Wednesday, October 27, 2010

27 October 2010

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1]
Ninety-Nine-Year-Old Daughter of Canadian Expeditionary Force Private Killed in WWI to Receive Father’s Bible Found in 2009 at the Crown Court Church of Scotland in London, England

[2]
Is the ARP Second Presbytery’s Definition of ‘Civil Suit’ Dependent upon What the Meaning of the Word 'Is' Is? Or, Is the ARP Second Presbytery’s Definition of ‘The Word’ Dependent upon What the Meaning of ‘Civil Suit’ Isn’t?

[3]
Appeal in Property Lawsuit between FCS Church Trustees and FCSC Scheduled for 26 October 2010

[4]
PCA Church in Matthews, North Carolina, Denies Sponsored Cub Scout Pack Leadership to Mormon Parents of Two Pack Members

[5]
PCUSA Israel/Palestine Mission Network Calls for Boycotts on Goods Produced in “Illegal Israeli Settlements” in “Occupied Palestinian Territories”

[6]
Evangelical Church of the River Plate (IERP) and the Reformed Churches in Argentina (IRA) Merge on 9 October 2010 at the IERP 39th Synod Conference

[7]
The Presbyterian Guardian Archives Now Available Online

[8]
James Madison University Sociology Professor Publishes The United Church of Christ in the Shenandoah Valley: Liberal Church, Traditional Congregations

[9]
Hungarian Reformed Church of Lorain and Hungarian Council of Lorain County [Ohio] Collecting Donations for ‘Red Sludge’ Victims in Hungary

[10]
Puritan Evangelical Church of America in Paradise Hills, California, Calls New Minister

[11]
Michigan Woman Charged with Housing Discrimination for Posting Ad Specifying a Christian Roommate on Church Bulletin Board

.

[Correction]

.

---

[1]
Ninety-Nine-Year-Old Daughter of Canadian Expeditionary Force Private Killed in WWI to Receive Father’s Bible Found in 2009 at the Crown Court Church of Scotland in London, England

An 18 October 2010 article by Andrew McGilligan in the Telegraph-Journal titled “A 99-Year-Old Daughter’s ‘Fairy Tale’” reports that a small version of the King James Bible was discovered 25 December 2009 in the vault of the Crown Court Church of Scotland in London, England, by Clerk of the Session Alan Imrie. On the Bible’s inside cover, Mr. Imrie found the name and military address of Pte. Samuel J. Small of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, and Mr. Imrie began a search to find Pte. Small’s family.

Pte. Samuel J. Small of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 26th Battalion was killed 28 September 1916 during the attempt to take Regina Trench during World War I.

An article about Pte. Small and the Bible was eventually placed in the Telegraph-Journal, and relatives of Pte. Small’s now ninety-nine-year-old daughter Annie Small Andrews came forward to claim the Bible. Arrangements are being made between family members of Annie Small Andrews and Mr. Imrie to return the Bible to Pte. Small’s daughter Annie.

Mr. Imrie hopes the return of the long-lost and forgotten Bible will bring comfort to Annie Small Andrews, commenting:

“We were hoping, at best, to find, possibly, grandchildren and had not even considered that Annie might still be with us.

“There's something very special about being able to reunite Annie with a relic of her father, especially one which appears to have his own muddy fingerprints. We had no expectation of finding one of his children still alive and this brings the story to a terrific climax.”


+ Telegraph-Journal, 210 Crown Street, Saint John, New Brunswick E2L 3V8, Canada, 506-633-5599, Contact Page

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


[2] Is the ARP Second Presbytery’s Definition of ‘Civil Suit’ Dependent upon What the Meaning of the Word 'Is' Is? Or, Is the ARP Second Presbytery’s Definition of ‘The Word’ Dependent upon What the Meaning of ‘Civil Suit’ Isn’t?

ARPTalk(36), published 21 October 2010 by the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Wilson, includes two articles regarding Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) presbyterial actions concerning two ARP teaching and ruling elders who filed a lawsuit against the ARP General Synod following the synod’s March 2010 stated meeting where several actions were taken by the synod regarding the size and makeup of the Erskine College and Theological Seminary (EC/ETS) Board of Trustees.

The article ARPTalk(36.2) - “First Presbytery Meeting: Buster Didn’t Cry or Howl!” presents a modern-day parable and a detailed review of the actions of the ARP First Presbytery described in the 20 October 2010 Presbyterians Week article “[2] ARP First Presbytery Moderator’s Committee Recommends Charges against ARP Ruling Elder Plaintiff in Erskine Suit against ARP General Synod.”

The article ARPTalk(36.1) – “Second Presbytery Meeting: The Parable of Maurice the Bank Robber” presents a modern-day parable and a detailed review of the
ARP Second Presbytery’s actions concerning ruling elder and Erskine College professor Dr. Jay Hering, who was listed as an Intervenor [litigate] on the 12 March 2010 Restraining Order against the ARP General Synod that forbade the synod from carrying out any of the actions voted upon at the March 2010 stated meeting.

Dr. Wilson writes:

“Interestingly, though no one seems to have gone to the Courthouse to check it out, it was reported that the secular court did not receive the above document because the suit the “intervenors” (legal term) attempted to continue had already been dropped and that the Hering/Bush/ Burnett/Chesnut motion was therefore “not filed.” Rather, it was reported that the court subsequently acted on the suit signed by Messrs. David Chesnut, Richard Taylor, and Parker Young filed the next week.”

So, on the purported basis of Dr. Herring’s et. al.’s lawsuit being “not filed,” the ARP Second Presbytery’s Minister and His Work Committee (MWC) decided that because Dr. Herring’s lawsuit was effectively handed-off to Messrs. David Chesnut, Richard Taylor, and Parker Young, that in regard to Dr. Herring: “No civil suit was accepted by the court and therefore all references to actions involving such a filing of civil suit are unfounded….” and that “…we believe Mr. Hering personally believed he was acting in a manner that best served the church and that he was not trying to subvert the decision of [the ARP] General Synod or disrupt the church.”

Dr. Wilson again writes:

“According to Second Presbytery, the filing of a document to sue one’s brothers in
civil court is not a violation of one’s ordination vow to submit to the courts of the church if the civil court does not respond. Something in the logic seems to get lost
here!”

