Presbyterians Week Headlines
[1] Pentecostal Televangelist and University Founder Oral Roberts, 91, Dies 15 December 2009
[2] Ecumenical Edinburgh 2010 Summit Celebrates 100th Anniversary of 1910 World Missionary Conference
[3] Church of Scotland Endorses Legislated Minimum Prices on Alcoholic Beverages
[4] University of Edinburgh to Display 11th Century Psalter in Latin
[5] U.S. Covenanter-Seceder Merged Church Returns to Scotland to Plant Churches
[6] Scots Highland Ecumenical Christmas Special Service to Air Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on BBC Alba
[7] PCA SJC Instructs Pacific Northwest Presbytery to Prepare Indictment and Conduct Case against Teaching Elder Peter Leithart for Federal Vision Views
[8] PCUSA Presbytery of Cincinnati Bans Minister Upholding G-6.0106b and Closes Church that Called the Minister
[9] Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) Protests Canadian Government Funds Cutoff to KAIROS
[10] Pennsylvania and Nebraska Senators being Reminded Vote for Health Care Bill Cloture is a Vote for Taxpayer Funded Abortion
[1] Pentecostal Televangelist and University Founder Oral Roberts, 91, Dies 15 December 2009
Pentecostal televangelist, author, and university founder Granville Oral Roberts, 91, died 15 December 2009, in Newport Beach, California, from complications of pneumonia.
Roberts founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1947, and in 1955, began broadcasting faith healing services on television that drew millions of viewers. In 1958, Roberts established the Abundant Life Prayer Group to provide prayer partners by telephone, twenty-four hour a day, and currently receives as many as 3000 calls per day.
Roberts established Oral Roberts University in 1963 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and served as university president until 1993. Roberts founded the City of Faith Medical and Research Center in 1981, which closed in 1989. Roberts authored more than 130 books and other inspirational material, including a seventy-four CD set titled “Oral Roberts Reading the New Testament with His Personal Commentary.”
Roberts was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn, eldest son Ronald, daughter Rebecca, and a grandson. Roberts is survived by son Richard and daughter Roberta Potts. No funeral or memorial arrangements have yet been announced, though the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Oral Roberts Ministry Healing Missions Fund.
+ Oral Roberts Ministries, Post Office Box 2187, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74102, 918-591-2000
+ Examiner.com, 555 17th Street, Suite 700, Denver, Colorado 80202, contactus@examiner.com
[2] Ecumenical Edinburgh 2010 Summit Celebrates 100th Anniversary of 1910 World Missionary Conference
A 9 December 2009 article in Ekklesia describes Edinburgh 2010, which will bring together 250 Christian leaders from around the world 2-6 June 2010, at the Church of Scotland (COS) Assembly Hall on the Mound and at the University of Edinburgh’s Pollock Halls on Holyrood Park Road, both in Edinburgh, Scotland, for a summit to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1910 World Missions Conference. The Church of England's Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, is expected to deliver a keynote address.
Edinburgh 2010 General Council Chairman, the Rev. Andrew Anderson, pastor of Edinburgh’s Greenside Parish Church (COS), commented: “This is a unique project bringing together in an unprecedented way the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Anglican, and Evangelical Protestant Christians from around the world to work out a common vision for mission in the 21st century. All eyes will be on Scotland and Edinburgh next June, which is a huge honour for us, and a great opportunity to do something of lasting good as together we witness to Christ today.”
+ Ekklesia, 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London EC1V 4PY, England, 0845 056 5445, press@ekklesia.co.uk
+ Edinburgh 2010, Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225 5722, 0131-226-6121, jadam@cofscotland.org.uk
+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722
+ Church of England, Church House, Great Smith Street, Westminster, SW1P 3AZ, England, 44-0-20-7898-1000
[3] Church of Scotland Endorses Legislated Minimum Prices on Alcoholic Beverages
Writing in the 11 December Christian Today, Jenna Lyle reports that the Church of Scotland has endorsed provisions in the Alcohol Bill before the Scottish Parliament that would establish minimum retail prices on alcoholic beverages, thus making retailers’ buy-one-get-one-free offers illegal.
+ Christian Today, 200 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YB, England, 020-7378-5705
+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722
+ The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP, Scotland, 0131-348-5000, sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
[4] University of Edinburgh to Display 11th Century Psalter in Latin
Fiona Macleod, in an 11 December 2009 article in The Scotsman, reported that an 11th century handwritten and illuminated Psalter went on display for the first time since 1967 at the University of Edinburgh’s newly refurbished exhibition room, and will be on exhibit there through 14 March 2010.
