Presbyterians Week Headlines
[1] Christian Observer Highlights for December 2010
[2] Calvin Theological Seminary Professor Describes "Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism" by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops a Milestone in Protestant-Roman Catholic Ecumenical Relations
[3] World Communion of Reformed Churches Issues Congratulations to New Roman Catholic Cardinal
[4] Dutch Reformed Church-Inspired Burial Society Helps Rural Population in Botswana Pay for Funeral Expenses
[5] U.S. Federal Government’s Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery Current Exhibit Features Ant-Covered Crucified Jesus Video and Pornography
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[1] Christian Observer Highlights for December 2010
New articles for December 2010 in the Christian Observer include:
-- Can the Reformed Resurgence Fly in Grand Rapids? – by the Rev. Kevin DeYoung, Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church (Reformed Church in America) in East Lansing, Michigan - Asks a question appropriate for many Presbyterian and Reformed churches far from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and far from Dutch Reformed traditions;
-- The Marijuana Attack on Learning - by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Dr. Joe Renfro – Marijuana, the correlation between taking God out of the government schools and the rise of student drug abuse, and the connections between marijuana and pagan religions;
-- Annie Kate Aarnoutse Reviews Reformed Children's Books from Inheritance Publications – A blogger and homeschooling mother reviews several English translations of children’s books with a reformed perspective originally written in Dutch, available through Inheritance Publications;
-- After Time of Reflection, Dr. David Moshier Settles on Future Plans Featuring Writing and Publishing – Former Christian Observer staff editor the Rt. Rev. Dr. David Moshier announces the end of his current ministry as Superintendent of the United States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery in Washington DC and the publishing endeavors that Dr. Moshier will undertake in the next phase of his ministry;
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] Calvin Theological Seminary Professor Describes "Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism" by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops a Milestone in Protestant-Roman Catholic Ecumenical Relations
On 16 November 2010, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the document "Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism," which affirms that both Roman Catholic and Reformed Christians hold that baptism is the sacramental bond of unity for the Body of Christ, which is to be performed only once, by an authorized minister, with flowing water, using the scriptural Trinitarian formula of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA), the Reformed Church in America (RCA), the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and the United Church of Christ (UCC) participated with the Roman Catholic Church in the United States in the dialogue that produced this document.
Calvin Theological Seminary Professor of Systematic Theology Lyle D. Bierma described the agreement as a “milestone” in Protestant-Roman Catholic ecumenical relations, commenting:
"I am very pleased to see that they have done this. It is recognition of baptism being one of the foundation stones of the church. I see this document as a real historic milestone. We are recognizing here that properly performed baptisms done with water and under the name of the Trinity are coming out of these denominations."
Professor Bierma added that he hopes the document on baptism, a longer report on baptism, and a statement on and a report about Communion or the Eucharist will be presented to the CRCNA’s Synod 2011 by the denomination’s Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee.
Professor Bierma is one of the architects of the ecumenical document.
The PCUSA has already approved the agreement, and the CRC, the RCA, and the UCC have yet to approve the document.
+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org
+ Calvin Theological Seminary, 3201 Burton Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, 800-388-6034, Fax: 616-957-6101
+ Reformed Church in America, 4500 60th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, 800-968-6065, questions@rca.org
+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
+ United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, 216-736-2100, ogm@ucc.org
+ The Vatican, Città del Vaticano, Rome, Italy, 39-6-69-88-35-11, Fax: 39-6-69-88-54-47, Contact Page
[3] World Communion of Reformed Churches Issues Congratulations to New Roman Catholic Cardinal
The World Communion of Reformed Churches on 15 November 2010 issued congratulations to the former Roman Catholic Bishop of Basel, Switzerland, now Cardinal Koch, upon being elevated to the office of Cardinal.
The letter of congratulations reads as follows:
“Your Eminence,
“The World Communion of Reformed Churches wants to congratulate you on your elevation to the office of Cardinal.
“It is of great meaning that the Consistory is meeting in these days before Advent. The coming of Christ to this world confirms forever God’s work of bringing justice and peace and the call for us all to be part of that mission. This call that we Christians share brings us together in our desire for unity. We hope and pray that your leadership will further the cause of Christian unity.
“Over the years, the Reformed community has been in dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church. We were made aware of this history in the symposium Harvesting the Fruits honouring the work of your predecessor, Cardinal Kasper. We trust that under your leadership we can, and will, continue this dialogue. As you know, we have our first meeting planned for April next year.
“We look forward to meeting you in the coming time and send you our best wishes.”
+ 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
+ The Vatican, Città del Vaticano, Rome, Italy, 39-6-69-88-35-11, Fax: 39-6-69-88-54-47, Contact Page
[4] Dutch Reformed Church-Inspired Burial Society Helps Rural Population in Botswana Pay for Funeral Expenses
A 26 November 2010 article by Dubani Wa Dubani in The Voice titled “Burial Society Takes the Sting out of Death” reports on a group of women in the Kgatleng District of Botswana that have taken inspiration from the Dutch Reformed Church and have formed a Burial Society to help fellow society members pay for funeral expenses, and to provide spiritual and moral support to grieving families. The cooperative approach to paying funeral expenses is especially helpful to people in rural areas who have little money and no insurance.
+ The Voice, Plot 170, Unit 7, Gaborone International Commerce Park, Gaborone, Botswana, 267-3161585, Fax: 267-3932822, Contact Page
[5] U.S. Federal Government’s Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery Current Exhibit Features Ant-Covered Crucified Jesus Video and Pornography
A 29 November 2010 article by Penny Starr of Cybercast News Service titled “Smithsonian Christmas-Season Exhibit Features Ant-Covered Jesus, Naked Brothers Kissing, Genitalia, and Ellen DeGeneres Grabbing Her Breasts” reports that the U.S. Government Smithsonian Institute’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in Washington DC, is currently hosting an exhibit called “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” featuring a video of an ant-covered, crucified Jesus Christ, male genitals, naked brothers kissing, men in chains, Ellen DeGeneres grabbing her breasts, and a NPG-described "homoerotic" painting.
NPG historian and co-curator of the exhibit David C. Ward described the exhibit as one “that displays masterpieces of American portraiture and we wanted to illustrate how questions of biography and identity went into the making of images that are canonical.”
A plaque on the wall at the entrance to the exhibit says the NPG is “committed to showing how a major theme in American history has been the struggle for justice so that people and groups can claim their full inheritance in America’s promise of equality, inclusion, and social dignity. As America’s museum of national biography, the NPG is also vitally interested in the art of portrayal and how portraiture reflects our ideas about ourselves and others. These themes, historic and artistic, come together in ‘Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture,’ the first major exhibition to examine the influence of gay and lesbian artists in creating modern American portraiture. ‘Hide/Seek’ chronicles how, as outsiders, gay and lesbian artists occupied a position that turned to their advantage, making essential contributions to both the art of portraiture and to the creation of modern American culture."
A 30 November 2010 Fox News article titled “Smithsonian to Remove Ant-Covered Jesus on Cross Video From Exhibit” reports that the NPG is removing the ant-covered crucified Jesus Christ exhibit from the exhibit, denying that the video was “intentionally sacrilegious.”
+ Cybercast News Service, 325 South Patrick, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, 703-683-9733
+ Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, 888-369-4762, Fax: 212-462-6127, yourquestions@foxnews.com