Dr. Wilson reports that the motion to accept the MWC’s recommendations to not take any action against Dr. Herring was made by Mr. H. Neely Gaston, Executive Vice President of ETS, and seconded by Mr. Randy Ruble, former President of EC, both of whom were Dr. Hering’s superiors at the time he filed in civil court against the ARP Church.

Dr. Wilson closes:

“These are the words of Matthew 5:28:

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

“Do you suppose that one’s intentions are as important to Jesus as one’s actions? Well, Second Presbytery answered that with NO!

“Oh, an afterthought: Do you think that if John Wilkes Booth had missed Mr. Lincoln at Ford’s Theater and been captured, he would have been excused and dismissed with the court’s blessing?”


+ ARPTalk Blog, 864-882-6337, wilson6114@bellsouth.net

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

+ ARP First Presbytery, c/o Rev. Robert C. Wilson, D.Min., 4784 Styers Ferry Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104, 336-624-9529

+ ARP Second Presbytery, c/o the Rev, John D. Cook, 606 Arnall Street, Thomson, Georgia 30824, 706-595-4652

+ Erskine College, 2 Washington Street, Due West, South Carolina 29639, 864-379-2131, 864-379-2167, norman@erskine.edu


[3] Appeal in Property Lawsuit between FCS Church Trustees and FCSC Scheduled for 26 October 2010

A 19 October 2010 article in the
Stornoway Gazette titled “Free Church Dispute Goes to Court” reports that an appeal of the August 2009 ruling by the Hon. Lord Uist, a Judge of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, that found in favor of the Trustees of Strath (Broadford) Free Church of Scotland (FCS) in Skye, Scotland, and against the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FCSC), in a dispute over ownership of the Strath (Broadford) FCS property.

At the FCS Commission of Assembly in 2000, the majority of ministers and elders in attendance chose not to carry out their responsibilities as defined in the FCS Constitution in a matter regarding church discipline. Several of the ministers and elders disagreeing with the refusal of the majority to carry out their church court responsibilities signed a 'Declaration of Reconstitution' in which they pledged themselves to continue the Free Church in a constitutional manner, and thus began the FCSC.

The FCSC then claimed the assets of the breakaway churches, reasoning that their exit from the FCS was justified. A 2005 Court of Session decision rejected the FCSC position and awarded all of the disputed assets to the FCS. The August 2009 decision, concerning the unique circumstances of the Strath
(Broadford) FCS property, reiterated the 2005 decision and again rejected FCSC arguments and awarded the Strath (Broadford) FCS property to the FCS.


+ Stornoway Gazette, 10 Francis Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS12XE, Scotland, 01851-702-687, newsdesk@stornowaygazette.co.uk

+ 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

+ Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), Rev. John MacLeod, Free Church Manse, Portmahomack, Ross-shire, Scotland, mailto:principalclerk@fccontinuing.org?subject=


[4] PCA Church in Matthews, North Carolina, Denies Sponsored Cub Scout Pack Leadership to Mormon Parents of Two Pack Members

A 19 October 2010 article by Tom Breen in the Charlotte Observer titled “No Scout Leadership Post in NC for Mormon Parents” reports that the parents of two members of the Cub Scout Pack chartered by Christ Covenant Church (CCC) (Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)) in Matthews, North Carolina, Jeremy and Jodi Stokes, were denied leadership roles in the Cub Scout Pack because the family members belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a.k.a. the Mormons, because the sponsoring church does not consider Mormons to be Christians. The Stokes boys were allowed to remain in the Cub Scout Pack if the parents desired.

Mrs. Stokes commented: "I can't believe they had the audacity to say, 'You can't be leaders but we want your boys. Are you kidding me? Do you really think I'd let my boys go there now?"

A spokesman for CCC said in an 18 October 2010 e-mail that CCC was taking action to "assure that our parameters for leaders are clearly defined and well-communicated to volunteers and those interested in leadership roles for church sponsored programs such as the Boy Scouts." The CCC e-mail message included a link to a site explaining the differences between Mormon and historical Christian doctrine.


+ Charlotte Observer, 600 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, 704-358-5000, acaulkins@charlotteobserver.com

+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org

+ Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, Texas 75015, 972- 580-2219, Fax: 972-580-7823, cfrench@netbsa.org

+ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50 East North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150, 801-240-2640, Contact Page


[5] PCUSA Israel/Palestine Mission Network Calls for Boycotts on Goods Produced in “Illegal Israeli Settlements” in “Occupied Palestinian Territories”

The Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the
Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) voted at its recent annual meeting to join the international boycott of goods produced in what the IPMN terms “illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).”

The first targeted products for the boycott are Ahava Cosmetics, King Solomon Dates, and Jordan River Dates, imported into the United States from what the IPMN terms “illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.”

The IPMN also voted to identify companies profiting from what they call the “illegal military occupation,” and initiate dialogue with them and expand the boycott list if needed, at a later date. This action would include companies doing business in what the IPMN terms “the OPT or contributing to the building of infrastructure of illegal settlements.”


+ Israel-Palestine Mission Network, c/o Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Post Office Box 643700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15264, info@israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org

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


[6] Evangelical Church of the River Plate (IERP) and the Reformed Churches in Argentina (IRA) Merge on 9 October 2010 at the IERP 39th Synod Conference

Before 200 delegates at the 39th Synod Conference of the Evangelical Church of the River Plate (IERP) in Crespo, Entre Ríos,
Argentina, the IERP and the Reformed Churches in Argentina (IRA) merged into a new denomination that will continue to be called the Evangelical Church of the River Plate (IERP), with IRA churches conserving their identity as a group within the new structure.

The IERP, present in about 250 communities and with 25,000 members, was founded in 1899 by German-speaking immigrants. The IERP has churches in
Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

The IRA, founded in 1893 by Dutch-speaking immigrants, has 13 congregations and about 2,500 members.

The new denomination continues as a mission partner of the
Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), as were the two merging denominations.


