5 May 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] May 2009 Christian Observer Highlights
[2] Department of Homeland Security Domestic Extremism Lexicon Lists Wide Range of Definitions for Analysis of Non-Islamic Domestic Extremism
[3] U.S. Senators Ted Kennedy and Patrick Leahy Introduce House-Passed Hate Crimes Bill
[4] Missouri House Passes Amendment Allowing Pharmacies Not to Dispense Abortifacients
[5] Montana Physicians Required to Assist in Patient Suicides by Order of District Judge
[6] Fellowship of Confessing Churches Garnering Worldwide Support to Urge Church of Scotland General Assembly to Reject Openly Homosexual Minister
[7] Forward Together Issues Apology to Homosexual Minister, Partner, and Family for Unfactual Statements
[8] Caribbean WARC Meeting Calls for End to Cuba Sanctions
[9] EPC Presbytery of Mid-America Approves Affinity Presbytery Overture for Upcoming General Assembly Meeting
[10] Reformed Bible Study Near Tacoma, Washington has Goal of United Reformed Church Plant
[11] CRC Employees and Calvin College Musicians Try Out New Hymnbook
[12] May, 1888 CRC Riot in Grand Rapids, Michigan Recalled
[13] Sixth-Grader in Taiwan Donates Entire Savings to Community Ambulance Maintenance and Fuel Fund
[14] Sprinkle Publications Republishing The Works of John Robinson, The Pilgrim Father, Volume I
[15] Gospel for Asia Quantifies 2008 Hindu Violence to Christians in Orissa, India
[16] Reformed Presbyterian Witness Celebrates 125^th Anniversary in 2009


[1] May 2009 Christian Observer Highlights

New articles for May 2009 in the Christian Observer include two articles concerning God’s call to the pastorate:

R2K and Milk or Where is the Gospel? By Dr. Chuck Baynard; and
Running Unsent by Dr. Carl W. Bogue;

plus,

The Moral Core to Learning by Dr. Joe Renfro;
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] Department of Homeland Security Domestic Extremism Lexicon Lists Wide Range of Definitions for Analysis of Non-Islamic Domestic Extremism

A 26 March 2009 document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis titled “Domestic Extremism Lexicon,” now recalled by DHS from state and local law enforcement agencies, lists more than fifty “…definitions for key terms and phrases that often appear in DHS analysis that addresses the nature and scope of the threat that domestic, non-Islamic extremism poses to the United States.”

Among the definitions for “Aryan prison gangs,” “neo-Nazis,” and “skinheads,” are terms such as:

“alternative media” – defined as “…various information sources that provide a forum for interpretations of events and issues that differ radically from those presented in mass media products and outlets;”

“antiabortion extremism” – defined as “A movement of [those] virulently antiabortion [that] advocate violence against [abortion providers]. Some cite various racist and anti-Semitic beliefs to justify their criminal activities;”

“patriot movement” – defined as “A term used by rightwing extremists to link their beliefs to those commonly associated with the American Revolution. The patriot movement primarily comprises violent antigovernment groups such as militias and sovereign citizens. (also: Christian patriots, patriot group, Constitutionalists, Constitutionist);” and,

“single-issue extremist groups” – defined as “[Those] who focus on a single issue or cause—such as…anti-abortion extremism—and often employ criminal acts. Group members may be associated with more than one issue;”

DHS defines the all-inclusive term “extremist group” as:

“An ideologically driven organization that advocates or attempts to bring about political, religious, economic, or social change through the use of force, violence, or ideologically motivated criminal activity.” [Ed. emphasis]

+ The Daily Beast, 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011, editorial@thedailybeast.com

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


[3] U.S. Senators Ted Kennedy and Patrick Leahy Introduce House-Passed Hate Crimes Bill

U.S. Senators Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Patrick Leahy of Vermont have introduced into the U.S. Senate HR 1913, the “Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009,” passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on 29 April 2009.

The bill would provide federal money to train law enforcement officers to identify and criminally prosecute speech and thought offensive to homosexuals, and denies conscience protections to pastors, Christians, and missionaries.

Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel has spoken out against HR 1913 a number of times, saying: ”As has proved to be true in both Europe and Canada, this Orwellian piece of legislation is the direct precursor to freedom killing and speech chilling ‘hate speech’ laws.”

