25 May 2011

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Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Christian Reformed Church in North America Continuing Aid to Spring 2011 Storm Victims

[2] Church of Scotland 2011 General Assembly Loosen Restrictions on Homosexual Ministers and Deacons while Continuing Theological Study

[3] Free Church of Scotland 2011 General Assembly Receives Multiple Overtures Objecting to 2010 Plenary Assembly Decision to Abandon Exclusive A Capella Psalmody in Worship Services

[4] Grace Seattle PCA Church Website Shows at Least Four of the Church’s Nine Deacons as being Female

[5] United Kingdom General Medical Council Investigates Doctor that Shared Christian Faith with a Patient

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[1] Christian Reformed Church in North America Continuing Aid to Spring 2011 Storm Victims

In the aftermath of the 22 May 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, which killed 116 persons and destroyed a significant part of the city of 50,000 people, the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA)’s Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) Disaster Response Services (DRS), in a 23 May 2011 press release, announced that they are seeking US$1 million to respond to spring storms in 2011.

Donations can be made at:

www.crwrc.org/donate

and choosing “Donate today,” “Give Online in Canada,” “Give Online in the US,” or call 1-800-552-7972 with your credit card gift. Checks to CRWRC-DRS, designated “Spring Storms 2011” in the memo line, can be mailed to CRWRC at the address below:


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


[2] Church of Scotland 2011 General Assembly Loosen Restrictions on Homosexual Ministers and Deacons while Continuing Theological Study

The 2011 Church of Scotland (CoS) General Assembly (GA) on 23 May 2011 discussed the “Report of the Special Commission on Same-Sex Relationships [SCSSR] and the Ministry [Section 23],” and acted upon several related items which included:

-- Voting to accept the SCSSR proposal that those already ordained before May 2009 remain as ministers or deacons and until a final resolution is determined;

-- Voting to ban all Courts, Councils, and Committees from issuing or otherwise speaking to the media on matters of human sexuality and the Ministry;

-- Voting to establish a Theological Commission; and,

-- Voting to consider the lifting of the moratorium on the appointment of
homosexual ministers and instruct the Theological Commission to prepare a report containing a theological discussion of the issues around same sex relationships, civil partnerships, and marriage, and to consider the issue of liturgical help for services of blessing of civil partnerships, if that is desired.

At the end of the day’s deliberations and voting, CoS GA Commissioners left the meeting hall to discover that transportation across Scotland was being severely disrupted by storms with winds as high as 150 MPH.


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


[3] Free Church of Scotland 2011 General Assembly Receives Multiple Overtures Objecting to 2010 Plenary Assembly Decision to Abandon Exclusive A Capella Psalmody in Worship Services

The Free Church of Scotland (FCS) began its 2011 General Assembly on 23 May 2011 meeting at St. Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, and are scheduled to adjourn on 27 May.

Several overtures will be presented to the assembly objecting to the 2010 plenary assembly that voted to abandon the practice of exclusive a capella psalmody in public worship by allowing uninspired hymns and musical instruments as additional options. One of the two major points made in the overtures is that the 1910 action mandating exclusive a capella psalmody in public worship was enacted through the FCS Barrier Act, and that repeal of any Barrier Act enactment must be done by provisions of the Barrier Act that require the repeal decision be subsequently forwarded to the FCS presbyteries for approval or disapproval. The other major point is that exclusive a capella psalmody is a constituent part of New Testament divine worship as commanded by scripture, and that the Regulative Principle of Worship requires that worship be only that which God has commanded.

Another overture was offered by the Rev. Prof. John A. Macleod that included provisions to now recognize two forms of public worship, that each church session have the option of retaining or not retaining exclusive a capella psalmody for their church, that meetings of Church Courts use only exclusive a capella psalmody, that no office bearer be forced to act against his conscience concerning this issue, and that two options for license and ordination vows be available depending on the understanding of this issue by those being licensed or ordained.


+ 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


[4] Grace Seattle PCA Church Website Shows at Least Four of the Church’s Nine Deacons as being Female

Grace Seattle (Presbyterian Church in America (PCA))’s website, in apparent contradiction to the PCA Book of Church Order (BCO), lists at least four of the church’s nine deacons as being female.

+ Grace Seattle, 1406 10th Avenue, Suite 102, Seattle, Washington 98122, 206-709-4432, office@graceseattle.org

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



[5] United Kingdom General Medical Council Investigates Doctor that Shared Christian Faith with a Patient

Christian Concern reported 22 May 2011 that the United Kingdom General Medical Council (GMC) is investigating Dr. Richard Scott of the Bethesda Medical Centre in Margate, Kent, England, for in 2010 sharing his Christian faith with a patient at the end of the patient’s appointment with the doctor. The patient’s mother requested the medical appointment for her son, then subsequently filed an official complaint, claiming that the doctor had not offered medical advice during a consultation, but instead, talked about Jesus.

