Presbyterians Week Headlines
[1] Christian Observer Highlights for July and August 2010
[2] REC News Exchange Publishes Final Issue
[3] Presbyterian Missionary Union Celebrates Twenty-Five Years of Service
[6] Christian Reformed Church Sponsors Prayer Vigil against Arizona Immigration Law
[8] URCNA Synod 2010 Strongly Rejects Federal Vision Theology
[9] Twelve Suspected Islamist Gunmen Murder Five Christians Leaving Church Building in Sukkar, Pakistan
[11] New Study Shows Homeschoolers Succeeding in College
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[1] Christian Observer Highlights for July and August 2010
New articles in the Christian Observer for July and August 2010 include:
-- Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis Addresses Bruce Waltke Resignation – Answers in Genesis president Ken Ham discusses “conservative evangelical” Professor Bruce Waltke’s characterization of biblical creationists as a “cult” and the creation days of Genesis as “..metaphorical representations of a reality beyond human comprehension and imitation,” and points out that the majority of conservative evangelical institutions of higher education teach evolutionary theory or hybrid theories of creation that compromise the creation account in Genesis.
-- Why Don’t Many Christian Leaders and Scholars Believe Genesis? – by Dr. Terry Mortenson of Answers in Genesis – discusses the false assumption by many people that Bible scholars and other Christian leaders or educators who accept millions of years and hold to the gap theory or day-age view or framework hypothesis or a localized Noachian Flood do so because of careful attention to the Biblical text in the original languages.
-- Exposing a Fundamental Compromise – by Dr. Terry Mortenson of Answers in Genesis – discusses how in the process of defending the Christian faith, respected Christian leaders have unknowingly compromised with error; leaders including James Orr, Charles Hodge, B. B. Warfield, James Montgomery Boice, and Bruce Waltke.
-- The Global Cultural War and Education – by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Dr. Joe Renfro – discusses the influence of various world religions and cultures on how the religion and culture influence educational philosophy.
-- The Reformed Educational Influence in American Education – by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Dr. Joe Renfro – discusses the influence of Reformed doctrine on the development of education in the United States.
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] REC News Exchange Publishes Final Issue
The final issue of the REC (Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC)) News Exchange, Volume 47, No. 6, June – July 2010, has been published, as the Reformed Ecumenical Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches merger into the World Communion of Reformed Churches continues to unfold.
The Christian Observer commends REC News Exchange Editor Richard L. van Houten and Contributing Editor Samantha Beuker, and their REC colleagues and predecessors who have published the REC News Exchange monthly since 1964, and wish them God’s blessings and direction as they begin other endeavors.
+ Reformed Ecumenical Council, 2050 Breton Road Southeast, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, 616-949-2910, rvh@recweb.org
+ 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
+ World Communion of Reformed Churches, 150 route de Ferney, Post Office Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, 41-22-791-6240, Fax: 41-22-791-6505, info@reformedchurches.org
[3] Presbyterian Missionary Union Celebrates Twenty-Five Years of Service
The Presbyterian Missionary Union in 2010 is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the worldwide missionary and church planting agency’s founding in Media, Pennsylvania, 15-16 January 1985.
+ Presbyterian Missionary Union, 1650 Love Road, Grand Island, New York 14072, 716-775-0442, office@presbyterianmissions.org
+ Bible Presbyterian Church
[4] The Trinity Review for July-August 2010 Publishes “The Sine Qua Non of Enduring Freedom” by John W. Robbins
The July-August 2010 issue of The Trinity Review features an essay by John W. Robbins titled “The Sine Qua Non of Enduring Freedom,” which discusses the four principle methods of defending a free society: economics, Natural Law, Utilitarianism, and biblical revelation, showing the fallacies of the first three methods while demonstrating that the Bible and the Hebrew Republic are the only real model for good government and the competent defense of a free society.
+ The Trinity Foundation, Post Office Box 68, Unicoi, Tennessee 37692, 423-743-0199, Fax: 423-743-2005, tjtrinityfound@aol.com
[5] First Covenanter Communion Service in New World to be Commemorated 21 August 2010 in New Kingstown, Pennsylvania
The first recorded Reformed Presbyterian communion service to be held in the Western Hemisphere occurred 23 August 1752 at the "Junkin Tent" on land owned by Joseph and Elizabeth Junkin in what is now New Kingstown, Pennsylvania. The service was conducted by Covenanter Minister John Cuthbertson, who had arrived 5 August 1751 after a forty-six day sea voyage from Derry Lock, Ireland. Cuthbertson was the first ordained Covenanter minister in the New World.
A celebration of the event will be held 21 August 2010 in New Kingstown, Pennsylvania, in an area behind the St.Stephen Lutheran Church, the original location of the "Junkin Tent," and will feature the dedication and unveiling of a Pennsylvania historical marker commemorating the communion service, and a speech titled "The Covenanters - Then and Now" by David A. Weir, Ph.D., Elder of the Ridgefield Park Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.
