1 April 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] April 2009 Christian Observer Highlights
[2] Great Britain’s National Secular Society Supplying De-Baptism Certificates
[3] Lutheran World Federation Meeting Explores Universalism and Pantheism
[4] United Church of Christ HIV and AIDS Network Issues Statement Encouraging Condom Distribution at Places of Worship
[5] U.S. District Court Judge Orders Abortifacient ‘Morning-After Pill’ Plan B Be Made Available to Seventeen-Year Olds
[6] PCUSA Synod of the Pacific Permanent Judicial Commission Rescinds Decision by San Francisco Presbytery that Open Lesbian Ministerial Candidate is Ready for Examination
[7] Presbyterian Coalition Newsletter Explains Amendment B’s Intent to Remove Scriptural Authority from PCUSA
[8] New Robert Gagnon Essay “What the Evidence Really Says about Scripture and Homosexual Practice: Five Issues” on Web
[9] UCC Faithful and Welcoming Fellowship and Association for Church Renewal to Meet in Chicago in 2010
[10] Tainan Theological College and Seminary Holds Seminar on the Relationship Between the Old Testament and the New Testament
[11] GPTS 2009 Calvin Conference Lectures by Joel Beeke and Joseph Pipa Available on Web in Audio and Video
[12] Church of Scotland General Assembly to Decide Fate of Homosexual Minister
[13] Inverness, Scotland Boys’ Brigade Celebrates 100^th Anniversary


[1] April 2009 Christian Observer Highlights

New Christian Observer articles for April 2009 include:

Church Discipline: An Act of Love by the Rev. Michael Willemse
Equal Opportunity in Education by Dr. Joe Renfro

Along with Sabbath School lessons for April 2009 by Dr. Robert LaMay, and daily devotionals from T.M. Moore’s In the Gates.

+ Christian Observer, 9400 Fairview Avenue, Manassas, Virginia 20110, 703-335-2844, christianobserver@christianobserver.org


[2] Great Britain’s National Secular Society Supplying De-Baptism Certificates

More than 100 thousand Britons have downloaded De-Baptism Certificates from the atheistic National Secular Society (NSS), and the NSS has sold 1500 parchment De-Baptism Certificates for the equivalent of US$4.35 each.

Spain and Italy already have court decisions in place allowing de-baptism.

+ Breitbart.com, 149 South Barrington Avenue #401, Los Angeles, California 90049


[3] Lutheran World Federation Meeting Explores Universalism and Pantheism

At a consultation titled “Theology in the Lives of Lutheran Churches – Transformative Perspectives and Practices,” on 28 March 2009 at the meeting of the Lutheran World Federation in Augsburg, Germany, Associate Professor for Systematic Theology at Lutheran Theological Seminary (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the Rev. Dr. Kristin Johnston Largen asked, “If Christ has gone even there, to the deepest pit of existence, what of ‘hell’ is left?”, and later stated, “the very fact of God’s relationship with creation is salvific.”

Dr. Niels Henrik Gregersen from the Theological Faculty of Copenhagen University, Denmark asserted, “In Christ, God is conjoining all creatures and takes part in the very biological tissue of creation. God becomes Jesus, and in him God becomes human, sparrow, and grass, soil.”

+ The Lutheran World Federation, 150 route de Ferney, Post Office Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, 41-22-791-61-11, Fax:
41-22-791-66-30, info@lutheranworld.org

+ Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 West Higgins Road,
Chicago, Illinois 60631, 773-380-2700, Fax: 773-380-1465, info@elca.org


[4] United Church of Christ HIV and AIDS Network Issues Statement Encouraging Condom Distribution at Places of Worship

The United Church of Christ HIV and AIDS Network (UCAN) at the United Church of Christ (UCC)’s Wider Church Ministries joint board meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, on 19 March 2009 issued a statement that encourages condom distribution at places of worship and faith-based educational settings.

The UCAN statement cited sub-Saharan Africa’s 22 million people infected with HIV, accounting for two-thirds of the world’s HIV infections, and where three-quarters of all AIDS deaths worldwide occurred in 2007.

The UCAN statement further said that “sex is a gift from God,” that, “there is no evidence that making condoms available promotes sexual activity,” that “condom availability does not undermine abstinence, monogamy or fidelity,” and that abstinence programs are akin to, “put[ting] our heads in the sand.”

