Presbyterians Week Headlines
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Today, 1 July 2015, is Canada Day 2015, and marks the 148th anniversary of the creation of the Dominion of Canada on 1 July 1867 under the auspices of the British North Americas Act, which was preceded by three confederation conferences which were the Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) Conference in 1864, the Quebec Conference also in 1864, and the London (England) Conference in 1866.
The staff of the Christian Observer wish our brothers and sisters in Christ to the north a very Happy Canada Day!
+ Christian Observer, Post Office Box 1371, Lexington, Virginia 24450, christianobserver@christianobserver.org
A 22 June 2015 Reuters article by Philip Pullella titled “Pope Asks Pardon from Waldensian Protestants for Past Persecution” reports that Roman Pontiff Francis, as a part of his efforts to promote the unity of Christian churches with the Roman Catholic Church, has asked the Waldesians, a small Protestant denomination of around 30,000 members in Italy and Latin America, for their forgiveness for the persecution carried out against them by the Catholics, including a 15th century attempt to exterminate them. Additionally, in 1655, Roman Catholic forces under command of the Duke of Savoy murdered 1700 Waldesians.
The Waldesians were an early manifestation of the Protestant Reformation, and today are a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
+ Thomson Reuters, 3 Times Square New York, New York 10036, 646-223-4000, general.info@thomsonreuters.com
+ The Vatican, Città del Vaticano, Rome, Italy, 39-6-69-88-35-11, Fax: 39-6-69-88-54-47, Contact Page
+ 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 Evangelical Presbyterian Church grieves today’s [26 June 2015] ruling of the [U.S.] Supreme Court, which illustrates the continued disregard for the biblical, traditional, Judeo-Christian values upon which the foundation of our nation was established. As a church, we continue to rest our faith in the sovereign God and the authority of His Holy Word. We pray faithfully for our nation and our leaders as so commanded by Scripture.
We bear no malice toward those with a same-sex attraction; in fact, we love them with the love of Christ. However, as a church we must adhere to the biblical definition of marriage, rather than a cultural one.
We recognize that civil governments adopt policies that do not align with biblical values. However, those policies must never require that people of faith abandon the clear teaching of Scripture forfeit the right to proclaim those truths, or change their beliefs or practices.
+ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 17197 North Laurel Park Drive Suite 567, Livonia, Michigan 48152, 734-742-2020, Fax: 734-742-2033, webmaster@epc.org
The Evangelical Church Alliance (ECA), one of America's oldest associations of independent Evangelical ministers, missionaries, and military and institutional chaplains, reaffirms the biblical, natural, and millennial-old nature of the definition of marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman.
The Supreme Court of the United States does not possess the authority, or the expertise, to speak to the nature of Holy Matrimony, which is exclusively within God's provenance. Jesus explicitly spoke to the divine origin and purpose of marriage when he said, "[A]t the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Matthew 19:4-6)
The ECA takes seriously the assurance of Associate Justice Kennedy and the four other justices when they write in today's opinion, "[I]t must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered."
Notwithstanding this most recent abrogation of divine and natural law, the ECA encourages its member clergy, churches, and organizations, as well as all Christians everywhere, to remain, "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (I Corinthians 15:58)
At the same time, the ECA is committed to sharing the Gospel with all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation or the configuration of their relationships or families, in keeping with the timeless declaration of Christ in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Finally, marriage will always be a loving gift from God to a man and a woman for the fulfillment of His will for humanity, whether or not it is recognized as such by the judicial branch of the United States Federal Government.
+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com
+ Evangelical Church Alliance International, 205 West Broadway Street, Bradley, Illinois 60915, 815-937-0720, Fax: 815-937-0001, info@ecainternational.org
A 30 June 2015 The Herald article titled “Minister Suspended as Police Investigate Alleged Financial Irregularities at His Inverclyde Church” reports that Church of Scotland minister the Rev. Douglas Cranston of the St. Columba Church in the village Kilmacolm in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland has been suspended as police have launched an investigation into allegations of financial irregularities.
+ The Herald, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland G2 3QB, 0141- 302-7000, Fax: 0141-302-7117, On-lineEditor@theherald.co.uk
+ The Sons of Liberty, P.O. Box 1126, Annandale, Minnesota 55302, 866-233-0747, info@sonsoflibertyradio.com
+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, 888-678-6008, Contact Page
Articles from the past week regarding kings and rulers setting themselves against the LORD and against his anointed:
Articles from the past week about the religion of peace:
Courtesy of Dom the Conservative
-- “Deranged Lone Assassin” Mows Down, Stabs Thirty-Seven Austrians, Answering ISIS’ Call to Balkan Muslims: “Either Join, or Kill Over There”
+ Middle East Forum, 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 1050, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, info@meforum.org
+ Assyrian International News Agency (Nineveh Software Corporation, 2317 West Farwell, Chicago, Illinois 60645, 773-575-5863, Fax: 773-761-8534)