For further information, please see:
http://www.newkingstownprojects.org/2010celebration.htm
+ New Kingstown Projects, c/o 130 State Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17050, 717-697-1441, info@newkingstownprojects.org
+ Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), 7408 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-1177, Fax: 412-731-8861
[6] Christian Reformed Church Sponsors Prayer Vigil against Arizona Immigration Law
A 27 July 2010 article in The Grand Rapids Press titled “Prayer Vigil Planned in Grand Rapids to Protest Arizona Immigration Law” reports that a prayer vigil in opposition to the Arizona immigration law was held 28 July 2010 in the Ah-Nab-Awen Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of the sponsors being the Office of Social Justice of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
+ 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
[7] “Onward Christian Soldiers” Banned from Funeral by Church of Scotland Minister for Politically Incorrect War Theme
A 2 August 2010 Argyll News article titled “No Soldiers Marching Onwards in Kirn” reports that brother-in-law of the deceased William Thomas said that the Rev. Sarah Nicol, Minister at Kirn Parish Church near Dunoon in the Cowal peninsula of Scotland, at the funeral of Mrs. Agnes Thomas at the Greenock Crematorium in Greencock, Scotland, refused to allow the singing of the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers” because of the politically incorrect war theme of the hymn.
Mrs. Thomas had requested that the hymn, her favorite, be sung at her funeral - as it had been sung at her late husband’s funeral.
Ms. Nicol denies that she banned the singing of the hymn.
+ ForArgyll.com, Dunans Castle, Argyll PA22 3AD, Scotland, 870-255-5555, Fax: 870-255-5666, Contact Page
+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722
[8] URCNA Synod 2010 Strongly Rejects Federal Vision Theology
The United Reformed Churches in North America Synod 2010, meeting in London, Ontario, Canada, 26-30 July 2010, on 30 July 2010 adopted the report of the Justification/Federal Vision Study Committee, with strengthening language added by the report’s advisory committee, “…rejecting Federal Vision and all of its associated points as error.”
+ URCNA Synod Reports (Not an official URCNA resource), URCNAReports@gmail.com
+ 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
[9] Twelve Suspected Islamist Gunmen Murder Five Christians Leaving Church Building in Sukkar, Pakistan
Twelve suspected Islamist masked gunmen murdered five Christians 15 July 2010 as they exited the Full Gospel Church in Sukkur, Pakistan.
Police arrived forty-five minutes later, and later an ambulance arrived to treat the one survivor who had been shot in the arm.
+ Compass Direct News Service, Post Office Box 27250, Santa Ana, California 92799, 949-862-0304, Fax: 949-752-6536, info@compassdirect.org
[10] Update - Change of Venue - Joe Morecraft to Speak on “God And Politics” at 3 September 2010 Institute on the Constitution's First Friday at the Gladway Farm in Bowie, Maryland
“God And Politics” is the subject of a lecture by the Rev. Joseph C. Morecraft III of the Chalcedon Presbyterian Church in Cumming, Georgia, at the 3 September 2010 First Friday 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time presentation at the Institute on the Constitution in Pasadena, Maryland. Joe Morecraft is a noted lecturer on contemporary political and historical trends in the United States and the world at large.
A picnic will begin at 5:30 p.m., with hot dogs, chips, and drinks provided, and guests if they want can bring a side dish or dessert.
Tickets to the event are free, and are available at:
http://www.iotconline.com/content.php?61-September-First-Friday
The lecture is additionally available as a live feed, accessible on the same web page.
+ Institute on the Constitution, 8028 Ritchie Highway Suite 211, Pasadena, Maryland 21122, 866-730-9796, Fax: 410-760-5642
[11] New Study Shows Homeschoolers Succeeding in College
An article in the Summer 2010 Journal of College Admission by Michael F. Cogan titled “Exploring Academic Outcomes of Homeschooled Students” reports major findings about home schooled students in college including:
-- Homeschoolers scored higher on the ACT (26.5) compared with the overall student body (25).
-- Homeschoolers earned more college credit (14.7) prior to their freshman year compared to the student body (6).
-- Homeschooled students earned a higher fall semester grade point average (GPA) (3.37) when compared to other freshman students (3.08).
-- Homeschooled students earned a higher first-year GPA (3.41) when compared to other freshman students (3.12).
-- Homeschooled students earned a higher fourth-year GPA (3.46) when compared to other freshman students who completed their fourth year (3.16).
-- Homeschooled students achieved a higher graduation rate (66.7 percent) when compared to the overall population (57.5 percent).
+ Home School Legal Defense Association, Post Office Box 3000, Purcellville, Virginia 20134, 540-338-5600
+ National Association for College Admission Counseling, 1050 North Highland Street, Suite 400, Arlington, Virginia 22201, 703/836-2222, 703/243-9375, info@nacacnet.org