+ National Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 880, New York, New York 10115

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


[5] U.S. District Court Judge Orders Abortifacient ‘Morning-After Pill’ Plan B Be Made Available to Seventeen-Year Olds

US District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, Edward R. Korman, on 23 March 2009 ordered that the abortifacient ‘morning-after pill’ Plan B be made available to seventeen-year olds without a prescription, and Korman ordered the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider whether to make the drug available to girls of all ages without a prescription.

President of the Roman Catholic Union of Italian Pharmacists, Pietro Uroda, called the ‘morning after pill’ "a sort of hormonal bomb" that "cures nothing." "It is a pharmaceutical product that is for killing an eventual embryo," i.e. a fertilized human egg not yet implanted in the womb.

Judge Korman was appointed to the federal bench in 1985 by then-US President Ronald Reagan.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

[6] PCUSA Synod of the Pacific Permanent Judicial Commission Rescinds Decision by San Francisco Presbytery that Open Lesbian Ministerial Candidate is Ready for Examination

The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Synod of the Pacific’s Permanent Judicial Commission (SPPJC) on 25 March 2009 rescinded a January 2008 decision by the San Francisco Presbytery that open lesbian ministerial candidate Lisa Larges is “ready for examination [for ordination] with a departure.”

The SPPJC ruled that the San Francisco Presbytery erred by prematurely considering Larges’ declaration of a conscientious objection or “scruple” to the PCUSA Constitution’s Fidelity and Chastity Amendment G-6.0106b ― which requires of church officers “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.”

The SPPJC ruling said: “The examination for ordination is the proper time for (the) Presbytery to determine whether or not a candidate's departure constitutes a failure to adhere to the essentials of Reformed faith and polity.”

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


[7] Presbyterian Coalition Newsletter Explains Amendment B’s Intent to Remove Scriptural Authority from PCUSA

The 24 March 2009 Presbyterian Coalition newsletter explains that the proponents of Amendment B, which would weaken the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Constitution’s Fidelity and Chastity Amendment G-6.0106b ― requiring of church officers “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness,” are attempting to free the PCUSA “from the Jesus of Scripture, so that [the PCUSA] may more easily succumb to cultural norms of behavior, including sexual practices.”

As of 28 March 2009, sixty-two PCUSA presbyteries have voted in favor of the weakening amendment and eighty-one PCUSA presbyteries have voted against the weakening amendment.

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

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


[8] New Robert Gagnon Essay “What the Evidence Really Says about Scripture and Homosexual Practice: Five Issues” on Web

Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon, Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, has published an essay titled, “What the Evidence Really Says about Scripture and Homosexual Practice: Five Issues” for Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) presbyteries to use in the current discussions about the proposed amendment to remove the male-female sexuality standard in the PCUSA and elsewhere. The five issues are: Jesus, Eunuchs, Romans 1:24-27 and the Erroneous Exploitation Argument, Analogies, and Significance.

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


[9] UCC Faithful and Welcoming Fellowship and Association for Church Renewal to Meet in Chicago in 2010

At the lead and invitation of the United Church of Christ’s Faithful and Welcoming Fellowship (FWF), the Association For Church Renewal has announced plans for a national event “Calling the Next Generation to Reform the Church” in August 2010 in the Chicago, Illinois area to encourage God's call to a new generation of leadership for ministry in the historic mainline churches.

The ACR decision at its March meeting came in recognition that the crisis and confusion of the mainline denominations has become the crisis of the entire North American church. All of the mainline churches face a crisis of leadership.

The ACR says that prayer for reformation and a new generation of Evangelical, Conservative, Orthodox, Traditional (ECOT[FWF-coined acronym]) leadership must intensify now with the hope that God in his grace will call many over the next year and a half to come to the 2010 meeting.

+ Association For Church Renewal, Post Office Box 102, 182 High Street, Candia, New Hampshire 03034, 603-867-7711, Renewall.acr@gmail.com

+ Faithful and Welcoming Churches in the United Church of Christ,
Post Office Box 5382, Hickory, North Carolina 28603

+ 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


[10] Tainan Theological College and Seminary Holds Seminar on the Relationship Between the Old Testament and the New Testament

A seminar held 17-18 March 2009 at Tainan Theological College and Seminary focused on the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The featured speaker was pastor and Bible Scholar the Rev. Jou Hong-Yi who leads a church in the United States.