+ Council of Conservative Citizens, Post Office Box 221683, St. Louis, Missouri 63122, 636-940-8474, cofcc@cofcc.org

+ Liberty Counsel, Post Office Box 540774, Orlando, Florida 32854, 800-671-1776, Liberty@LC.org


[4] Missouri House Passes Amendment Allowing Pharmacies Not to Dispense Abortifacients

The Missouri House of Representatives on 28 April 2009 approved an amendment to a state medical board-related bill that would prevent pharmacies from having their license revoked for not dispensing the “Plan B” morning after pill and RU-486 abortifacients.

Missouri Representative Cynthia Davis commented, "I have trouble understanding why anybody who is an American, who is not in favor of Communism, would want us to dictate what we're going to say people can and cannot stock," Davis said. "I fear for all the businesses in Missouri if we're going to start telling them what they can sell and what they cannot sell."

+ Columbia Missourian, 221 South Eighth Street, Columbia, Missouri 65211, 573-882-5720, Fax: 573-882-5702


[5] Montana Physicians Required to Assist in Patient Suicides by Order of District Judge

On 5 December 2008, Montana First District Court Judge Dorothy McCarter, in the Baxter et al. v. Montana case, rendered the opinion that physician-assisted suicide is legal, and requires that doctors participate in these suicides.

The Christian Legal Service and the Christian Medical Association have filed briefs asking the Montana Supreme Court to protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals by reversing the earlier decision and recognize a right not to participate in assisted suicide.

+ ANSWERS for the Faith


[6] Fellowship of Confessing Churches Garnering Worldwide Support to Urge Church of Scotland General Assembly to Reject Openly Homosexual Minister

The Fellowship of Confessing Churches (FCC) describes their organization as “a fellowship of congregations of the Church of Scotland (COS), united in the communion of the one Spirit and committed to work, pray and support one another in the common mission of Christ to the people of Scotland and beyond.”

In this regard, the FCC is expressing concern over the appeal to be addressed in the upcoming COS General Assembly against the decision of the Presbytery of Aberdeen to induct into a charge a minister who has openly declared himself to be living in a homosexual relationship.

The FCC has prepared a statement about the upcoming May 2009 COS General Assembly meeting, which expresses concerns including, “[That] [i]f the Assembly votes to support the Presbytery of Aberdeen, it will publicly declare such behaviour as acceptable and honourable for a leader in Christ’s church. This would mark…a radical deviation from the clear Scriptural pattern that recognises the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman as the only proper place for sexual intimacy…”

The FCC requests that Christians and their churches worldwide sign the statement online at http://www.confessingchurch.org.uk/general-assembly-2009/ga09-support/, that concludes: “…affirm[ing] our continuing solidarity in fellowship with Christian churches worldwide who hold and maintain the historic faith, doctrine, and discipline of the one holy, catholic and apostolic church, once for all delivered to the saints in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

+ Fellowship of Confessing Churches

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


[7] Forward Together Issues Apology to Homosexual Minister, Partner, and Family for Unfactual Statements

Forward Together (FT) describes themselves as “…a group for evangelical members of the Church of Scotland who share a desire to serve our Lord Jesus Christ within the Church of Scotland.” (COS)

In an earlier communication to FT members concerning minister Scott Rennie, whose appointment to an Aberdeen, Scotland COS church is on hold pending action by the upcoming May 2009 COS General Assembly meeting, FT said that Rennie had left his wife and young daughter to live with another man. In fact, Rennie’s wife had left him, and Rennie did not meet his current partner until two years later.

In addition to paying Rennie’s legal expenses, FT apologized “…unreservedly for giving the impression that Mr. Rennie left his wife and child for his present male partner and for any distress this may have caused Mr. Rennie, his wife and his family.”

Affirmation Scotland, which describes itself as “…a group…within the Church of Scotland…seek[ing] the affirmation and dignity of lesbian and gay Christians within the church…,” described FT’s apology as “inadequate.”