The Psalter is the oldest known book residing in Scotland, and was most likely produced by monks on the island of Iona, Scotland. The book has illuminations in vivid green, red, purple, and gold, and the Latin script remains bold and clear.
The exhibition of rare books includes a copy of Romeo and Juliet, printed during Shakespeare’s lifetime, and is the first book ever printed in Scots Gaelic.
+ The Scotsman, Barclay House, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS, Scotland, 131-620-8620
+ University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, Scotland, 0131-650-1000, Fax: 0131-650-2147, communications.office@ed.ac.uk
[5] U.S. Covenanter-Seceder Merged Church Returns to Scotland to Plant Churches
227 years ago, Scots immigrants to the U.S. from the Covenanter Presbyterian Church and the Associate (Seceder) Presbyterian Church found their differences not applicable in the New World, and came together in 1782 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to form what is currently the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church.
On 1 December 2009, the first of a planned five-in-five years church plants in Scotland began in the Leith area of Edinburgh, pastored by Scotland-native the Rev. Athole Rennie. The church plant is a joint effort between the ARP First Presbytery, a commission from which ordained Rennie in Scotland on 3 November 2009, and Reformission Scotland, a group of Scots from several denominations wanting to separate from the theological liberalism prevalent in the Church of Scotland, and to “[plant] new, missional churches committed to the doctrines of grace” in Scotland.
The Fall 2009 issue of the ARP Board of Outreach North America’s Outreach Newsletter contains two articles of interest about the church plants, an article by Rennie titled “Church Planting in Scotland,” and another article titled “What is Reformission Scotland?”, by Ivor MacDonald, Chairman of Reformission Scotland.
Another Leith church was highlighted on the History of Leith blog in a 15 December 2009 article titled “St. Columba’s Church-Edinburgh,” inviting people to find out more about this Free Church of Scotland congregation described as “…evangelical in the reformed Presbyterian tradition,” with the goal of “bring[ing] glory to God and good to our neighbours and community by living out the Christian faith in life and worship. Christ has transformed our lives forever!”
+ Associate Reformed Presbyterian Center, 1 Cleveland Street Suite 110, Greenville, South Carolina, 29601, 864-232-8297, Fax: 864-271-3729
+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722
+ Reformission Scotland
+ History of Leith Blog, c/o John Arthur, 12-3 Craigmillar Castle Road,
Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4AR, 0131-620-1545, Contact Page
+ Free Church of Scotland, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2LS, 0131-226-5286, Fax: 0131-220-0597, catherine@freechurchofscotland.org.uk
[6] Scots Highland Ecumenical Christmas Special Service to Air Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on BBC Alba
A 14 December 2009 article on the Ileach blog titled “Nollaig Bhon Ghàidhealtachd – A Highland Christmas on BBC Alba” announces an ecumenical Christmas service to be broadcast on BBC Alba on 24 December 2009, again on 25 December 2009, and as a radio broadcast on Radio nan Gàidheal on 25 December 2009.
The service is being held in the Ness Bank Church of Inverness, Scotland, and will be led by the Rev. K.D. MacLeod (Church of Scotland). Readings and prayers will be offered from the Rev. Ronnie Morrison (Free Church of Scotland) and Father James MacNeil (Roman Catholic).
Scheduled broadcast times and other details are available in the Ileach blog article.
+ Ileach Ltd., Main Street, Bowmore, Isle of Islay, Scotland PA43 7JH, 01496-810355, ileach@ileach.co.uk
+ BBC, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS, England, Fax: 020-8008-2398
+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722
+ Free Church of Scotland, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2LS, 0131-226-5286, Fax: 0131-220-0597, catherine@freechurchofscotland.org.uk
+ The Vatican
[7] PCA SJC Instructs Pacific Northwest Presbytery to Prepare Indictment and Conduct Case against Teaching Elder Peter Leithart for Federal Vision Views
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)’s Standing Judicial Commission (SJC), on 9 December 2009, issued a proposed decision in Judicial Case 2009-6 –- Complaint of [Teaching Elder] TE Jim Bordwine et al vs. Pacific Northwest Presbytery [PNW], concerning the PNW’s handling of reports from the PNW Study Committee appointed to examine TE Peter Leithart’s fitness to continue as a PCA TE in light of Leithart’s embrace of views commonly associated with what are termed Federal Vision (FV), New Perspective (NPP), and Auburn Avenue (AAT) theologies; said views declared to be out of accord with PCA Standards by the PCA 35th General Assembly, adopting recommendations of the Ad Interim Committee on NPP, AAT, and FV.