Jou describes the relationship between the Old and New Testaments as being like two halves of a whole, with each testament relying upon the other to make it whole. Jou said that Bible scholarship of the past two centuries tended toward one of the two Testaments to the exclusion of the other, and thus a sense of disconnect between the Testaments developed in many believers.

Jou credits the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and an increased interaction among Christian and Jewish scholars in recent years for clarifying the relationship and connection between the two Testaments.

Jou said that pastors need to listen patiently to their church members’ personal interpretation of God’s word, and not be quick to judge and correct, because these personal interpretations are oftentimes very helpful in solving life’s problems.

+ Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

+ Tainan Theological College and Seminary, 117 Tung-men Road, Section 1, Tainan, Taiwan, 886-6-237-1291, Fax: 886-6-234-6060, ttcs@mail.ttcs.org.tw


[11] GPTS 2009 Calvin Conference Lectures by Joel Beeke and Joseph Pipa Available on Web in Audio and Video

Audio and video of several lectures delivered at the 2009 Calvin Conference, hosted by Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (GPTS), are now available online.

Available for audio download are Joel Beeke’s lecture Calvin the Theologian of the Holy Spirit, and Joseph Pipa’s lecture Calvin the Preacher.

Videos of the lectures are available via Calvin the Theologian of the Holy Spirit, and Calvin the Preacher.

+ Feeding on Christ


[12] Church of Scotland General Assembly to Decide Fate of Homosexual Minister

The Church of Scotland Commission of Assembly on 25 March 2009 voted forty-two to forty-one to pass to the General Assembly in May 2009 for further scrutiny the appeal by homosexual pastor the Rev. Scott Rennie, whose appointment as minister at Aberdeen, Scotland’s Queen’s Cross Church in January 2009 was blocked following a complaint from about a dozen dissenting members of Aberdeen Presbytery on the grounds that they objected to his lifestyle.

+ Daily Express, The Northern & Shell Building, Number 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN, England, 0871-434-1010, expressletters@express.co.uk

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


[13] Inverness, Scotland Boys’ Brigade Celebrates 100^th Anniversary

The 6th and 7th Inverness (Scotland) companies of the Boys’ Brigade celebrated their 100^th anniversary on 22 March 2009 by leading a march through the city’s Merkinch Community. Boys’ Brigade companies from other communities in the Scottish Highlands also took part in the march, which ended at Trinity Church with a service led by the Rev. Alan Main, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and a former Boys’ Brigade president.

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

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

18 March 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] North Carolina Judge Orders Homeschool Mother to Put Kids in Public School
[2] PCUSA Vote to Weaken Fidelity and Chastity Amendment Behind after Voting by Sixty-Four Percent of Presbyteries
[3] ARP First Presbytery Spring 2009 Meeting Approves Memorial to Synod to Sever All Fraternal Relations with the PCUSA
[4] Is Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Planning to Terminate Calvinist Professors?
[5] Time Magazine Ranks “The New Calvinism” as Third of Ten Ideas Currently Changing the World
[6] CRCNA Board of Trustees Agrees to Budget Cuts
[7] Atheist Magician Penn Fraser Jillette Encourages Christian Evangelism
[8] Tullian Tchividjian Becomes Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
[9] WARC Delegation Urges South African Reformed Denominations to Keep Alive Merger Negotiations
[10] Dutch Reformed Church Donates Office Equipment to Organization Fighting the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
[11] Pro-Life Leaders Hold News Conference in Wichita, Kansas at Beginning Stages of George Tiller’s Trial for Performing Late-Term Abortions
[12] WRC/BPC Presbyterians and Education Conference Messages Available On-Line


[1] North Carolina Judge Orders Homeschool Mother to Put Kids in Public School

North Carolina Judge Ned W. Mangum on 6 March 2009 ordered Venessa Mills to cease homeschooling her three children and to enroll the children into public schools.

Venessa Mills was in court for divorce proceedings precipitated by her husband’s repeatedly committing adultery, of which Mr. Mills admitted to under oath.

Venessa Mills presented abundant evidence showing that the Mills children are well adjusted and well educated, with all three children academically ahead of their grade level, and with two of the three children academically ahead by two grade levels.