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

+ La Iglesia Evangélica del Río de la Plata, Sucre 2855 3º, Piso (1428), Buenos Aires,
Argentina, 5411-4787-0436, Contact Page

+ Iglesias Reformadas en Argentina, 9 de julio 8267, Mar del Plata,
Argentina
B7606DAQ, 0223-4700130, Fax: 0223-4786568, Contact Page


[7] The Presbyterian Guardian Archives Now Available Online

The Presbyterian Guardian (1935-1979) was an important voice in the early years of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in its vigorous opposition to modernism and its proclamation and defense of Reformed orthodoxy. Established on the eve of the founding of the denomination, it was closely associated with the OPC, although it remained an independent magazine.

Editors of the Guardian during its forty-four-year publishing history included H. McAllister Griffiths, J. Gresham Machen, Ned B. Stonehouse, Charles J. Woodbridge, Paul Woolley, Leslie W. Sloat, Robert E. Nicholas, John J. Mitchell, and J. Cameron Fraser.

The Presbyterian Guardian Archives are available at:

http://www.opc.org/guardian.html


+ The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 North Easton Road, Building E, Box P, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 19090, 215-830-0900, Fax: 215-830-0350


[8] James Madison University Sociology Professor Publishes The United Church of Christ in the Shenandoah Valley: Liberal Church, Traditional Congregations

James Madison University Professor of Sociology Hilquias B. Cavalcanti in August 2010 published The United Church of Christ in the Shenandoah Valley: Liberal Church, Traditional Congregations, which publisher Lexington Books describes as follows:

“While congregational studies have expanded our understanding of American religion, little is known about the local practices of a single denomination at its smallest jurisdiction. This book explores how national denominational commitments are affecting the practices of local United Church of Christ congregations inside a single association in the Shenandoah Valley. Nationally, the UCC defines itself as a united and uniting church in its ecumenical work; as multiracial and multicultural in its diversity; as accessible to all in welcoming those with disabilities; as open and affirming for its [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual] members; and as a just peace church in its support of social justice. So, how fully have local congregations embraced these commitments? Might congregations be more attached to their older identities, particularly in areas where the church's predecessors were strongly rooted? Or are the national church's commitments being lived out at the grassroots level? The book measures congregational life in one of the UCC's oldest and smallest associations. Books on congregational studies either focus on a case study of a particular congregation, or large-scale surveys of U.S. congregations that explore aggregate data to explain their work. This book looks instead at a group of local congregations inside a small judicatory (the Shenandoah Association) of the United Church of Christ to explain religious life at the grassroots level.”


+ Lexington Books, 4501 Forbes Boulevard Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706, 301-459-3366, Fax: 301-429-5748, lexingtonbooks@rowman.com

+ James Madison University, 800 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807, 540-568-6211, Contact Form

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

+ Shenandoah Association of the Central Atlantic Conference - United Church of Christ, 358 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801, 540-432-0973, Fax: 540-432-6291, shenucc@aol.com

+ Central Atlantic Conference, 916 South Rolling Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, 410-788-4190, Fax: 410-788-9485, ajones@cacucc.org


[9] Hungarian Reformed Church of Lorain and Hungarian Council of Lorain County [Ohio] Collecting Donations for ‘Red Sludge’ Victims in Hungary

A 22 October 2010 article by Ron Vidika in The Morning Journal titled “Lorain Hungarian Leaders Set Up Victims’ Fund” reports that the Hungarian Reformed Church of Lorain and the Hungarian Federation of Lorain County [
Ohio] have created a fund for helping the victims of the 4 October 2010 ‘Red Sludge’ disaster in Hungary that killed nine persons and caused chemical burns to another 150 persons. Other persons have been left homeless by the flow of caustic red sludge from a metals plant explosion that engulfed the towns of Kolontar, Devecser and Somlovasarhely, located about 100 miles west of the capital city of Budapest, Hungary.

Donations can be sent to the “Sludge Flood Relief” at the Hungarian Reformed Church, 1691 East 31st Street,
Lorain, Ohio 44055, USA.


+ The Morning Journal, 1657 Broadway Avenue,
Lorain, Ohio 44052, 440-245-6901, tskoch@morningjournal.com

+
Calvin Synod, C/O Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, General Secretary, 7319 Tapper Avenue, Hammond, Indiana 46324, 219-931-4321, kkludwig@aol.com


[10] Puritan Evangelical Church of America in Paradise Hills, California, Calls New Minister

The Puritan Evangelical Church of America [Independent] of Paradise Hills (
San Diego), California, recently called Grant Van Leuven as pastor. Mr. Van Leuvan will be ordained and installed as minister of the Word and sacraments at a 6:30 p.m. service on November 5, 2010, to be followed by a dinner reception.

Mr. Van Leuven graduated in May 2010 from the
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a Master of Divinity degree.

Preaching for the ordination service will be the Rev. Jeffrey Stivason of Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church (
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America) in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Van Leuven did his year-long pastoral internship.

The ordination service is open to the public. Registration is required for the dinner reception.


+ Puritan Evangelical Church of America, 6374 Potomac Street, San Diego, California 92139, 619-479-5053, pastor@puritanchurch.com

+ Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 7418 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-8690, Fax: 412-731-4834, info@rpts.edu

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


[11] Michigan Woman Charged with Housing Discrimination for Posting Ad Specifying a Christian Roommate on Church Bulletin Board

A 22 October 2010 article by Nathan Black in
The Christian Post titled “Christian Roommate Seeker Accused of Discrimination” reports that a thirty-one-year-old, single Michigan woman was charged with housing discrimination by the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan after she posted an ad for a “Christian” roommate on the woman’s church bulletin board. The civil rights complaint, filed in July 2010, accuses the woman of posting "an advertisement which contained the following sentence: ‘I am looking for a Christian roommate.’”

Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster, who is representing the woman, said in a 21 October 2010 statement:

"It is completely absurd to try to penalize a single Christian woman for privately seeking a Christian roommate at church – an obviously legal and constitutionally protected activity.

"Not content to just lock Christians and their beliefs into the four walls of their church or home, some groups also want to invade those walls and force their own ideas upon them by force of law."