The proposed SJC decision sustains the complaint, stating that PNW erred in its handling of reports from the PNW Study Committee appointed to examine TE Peter Leithart’s fitness to continue as a PCA TE, and sends the case back to PNW with instructions to institute process and appoint a prosecutor to prepare an indictment of TE Leithart and to conduct the case per BCO 31-2.
The PNW Study Committee, in October 2008, issued a majority report recommending that Leithart’s views be judged not out of accord with the fundamentals of PCA doctrine, while a minority report was issued with the opposite conclusion.
+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org
[8] PCUSA Presbytery of Cincinnati Bans Minister Upholding G-6.0106b and Closes Church that Called the Minister
Edward Terry of The Layman Online posted a 4 December 2009 article titled “Presbytery Bans Minister, Dissolves Church,” describing ordained for twenty-two years minister the Rev. Ian Lamont’s call to Seventh Presbyterian Church (SPC) in Cincinnati, Ohio, the subsequent vote of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Presbytery of Cincinnati (POC) to deny the call, and the 27 September 2009 final service at financially strong SPC prior to its October 2009 dissolution by the POC.
Terry’s article describes the concerns drafted by the POC used to deny Lamont’s call to SPC, and describes Lamont’s responses to the negative conclusions implied by the POC list, including a boost to the money paid to Lamont by Lamont’s previous church, of which several church members objected and one filed a complaint with the presbytery; the POC interpreting Lamont’s actions as Lamont describes, “…that I was doing something funny with the books – embezzling.” Lamont was not afforded the opportunity to officially defend himself from any of the POC concerns.
Lamont relates how the only theological questions asked during interviews with the POC were about his stances on women’s ordination and homosexuality, to which Lamont affirmed his adherence to the PCUSA Constitution and Confessions. Lamont believes that the POC’s perception of his theological conservatism is the real reason for his rejection by the POC.
Lamont recently had a scheduled telephone interview with a North Carolina church’s search committee cancelled abruptly with no explanation the day before the scheduled interview.
+ Presbyterian Lay Committee, Post Office Box 2210, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645, 828-758-8716, Fax: 828-758-0920, laymanletters@layman.org
+ Presbytery of Cincinnati, 1323 Myrtle Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206, 513-221-4850, Fax: 513-221-6601, mail@cpresby.org
+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
[9] Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) Protests Canadian Government Funds Cutoff to KAIROS
The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has sent a letter to the Canadian government protesting its decision to cut off funding to KAIROS, a church based non-governmental organization that includes seven of Canada’s largest denominations.
In the letter, the CRCNA calls on the Canadian government to reverse its decision as well and to improve communication between the government and KAIROS, an ecumenical partnership that works to promote human rights, justice and peace, viable human development, and ecological justice.
+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org
+ KAIROS Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, 310 Dupont Street, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 1V9, 416-463-5312, Fax: 416-463-5569, mcorkery@kairoscanada.org
[10] Pennsylvania and Nebraska Senators being Reminded Vote for Health Care Bill Cloture is a Vote for Taxpayer Funded Abortion
Christian Defense Coalition Director and Reformed Presbyterian pastor, the Rev. Pat Mahoney, and pro-life leaders from Pennsylvania, began on 15 December 2009, a two week campaign to remind U.S. Senate members Robert P. Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania and Ben Nelson of Nebraska that a vote for cloture on the Health Care Bill is actually a vote for taxpayer funded abortion. Cloture ends U.S. Senate debate on a bill and moves to an immediate vote on the matter, requiring sixty votes to invoke cloture.
The campaign began 15 December 2009 with a “pray-in” at Senator Casey’s U.S. Capitol office, and will continue over two weeks at events in Pennsylvania to encourage Senator Casey to not vote for cloture on the U.S. Senate health care legislation.
Mahoney commented: "The pro-life community wants to make it clear to Senator Casey and Senator Nelson that a vote for cloture is a vote for abortion. Since the United States Senate has enough votes to pass health care reform in it's final version, a cloture vote is a final vote…to support the bill. Even if Senator Casey and Senator Nelson vote against the bill in it's final passage, they cannot make the claim that they are pro-life….It is hard to imagine that Senator Casey and Senator Nelson would sponsor an amendment prohibiting public money from being use to pay for abortions and then…vote for cloture which guarantees that the health care bill would include taxpayer funded abortions….You cannot vote for cloture and consider yourself pro-life."
+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com
+ Christian Defense Coalition, Post Office Box 77168, Washington DC 20013, 202-547-1735, ChristianDefense@gmail.com
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
16 December 2009