Dr Scott said: “I only discussed my faith at the end of a lengthy medical consultation after exploring the various interventions that the patient had previously tried, and after promising to follow up the patient’s request appointment with other medical professionals.

“I only discussed mutual faith after obtaining the patient’s permission. In our conversation, I said that personally, I had found having faith in Jesus helped me and could help the patient. At no time did the patient indicate that they were offended, or that they wanted to stop the discussion. If that had been the case, I would have immediately ended the conversation.

“This complaint was brought to the GMC not by the patient, who has continued to be a patient at this practice, but by the patient’s mother.”

The GMC has written to Dr. Scott offering a ‘compromise’ decision to the disciplinary complaint of placing an Official Warning on his file. However, the doctor is calling on his professional body to strike-out the complaint on the basis that the complaint was from a mother who was not medically qualified to comment on what treatment, if any, a medical practitioner should prescribe and, the GMC’s own guidelines state that it is acceptable to present faith to a patient as long as it is done gently and sensitively.


+ Christian Concern, 70 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8AX, England, 020 7935 1488, Contact Page

+ General Medical Council, Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN, England, 0161-923-6602, Fax: 44-20-7189-5401, gmc@gmc-uk.org

18 May 2011

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Vienna [Virginia] Presbyterian Church Ignored Insurance Company Directives to Stop Admitting Liability for Sexual Misconduct of Former Youth Worker

[2] Tucson, Arizona, PCUSA Church Celebrates Presbytery Majority Vote to Eliminate Fidelity and Chastity Standards with Special Service Welcoming GLBT Community

[3] EPC Representatives Present for Creation of Association of Reformed Churches of Kazakhstan

[4] UK Organizations and Members from Scientific, Religious, and Secular Groups Equate Biblical Creationism with “Flat-Earthism and Alchemy”

[5] Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) 2011 General Assembly Begins 23 May 2011 at Liberton Kirk, Kirkgate, Liberton, Edinburgh, Scotland

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[1] Vienna [Virginia] Presbyterian Church Ignored Insurance Company Directives to Stop Admitting Liability for Sexual Misconduct of Former Youth Worker

An 11 May 2011 article in The Daily Mail titled “Fury as Insurance Company Tells Church: 'Don't Admit Abuse - You'll Have to Pay Compensation'” reports that after the session of Vienna Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) in Vienna, Virginia, in March 2011 began apologizing to church members for failure to prevent the sexual abuse of underage girls by former student ministries director Eric DeVries between 2001 and 2005, the church’s insurance company GuideOne sent the church a letter stating:

“Do not make any statements, orally, in writing or in any manner, to acknowledge, admit to or apologize for anything that may be evidence of or interpreted as (a suggestion that) the actions of Vienna Presbyterian Church … caused or contributed to any damages arising from the intentional acts/abuse/misconduct.”

The church sent out the next day a letter of apology to church members, and Pastor Peter James the following Sunday preached about the scandal saying:

“We won't hide behind lawyers. … Jesus said the truth will set us free,”

and addressed the women abused by DeVries saying:

“We, as church leaders, were part of the harm in failing to extend the compassion and mercy that you needed….Some of you felt uncared for, neglected and even blamed in this church. I am truly sorry … I regret the harm this neglect has caused you….”

The church has refused to invoke a two-year statute of limitations or question the sexual background of the abused women. Ruling Elder Peter Sparber commented:

“The directions from the insurance company and its lawyer were clear and possibly correct from a legal perspective….They did their job, but as elders, we had to do ours….We still have lots of work cleaning up the mess created by Eric DeVries, but not following their legal advice was a good start.”

For further background information, please see the 6 April 2011 Presbyterians Week article “[2] PCUSA Church in Vienna, Virginia, Apologizes for 2001-2005 Sexual Abuse of Teenage Girls by Youth Director”.


+ The Daily Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT, England, 020-7938-6000, news@dailymail.co.uk

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

+ GuideOne Insurance, 1111 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265, 877-448-4331, Contact Form


[2] Tucson, Arizona, PCUSA Church Celebrates Presbytery Majority Vote to Eliminate Fidelity and Chastity Standards with Special Service Welcoming GLBT Community

A 16 May 2011 FOX11 article titled “Tucson Church Holds Service Welcoming GLBT Community” reports that in response to the majority vote of Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) presbyteries to eliminate fidelity and chastity standards for ministers and elders, Saint Mark's Presbyterian (SMP) church of Tucson, Arizona, on 15 May 2011 held a special worship service welcoming the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) community.

SMP Pastor the Rev. Gustie Newquist commented: “We're a church that is reformed and always being reformed according to the word of god that we never quite have all the answers….It takes an openness of heart, it takes courage to say that I was wrong and I want to make that right."