+ Press and Journal, Lang Stracht, Mastrick, Aberdeen AB15 6DF, Scotland, 01224-343311, pj.newsdesk@ajl.co.uk

+ Forward Together, 2 Lanark Road, Kirkmuirhill, Scotland ML11 9RB, 01555-892409, office@forwardtogether.org.uk

+ Affirmation Scotland, 37 Main Street, Invergowrie, Scotland DD2 5AB, 0141-8837405, info@affirmationscotland.org.uk

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


[8] Caribbean WARC Meeting Calls for End to Cuba Sanctions

Representatives from six Caribbean countries met 22-25 April 2009 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica “to develop a Caribbean theology of life in response to economic and environmental challenges in the region.”

A statement was issued at the end of the meeting calling for a new economic model for the Caribbean based on regional experiences and draws particular attention to Cuba: "We are inspired by the resilience and creativity of the Cuban people. We continue to pray and advocate for the full lifting of the blockade against Cuba. We undergird the principle of Caribbean integration and reaffirm our commitment to playing our part in making it happen."

The Caribbean meeting was jointly organized by Caribbean and North American Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) Office for Church Renewal, Justice, and Partnership. WARC is beginning a series of regional consultations aimed at supporting churches worldwide as they seek to bring about change in their communities and nations.

+ 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


[9] EPC Presbytery of Mid-America Approves Affinity Presbytery Overture for Upcoming General Assembly Meeting

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church’s (EPC) Presbytery of Mid-America (PMA) on 25 April 2009 by a vote of forty-six to four approved an overture to the EPC’s 2009 General Assembly, requesting that the PMA be permitted to experiment with an affinity presbytery structure for a period of three years beginning in July 2009.

If approved by the EPC 2009 General Assembly, the presbytery would create two ministerial committees. One would examine and receive candidates and ministers who are not in favor of women as Teaching Elders. The other committee would examine and receive candidates and ministers who are in favor of women as Teaching Elders. All other activities and ministries of the presbytery would remain unchanged during the three years of experiment. The EPC Permanent Judicial Commission will review this overture as part of its 29-30 May 2009 meeting.

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


[10] Reformed Bible Study Near Tacoma, Washington has Goal of United Reformed Church Plant

Mark Vander Pol, an M.Div. candidate at Westminster Seminary California, on behalf of the Bellingham (Washington) United Reformed Church (URC) Consistory has begun the Gig Harbor (near Tacoma, Washington) Reformed Bible Study with one goal being the establishment of a URC church plant at that location.

This Bible study will follow the historic Reformed Confessions commonly known as The Three Forms of Unity, The Belgic Confession of Faith (1561), The Heidelberg Catechism (1563), and The Canons of Dort (1618-1619).

Please access the Gig Harbor Reformed Bible Study blog or contact gigharborreformed@gmail.com for further information.

+ Gig Harbor Reformed Bible Study

+ United Reformed Churches in North America, C/O Mr. Bill Konynenbelt, 5824 Bowwater Circle Northwest, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2E2, Canada, 403-286-0521, Fax: 403-286-0759, urcna@shaw.ca


[11] CRC Employees and Calvin College Musicians Try Out New Hymnbook

About fifty Christian Reformed Church (CRC) staffers at the Grand Rapids, Michigan office and a few instrumentalists from Calvin College gathered on 29 April 2009 to try out the preview edition of Contemporary Songs for Worship, a new songbook published by Faith Alive Christian Resources (FACR), the publishing agency of the CRC. Three other preview hymnbooks have yet to be published in the process of publishing a new CRC-Reformed Church in America hymnbook scheduled for release in 2013.

Joyce Berger of FACR said that the preview book, “…is one way to help us figure out the best way to deal with contemporary songs in the [2013] hymnal.”

Hymnbook editor Paul Ryan of Calvin College said that most of the songs in the new book are less than twenty-five years old, and said, “The tunes are popular. They are born out of the pop-rock genre. There are songs by popular and emerging artists….All of the songs in the new book are consistent with our Reformed confessions. In it, we try to represent all the different movements in worship – gathering, praise, confession. There are songs of assurance and celebration.”

Contemporary Songs for Worship is available for US$5.00 per copy from http://www.faithaliveresources.org/Contemporary-Songs-for-Worship. Information about the new hymnal project is available at http://www.crcna.org/pages/hymnal.cfm.

