, Texas on 20-22 March 2009 is hosting a series of sermons, lectures and meditations by the Rev. J. Philip Newell, a Church of Scotland minister and an internationally-recognized author and poet with an expertise in Celtic spirituality.

Newell’s Celtic spirituality teaches that people should take notice of God in all things—especially Christ’s creations in nature. Celtic spirituality values the presence of God in everyone and everything—including plants, animals, and all of nature [pantheism].

+ Woodlands Online, 25211 Grogan's Mill Road, Suite 170, Spring, Texas 77380

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

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


[8] The Shack Author Speaks at Trinity Christian College

William Paul Young, author of the New York Times best seller, The Shack, spoke at of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois on 17 February 2009 on the question addressed in the fictional book, “Where is God in a world filled with such unspeakable pain?”

The answers that Young’s “somewhat autobiographical” protagonist Mackenzie Philips received from God challenged Philips’ beliefs about God’s character, power, mercy, and grace, as well as Philips’ perception of what it means to be loved by [God].

Young additionally addressed those who question his theology and his portrayal of God the Father as a gregarious African-American woman by asserting, “All imagery created to represent God is inadequate. God doesn’t fit into our categorical boxes.”

Young said that his continuing surprise at what he calls the “God thing,” is on the same order of magnitude as the surprise his readers express at his portrayal of the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. Young says that the meaning of the portrayed character’s [Sanskrit (Hindu)] name “Sarayu” seems to represent how The Shack has affected so many of those who read the book, like “a wind that takes you by surprise.”

+ Trinity Christian College, 6601 West College Drive, Palos Heights, Illinois 60463, 866-874-6463, marketing@trnty.edu

+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org


[9] Taiwan Church Renamed in Memory of Missionary Joyce McMillan

The Toa Pen Teng (Tai Ping Ding) Presbyterian Church in Taitung (Taichung) presbytery in Taiwan has changed its name to Toa Pen Teng Joyce McMillan Memorial Church in memory of missionary Joyce McMillan.

McMillan devoted her life to medical ministries and evangelism in Central Taiwan after coming to Taiwan in 1960.

+ Presbyterian Church in Taiwan


[10] RTS’s Dr. Frank James Accepts Provost Appointment at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) Professor of Historical Theology, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and President of the RTS Orlando, Florida Campus, Dr. Frank James, has accepted the position of Provost at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. James will assume the new post after completion of the RTS Spring academic semester.

+ Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando, 1231 Reformation Drive, Oviedo, Florida 32765, 407-366-9493, Fax: 407-366-9425


[11] Inheritance Publications New Books for 2009

New books for 2009 from Inheritance Publications include:

- Under the Inquisition - A Story of the Reformation in Italy by Elizabeth H. Walshe
- Calvin’s Doctrine of the Word and Sacrament by Ronald S. Wallace
- The Czar - A Tale of the Time of the First Napoleon by Deborah Alcock
- The Colonist of Southwest Africa by Lawrence Penning
- The Carpenter of Zerbst - A Story from the Time of the Great Reformation by P. de Zeeuw, J. Gzn

+ Inheritance Publications, Box 154, Neerlandia, Alberta T0G 1R0, Canada, 780-674-3949, Fax: 775-890-9118


[12] Annual Dutch Supper 17 March 2009 at Hollandale Reformed Church

The Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior (GEMS) Club is sponsoring their annual Dutch Supper 17 March 2009 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Hollandale Reformed Church in Hollandale, Minnesota.

Dutch specialty foods such as “Ollie Bollen,” Dutch meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, and many other side dishes will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The GEMS Club is a non-denominational organization for girls grades three through eight, meeting at the Hollandale Christian Reformed Church two Tuesdays a month, and focuses upon forming Christian principles.