+ FOX11, 1855 North 6th Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85705, 520-770-1123, Contact Form

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

[3] EPC Representatives Present for Creation of Association of Reformed Churches of Kazakhstan

Representatives of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) on 8-9 May 2011 at the Altyn Kargaly in Almaty, Kazakhstan, participated in the creation by six churches of the Association of Reformed Churches of Kazakhstan (ARCK).

A 1995 church plant by EPC World Outreach was the beginning of evangelizing, discipling, and organizing efforts to the groups that would become ARCK churches.


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


[4] UK Organizations and Members from Scientific, Religious, and Secular Groups Equate Biblical Creationism with “Flat-Earthism and Alchemy”

Ekklesia announced 16 May 2011 that organizations and members from scientific, religious, and secular groups have issued a letter calling upon Great Britain’s Department for Education for clarity in the in guidance on the teaching of ‘creationism’, saying that schools should not be letting beliefs that reject modern scientific method be taught as scientific, in much the same way as flat-earthism and alchemy would never be presented in schools as scientific ‘alternatives’.


+ Ekklesia, 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London EC1V 4PY, England, 0845 056 5445, press@ekklesia.co.uk


[5] Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) 2011 General Assembly Begins 23 May 2011 at Liberton Kirk, Kirkgate, Liberton, Edinburgh, Scotland

The 2011 General Assembly (GA) of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FCSC) will meet in Liberton Kirk, Kirkgate, Liberton, Edinburgh, Scotland, commencing on Monday 23 May 2011at 6 p.m.

In advance of the FCSC GA, a press release was issued stating:

“At a time when the country is confronted with a determined onslaught by, amongst other pressures, militant secularism, aggressive attempts at isalmification and religious teaching which runs contrary to the Bible, the Public Questions, Religion & Morals Committee of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) argue in their annual Report to the General Assembly that the government both in Westminster and in Holyrood should return to the Bible as the source of all proper and wholesome law.”

Additionally included in the matters scheduled for the FCSC GA is a “Report of the Special Committee on Psalmody”, which includes the following proposed deliverance:

“The General Assembly reaffirm their commitment to the exclusive use of inspired materials of praise in the public worship of God as being consistent with Scripture and the Standards of the Church, as well as being authentically ecumenical and providing historical continuity with the Church in all ages; they pray that in a day of increasing will-worship, many will return to the simplicity of God-ordained
worship and praise;”


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

11 May 2011

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] As PCUSA and the National Capitol Presbytery Vote to Eliminate Fidelity and Chastity Amendment, One Pastor Calls for Return to Bible and the Lordship of Jesus Christ

[2] U.S. Navy Chaplains Authorized to Perform Homosexual Marriages in Navy Chapels when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is Repealed

[3] Hope College Homosexuality Debate Continues in Spite of January 2011 “Human Sexuality Statement” Position and Policy Document

[4] Mentally Ill Pakistani Man Arrested for Blasphemy in Bid to Keep Muslim Clerics from Killing Him

[5] Syrian Christians Being Attacked by Protesting Revolutionary Islamists

[6] Muslim Salafis Attack Coptic Christians in Embaba, Egypt, on 7 May 2011, Killing Twelve and Injuring 232

[7] Muslims in Nigeria Attack Kurum, Nigeria, 4 May 2011, Killing Four in Christian Pastor’s Family and Twelve Others

[8] Reformed Presbyterian Minister Asks: “Is the New Policy of the Obama Administration Executing Unarmed Terrorists Instead of Waterboarding Them?”

[9] Dutch Reformed Church Expresses Concern over South African Pastor Who Said that the African National Congress, Congress of South African Trade Unions, and the South African Communist Party are the Trinity, and that Jesus was a Communist

[10] 24^th Annual Meeting of the New Netherlands Institute Scheduled 21 May 2011 at the Stockade Inn in Schenectady, New York

[11] 2011 West-Coast Christian Worldview Conference Scheduled 27 June – 1 July 2011 in Los Gatos, California

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[1] As PCUSA and the National Capitol Presbytery Vote to Eliminate Fidelity and Chastity Amendment, One Pastor Calls for Return to Bible and the Lordship of Jesus Christ

A 9 May 2011 email message from The Presbyterian Coalition titled “Vote "No" on 10-A: A Pastor's Witness” reports that the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)’s National Capitol Presbytery voted 30 April 2011 by a wide margin to approve Amendment 10-A, elimination of the ministerial requirement for “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness”.

The message continues, “…many pastors and elders brought their prophetic witness to that body with courage and grace. One pastor, Peter Della Santina [Neelsville Presbyterian Church, Germantown, Maryland] said this:”

“I am voting "No" on Amendment 'A' and I implore you to do the same.