Judge Mangum ruled overwhelmingly against Mrs. Mills on every point. Despite the evidence presented about the Mills children’s academic achievement, the judge stated the children would do better in public school. When issuing his verdict, Judge Mangum stated that his decision was not ideologically or religiously motivated. He did however, tell Mrs. Mills that public school will "challenge the ideas you've taught them." Additionally, Magnum ruled that custody of the children will be split fifty-fifty between Venessa Mills and her ex-husband.

Homeschooling students and parents from across North Carolina will descend on the Capitol in Raleigh for a rally on 24 March 2009 to show their representatives that homeschooling families have a voice in North Carolina education-related legislation.

Further information about this legal case is available through the Homeschool Injustice blog.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com


[2] PCUSA Vote to Weaken Fidelity and Chastity Amendment Behind after Voting by Sixty-Four Percent of Presbyteries

As of 10 March 2009, in voting by sixty-four percent of Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) presbyteries on the amendment to weaken section G-6.0106b of the PCUSA Constitution that requires “…fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness” for ministers being ordained, forty-two presbyteries have voted in favor of weakening the amendment and sixty-nine have voted to oppose the weakening amendment.

In order to enact the weakening amendment, eighty-nine presbyteries would have to vote in favor. The remaining presbyteries have until 28 June 2009 to complete voting on the weakening amendment.

Nineteen presbyteries that voted not to weaken the Fidelity and Chastity Amendment the last time the issue was presented have voted in favor of the weakening amendment during the current voting.

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


[3] ARP First Presbytery Spring 2009 Meeting Approves Memorial to Synod to Sever All Fraternal Relations with the PCUSA

In the spring 2009 meeting of First Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church, a memorial to the upcoming June 2009 Synod meeting was approved that calls for the ARP Church to sever all fraternal relations with the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA).

In other business, First Presbytery voted down a proposal to request Synod to divide the Presbytery; went on record as supporting church planting in Scotland, requested the assistance of Outreach North America and World Witness, and gave permission for the treasurer of First Presbytery to receive funding for this project; and elected elder Bob Stone as moderator and the Rev. John Currid as vice moderator for the fall 2009 term, and elected the Rev. Vaughn Hathaway as moderator for the spring 2010 term.

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

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


[4] Is Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Planning to Terminate Calvinist Professors?

In a Christianity Today article dated 10 March 2009 titled, “Tiptoeing through TULIP - Layoff allegations reveal Calvinism tensions at Baptist seminary,” writer Jim Jones investigates allegations that, “[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) president] Paige Patterson had met with professors and implied that the seminary, which is facing economic problems, might first target Calvinist professors if it had to resort to layoffs.”

In a February 2009 blog post, Pastor Wade Burleson of Enid, Oklahoma, raised the issue after receiving the information from SWBTS professors who attended the meetings with Patterson. Burleson surmises that his blog article resulted in the seminary temporarily retreating from its alleged plan to fire the Calvinists.

SWBTS characterizes the allegations as false information, with one SWBTS professor urging Burleson to "repent of your lies and slanders." In a subsequent blog article, Burleson declined to repent, and provided further details about recent goings-on at SWBTS.

+ Christianity Today International, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, 630-260-6200, Fax: 630-260-0114, mwhite@christianitytoday.com


[5] Time Magazine Ranks “The New Calvinism” as Third of Ten Ideas Currently Changing the World

In an online article titled “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now,” Time Magazine ranks “The New Calvinism” as the third most influential idea currently changing the world. First place goes to “Jobs Are The New Assets,” which extols the value of “human capital” in a world where the value of other assets is markedly shrinking, and second place goes to “Recycling the Suburbs,” where vacant retail property is being converted to libraries, schools, and other municipal functions.

“10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now” author David van Biema says, “Calvinism is back...John Calvin's 16th century reply to medieval Catholicism's buy-your-way-out-of-purgatory excesses is Evangelicalism's latest success story, complete with an utterly sovereign and micromanaging deity, sinful and puny humanity, and the combination's logical consequence, predestination: the belief that before time's dawn, God decided whom he would save (or not), unaffected by any subsequent human action or decision.”

Van Biema continues, “Calvinism, cousin to the Reformation's other pillar, Lutheranism, is a bit less dour than its critics claim: it offers a rock-steady deity who orchestrates absolutely everything, including illness…by a logic we may not understand but don't have to second-guess. Our…purpose…is fulfilled simply by "glorifying" him. In the 1700s, Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards invested Calvinism with a rapturous near mysticism…[H]ard-core Reformed preaching (Reformed operates as a loose synonym for Calvinist) [is currently limited] to a few crotchety Southern churches.”