+ Albert Lea Tribune, 808 West Front Street, Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007, 507- 373-1411, Fax: 507-373-0333, news@albertleatribune.com

+ Reformed Church in America, 4500 60th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, 800-968-6065, questions@rca.org

+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org


[13] Petrus van Mastricht’s Theoretico-Practica Theologia to be Translated from Latin and Dutch to English

The Dutch Reformed Translation Society (DRTS), is beginning the translation of late seventeenth-century theologian Petrus van Mastricht’s Theoretico-Practica Theologia.

Theoretico-Practica Theologia was especially influential in the Netherlands, and was highly praised by British-Colonial North American theologian Jonathan Edwards.

Theoretico-Practica Theologia is a three-part work, with most of its 1300 pages contained in part one. The newly translated version will likely be published in four volumes. The first volume is anticipated to be available in three-to-five years. Calvin Seminary Ph.D. student and expert in Latin and Dutch, Todd Rester, is performing the translation.

+ GoDutch.com, Vanderheide Publishing, Post Office Box 3006 Station LCD1, Langley, British Columbia V3A 4R3, 604-532-1733, Fax: 604-532-1734


[14] Presbyterian Church In Canada Offers Daily Biblical Devotion, Intercessory Prayer, Podcast

The Association For Church Renewal (ACR)’s most recent issue of Renewal News From The Mainline Church points out that the Presbyterian Church in Canada offers daily biblical devotion, intercessory prayer, and podcast feeds through their website saying:

“The ACR has been receiving the daily Bible readings and devotionals offered by the Presbyterian Church in Canada which are Biblically reliable and well done! They offer intercessory pray and a podcast of the daily devotionals. Check it out.”

+ Association For Church Renewal, Post Office Box 102, 182 High Street, Candia, New Hampshire 03034, 603-867-7711, Renewall.acr@gmail.com

+ The Presbyterian Church in Canada, 50 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7, 416-441-1111, Fax: 416-441-2825, skendall@presbyterian.ca

4 March 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Christian Observer for March 2009
[2] Care Net Condemns President Obama’s Directive to Force Medical Professionals to Refer Patients to Abortionists and to Perform Abortions
[3] Christian Defense Coalition Director Comments on Presidential Nomination of Abortion Proponent Kansas Governor Sebelius as HHS Secretary
[4] British Library Council Recommends Bibles and Other Religious Books Be Placed Out of Reach on Top Shelf to Avoid Offending Muslims
[5] Tennessee Elementary School Censors “God,” “Prayer,” and Scripture-Related Statements on Student Posters Announcing an Upcoming ‘See You at the Pole’ Event


[1] Christian Observer for March 2009

New Christian Observer articles for March 2009 include:

A Brief History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and Erskine Theological Seminary by Erskine Theological Seminary Executive Vice-President H. Neely Gaston;

A review by Christian Observer Associate Editor Chuck Huckaby of the new Lifeway book Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches That Reach Them;

The Stimulus Bill Ignored an Educational Problem by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Joe Renfro;

Happy Birthday Protestants – a message from Christian Observer Publisher Edwin Elliott;

along with our regular features including weekly Sabbath School lessons by Dr. Robert LaMay and daily devotionals by T.M. Moore.

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


[2] Care Net Condemns President Obama’s Directive to Force Medical Professionals to Refer Patients to Abortionists and to Perform Abortions

Melinda Delahoyde, President of Care Net, responded to news on 27 February 2009 that U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama has directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to overturn regulations that protect medical professionals from being forced to perform or refer patients for abortion.

Delahoyde said that the Care Net network of 1,160 pregnancy center affiliates will feel the damaging blow of this action, if implemented. "Pregnancy centers empower women facing unplanned pregnancy to choose abortion alternatives," Delahoyde said. "To accomplish this, we offer critical, free medical services, such as limited obstetrical ultrasounds and STD [sexually-transmitted disease] testing. Because of our commitment to providing alternatives to abortion, we rely on the availability of pro-life medical professionals - nurses, OB-GYNs [Obstetrician-Gynecologists], nurse practitioners, sonographers, and others. If the rights of these individuals are violated, then they will simply leave the field of practice or not enter it altogether. With more than 470 pregnancy centers in the Care Net network that offer medical services, we're simply not willing to take that risk."