“G-6.0106b has clarified what the Bible teaches Presbyterians to believe and what the Church Universal has always confessed: that God's intention for his children is "to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness."

“I am voting No because this change is not faithful to the Word of God; it is a willful act of disobedience to our Lord -- and for me personally, it de-moralizes the vows I made to Christ, by my chastity in singleness and fidelity in marriage these past 16 ½ years. The Bible's message about sexual morality is consistent and clear: sex outside of marriage is sinful. Christians submit their whole selves to the lordship of Jesus Christ, including submitting our sexual orientation and our sexual practices, to the glory of God and for our eternal joy.

“I am voting No because:

“-- Amendment 10-A is not true to what the Bible tells us about God's design in creation and God's intention for human relationships.

“-- Amendment 10-A is not true to the way the Bible honors marriage -- even lifting up the union of a man and a woman as an outward sign of the union of Christ and His bride, the Church.

“-- Amendment 10-A is contrary to the one voice with which the Bible speaks in opposition to heterosexual adultery, extramarital sex, and GLBTQ practice.

“-- The proposed amendment contains neither a clear standard of sexual morality, nor a requirement to repent of sin.

“Please vote No: in humble dependence on the Holy Spirit, see the world rightly, and so remain within the will of our Father in heaven -- God's good and perfect will -- presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1-2) Thank you.”

The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) announced 10 May 2011 that the 87^th presbytery vote in favor of eliminating fidelity and chastity standards for PCUSA ministers was cast earlier in the day by a vote of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, thus reaching the majority required to pass Amendment 10-A, to take effect on 10 July 2011.


+ The Presbyterian Coalition, 4604 Grove Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23226, 804-615-3243, office@presbycoalition.org

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

+ National Capitol Presbytery, One Central Plaza, 11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 1009, Rockville, Maryland 20852, 240-514-5348, mbkirkpatrick@alumnisouthwestern.edu

+ Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, 122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 508, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404, 612-871-7281, Fax: 612-871-0698, office@ptcaweb.org


[2] U.S. Navy Chaplains Authorized to Perform Homosexual Marriages in Navy Chapels when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is Repealed

A 13 April 2011 memorandum from Rear Admiral Mark L. Tidd, U.S. Navy Chief of Chaplains, to Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists announces a new revision to the Chaplain Corps Tier 1 Training Manual, which changes the previous prohibition of homosexual marriages on federal property into, in states where legal, allowing homosexual marriages to occur in U.S. Navy chapels and be performed by U.S. Navy chaplains.

Referring to a review of regulations by U.S. Navy attorneys, Chaplain Rear Admiral Tidd says the U.S. Navy now "has concluded that, generally speaking, base facility use is sexual orientation neutral.”


+ American Family Association, Post Office Drawer 2440, Tupelo, Mississippi 38803, 662-844-5036

+ U.S. Navy, Office of the Secretary of the Navy, 2000 Navy Pentagon, Washington DC 20350, Contact Page


[3] Hope College Homosexuality Debate Continues in Spite of January 2011 “Human Sexuality Statement” Position and Policy Document

An 8 May 2011 article by Garrett Ellison in The Grand Rapids Press titled “Semester Over, But Critics inside Hope College Say Debate over Homosexuality is Unresolved” reports that at the end of the school year, the debate at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, over college policies regarding homosexuality remain unresolved despite a Human Sexuality Statement policy and position document released 28 January 2011 that was developed over a period of eight months and revised former Hope College president John Jacobson’s 1995 policy mandating non-recognition of groups that advocated or legitimized homosexuality.

Hope College President James Bultman commented: “Hope’s position is based on our best interpretation of Biblical teaching and not on social norms….I think Hope has made a statement that’s not unlike what our founding denomination has said. Other Christian colleges and universities have the same position….It parallels positions of the Reformed Church in America, the Christian Reformed Church and the Roman Catholic Church and says so in the text.”

The leader of campus activist group Hope is Ready said that the document’s policies indirectly legitimize incidents which have occurred at Hope College such as rocks being thrown through the residence windows of openly homosexual couples, spray-painted slurs on campus sidewalks, KKK fliers, and intermittent harassment of homosexual students.


+ The Grand Rapids Press, 155 Michigan Street Northwest, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, 616-222-5818, dgaydou@grpress.com

+ Hope College, Holland, Michigan 49423, 616-395-7780, Fax: 616-395-7111, bultmanj@hope.edu

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

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

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


[4] Mentally Ill Pakistani Man Arrested for Blasphemy in Bid to Keep Muslim Clerics from Killing Him

Compass Direct News reported 6 May 2011 that a mentally ill man from Chichawatni, Sahiwal district, Pakistan, was arrested by and jailed by police for “injuring religious feelings” under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, after the man used abusive language against the prophet Muhammad as people were coming out of the Canal Mosque after prayer. The man has suffered mental illness for the past six or seven years typified by fits of unprovoked rage, where he uses abusive language and lacks concern for food and clothing.