+
The Christian Post, National Press Building, 529 14th Street Northwest, Suite 420, Washington DC 20045, 202-347-7734, info@christianpost.com

+
Alliance Defense Fund, 15100 North 90th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, 800-835-5233, Fax: 480-444-0025

+ Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, 20 Hall Street Southeast,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507, 616-451-2980, Fax: 616-451-2657, contact-us@fhcwm.org


[Correction]

In the 20 October 2010 Presbyterians Week article "[11] Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy Protection," the date of the Rev. Robert H. Schuller's sermon two days after the senior Schuller removed from the pulpit son the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, who had been preaching Scripture-laden sermons, and where the senior Schuller said:

I was called to start a mission, not a church…You don’t try to preach…what is sin and what isn’t sin. A mission is a place where you ask nonbelievers to come and find faith and hope and feel love.”

was 27 October 2008.


Wednesday, October 20, 2010

20 October 2010


Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] PCA Stated Clerk and Administrative Committee in Full Court Press to Influence Positive Presbytery Votes on Proposed Constitutional Changes Regarding Administrative Committee Funding

[2] ARP First Presbytery Moderator’s Committee Recommends Charges against ARP Ruling Elder Plaintiff in Erskine Suit against ARP General Synod

[3] PCUSA Synod of Lakes and Prairies Permanent Judicial Commission Approves John Knox Presbytery Ordination Approval for Active Homosexual Minister

[4] Reformed Church in Hungary Representatives Meet with Church of Scotland Climate Change Office in Edinburgh, Scotland, Week of 4 October 2010

[5] Church of Scotland Places Greyfriars John Knox Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, Up for Sale, for Conversion to Residences, Offices, or Other Purposes

[6] Presbyterian Church in Canada Collecting Donations for Hungarian Reformed Church Aid to Red Mud Disaster in Hungary

[7] Federal Grand Jury Investigating Church Bible Study Group Attended by Killer of Abortionist George Tiller

[8] International John Calvin Website Launched by World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches

[9] Meeting Jesus at the Feast: Israel's Festivals and the Gospel by John Sittema Published by the Reformed Fellowship

[10] 2010 Young and Reformed Worldview Conference Scheduled 22-23 October 2010 at Corinth Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan

[11] Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy Protection

---

[1] PCA Stated Clerk and Administrative Committee in Full Court Press to Influence Positive Presbytery Votes on Proposed Constitutional Changes Regarding Administrative Committee Funding

With the 16 October 2010 unanimous vote of the
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)’s Illiana Presbytery and the unanimous with one abstention 19 October 2010 vote of the PCA’s South Florida Presbytery to reject proposed changes to the Book of Church Order (BCO) sections 14.1 and 14.2 regarding a new funding plan for the PCA Administrative Committee (AC), the aggregate PCA presbyterial vote to date is twelve presbyteries rejecting the proposed BCO changes and five presbyteries approving the changes.

The negative momentum to-date of PCA presbytery voting on the proposed BCO 14.1 and 14.2 changes has drawn the concern of PCA Stated Clerk Roy Taylor and the PCA AC, and a full court press is now underway by both administrative parties in an effort to reverse the momentum.

PCA Stated Clerk Roy Taylor on 14 October 2010 sent an email to PCA presbytery clerks with links to PCA AC funding plan information, a copy of Mr. Taylor’s rebuttal to Dr. Dominic Aquila’s concerns, and with an offer to have an AC representative attend presbytery meetings. Mr. Taylor is scheduled to attend the 26 October 2010 stated meeting of the
Central Carolina Presbytery, and is reported to be attending other upcoming PCA presbytery meetings.

Mr. John W. Robinson, a member of the PCA AC, on 15 October 2010 sent an email to PCA presbytery clerks describing opposition to the proposed amendments as a “grievous reality” and characterizing those in opposition to the amendments as employing “fears and misinformation [that] are leading to confusion as men discuss and begin to vote on the AC Funding Plan BCO Amendments.” Mr. Robinson further urges presbyteries to postpone their votes on the amendments, as “some [unwise] parties are urging a quick vote on the basis that all of this is too confusing,” and references Proverbs 2:1-15 and James 1:19 as supporting Scripture.


+
Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org

+ Illiana Presbytery, pastor@newharmonycolumbia.com

+ South Florida Presbytery, 950 University Drive, Coral Gables,
Florida 33134, 305-323-7495, Contact Page

+
Central Carolina Presbytery, 520 Willow Brook Drive, Matthews, North Carolina
, 28105, 704-519-7076, clerk@cccpa.net


[2] ARP First Presbytery Moderator’s Committee Recommends Charges against ARP Ruling Elder Plaintiff in Erskine Suit against ARP General Synod

A 14 October 2010 article in
The Aquila Report (TAR) titled “First Presbytery (ARP) Report of Moderator’s Committee to Investigate Possible Charges against Ruling Elder Parker Youngconsists of what TAR believes to be the charges and accompanying information from the 12 October 2010 report of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) First Presbytery’s Moderator’s Committee regarding Pinecrest ARP Church of Flat Rock, North Carolina, Ruling Elder Dr. Parker Young’s role as a plaintiff in the March 2009 lawsuit by Erskine College against the ARP General Synod.

The charges made against Dr. Young by the Moderator’s Committee are, 1) Disregard of God’s Word, and 2) the breaking of [Dr. Young’s] ordination vows.

Excerpts from the report include:

“Although the lawsuit has been dismissed, Dr. Young has refused to acknowledge his sins or repent of them. He continues a willful obdurate refusal to submit not only to Christ and His authority, (1 Corinthians 6:1-8), but also to the authority of the General Synod and First Presbytery in this matter. Dr. Young told the Chairman “He had no regrets about his actions because he felt it was an emergency situation and he would do it again.” He said, “He did what he had to do and stands before God with a clear conscience.” He said that he “believes Erskine would have lost its accreditation had he not brought the lawsuit.” He said his action “has made it easier for others to take similar legal action on other future matters within the denomination should the need arise.” He said “he resigned as elder because he was not willing to be a part of any investigation.” He said “he has taught law for thirty-five years and he stands by his testimony that he made in civil court. He said “men had come into the ARP denomination who were intolerant and something had to be done to stop them and the law suit accomplished that.” Dr. Young said “he believes the majority of the [ARP] Church agrees with what he did and most are appalled that [First] Presbytery would try and discipline him.” He said “he had to break the law in order to bring about good for Erskine.”

