15 April 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Department of Homeland Security Report Lists Abortion Opposition and State and Local Rights Advocacy as Rightwing Extremism
[2] Reformed Church of Zambia Pastor Calls for Lives Inspired by Jesus
[3] UCC Leader Lauds Vermont Legislative Override of Governor’s Veto of Homosexual Marriage Legalization
[4] PCUSA Pension Plan Remains Fully Funded Despite 28.6 Percent Investment Losses in 2008
[5] Afrikaner Genocide Archives Blog Tells of 16 January 2009 Kidnapping of Dutch Reformed Pastor in Marble Hall, South Africa
[6] Presbyterians in Indian State of Orissa Look to Establish Reformed Bible Presbytery Balangir
[7] SAICFF US$101 Thousand Prize Winning Film “The Widows Might” Opens in Ninety-Four Mid-Western and Southern U.S. Cities
[8] New England Reformed Fellowship Events for 2009
[9] Dean’s Report to the Annual Assembly of the Eastern Classis of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America Available Online
[10] Simply the Story Training in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 30 April – 4 May 2009
[11] Fifth Scotch-Irish Identity Symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 6 June 2009


[1] Department of Homeland Security Report Lists Abortion Opposition and State and Local Rights Advocacy as Rightwing Extremism

A 7 April 2009 report issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis Assessment titled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling
Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment,” and prepared by the DHS’s Extremism and Radicalization Branch, Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, says that while there is no specific information about “domestic rightwing terrorists” planning any acts of violence, that several current societal and economic conditions lend themselves to said terrorists’ efforts to recruit new members.

The report divides “rightwing extremism in the United States” into several divisions, including those who oppose abortion, and those who advocate state and local government jurisdiction above federal authority. The report additionally warns of “rightwing extremist” concerns about proposed new restrictions on firearms, and concerns about military veterans returning from military service back into their communities.

+ Department of Homeland Security, Washington DC 20528, 202-282-8000


[2] Reformed Church of Zambia Pastor Calls for Lives Inspired by Jesus

During an ecumenical Palm Sunday celebration in Kitwe, Zambia, Reformed Church of Zambia pastor the Rev. Ackim Kosa told his countrymen in the face of worldwide economic problems to live lives inspired by Jesus Christ. Kosa said that Zambian Christians should urge their fellow Zambians not to lose hope, and reminded listeners that that Jesus the King is in control.

+ AllAfrica.com, 920 M Street Southeast, Washington DC 20003, 202- 546-0777, Fax: 202-546-0676


[3] UCC Leader Lauds Vermont Legislative Override of Governor’s Veto of Homosexual Marriage Legalization

Reacting to the 7 April 2009 legislative override of the veto by Vermont Governor Jim Douglas of legislation legalizing homosexual marriage, United Church of Christ (UCC) minister for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns the Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer said, "The legislature has acted rightly to end the second class status of Civil Unions so that all couples may be treated equally in both the name and legal status of marriage. I applaud the many people from our UCC churches in Vermont, and other people of faith, who shared their stories and worked hard to make this possible."

+ United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, 216-736-2100, ogm@ucc.org


[4] PCUSA Pension Plan Remains Fully Funded Despite 28.6 Percent Investment Losses in 2008

At a recent meeting of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Board of Pensions (BOP) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, BOP Vice President for Finance Michael F. Fallon Jr. reported that the PCUSA pension plan remains fully-funded despite investment losses of 28.6 percent in 2008.

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


[5] Afrikaner Genocide Archives Blog Tells of 16 January 2009 Kidnapping of Dutch Reformed Pastor in Marble Hall, South Africa

The Afrikaner Genocide Archives blog contains records, links, and other information concerning the 3,045 (as of 13 April 2009) murders and numerous other assaults upon Afrikaner residents of farms and small landholdings occurring since 1994.

One of the more recent incidents catalogued on the blog concerns Dutch Reformed Church pastor Albert Venter who was carjacked by an armed “farm-attack” gang on 16 January 2009 while on the way to the church office in Marble Hall, South Africa. Venter was met at the gate of his farm by five attackers with several handguns, who assaulted, robbed, and placed a tied-up Venter into the trunk of his car.

The gang later returned to the Venter farm and attempted to attack Mrs. Venter, who locked herself in a room in the house and called the police. The gang then fled in the Venter car with Mr. Venter still in the trunk, then later stopped the car and fled on foot. A police helicopter soon appeared, and Mr. Venter was freed from the trunk of his car. Police reported that a single, large farm-attack gang had been terrorizing the region for at least a year.

The Afrikaner Genocide Archives blog cited a 19 January 2009 original story by journalist Willem Pelser in News24.