A large number of Muslim clerics then gathered outside of the man’s family’s house and demanded that he be turned over to them so that they could “do justice” by killing him. A neighbor suggested the family call the police and have the man taken into custody before the Muslim clerics killed him. When the clerics saw the man being put into a police van, they rushed toward the van and tried to take hold of the man. The clerics continued chasing after the vehicle as it carried the man away.

While the Muslim clerics were chasing after the police vehicle, three families closely related to the mentally ill man fled their homes and remain in hiding.


+ Compass Direct News Service, Post Office Box 27250, Santa Ana, California 92799, 949-862-0304, Fax: 949-752-6536, info@compassdirect.org


[5] Syrian Christians Being Attacked by Protesting Revolutionary Islamists

International Christian Concern reported 4 May 2011 that Christians in Syria are being forced by Islamists seeking the overthrow of Syrian President Assad to join in the protests against the Assad government or to flee Syria.

A Christian leader is Syria commented: “If Muslim Salafis gain political influence, they will make sure that there will be no trace of Christianity in Syria.”


+ International Christian Concern, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest #941, Washington DC 20006, 800-422-5441, Fax: 301-989-1709, superadmin@persecution.org


[6] Muslim Salafis Attack Coptic Christians in Embaba, Egypt, on 7 May 2011, Killing Twelve and Injuring 232

The Assyrian International News Agency reported 8 May 2011 that a mob of 3000 Muslim Salafis staged a fourteen hour attack on Coptic Christians in Embaba, Egypt, on 7 May 2011, killing twelve and injuring 232. The Muslims fired guns and rifles, and hurled Molotov cocktails at Coptic churches, houses, and businesses. Rooftop snipers picked off members of the church of Saint Mina as they exited a church congregation meeting.


+ Assyrian International News Agency


[7] Muslims in Nigeria Attack Kurum, Nigeria, 4 May 2011, Killing Four in Christian Pastor’s Family and Twelve Others

Compass Direct News reported 10 May 2011 that Muslim extremists began an attack on Kurum, Nigeria, on 4 May 2011, killing sixteen, looting houses, and setting twenty Christian homes on fire.

The wife and three of the four children of Church Of Christ In Nigeria Pastor James Musa Rike were murdered by the Muslims when the Muslims attacked at midnight, invading the pastor’s home. The Muslims shot Pastor Rike’s wife and two of his four children as they tried to escape their home, then disemboweled Mrs. Rike with a machete. Pastor Rike’s thirteen-year old daughter was then disemboweled with a machete after the Muslims told her “see how your Jesus will save you.” As she lay dying, the thirteen-year old told her father that she responded to the Muslims by telling them that Jesus had already saved her, and that by killing her they would only be making it possible for her to be with Him.

Among the dead were one man, three women, and twelve children.


+ Compass Direct News Service, Post Office Box 27250, Santa Ana, California 92799, 949-862-0304, Fax: 949-752-6536, info@compassdirect.org

+ Church Of Christ In Nigeria (COCIN), Number 5 Noad Avenue, PMB 2127, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, 234-73-453679, info@cocin-ng.org



[8] Reformed Presbyterian Minister Asks: “Is the New Policy of the Obama Administration Executing Unarmed Terrorists Instead of Waterboarding Them?”

In response to the recent U.S. Navy SEALS mission in Pakistan that killed Muslim terrorist Osama bin Laden, Reformed Presbyterian minister the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, released the following statement:

“After ripping President Bush as immoral and un-American for waterboarding terrorists the Obama Administration executed an unarmed terrorist in front of his wife.

“The question that must be asked is, “If waterboarding terrorists is immoral torture and un-American why is it now moral and American to execute an unarmed terrorist in front of his family?”

“The Obama administration cannot have it both ways if the execution of an unarmed bin Laden was acceptable then waterboarding cannot be condemned.

“Rev. Mahoney, director of the Washington DC based Christian Defense Coalition is troubled by the double standard and hypocrisy of the Obama administration.

“Rev. Mahoney asks President Obama these questions:

“-- Is the new policy of the Obama Administration executing unarmed terrorists instead of waterboarding them?

“-- After changing the story of bin Laden's death several times can the President now offer a definitive narrative?

“-- How much resistance did bin Laden offer?

“-- How many children were in the compound and how many were injured?

“-- After the execution of an unarmed terrorist will President Obama still condemn waterboarding?

“-- After ordering the execution of an unarmed bin Laden will the President give his Nobel Peace Prize back?