“In summary, Dr. Young sinned against God and His Church by disregarding the Word of God found in 1st Corinthians 6:1-8. He sinned against God and His Church by breaking his ordination vows connected to the Authority of the Word of God, and he did those things not only as an elder but also as a member of the Pinecrest ARP. Church.”

“The Moderator’s Committee upon completion of its investigation recommends First Presbytery to:

“1. That the Presbytery direct the Moderator to appoint a Commission to begin the trial procedure on the above named charges against Dr. Parker Young as prescribed in the Book of Discipline Chapter V, Section 5 ( c ) and that the report of this committee be used as the “charges for presentation against Dr. Parker Young by First Presbytery as stated under Chapter V Section 5 ( c ).

“2. That the preliminary report and this full report be approved.

“3. That this Moderators Committee be excused from further duties on this issue.”

A 13 October 2010 article by Don K. Clements in
The Aquila Report titled “First Presbytery (ARP) rejects report recommending charges against an Erskine College Board Ruling Elder” reports that the ARP First Presbytery voted to reject the recommendations of the Moderator’s Committee, and instead remand the matter to the session of Pinecrest ARP Church for consideration and possible action.


+
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

+ ARP First Presbytery, c/o Rev. Robert C. Wilson, D.Min., 4784 Styers Ferry Road,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104, 336-624-9529

+
Erskine College, 2 Washington Street, Due West, South Carolina 29639, 864-379-2131, 864-379-2167, norman@erskine.edu



[3] PCUSA Synod of Lakes and Prairies Permanent Judicial Commission Approves John Knox Presbytery Ordination Approval for Active Homosexual Minister

A 12 October 2010 article in The Layman Online titled “Synod Backs Presbytery in Anderson Ordination” reports that the
Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Synod of Lakes and Prairies Permanent Judicial Commission on 8 October 2010 affirmed the action by John Knox Presbytery to approve the ordination of active homosexual candidate Scott Anderson, who previously declared a scruple of the PCUSA’s fidelity-chastity requirement, claiming that his nineteen-year partnership with another man is not a violation of Scripture, the PCUSA Book of Confessions, or the standards set forth in the PCUSA Book of Order.

Anderson characterizes the PCUSA’s fidelity-chastity requirement as a “grievous misapplication of Biblical teaching in the case of gay and lesbian believers who are in faithful, covenanted, lifelong partnerships.”


+
Presbyterian Lay Committee, Post Office Box 2210, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645, 828-758-8716, Fax: 828-758-0920, laymanletters@layman.org

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

+ Synod of Lakes and Prairies, 2115 Cliff Drive, Eagan,
Minnesota 55122, 651-357-1140, Fax: 800-328-1880, office@lakesandprairies.org

+ John Knox Presbytery, 1289 West Seminary Street, Richland Center, Wisconsin 53581, 608-647-8828, Fax: 608-647-3386, jkp@jknox.org


[4] Reformed Church in Hungary Representatives Meet with Church of Scotland Climate Change Office in Edinburgh, Scotland, Week of 4 October 2010

Representatives from the Reformed Church in Hungary met at the Church of Scotland (COS) offices in Edinburgh, Scotland, the week of 4 October 2010 with members of the COS Climate Change Project to discuss possible cooperative measures and to hear about the extent of church involvement in grassroots environmental issues in Hungary.


+
Eco-Congregation Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-240-2274, scotland@ecocongregation.org

+
Reformed Church in Hungary, MRE Zsinata1146 Budapest, Abonyi u. 21., Hungary, 30-3361-666, info@reformatus.hu

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


[5] Church of Scotland Places Greyfriars John Knox Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, Up for Sale, for Conversion to Residences, Offices, or Other Purposes

A 14 October 2010 article by Rebecca Buchan in the
Press and Journal titled “Old Churches for Sale May Change Skyline” reports that the Church of Scotland (COS) has put up for sale a portfolio of buildings including the Greyfriars John Knox Church is Aberdeen, Scotland, which is being touted for potential conversion to residences, offices, or other uses, for a listed price of UK£1.27 million.

The COS earlier announced that up to one-half of the Kirk’s 3000 buildings may have to be sold.


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

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


[6] Presbyterian Church in Canada Collecting Donations for Hungarian Reformed Church Aid to Red Mud Disaster in Hungary

The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Presbyterian World Service and Development relief agency is accepting donations to support the response of Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, the development arm of the Reformed Church in Hungary, to the “Red Mud” disaster in Hungary.

Directions for making donations are available:

http://www.presbyterian.ca/pcconnect/daily/5484


+
The Presbyterian Church in Canada , 50 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7, 416-441-1111, Fax: 416-441-2825, skendall@presbyterian.ca

+ Hungarian Reformed Church Aid Public Benefit Foundation, 1146 Budapest, Hungária krt. 200., 36-1-460-0747


+ Reformed Church in Hungary, MRE Zsinata1146 Budapest, Abonyi u. 21., Hungary, 30-3361-666, info@reformatus.hu


[7] Federal Grand Jury Investigating Church Bible Study Group Attended by Killer of Abortionist George Tiller

An 11 October 2010 article by Kathleen Gilbert of LifeSiteNews.com titled “Grand Jury Grills Tiller Murderer's Bible Study Group” reports that a federal grand jury in Kansas City,
Kansas, has called to testify six members of the church Bible study group attended by Scott Roeder, the killer of abortionist George Tiller. Roeder currently is serving a life sentence for the first degree murder of abortionist George Tiller.

Tim Parks, a Bible study group member and former roommate of Scott Roeder's, described his grand jury questioning:

“Based on the questions they asked, they are looking into whether others were involved. It appeared to me that they are trying to find or fabricate a conspiracy.”


+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, Post Office Box 25382, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220, 866-787-9947, lsn@lifesitenews.com


[8] International John Calvin Website Launched by World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches

The
World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches have launched a new international website devoted to resources about John Calvin:

www.john-calvin.org.