+ News24, Post Office Box 2271, Cape Town 8000, South Africa, 27-21-468-8000, Fax: 27-1-468-8200

+ Dutch Reformed Church, Posbus 13528, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, 27-0-12-342-0092, Fax: 27-0-12-342-0380, algemenesinode@ngkerk.org.za


[6] Presbyterians in Indian State of Orissa Look to Establish Reformed Bible Presbytery Balangir

A correspondent writes that a meeting of Presbyterian leaders in Raipur, India, located on the border of the states of Orissa and Chhattisgarh, was held 25-26 March 2009 in an attempt to deal with the ongoing persecution of the Church in Orissa.

A motion was passed that churches in Orissa that are learning
the Reformed faith under the Mission of Peace Making (MPM) should be organized as a Presbytery to be called the Reformed Bible Presbytery Balangir (a local district name in Orissa).

The fledgling presbytery has identified US$8,400 in startup expenses needed to purchase a discreet location to hold classes for the mostly-unordained pastorate, as Christians meeting at normal conference venues are being attacked by persecutors, and for the 2009-2010 expenses of one of the Orissa pastors.

Contributions for the new presbytery can be sent to the MPM office in the United States in care of Mr. Roger Dykstra, Oak Glen United Reformed Church, Mission of Peace Making Committee, 2244 Indiana Avenue, Lansing, Illinois 60438.

Though not a Presbyterian Missionary Union project, these Indian brethren are the spiritual inheritors of Bible Presbyterian Church missions work of some years ago, and the Indian Presbyterians are remaining faithful in the face of much pressure to compromise both good doctrine and government.

+ Presbyterian Missionary Union, 1650 Love Road, Grand Island, New York 14072, 716-775-0442, office@presbyterianmissions.org

+ Bible Presbyterian Church


[7] SAICFF US$101 Thousand Prize Winning Film “The Widows Might” Opens in Ninety-Four Mid-Western and Southern U.S. Cities

Nineteen-year-old director John Moore's independent film, "The Widow's Might" opened 13 April 2009 in ninety-four U.S. cities across the Midwest and South as part of Carmike Cinema’s and Dalton Pictures' Independent Film Series.

"The Widow's Might", is a feature length musical comedy produced by nineteen-year-old John Moore and his best friend David Heustis, and is the film that won the largest cash prize in the country, US$101 thousand, at the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF).

Theatrical locations and times are listed at the film website, www.WidowsMightTheMovie.com.

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


[8] New England Reformed Fellowship Events for 2009

The New England Reformed Fellowship met 14 April 2009 at Immanuel Chapel in Upton, Massachusetts, and heard Greg Reynolds, pastor of the Amoskeag Presbyterian Church in Manchester, New Hampshire, speak on the subject of “Puritans and Indians: The Remarkable Mission of the Puritans among the Native Inhabitants of Seventeenth Century New England.”

The Connecticut Valley Conference on Reformed Theology will be held 17-18 April 2009 at the Presbyterian Church Of Coventry, 55 Trowbridge Road, Coventry, Connecticut, and will feature a presentation by Carl R. Trueman and Sean Michael Lucas titled “Calvin at 500: His Life and Legacy.”

The 2009 Grace Conference on Christian Ministry will be held 5-6 June 2009
At the Grace Bible Church, 234 Central Street, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts 02333, and will feature a program on Biblical Spirituality presented by Robert Burrelli, Jr. and Donald Whitney.

+ New England Reformed Fellowship, c/o David Green, Pastor, Cornerstone Church, 14 McKinley Avenue, Beverly, Massachusetts, 01915, 978-927-8134, david.dovedge@gmail.com


[9] Dean’s Report to the Annual Assembly of the Eastern Classis of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America Available Online

The Dean’s Report to the Annual Assembly of the Eastern Classis of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America is available online at the Magyar Református Egyház website.

+ Magyar Református Egyház


[10] Simply the Story Training in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 30 April – 4 May 2009

Simply the Story training in how to be a practitioner in Bible storytelling (three days) or how to be a practitioner and train others in Bible storytelling (five days) will be held 30 April – 4 May 2009 at the City Church, 12-24 University Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland. For further information, please call 44-28-38-820-051.

+ International Orality Network


[11] Fifth Scotch-Irish Identity Symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 6 June 2009

The Fifth Scotch-Irish Identity Symposium will be held at the Ramada Hotel, Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) International Airport on 6 June 2009. The theme of the symposium is “The Scotch-Irish: Past, Present, and Future.”

+ Center for Scotch-Irish Studies, Post Office Box 71, Glenolden, Pennsylvania 19036, 610-532-8061, cntrsis@aol.com