“In no way should these comments be construed as an attack on the heroic and courageous efforts of our Navy SEALs, rather they are presented as a challenge to the double standards shown by the Obama Administration when dealing with terrorism.”


+ 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


[9] Dutch Reformed Church Expresses Concern over South African Pastor Who Said that the African National Congress, Congress of South African Trade Unions, and the South African Communist Party are the Trinity, and that Jesus was a Communist

A 4 May 2011 article by Sapa in the Times Live titled “Church Concerned by Remarks on Zuma, Trinity” reports that the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) released a statement expressing concern over a pastor’s remarks at a rally for South Africa President Jacob Zuma, where the pastor said that the African National Congress (ANC), Congress of South African Trade Unions (CSATU), and the South African Communist Party (SACP) are the Trinity, and that Jesus was a Communist.

DRC spokesman Ben Du Toit wrote:

“While acknowledging our own history in this regard, as well as the same errors we have committed in the past, it is with a growing sense of concern that we as the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) take note of the public remarks clergy as well as political figures have recently made, claiming God's support for their political party…. The latest incident in this regard, in which a pastor ceremoniously anointed president Zuma and misused Rom 13 in an irresponsible way to forcefully compel voters to support the ANC, really oversteps the boundaries of responsible theology, the responsible use of the Bible, as well as the responsible lobbying of support for the political party in question…. Should political leaders fail to publicly announce their opposition of these practices in the build-up towards the municipal elections, the DRC will have no choice but to use its communication structures as effectively as possible to advise voters to rather support political parties that do not misuse religion to further their own cause.”


+ Times Live, 4 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa, 011-280-3000, Fax: 011-280-5070, feedback@timeslive.co.za

+ Dutch Reformed Church, Posbus 13528, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, 27-0-12-342-0092, Fax: 27-0-12-342-0380, algemenesinode@ngkerk.org.za

+ African National Congress, 54 Sauer Street, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa, 011-376-1000, Fax: 011-376-1100, Contact Page


[10] 24^th Annual Meeting of the New Netherlands Institute Scheduled 21 May 2011 at the Stockade Inn in Schenectady, New York

The 24^th annual meeting of the New Netherland Institute is scheduled for 21 May 2011 at the Stockade Inn in Schenectady, New York.

The featured speaker is Dr. Dirk Mouw, an authority on the history of the Dutch Reformed Church, who will speak on the topic, “A Silver Lining? How New Netherland Church-Goers Seized New Opportunities Presented by the English Conquest, 1665-1699”.

The meeting is open to both members and non-members. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m., and the cost of the luncheon program is US$25.

The New Netherland Institute is a membership organization that supports the New Netherland Research Center in its mission of transcribing, translating and publishing some 12,000 documents of the New Netherland Colony in the 17th century.


+ New Netherland Institute, Cultural Education Center, Room 10D45, Albany, New York 12230, 518-486-4815, Fax: 518-473-0472, cgehring@mail.nysed.gov


[11] 2011 West-Coast Christian Worldview Conference Scheduled 27 June – 1 July 2011 in Los Gatos, California

The 2011 West-Coast Christian Worldview Conference (WCWC) is scheduled for 27 June – 1 July 2011 at the Presentation Center in Los Gatos, California. Speakers include John M. Hodges, Mark R. Rushdoony, Brian M. Abshire, Gary DeMar, and Kevin Swanson.

The WCWC accepts high school students in the tenth grade and above and college students who are committed Christians and are eager to deepen their faith. The conference’s goal is that each student will leave feeling affirmed in the faith and encouraged to spread the kingdom of Christ.

Registration and further information are available at www.wcwc.ws.


+ WCWC, PMB #402, 1484 Pollard Road, Los Gatos, California 95032, 408-866-5607, info@wcwc.ws

4 May 2011

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Clarification Regarding 27 April 2011 Article “[11] Religious Institute Protests Efforts to Federally Defund Planned Parenthood”

[2] Christian Observer Highlights for May 2011

[3] Church of Scotland Minister the Rev. John Cameron Says Current Homosexual Clergy Ban is “Absolutely Illegal” and Tells Opponents to “Leave and Form a More Exclusive Sect”

[4] Connecticut Legislature’s Proposed “Bathroom Bill” Deconstructs Gender and Facilitates Sexual Predators

[5] Californians Arrested for Reading Bible at Department of Motor Vehicles Office

[6] PCA Central Carolina Presbytery Passes Overture Asking PCA General Assembly to Withdraw from the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)

[7] Spanish Version of Jay Adams’ “How to Help People Change” Published by Publicaciones Faro de Gracia

[8] Presbyterian and Reformed Responses to Aftermath of Deadly Tornadoes

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[1] Clarification Regarding 27 April 2011 Article “[11] Religious Institute Protests Efforts to Federally Defund Planned Parenthood”