The new website of the
World Communion of Reformed Churches is:

www.wcrc.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

+
Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Sulgenauweg 26, Bern 23, Switzerland, 41-31-370-25-25, Fax: 41-31-370-25-80, info@calvin09.org


[9] Meeting Jesus at the Feast: Israel's Festivals and the Gospel by John Sittema Published by the Reformed Fellowship

Meeting Jesus at the Feast: Israel's Festivals and the Gospel by John Sittema has been published by the Reformed Fellowship, and illustrates how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament feasts.

Dr. John R. Sittema is Senior Pastor of Christ Church (
Presbyterian Church in America) in Jacksonville, Florida, and is Adjunct Professor of Ministerial Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in
Dyer, Indiana.


+ Reformed Fellowship, Inc., 3363 Hickory Ridge Court Southwest, Wyoming,
Michigan 49418, 616-532-8510, office@reformedfellowship.net

+
Mid-America Reformed Seminary, 229 Seminary Drive,
Dyer, Indiana 46311, 219-864-2400, Fax: 219-864-2410, cvenema@midamerica.edu

+
Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org


[10] 2010 Young and Reformed Worldview Conference Scheduled 22-23 October 2010 at Corinth Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan

The 2010 Young and Reformed Worldview Conference is scheduled for 22-23 October 2010 at the Corinth Reformed Church (
Reformed Church in America) in Byron Center, Michigan.

Conference speakers include Kevin DeYoung, Mike Wittmer, And David Murray.

Detailed conference information is available:

http://www.corinthreformed.org/content.cfm?id=2158


+ Corinth Reformed Church, 129 100th Street Southeast,
Byron Center, Michigan 49315, 616-877-4652, Contact Page

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


[11] Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy Protection

An 18 October 2010 article by Michael Ireland of ASSIST News Service titled “Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy Protection” reports that the Crystal Cathedral, the mega-church founded by the Rev. Robert H. Schuller in 1956 in a drive-in theater, has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Mr. Ireland cites a January 2010
Los Angeles Times report saying that church revenues began falling off after the Rev Robert A. Schuller, son of the church’s founding pastor, left the Crystal Cathedral ministry in 2008 after having disagreements with the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, who had earlier made the Rev. Robert A. Schuller senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral after the senior Schuller’s retirement.

Current Crystal Cathedral leader Sheila Schuller Coleman, daughter of the Rev. Robert H. Schuller and sister of the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, said the bankruptcy declaration "is just one more chapter in the book that He is continuing to write -- and we know that God's plans are good -- we have no doubt His chapter will be good!"

Article
[7] Rev. Robert A. Schuller Removed as Senior Pastor of Crystal Cathedral by Rev. Robert H. Schullerin the 29 October 2008 issue of Presbyterians Week cited a Crystal Cathedral church member who said that she preferred the younger Schuller’s Scripture-laden sermons, and quoted the senior Schuller’s 27 October 2010 sermon given two days after removing the Rev. Robert A. Schuller from the pulpit:

“I was called to start a mission, not a church…You don’t try to preach…what is sin and what isn’t sin. A mission is a place where you ask nonbelievers to come and find faith and hope and feel love.”


+
Assist USA , Post Office Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, 949-380-1558, danjuma1@aol.com

+
Los Angeles Times, 202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California 90012, 213-237-5000, Fax: 213-237-7679, Contact Page

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


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

13 October 2010

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1]
Sioux City, Iowa, Church Campaign to Oust Three Iowa Supreme Court Justices Garners Attention of Americans United for Separation of Church and State

[2] Tax-Funded Art Exhibit in Loveland, Colorado, Depicted Jesus Christ in an Act of Homosexual Sodomy

[3] PCUSA General Assembly Mission Council Apologizes to Thirty Mostly Former Missionary Children Physically or Sexually Abused in Schools, Boarding Facilities, Etc.

[4] Charlotte, North Carolina PCUSA Church "Thanksgiving of All God's Creatures" Service in Honor of World Animal Day

[5] First Presbyterian Church of Croswell, Michigan, Hosts Community Churches and Businesses-Sponsored Coat Giveaway to More Than 200 People

[6] PCUSA Presbytery of Albany Unsuccessful in Closing Watervliet, New York, Church with US$169,000+ Endowment

[7] Presbyterian Church in Cuba Growing through Neighborhood Emphasis

[8] Free Church of Scotland Announces 2011 Moderator Designate

[9] Calvin Theological Seminary Professor Asks Convocation “Church Planters or Undertakers?”

[10] Mid-Michigan Conference on Reformed Theology Scheduled for 30 October 2010 at the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Flint, Michigan

[11] 3rd Annual Colorado Springs Reformation Day Conference Scheduled 29-31 October 2010

[12] October 2010 Reformation Voice Available for Download

---

[1]
Sioux City, Iowa Church Campaigning to Oust Three Iowa Supreme Court Justices Garners Attention of Americans United for Separation of Church and State

In 1962, Iowa amended its constitution to end the direct election of judges and substitute a system where Iowa Supreme Court (ISC) judges are appointed to an eight-year term, then face a retention vote in the general election where a majority of the electorate decides yea or nay on whether the judge gets to serve another eight year term. Other Iowa judges are appointed to a six-year term before facing a retention vote.

In April 2009, all seven justices of the ISC ruled against the Iowa Defense of Marriage Act, contending that the legislation violated the equal protection clause of the constitution. Three of the seven ISC justices face a retention vote in the upcoming November 2010 general election, and are facing organized efforts to unseat the three judges from the ISC.

One of the campaigns, called “Operation Jeremiah,” has been launched by the Rev. Cary Gordon, a pastor at Cornerstone World Outreach (CWO) in Sioux City, Iowa. A 3 September 2010 letter on CWO stationary signed by Pastor Gordon was sent to Iowa pastors, urging them to join Operation Jeremiah and encouraging congregation members voting in the November election to vote against retaining the three justices.

A 30 September 2010 article by Jason Hancock in The Iowa Independent (TII) titled “Sioux City Pastor Responds to Calls for IRS Investigation” reports that a statement sent to TII by the Rev. Cary Gordon said that Christians “do not and cannot recognize, with regard to the definition of marriage, the imaginary authority of the Iowa Supreme Court.”

