Tuesday, June 1, 2010

2 June 2010


Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Christian Observer Highlights for June 2010

[2] Appeals Court Nullifies Four of Five Erskine Injunction Restrictions against ARP General Synod

[3] New Play Opens about Free Church of Scotland Minister and Knox Church of Dunedin, New Zealand Founder Donald McNaughton Stuart

[4] Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington DC Erects Fence Around Public Sidewalk and Property, and Threatens Arrest of “Trespassers”

[5] Pro-Life Leader Describes Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill as Another Case of ‘It’s the Stupidity, Stupid,’ and Describes Thirty-Five Year-Old, Inexpensive Cleaning Method being Ignored

[6] New, Free iPhone App Gives Access to Ligonier Ministries Resources

[7] Virginia Homeschool Convention Scheduled 10-12 June 2010 in Richmond, Virginia, Expects 10,000 Participants from more than Twenty States

[8] United Church of Canada Marks 85th Anniversary

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[1] Christian Observer Highlights for June 2010

New articles in the Christian Observer for June 2010 include:

The United States Constitution and Christianity – by the Rev. Robert Benn Vincent Sr., pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Louisiana;

Education is Putting it Together – by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Dr. Joe Renfro;

Plus, regular features including weekly Sabbath School Lessons and Westminster Shorter Catechism lessons by Christian Observer Assistant Editor Dr. Robert LaMay, and Daily Devotionals by T.M. Moore, dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe.

+ Christian Observer, Post Office Box 1371, Lexington, Virginia 20110, christianobserver@christianobserver.org


[2] Appeals Court Nullifies Four of Five Erskine Injunction Restrictions against ARP General Synod

A 29 May 2010 article by Nicole E. Smith in The Index-Journal titled “Appeals Court Modifies Erskine Injunction” reports that on 27 May 2010, the South Carolina Court of Appeals removed four of the five conditions of the April 2010 injunction against the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) General Synod (GS) regarding modifications to the Erskine College and Theological Seminary Board of Trustees made at the March 2010 called meeting of the ARP GS.

The remaining condition of the injunction continues to forbid the ARP GS from removing anyone or attempting to remove anyone from the Erskine Board of Trustees.

A 27 May 2010 article by Don Clements in The Aquila Report titled “ARP Synod Wins a Little - SC Appeals Court Grants Partial Relief from Injunction in the ongoing Erskine College Case” provides a detailed analysis of the injunction modifications and concludes, “the appeal of the ARP Synod still remains before the Appeals Court. [The 27 May 2010] action merely lifts what the court felt were unnecessary restrictions while the parties are waiting for the case to be heard.”

A 21 April 2010 article by Don Clements in The Aquila Report titled “ARP Synod Files Strongly Worded Appeal to Set Aside the Preliminary Injunction in the Erskine College Case” provides details concerning the 19 April 2010 ARP GS appeal, and the constitutional and other legal issues addressed by the appeal.


+ The Index-Journal, 610 Phoenix Street, Greenwood, South Carolina 29646, 864-223-1411, jburns@indexjournal.com

+ The Aquila Report, c/o Metokos Press, 211 Main Street, Suite 108, Narrows, Virginia 24124, 540-726-8223, operations@theaquilareport.com

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

+ Erskine College and Theological Seminary, Post Office Box 668, Due West, South Carolina, 800-770-6936, newman@erskine.edu


[3] New Play Opens about Free Church of Scotland Minister and Knox Church of Dunedin, New Zealand Founder Donald McNaughton Stuart

A 29 May 2010 article by Charmian Smith in the Otego Daily Times titled “Knox Founder Stuart's Private Life Revealed” reports that playwright Richard Huber’s play Voice of Heaven, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Knox Church in Dunedin, New Zealand, will be performed at the Knox Church 3 and 4 June 2010 at 8:00 p.m.

The play explores the relationship between Free Church of Scotland minister and Knox Church of Dunedin, New Zealand, founder Dr. Donald McNaughton Stuart and his wife, Jessie Robinson Stuart, an Anglican, who chose to remain an Anglican after the marriage. Mrs. Stuart died in childbirth two years after the Stuart’s arrival in New Zealand from Great Britain, and the three surviving sons each experienced great difficulties as adults after being raised by a maternal aunt who died two years after arriving in New Zealand, and then by the family’s alcoholic housekeeper.

Another play was written about Dr. Stuart in 1998 by Simon O'Connor in honor of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Otego, New Zealand, by the Free Church of Scotland.


+ Otego Daily Times, 52 Stuart Street, Post Office Box 517, Dunedin, New Zealand, 64-3-479-3562, Fax: 64-3-474-7421, corporate@alliedpress.co.nz

+ 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

+ Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, Level 1, Terralink House, 275-283 Cuba Street, Post Office Box 9049, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand, (04)-801-6000 Fax: (04)-801-6001, info@presbyterian.org.nz

+ Church of England, Church House, Great Smith Street, Westminster, SW1P 3AZ, England, 44-0-20-7898-1000


[4] Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington DC Erects Fence Around Public Sidewalk and Property, and Threatens Arrest of “Trespassers”

Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington DC has erected a fence around a public sidewalk and public property outside of their 1108 16th Street Northwest, Washington DC, abortuary, and are threatening to arrest anyone that “trespasses” on the public property surrounded by their fence.

Reformed Presbyterian minister and Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, has applied for a permit to hold a prayer vigil 8 June 2010 at 11:00 a.m. on the public sidewalk leading to the entrance of the Planned Parenthood abortuary.