John Piper, Mark Driscoll, and Albert Mohler are cited by the author as the leading voices of “The New Calvinism.”

+ Time Magazine, Time & Life Building, Rockefeller Center, New York, New York 10020-1393, 800-843-8463


[6] CRCNA Board of Trustees Agrees to Budget Cuts

The Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has approved a series of financial measures geared toward helping the church to weather the current financial crisis.

The cost-cutting measures include CRCNA employees in both the U.S. and Canada having to increase their contribution for employer-provided health insurance, a reduction in the amount the CRCNA pays toward employee pensions, and a four percent cut in pay in lieu of a pension reduction for ordained employees who are part of the ministers’ pension plan.

Additionally, US$2 million in budget cuts in other areas will be made.

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


[7] Atheist Magician Penn Fraser Jillette Encourages Christian Evangelism

Magician and outspoken atheist Penn Fraser Jillette of the magic act “Penn and Teller,” in a YouTube video posted at ThinkChristian.net, says he has no respect for Christians who do not share their faith.



Penn tells about a “polite and kind” businessman who handed him a Gideon Bible and shared the Gospel message. Touched by the man’s gesture, Penn said, “If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and you think it’s not worth telling someone about it, how much do you have to hate him to not proselytize? To believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell people? This man cared enough about me to proselytize.”

+ 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 Gideons International, Post Office Box 140800, Nashville, Tennessee 37214, 615-564-5000, tgi@gideons.org


[8] Tullian Tchividjian Becomes Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

Tullian Tchividjian, 36, grandson of Billy Graham, has accepted the call to serve as senior pastor at Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (CRPC), and the New City Presbyterian Church (Evangelical Presbyterian Church) of 650 people which Tchividjian founded has merged with the 2,200-member CRPC. The combined congregation will remain in the CRPC’s current denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America. CRPC was pastored for forty-seven years by D. James Kennedy who died in September 2007 at the age of 76.

Tchividjian’s call was endorsed unanimously by the sessions of both churches and by a ninety-one percent favorable vote of the CRPC congregation.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

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

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


[9] WARC Delegation Urges South African Reformed Denominations to Keep Alive Merger Negotiations

A World Alliance of Reformed Churches delegation that had been mediating now-stalled unification talks between the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) and the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), expressed their desire for the talks to resume saying, “We lament the apparent breaking of once shining hopes. Nevertheless, we do not lose heart.”

The other two churches involved in the unification process are the Reformed Church in Africa (RCA) and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA).

+ World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 150 route de Ferney, Post Office Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, 41-22-791-6240, Fax: 41-22-791-6505, warc@warc.ch

+ Dutch Reformed Church, Posbus 13528, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, 012-342-0092, Fax: 012-342-0380, algemenesinode@ngkerk.org.za

+ Uniting Reformed Churches , Private Bag X1, Belhar, Cape Town, Western Cape 7507, South Africa, 021-952-2151 Fax: 021-952-8638, pjadams@polka.co.za

+ Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, Posbus 2368, Pretoria
0001, South Africa, 012-322-8885, Fax: 012-322-7909, kobus@nhk.co.za

+ Dutch Reformed Church in Africa, Post Office Box 2103, Vryburg 8600, South Africa, 53-914706


[10] Dutch Reformed Church Donates Office Equipment to Organization Fighting the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

The Dutch Reformed Church has donated a computer and photocopying machine to the Kgomotso Counseling Centre (KCC) in Tsabong, Botswana to assist the center in providing timely service to the community as they continue to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge.

The KCC was founded by Christians with a view to helping people change their behavior towards HIV/AIDS, and provides psychosocial support for orphans and those living with HIV/AIDS.

+ Government of Botswana, P.O. Box 240, Gaborone, Botswana,
267-373-200, Fax: 267-353-101, parliament@gov.bw

+ Dutch Reformed Church, Posbus 13528, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, 012-342-0092, Fax: 012-342-0380, algemenesinode@ngkerk.org.za


[11] Pro-Life Leaders Hold News Conference in Wichita, Kansas at Beginning Stages of George Tiller’s Trial for Performing Late-Term Abortions

Jury selection for abortionist George Tiller’s trial on nineteen counts of performing illegal, late-term abortions began on 16 March 2009, with the trial expected to begin on 23 March 2009.