Pastor Gordon continued: “History has already shown who inevitably wins when state wages war against the authority of the church of the living God. So let the battle between state and church begin. True pastors, in the fashion of Christ, will not and cannot bow before the arrogance of Caesar and Herod. We have learned from our past mistakes. We will not repeat the mistake made by Lutheran pastors when confronted with German fascism….When we speak of our deepest core Christian beliefs in a public forum, we are often accused of ‘shoving our religion down people’s throats.’ When we speak of those exact same beliefs inside our own churches, we are often accused of ‘bringing politics into the church.’ We tire of the hypocrisy of those who seek to ensconce secular humanism as the state religion of the United States of America, in violation of the original intent of the First Amendment.”

A 30 September 2010 press release in response to the actions of Pastor Gordon and CWO by the Rev. Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State stated:

“I don’t think I have ever seen a more outrageous effort to politicize churches. This deplorable scheme seeks to turn houses of worship into dens of inequity and intolerance. I call on the [Internal Revenue Service (IRS)] to move swiftly to put a stop to this outrage.

“It’s bad enough that the leaders of this church are using donations from the collection plate to fund a hardball political operation. It’s even more appalling that they are doing so in a bigoted attempt to deny civil rights to a targeted minority. This is downright shameful.”

Lynn sent a complaint to the IRS, along with a copy of Pastor Gordon’s 3 September 2010 letter to Iowa churches, that stated: “I believe this is a clear violation of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal tax law forbids 501(c)(3) organizations [non-profit charities], including churches, from intervening in elections in support of or opposition to any candidate. I urge you to investigate this matter promptly and apply appropriate penalties under the law.”


+ The Iowa Independent, c/o The American Independent, 1825 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Suite 625, Washington DC 20009, 202-387-3669, Fax: 202-387-3673, hanaa@tainews.org

+ Iowa Supreme Court, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319,
515-281-3952, Contact Page

+ Americans United for Separation of Church and State, 518 C Street Northeast, Washington DC 20002, 202-466-3234, Fax: 202-466-2587, americansunited@au.org

+ Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20224, 202-622-5164, Fax: 202-622-8653


[2] Tax-Funded Art Exhibit in Loveland, Colorado, Depicted Jesus Christ in an Act of Homosexual Sodomy

A 4 October 2010 article by Diane Macedo of Fox News titled “Art Exhibit Depicting Jesus in a Sex Act Sparks Outrage in Colorado” reports that the tax-funded Loveland Museum Gallery in Loveland, Colorado, is hosting an art exhibit that includes a 2003 lithograph by Enrique Chagoya titled "The Misadventures of the Romantic Cannibals," which includes an image of Jesus Christ in an act of homosexual sodomy.

A 10 October 2010 article by Dan Frosch in the New York Times titled “Provocative Image of Christ Sets Off a Debate Punctuated With a Crowbar” reports that on 9 October 2010, Montana truck driver Kathleen Folden, wearing a tee shirt reading “My Savior Is Tougher Than Nails” entered the Loveland Museum Gallery, smashed the Plexiglas case holding the “Misadventures” lithograph, then ripped up the lithograph. Kathleen Folden told police that she had driven to Loveland from Montana with the sole purpose of destroying the lithograph. When asked by other museum visitors why she had destroyed the lithograph, Ms. Folden answered: “Because it desecrates my Lord.” Ms. Folden faces a fourth-degree felony criminal mischief charge, and was released 7 October 2010 on an anonymously posted US$350 cash bond.

In a related matter, a 4 November 2009 article by Martin Williams in The Herald titled “Christians Protest At Portrayal Of Jesus As Transsexual Woman” reports on a play titled “Jesus, Queen of Heaven” being performed at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland, which has transsexual Jo (formerly John) Clifford portraying Jesus Christ, with crucifixion wounds and a halo, as a man that wants to become a woman.

The play is produced by Glasgay!, supported by the Glasgow City Council quasi-government agency Culture and Sport Glasgow, which is the same organization that produced a 2009 art exhibit at the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow titled “Made in God’s Image,” consisting of a Bible and a container of pens along with an notice to visitors saying, “If you feel you have been excluded from the Bible, please write your way back into it.” The writings of the exhibit visitors included obscenities and profanities toward God, and satire of Genesis 1:1.


+ Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, 888-369-4762, Fax: 212-462-6127, yourquestions@foxnews.com

+ New York Times, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018, 212-556-1234, executive-editor@nytimes.com

+ Loveland Museum Gallery, 503 North Lincoln Avenue, Loveland, Colorado 80537, 970-962-2410

+ The Herald, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland G2 3QB, 0141- 302-7000, Fax: 0141-302-7117, On-lineEditor@theherald.co.uk


[3] PCUSA General Assembly Mission Council Apologizes to Thirty Mostly Former Missionary Children Physically or Sexually Abused in Schools, Boarding Facilities, Etc.

Leaders of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) (PCUSA)'s General Assembly Mission Council apologized 8 October 2010 to thirty people who were physically or sexually abused between 1950 and 1990 in overseas mission situations, many of which were schools or boarding facilities. Most who were abused were minors whose parents served as mission workers.


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


[4] Charlotte, North Carolina PCUSA Church "Thanksgiving of All God's Creatures" Service in Honor of World Animal Day

A 10 October 2010 article by Jessica Milicevic in The Charlotte Observer titled “A Prayer for All Animals” reports that on 4 October 2010, Trinity Presbyterian Church (TPC) (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) of Charlotte, North Carolina, held an outdoor "Thanksgiving of All God's Creatures" service in honor of World Animal Day where fifty dogs and one cat were blessed by a prayer led by the Rev. D.C. Horne, followed by each animal’s name being called to receive a certificate.

Suzanne Hair, chairwoman of the events committee for TPC, said the day is similar to the Roman Catholic Church's Blessing of the Animals ceremony, celebrated on 4 October in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.


+ The Charlotte Observer, 600 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, 704-358-5000, acaulkins@charlotteobserver.com

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

+ The Vatican, Città del Vaticano, Rome, Italy, 39-6-69-88-35-11, Fax: 39-6-69-88-54-47, Contact Page


[5] First Presbyterian Church of Croswell, Michigan, Hosts Community Churches and Businesses-Sponsored Coat Giveaway to More Than 200 People

A 10 October 2010 article by Crystal Garcia in The Times Herald titled “'Coats for Kids' Warms the Area” reports that on 8-9 October 2010, First Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) of Croswell, Michigan, hosted a 'Coats for Kids' event where 225 coats and other winter apparel were distributed to more than 200 people.