Members of the pro-life community for several years were able to pray, counsel, and maintain a pro-life witness on the public property and sidewalk surrounding the Washington DC Planned Parenthood abortuary, and the pro-lifers would rather risk arrest than to surrender their First Amendment rights. The pro-lifers additionally want to make clear that they will not be bullied into silence by an organization that has no respect for the law, the First Amendment, or for social justice.

Mahoney and his pro-life colleagues are being represented by the American Center for Law and Justice.


+ 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

+ American Center for Law and Justice, Post Office Box 90555, Washington DC 20090, 757-226-2489, Fax: 757-226-2836

+ Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 434 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, 212-541-7800, Fax: 212-245-1845


[5] Pro-Life Leader Describes Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill as Another Case of ‘It’s the Stupidity, Stupid,’ and Describes Thirty-Five Year-Old, Inexpensive Cleaning Method being Ignored

Journalist and marketer for sixty years, and President of the pro-life organization The Movement for a Better America, Dennis Howard, is bringing attention to a “low-cost, common sense” cleanup method for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which he unsuccessfully tried to market thirty-five years ago, but was stymied because of the low cost, and thus low profit margin.

Howard says that Canada’s millions of acres of sphagnum peat moss have the characteristics of repelling water, absorbing eight times its weight in oil, floating on the top of water, and is easily strained or skimmed off the water, adding: “The residue can even be used as a fuel. It sure beats letting seabirds and wildlife soak up the oil. Nothing else can do this job as efficiently. Dispersants will only turn the Gulf [of Mexico] into a huge, toxic waste dump.”

Howard, who helped bring to market the first home smoke detectors and unsuccessfully marketed to the airlines a modest-cost airplane fuel tank system that prevents explosions and fireballs in crashes and other fuel tank breaches, now heads The Movement for a Better America, a non-profit educational organization that concerns itself with another major cause of loss of life: abortion.

Howard comments: "I'm afraid [abortion is] another case of 'It's the stupidity, stupid.' According to our research, 52.8 million abortions have cost [the U.S.] [US]$38.5 trillion in lost [Gross Domestic Product] since 1970, and that number is growing by [US]$2.5 trillion a year. Here again, we see stupidity at work. Abortion is destroying us as a country, but our leaders don’t seem to care enough to stop it or prevent it."


+ The Movement for a Better America, Post Office Box 472, Mt. Freedom, New Jersey 07970, 973-895-7367, mbaforlife@gmail.com


[6] New, Free iPhone App Gives Access to Ligonier Ministries Resources

In addition to the thousands of Apps (applications) available for the iPhone from Apple Inc., including the built-in Maps and Compass App and Safari Browser App, to an under US$10 Savannah, Georgia, Walking Tour App, comes a free Ligonier Ministries App (LMA), available on the Apple iTunes website.

The LMA offers the following capabilities:

- Listen to or watch the Renewing Your Mind daily broadcast.

- Read a daily Bible devotional.

- Enjoy thousands of free messages, articles, and devotions in the Learn section.

- View learning resources grouped by Topic, Teacher, Scripture, or Type. You’ll find great teaching from leading pastors and theologians such as Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, Albert Mohler, John MacArthur, John Piper, Ravi Zacharias, and many more.

- Stay-up-to-date with more articles, devotions, and Ligonier Ministries news and events from our blog.

- Share anything you find with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or email.


+ Ligonier Ministries, 400 Technology Park, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, 407-333-4244, Fax: 407-333-4233

+ Apple Inc., 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California 95014, 408-996-1010


[7] Virginia Homeschool Convention Scheduled 10-12 June 2010 in Richmond, Virginia, Expects 10,000 Participants from more than Twenty States

The Virginia Homeschool Convention scheduled for 10-12 June 2010 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia, is expecting 10,000 participants from more than twenty states to be in attendance this year. The convention, in its 27th year, is hosted by the Home Educators Association of Virginia, a non-profit, statewide homeschool organization.

More than 125 workshops will address everything from parenting to time management to helping struggling learners. A used curriculum sale and a 67,500-square- foot Exhibit Hall will offer parents an opportunity to examine educational curricula and resources from around the country, while a special "boot camp" seminar will prepare homeschooling parents for their child's high school years and graduation. During the convention, 200 students plan to walk the aisle in the state's largest homeschool graduation ceremony on 12 June.

For those interested in learning more about home education, there will be four free how-to-begin- homeschooling sessions on the afternoon of 10 June. A free pass to the entire event is being offered to first-time parents of preschoolers and non-homeschooling grandparents (see website for details).

For more information on the convention and home education itself, visit http://www.heav.org/, or call 804-278- 9200.


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

+ Home Educators Association of Virginia, 2248-G Dabney Road, Richmond, Virginia 23230, 804-278-9200, Fax: 804-278-9202, office@heav.org


[8] United Church of Canada Marks 85th Anniversary

The United Church of Canada is marking the 85th anniversary of the denomination’s founding on 10 June 1925, when the Methodist Church, The Congregational Union of Canada, and the Presbyterian Church of Canada joined together to form the current denomination.

Members of United Church congregations throughout southwestern Ontario, Canada, have been invited to an all-day open house at the United Church's national office in Toronto, Ontario, on 10 June, followed by a special worship service at 7:30 p.m. at the Islington United Church in Islington, Ontario.

Another special 85th anniversary worship service will be held on 20 June, at Metropolitan United Church in downtown Toronto. This service, which begins at 5:00 p.m. EDT, will be streamed live via the Internet. For further information, please visit:

http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/events/more-franchises-a-second-cup#highlights.


+ United Church of Canada, 3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M8X 2Y4, Canada, 416-231-5931, Fax: 416-231-3103, info@united-church.ca