The 27 April 2011 Presbyterians Week article “[11] Religious Institute Protests Efforts to Federally Defund Planned Parenthood” was written in regard to several documents from the Religious Institute including the 25 April 2011 press release:

-- “Hundreds of Diverse Faith Leaders and Theologians Demonstrate Religious Support for International Reproductive Health and Family Planning: Open Letter Sent as Congress Debates Budget Cuts to International and Domestic Family Planning, Maternal Health Care Services”;

which linked two other Religious Institute documents:

-- “Rachel Sabbath Initiative: Saving Women’s Lives” from 10 February 2011; and,

-- “Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Maternal Mortality and Reproductive Justice” from a 2010 Religious Institute colloquium;

to the efforts currently underway among various secular and church-related organizations to influence the U.S. Congress not to eliminate funding for what groups like Planned Parenthood call “international and domestic family planning, and maternal health care services.” Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the U.S., and is a strong supporter of coercive international “family planning” policies such as China’s one-child policy.

Among the organizations listed in the 27 April 2011 Presbyterians Week article as supporting the Religious Institute initiatives was the Reformed Church in America (RCA) , based upon General Secretary of the RCA the Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson’s endorsement of the Rachael Sabbath Initiative.

The editor was subsequently contacted by the RCA, and let know that the RCA signed onto the Rachael Sabbath Initiative, but did not sign onto the “Open Letter” nor advocate for any specific budgetary issues regarding Planned Parenthood.

RCA General Secretary Granberg-Michaelson did endorse two areas of the U.S. federal budget discussion, both relating to poverty and hunger :

-- “Lenten Disciplines and Budget Choices”; and,

-- “A Circle of Protection: A Statement on Why We Need to Protect Programs for the Poor”.

The editor thanks RCA General Secretary Granberg-Michaelson and Mr. Phil Tannis of RCA communications for these clarifications.


+ Religious Institute, 21 Charles Street, Suite 140, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 203-222-0055, Contact Form

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

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


[2] Christian Observer Highlights for May 2011

New articles in the Christian Observer for May 2011 include:

Letter to the Editor: Insights into Cornerstone Ministries - Ken Boodhoo, PhD, Emeritus Professor at Florida International University and Ruling Elder at Redlands PCA in Homestead, Florida, writes about his experiences with principals of the bankrupt Cornerstone Ministries Investments (CMI) from within the PCA and during the time leading up to the February 2008 CMI Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, a.k.a. the “[US]$140 million Ponzi scheme”, and details the resultant financial losses by his family and by the ministry to Haiti led by Dr. Boodhoo;

Religious Reverse Discrimination? – by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Dr. Joe Renfro – discusses current public school policies favoring the Islamic faith to the neglect of others, especially evangelical Christianity, and emphases in current public school history and social studies texts that portray Islam in a detailed and inaccurately positive light, while greatly restricting studies of Christianity and portraying those studies in a negative, inaccurate light;

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


[3] Church of Scotland Minister the Rev. John Cameron Says Current Homosexual Clergy Ban is “Absolutely Illegal” and Tells Opponents to “Leave and Form a More Exclusive Sect”

A 2 May 2011 article in The Courier titled “Gay Clergy Discrimination 'Absolutely Illegal': Rev John Cameron” reports that former Church of Scotland (CoS) pastor the Rev. John Cameron of St. Andrews, Scotland, believes that the CoS discriminates against homosexuals in an “absolutely illegal” manner by the Kirk’s current moratorium on the ordination of homosexuals as ministers.

Citing a ninety-percent popular approval of Scotland’s homosexual antidiscrimination laws, Cameron states: “It is unacceptable for a national church to refuse to obey the law of the land and those who cannot live within a broad church should leave and form a more exclusive sect.”

Cameron additionally supports the work of the Switzerland-based assisted suicide group Dignatas, and has accused Great Britain, by not legalizing assisted suicide, of “exporting” the ethical dilemma overseas.


+ The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL, Scotland, 01382-223131,
courier@dcthomson.co.uk

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

+ Dignatas, Postfach 9 - CH 8127 Forch, Switzerland, 44-980-4459, dignitas@dignitas.ch


[4] Connecticut Legislature’s Proposed “Bathroom Bill” Deconstructs Gender and Facilitates Sexual Predators

The Family Institute of Connecticut (FIC) reported 27 April 2011 that the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut House of Representatives has approved HB 6599, “An Act Concerning Discrimination”, nicknamed the “Bathroom Bill”, which designates gender identity as a protected class.

The FIC warns about dangers of the legislation where “a man who is a sexual predator could claim to be “transgendered” and enter a women's public bathroom”, and “that your son or daughter would be exposed to teachers in their schools who on one day will be a man and the next day could decide to be a woman.”