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Care Net, 44180 Riverside Parkway, Suite 200, Lansdowne, Virginia 20176, 703-478-5661, Fax: 703-478-5668, info@care-net.org


[3] Christian Defense Coalition Director Comments on Presidential Nomination of Abortion Proponent Kansas Governor Sebelius as HHS Secretary

Reformed Presbyterian minister and director of the Christian Defense Coalition, the Rev. Pat Mahoney, released the following statements in response to the nomination of the abortion proponent governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama:

“President Obama continues losing streak on Cabinet appointments with nomination of Governor Sebelius as HHS Secretary.

President Obama nominates a governor who radically supports abortion rights and is closely linked with indicted late-term abortion provider George Tiller.

The President also affirms his status as "The Abortion President" by nominating a radical extremist on abortion rights to oversee the nation's health care and social programs.

The Governor has blocked legislation that would have stopped late-term abortions, she impeded the investigation into the death of a young woman at Dr. George Tiller's abortion clinic and Catholic Church officials have told her not to receive communion because of her radical support of abortion.

This nomination paves the way for taxpayer funded abortions as part of the Administration's health care policies.

The Christian Defense Coalition asks why President Obama would nominate such a divisive and extremist candidate after he campaigned on brining unity and civility to government.

The Christian Defense Coalition vows a vocal, public and national campaign to prevent a person who so devalues human life and social justice to become HHS Secretary.

If the President is looking for a fight with the pro-life and pro-family movement, he certainly is going to get one.”

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Christian Defense Coalition, 540-538-4741


[4] British Library Council Recommends Bibles and Other Religious Books Be Placed Out of Reach on Top Shelf to Avoid Offending Muslims

Great Britain’s Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC), a Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organization (QUANGO) that answers to British culture secretary Andy Burnham, has issued guidance to librarians telling them that they should store Bibles and other religious texts on the top shelves in order to avoid offending Muslims. The MLAC guidance suggests moving all religious texts to the top shelf because of the Muslim belief that the Koran should not be kept among ‘common things’.

British Poet Laureate and atheist Andrew Motion said during an interview that children should be taught more about the Bible because it is an “essential piece of cultural luggage”.

Motion additionally said that too many students now arrive at the university to study English Literature with scant knowledge of its deeply biblical foundations. “When I ask [my students] anything about the Bible, they frankly, by and large, don’t know. I don’t particularly blame them for it…I do think there is a real problem with the education system that has allowed these great stories to disappear, to fade out of the diet everyone gets at school.”

+ The Christian Institute, Wilberforce House, 4 Park Road, Gosforth Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 8DG, England, 44-0-191-281-5664, Fax: 44-0-191-281-4272, info@christian.org.uk


[5] Tennessee Elementary School Censors “God,” “Prayer,” and Scripture-Related Statements on Student Posters Announcing an Upcoming ‘See You at the Pole’ Event

School officials of Lakeview Elementary School in Wilson County, Tennessee ordered “God Bless the USA,” “In God We Trust,” and other phrases referencing God, prayer, and Scripture to be covered up on posters announcing an upcoming ‘See You at the Pole’ event before they could be displayed in the school’s hallways.

‘See You at the Pole’ is a student-led prayer event upheld by a prior federal court decision regarding in Wilson County, Tennessee schools acknowledging that Christians cannot be discriminated against for their beliefs, and that personal prayer, mentions of God, and Christmas references are constitutionally appropriate in school.

The Alliance Defense Fund representing Lakeview students and their parents on 2 March 2009 filed suit against the Wilson County Schools and asked for a preliminary injunction.

+ Alliance Defense Fund, 15100 North 90th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, 800-835-5233, Fax: 480-444-0025

+ See You at the Pole, Post Office Box 60134, Fort Worth, Texas 76115-0134, 817-447-7526