‘Coats for Kids’ is a community project of thirteen churches and twelve businesses. One of the event volunteers pointed out that many of the people that received coats in previous years brought back the clothing that their kids had outgrown. Any clothing remaining after the event was to be passed on to the church hosting the coat giveaway the following weekend. Monetary donations are used to buy items for families at the event who could not find the clothing items that they needed.

+ The Times Herald, 911 Military Street, Port Huron, Michigan 48061, 810-985-7171, Contact Page


[6] PCUSA Presbytery of Albany Unsuccessful in Closing Watervliet, New York, Church with US$169,000+ Endowment

A 6 October 2010 article by Danielle Sanzone in The Record titled “Watervliet Congregation Takes Back Its Church, Joins New Presbytery” reports that the Jermain Memorial Presbyterian Church (JMPC) (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) in Watervliet, New York, was closed in May 2010 by the Albany Presbytery, who changed the locks and padlocked the church due to what the presbytery said was declining membership. One of the church members though, pointed out that the PCUSA had been making similar closures throughout the U.S. with at least one thing in common – a substantial endowment - US$169,000+ in JMPC’s case.

The congregation on 5 October 2010 reclaimed the church because a provision in the Jermain [original land owner] will had the property returned to the nearest family heir if the church ever ceased to be used. A possible heir that lives in New York City deeded the church back to the congregation in March 2010, but the matter is still in process at the New York Supreme Court.

The Albany Presbytery denied that they are after the JMPC endowment, and contend that the JMPC celebration is premature. The presbytery though, has not so far contested the March 2010 deed ceding the church back to its congregation.

The congregation has renounced the jurisdiction of the Albany Presbytery and the PCUSA, and has presumably joined the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, termed the “Evangelical Presbytery” in the The Record article.


+ The Record, 501 Broadway, Troy, New York 12180, 518-270-1200, 518-270-1251, jimmurphy@journalregister.com

+ Albany Presbytery, 1915 Fifth Avenue, Troy, New York 12180, 518-273-4991, info@albanypresbytery.org

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

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


[7] Presbyterian Church in Cuba Growing through Neighborhood Emphasis

In a 9 October 2010 entry in the General Assembly Mission Council’s Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study, regional liaison for the Caribbean, with special attention to Cuba and the Caribbean and North American Council for Mission, the Rev. Tricia Lloyd-Sidle, writes that churches in the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba (PRCC) attribute their growth to their emphasis on ministry activities within their own neighborhoods.

Ms. Lloyd-Sidle continues, “…these efforts are labor intensive and require little, if any, money. Neighbors are invited to all church activities; sanctuary doors are open during the week, with members on hand to greet visitors; medicines and food, when available, are generously shared with needy families.”

Other PRCC churches provide counseling services, along with home prayer and Bible study meetings where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to neighbors and friends.


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

+ Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba, Salud # 222 e/ Lealtad y Campanario, Ciudad Habana, C.P. 10200,
Cuba, 53-7-862-1219, Fax: 53-7-866-8819, presbit@enet.cu


[8] Free Church of Scotland Announces 2011 Moderator Designate

A 7 October 2010 article in the Stornoway Gazette Titled “Free Church Announce Moderator Designate” reports that the Free Church of Scotland (FCS) has announced the Rev. James Maciver, minister of Knock Free Church, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, as the FCS Moderator Designate for 2011.


+ Stornoway Gazette, 10 Francis Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS12XE, Scotland, 01851-702-687, newsdesk@stornowaygazette.co.uk

+ 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


[9] Calvin Theological Seminary Professor Asks Convocation “Church Planters or Undertakers?”

In a 9 September 2010 Convocation at Calvin Theological Seminary for new and returning students, Associate Professor of Old Testament the Rev. Carl Bosma presented a message titled “Church Planters or Undertakers?” where he lamented the overwhelming lack of church growth in the U.S., asking if it is because seminaries are turning out graduates who are good preachers and can serve as the resident theologians of their churches, instead of graduating ministers whose heart and passion is to start new churches to help further the Kingdom of God.

Mr. Bosma commented: "This situation suggests that it is high time to focus our attention on evangelism and church planting.” The church needs to accept the fact that "the continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for the numerical growth of the body of Christ, the renewal of existing churches, and the overall impact of the church on the culture of any city."


+ Calvin Theological Seminary, 3201 Burton Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, 800-388-6034, Fax: 616-957-6101

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


[10] Mid-Michigan Conference on Reformed Theology Scheduled for 30 October 2010 at the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Flint, Michigan

The 2010 Mid-Michigan Conference on Reformed Theology is scheduled for 30 October 2010 at the Calvary Presbyterian Church (Evangelical Presbyterian Church) in Flint, Michigan.

Dr. Joel Beeke and Dr. David Murray will be speaking on the conference theme of “Reformation Family Living in the 21st Century.”

Tickets are US$12.00, and lunch will be provided for US$5.00. A link to the conference brochure with a registration form is available here:

http://reformingmichigan.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/mid-michigan-conference-on-reformed-theology/


+ Reforming Michigan, c/o Calvary Presbyterian Church, 6100 Richfield Road, Flint, Michigan 48506, 989-867-4451

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


[11] 3rd Annual Colorado Springs Reformation Day Conference Scheduled 29-31 October 2010

The 3rd annual Colorado Springs Reformation Day Conference is scheduled for 29-31 October 2010 at the Springs Reformed Church (Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA)) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Speaking on the conference theme “John Calvin: The Person, Pastor, & Professor” will be Dr. Richard C. Gamble, Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Further conference information will be available in the near future at:

http://csrdc.wordpress.com/


+ Colorado Springs Reformation Day Conference

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

+ Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 7418 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-8690, Fax: 412-731-4834, info@rpts.edu


[12] October 2010 Reformation Voice Available for Download

The October 2010 Reformation Voice on Lord's Day Two is available for download at the Heidelberg Reformation Association website.


+ Heidelberg Reformation Association, Rev. Howard Sloan, Secretary, 5543 Business 220, Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522