Tiller is known for performing late-term, partial-birth abortions, where the baby’s head-only is delivered face down, the abortionist plunges forceps into the back of the baby’s skull, and then suctions out the baby’s brains before crushing the baby’s skull and completing the delivery of the now-dead child.

A press conference by Reformed Presbyterian pastor the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, Troy Newman of Operation Rescue, and other pro-life leaders was held 16 March 2009 in front of Wichita, Kansas’ Sedgwick County Courthouse where plans for Tiller's criminal trial were discussed.

Daily prayer vigils are planned at the courthouse and evening prayer vigils will be held at local churches for the entire time the jury selection and trial is taking place. A national call was made to the faith and pro-life community and to national leaders to come pray in Wichita once the trial begins.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Christian Defense Coalition, 540-538-4741


[12] WRC/BPC Presbyterians and Education Conference Messages Available On-Line

As a part of the 25th Anniversary celebration of Western Reformed Seminary, the seminary held a joint conference with the Northwest Presbytery of the Bible Presbyterian Church on the subject "Presbyterians and Education." The five messages of the conference now are available online. The PowerPoint slides accompanying three of the messages additionally are available in PDF format.

The five messages are:

1. "The Presbyterian Tradition of an Educated Clergy," by John A. Battle;
2. "Presbyterians and the American University," by Christopher K. Lensch;
3. "The Unity of Truth," by Stephen Brinegar;
4. "J. Gresham Machen's Predictions Concerning Public Education," by James Huff;
5. and "The Covenantal Education of Children," by G. W. Fisher.

+ Western Reformed Seminary, 5 South G Street, Tacoma, Washington 98405, 253-272-0417, Fax: 253-627-4882, registrar@wrs.edu

11 March 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois Pastor Shot and Killed During 8 March 2009 Morning Service
[2] PCUSA General Assembly Council (GAC) Executive Committee Announces One-Week Furlough and No 2010 Salary Increases for GAC Staff
[3] Illinois Christian Schools Told to Silence Prayers before Sporting Events
[4] U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama Forces Tax-Funding of Failed Embryo Research
[5] NAE Protests Obama Administration 2010 Plan to Limit Tax Rate for Itemized Deductions for High Income Taxpayers
[6] Christian-Themed Movie ‘Fireproof’ Out-Grosses Oscar-Winning Movies ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Milk’
[7] International Expert on Celtic Spirituality to Preach at Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church
[8] The Shack Author Speaks at Trinity Christian College
[9] Taiwan Church Renamed in Memory of Missionary Joyce McMillan
[10] RTS’s Dr. Frank James Accepts Provost Appointment at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
[11] Inheritance Publications New Books for 2009
[12] Annual Dutch Supper 17 March 2009 at Hollandale Reformed Church
[13] Petrus van Mastricht’s Theoretico-Practica Theologia to be Translated from Latin and Dutch to English
[14] Presbyterian Church In Canada Offers Daily Biblical Devotion, Intercessory Prayer, Podcast


[1] First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois Pastor Shot and Killed During 8 March 2009 Morning Service

Dr. Fred Winters, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois, was shot to death during the 8 March 2009 8:00 a.m. service by a gunman that walked in during the service, went up to the pulpit, and shot the pastor three times.

Two church members then tackled and subdued the gunman who had pulled out a knife and stabbed himself, and during the struggle, the two church members suffered knife injuries.

Jeffrey Hawkins, executive director of the Christian Security Network commented: "The shooting [on 8 March 2009] is a tragic situation, but unfortunately, one that has been witnessed many times over the years. This most recent violent incident against a Christian church in a small town in downstate Illinois is another reminder that these incidents are not going to stop and can occur anywhere, at any time. The only recourse that churches have to is to acknowledge that it can happen to them and to be prepared. In the first two months [of 2009] alone, the Christian Security Network has tracked 139 incidents in 31 states against Christian churches, schools, and ministries."

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Christian Security Network, Post Office Box 53933, Cincinnati, Ohio 45253, 800-805-7126


[2] PCUSA General Assembly Council (GAC) Executive Committee Announces One-Week Furlough and No 2010 Salary Increases for GAC Staff

In an attempt to overcome a multi-million US$ shortfall brought on by the global economic crisis, the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) General Assembly Council (GAC) Executive Committee announced on 6 March 2009 that GAC staff will have an unpaid one-week furlough 17-23 May 2009 and will receive no salary increases in 2010.