The FIC says of the legislation “that court-ordered same-sex "marriage" is just the first step in a campaign to force children in our public schools to be exposed to “alternative lifestyles” even if their parents disapprove”, and that “this legislation shows the hubris of those who see “gender” as something to be changed at will, of those who are trying to deconstruct the most basic of natural categories--male and female.”


+ Family Institute of Connecticut , 77 Buckingham Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106, 860-548-0066, Fax: 860-548-9545, info@ctfamily.org


[5] Californians Arrested for Reading Bible at Department of Motor Vehicles Office

A 29 April 2011 article by Becky Yeh on OneNewsNow.com titled “Illegal to Read Bible in Public?” reports that three men from Calvary Chapel of Hemet in Hemet, California, met recently in front of a closed regional Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office where Mark Mackey began reading from the Bible aloud. A security guard ordered Mackey to stop reading the Bible aloud. Ten minutes later, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer arrived, snatched the Bible from Mackey's hands, and arrested him.

The other two men asked the CHP officer who arrested Mackey what law had been broken. The CHP office answered by asking the two men if they too were preaching, then the other two men were arrested by another CHP officer.

Robert Tyler, an attorney with Advocates for Faith and Freedom (AFF) says the arrests were a direct violation of the First Amendment, saying: “What's disturbing about this case in particular is that a person with a badge and a gun, who has been trained by some of the finest police forces here in California, [thinks] that it is appropriate to arrest somebody because they are reading the Bible aloud in public, on public property.”

All three men were released, and no criminal charges have been filed. AFF says the three men cannot be charged for "impeding an open business" because the DMV regional office was closed at the time and the men were standing at fifty feet or more from the entrance. AFF has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Mackey and his friends.


+ American Family Association, Post Office Drawer 2440, Tupelo, Mississippi 38803, 662-844-5036

+ Advocates for Faith and Freedom, 24910 Las Brisas Road, Suite 109, Murrieta, California 92562, 951-304-7583, Fax: 951-600-4996, info@faith-freedom.com

+ California Highway Patrol, 2555 First Avenue, Sacramento, California 92818, 916-657-7261


[6] PCA Central Carolina Presbytery Passes Overture Asking PCA General Assembly to Withdraw from the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)

The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)’s Central Carolina Presbytery on 26 August 2011 adopted an overture that asks the PCA to withdraw from the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), citing among other reasons the NAE’s meddling inappropriately in civil affairs by publically endorsing the idea of climate change, and testifying on Capitol Hill in support of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.

The overture additionally cites the NAE’s participation in the meeting between Christians and Muslims where the document, “Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to ‘A Common Word Between Us and You’ was approved and signed, noting that the document is clearly based on an unbiblical premise which falsely assumes that Christianity and Islam approach the same God, but in different ways.


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

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

+ National Association of Evangelicals, Post Office Box 23269, Washington DC 20026, 202-789-1011, president@nae.net


[7] Spanish Version of Jay Adams’ “How to Help People Change” Published by Publicaciones Faro de Gracia

A Spanish version of Jam Adams’ How to Help People Change has been published by Publicaciones Faro de Gracia.

Publicaciones Faro de Gracia is a Spanish publishing house and international ministry committed toward one stated goal: to see sound, reformed literature in the Spanish language become the best-known and most widely-read literature in all of Latin America.

Publicaciones Faro de Gracia has 1400 titles available only in Spanish, which conform to the reformed confessions of faith. The website can be accessed in both English and Spanish.


+ Publicaciones Faro de Gracia, Post Office Box 1043, Graham, North Carolina 27253, 336-792-2690, oficina@farodegracia.org


[8] Presbyterian and Reformed Responses to Aftermath of Deadly Tornadoes

In the aftermath of the recent spate of deadly and devastating tornadoes in the eastern U.S., several relief efforts have been undertaken by Presbyterian and Reformed denominations including:

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) on 21 April 2011 sent a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to North Carolina to assist with recovery from the massive tornado outbreak in the southern U.S. that occurred the previous week.

The RRT was based in Sanford, North Carolina, about sixty miles southwest of Raleigh, working out of a United Methodist Church there. The CRWRC expanded its relief efforts in the southeast U.S. after the 25-27 April 2011 outbreak of more than 250 tornadoes. Donations to CRWRC can be made at:

http://www.crwrc.org/pages/crwrc_donate.cfm

The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)’s Mission to North America is teaming with several Alabama churches including Oak Mountain Church and Briarwood Presbyterian Church, both of Birmingham, Alabama. Information on ways to contribute to the relief efforts are on the church’s respective websites:

http://www.oakmountainchurch.org/tornado-disaster-relief

http://www.briarwood.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=37045&PID=862087


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

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