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

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

+ Calvin College 3201 Burton Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49546, 616-526-6000


[12] May, 1888 CRC Riot in Grand Rapids, Michigan Recalled

Charles Honey, calling the situation, “devotion versus debauchery, pure and simple,” in a 2 May 2009 story, recalls the night in May 1888 when 1000 members of the Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church (EACRC) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, set out to destroy a new railroad line that’s passengers included persons bound for the drinking, dancing and gambling goings-on at Reeds Lake on Sundays.

An EACRC history recounts, "They did not want the nuisance to pass noisily by their church and create a dangerous hazard for their children, to say nothing of the all too common rowdyism and drunkenness prevalent among the merry-makers on Sunday.”

Honey writes that a newspaper of the time reported that the police arrived and threw a few "deluded, ignorant Dutchmen" into a patrol wagon, but friends came to their rescue and released them.

Calvin College historian James Bratt observes that nowadays the EACRC members’ actions look radical, but Bratt points out that, in its time, the riot was a socially accepted response to an industrial bully intruding on a close-knit community, saying, "This was a long-standing tradition of enforcing the implied moral contract of society by mass action."

Retired city historian Gordon Olson points out that the growth pains of a rapidly expanding community of 60,000 that did not all follow the CRC's strict Sabbath rules was a major reason for the riot, saying,
"Their frustration may have been partly with the changes they saw around them and people who didn't have the good sense to stay home on Sunday.”

+ The Grand Rapids Press, 155 Michigan Street Northwest, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, 616-222-5818, dgaydou@grpress.com

+ 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] Sixth-Grader in Taiwan Donates Entire Savings to Community Ambulance Maintenance and Fuel Fund

Lydia Ma reports that rural Yunlin county, Taiwan, sixth-grader Tsai Ming-hsuan had saved the equivalent of $US290 so that he could buy video games. Tsai’s father is in the habit of reading Bible stories to his son, then applying the stories to examples from everyday life.

After Tsai’s father shared the story of the kernel of wheat, which, if sacrificed and planted in the ground, can produce more seeds to help others, then told Tsai about his community’s financial inability to maintain and supply gasoline for the ambulance that transports the elderly to schools where visiting doctors come to offer medical care to the seniors, Tsai happily donated his entire savings for use in maintaining and supplying fuel to the community ambulance.

Tsai and his fellow school students have learned about generosity that seeks nothing in return by the example of the many people that make donations to their rural school, so much so that the students recently donated to charity a portion of prize money they had won in a competition.

+ Presbyterian Church in Taiwan


[14] Sprinkle Publications Republishing The Works of John Robinson, The Pilgrim Father, Volume I

Sprinkle Publications is republishing The Works of John Robinson, The Pilgrim Father, Volume I, which will be ready for shipping in mid-June 2009. Volumes II and III are scheduled to be available later in 2009. Volume I consists of sixty-two short sermons or long devotionals.

Sprinkle Publications is offering Volume I for US$29 with free shipping for USA orders if placed before 10 June 2009.

Sprinkle Publications, Post Office Box 1094, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803, 540-867-9618, Fax: 540-867-9618, sprinklepub@planetcomm.net


[15] Gospel for Asia Quantifies 2008 Hindu Violence to Christians in Orissa, India

A recent Gospel for Asia (GFA) report estimates that the Hindu violence against Christians in Orissa state, India that began in the summer of 2008 left 500 Christians killed by the rampaging mobs, 1000 Christian homes destroyed, and 50 thousand Christians driven from their homes into the jungle. GFA further reports that 30 thousand of the Christians driven into the jungle remain living in the jungle in fear for their lives.

+ Gospel for Asia, 1800 Golden Trail Court, Carrollton, Texas 75010, 972-300-7777, info@gfa.org


[16] Reformed Presbyterian Witness Celebrates 125^th Anniversary in 2009

The Reformed Presbyterian Witness, the official publication of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, celebrates its 125^th anniversary of publication in 2009.

Predecessor publications to the Reformed Presbyterian Witness are Christian Nation: A Journal of Enlightened Statesmanship that was published from 1884 to 1928, and The Covenanter Witness: To the Truth, Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord, Head of Men, the Church and Nations published between 1928 and 2002.

+ Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), 7408 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-1177, Fax: 412-731-8861