The GAC estimates that the furlough will save about US$450 thousand in the 2009 budget, and that eliminating the 2010 staff pay increases will save about US$900 thousand in the 2010 budget.

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


[3] Illinois Christian Schools Told to Silence Prayers before Sporting Events


The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has banned Christian schools from broadcasting prayers or any religious announcements over their public address systems on days they host state sports tournaments, because the IHSA considers such prayers and announcements to be illegal.

Senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund David Cortman comments, “Not only does it not violate the Establishment Clause, but it violates the free-speech rights of private schools.”

+ Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995, 800-232-6459

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


[4] U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama Forces Tax-Funding of Failed Embryo Research

U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama on 9 March 2009 revoked a 2001 administration policy and begin for the first time using federal tax dollars to encourage researchers to destroy living human embryos for stem cell research. President Obama also revoked the previous administration's Executive Order 13435 (20 June 2007) authorizing federal funding of stem cell research that produces the same or superior pluripotent stem cells produced by living human embryos without any need to destroy such embryos.

Advocates International General Counsel Sam Casey commented, “President Obama's Executive Order is legally limited and only authorizes NIH [National Institutes of Health] action 'to the extent permitted by law.' Existing law currently bans the expenditure of any federal funds for the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on fetuses in utero under 45 CFR 46.204(b) and section 498(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289g (b))."

Given this existing federal funding ban, Casey doubts that NIH will be able to safely do much more than they are already doing without violating existing federal law. That is why, Casey says, he is so "dumbfounded that President Obama, by his actions today, also seems to have revoked NIH's executive authority to do much of the lawful stem cell research they were doing."

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com


[5] NAE Protests Obama Administration 2010 Plan to Limit Tax Rate for Itemized Deductions for High Income Taxpayers

The National Association of Evangelicals has written a letter to U.S. Congress leaders raising their concerns about the likely impact of Barrack Hussein Obama administration plans starting in 2010 to limit to those taxed at a rate of 28 percent or less the ability to take itemized deductions on their income tax returns.

The proposed tax law change would raise the cost of living for high income charitable donors subject to the higher tax rates, and thus could lead to reduced charitable giving.

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

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


[6] Christian-Themed Movie ‘Fireproof’ Out-Grosses Oscar-Winning Movies ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Milk’

Several hours before the 22 February 2009 Academy Awards presentation was aired on television, National Public Radio (NPR) broadcast a seven-minute feature story about the January 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF), and SAICFF’s efforts to showcase and reward hopeful films that honor Jesus Christ.

NPR Religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty opened her story, entitled "Christian Filmmakers Creating an Industry of Faith," with this probing question: "What was the biggest grossing independent film in 2008? No, not 'Slumdog Millionaire.' Not 'Milk.' It was a movie you've probably never heard of.” [‘Fireproof’ starring Kirk Cameron].

SAICFF founder Doug Phillips commented, “The distinction between Hollywood's toxic culture of death and the burgeoning Christian film movement of life was highlighted in bold this weekend. On the one hand, the world watched as Sean Penn accepted the 'Best Male Actor' award by the Academy for his portrayal of homosexual activist Harvey Milk, even as Kate Winslet received the 'Best Female Actor' trophy for her performance in 'The Reader,' a pornographic story about a female Nazi war criminal seducing a fifteen-year-old boy."

Phillips added, “Those who attended our recent festival saw films rewarded that build up rather than tear down the family -- independent films such as 'Fireproof' that outsold 'Milk' in theaters by a wide margin. Even as Hollywood fails, Christian filmmaking is prevailing in exalting virtue, and the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival is helping to lead the way in this important cultural reformation in the arts."

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com


[7] International Expert on Celtic Spirituality to Preach at Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church

The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) of Woodlands, Texas on 20-22 March 2009 is hosting a series of sermons, lectures and meditations by the Rev. J. Philip Newell, a Church of Scotland minister and an internationally-recognized author and poet with an expertise in Celtic spirituality.

Newell’s Celtic spirituality teaches that people should take notice of God in all things—especially Christ’s creations in nature. Celtic spirituality values the presence of God in everyone and everything—including plants, animals, and all of nature [pantheism].

+ Woodlands Online, 25211 Grogan's Mill Road, Suite 170, Spring, Texas 77380

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

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


[8] The Shack Author Speaks at Trinity Christian College

William Paul Young, author of the New York Times best seller, The Shack, spoke at of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois on 17 February 2009 on the question addressed in the fictional book, “Where is God in a world filled with such unspeakable pain?”

The answers that Young’s “somewhat autobiographical” protagonist Mackenzie Philips received from God challenged Philips’ beliefs about God’s character, power, mercy, and grace, as well as Philips’ perception of what it means to be loved by [God].

Young additionally addressed those who question his theology and his portrayal of God the Father as a gregarious African-American woman by asserting, “All imagery created to represent God is inadequate. God doesn’t fit into our categorical boxes.”

Young said that his continuing surprise at what he calls the “God thing,” is on the same order of magnitude as the surprise his readers express at his portrayal of the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. Young says that the meaning of the portrayed character’s [Sanskrit (Hindu)] name “Sarayu” seems to represent how The Shack has affected so many of those who read the book, like “a wind that takes you by surprise.”

+ Trinity Christian College, 6601 West College Drive, Palos Heights, Illinois 60463, 866-874-6463, marketing@trnty.edu

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


[9] Taiwan Church Renamed in Memory of Missionary Joyce McMillan

The Toa Pen Teng (Tai Ping Ding) Presbyterian Church in Taitung (Taichung) presbytery in Taiwan has changed its name to Toa Pen Teng Joyce McMillan Memorial Church in memory of missionary Joyce McMillan.

McMillan devoted her life to medical ministries and evangelism in Central Taiwan after coming to Taiwan in 1960.

+ Presbyterian Church in Taiwan


[10] RTS’s Dr. Frank James Accepts Provost Appointment at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) Professor of Historical Theology, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and President of the RTS Orlando, Florida Campus, Dr. Frank James, has accepted the position of Provost at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. James will assume the new post after completion of the RTS Spring academic semester.

+ Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando, 1231 Reformation Drive, Oviedo, Florida 32765, 407-366-9493, Fax: 407-366-9425


[11] Inheritance Publications New Books for 2009

New books for 2009 from Inheritance Publications include:

- Under the Inquisition - A Story of the Reformation in Italy by Elizabeth H. Walshe
- Calvin’s Doctrine of the Word and Sacrament by Ronald S. Wallace
- The Czar - A Tale of the Time of the First Napoleon by Deborah Alcock
- The Colonist of Southwest Africa by Lawrence Penning
- The Carpenter of Zerbst - A Story from the Time of the Great Reformation by P. de Zeeuw, J. Gzn

+ Inheritance Publications, Box 154, Neerlandia, Alberta T0G 1R0, Canada, 780-674-3949, Fax: 775-890-9118


[12] Annual Dutch Supper 17 March 2009 at Hollandale Reformed Church

The Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior (GEMS) Club is sponsoring their annual Dutch Supper 17 March 2009 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Hollandale Reformed Church in Hollandale, Minnesota.

Dutch specialty foods such as “Ollie Bollen,” Dutch meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, and many other side dishes will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The GEMS Club is a non-denominational organization for girls grades three through eight, meeting at the Hollandale Christian Reformed Church two Tuesdays a month, and focuses upon forming Christian principles.

+ Albert Lea Tribune, 808 West Front Street, Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007, 507- 373-1411, Fax: 507-373-0333, news@albertleatribune.com

+ 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


[13] Petrus van Mastricht’s Theoretico-Practica Theologia to be Translated from Latin and Dutch to English

The Dutch Reformed Translation Society (DRTS), is beginning the translation of late seventeenth-century theologian Petrus van Mastricht’s Theoretico-Practica Theologia.

Theoretico-Practica Theologia was especially influential in the Netherlands, and was highly praised by British-Colonial North American theologian Jonathan Edwards.

Theoretico-Practica Theologia is a three-part work, with most of its 1300 pages contained in part one. The newly translated version will likely be published in four volumes. The first volume is anticipated to be available in three-to-five years. Calvin Seminary Ph.D. student and expert in Latin and Dutch, Todd Rester, is performing the translation.

+ GoDutch.com, Vanderheide Publishing, Post Office Box 3006 Station LCD1, Langley, British Columbia V3A 4R3, 604-532-1733, Fax: 604-532-1734


[14] Presbyterian Church In Canada Offers Daily Biblical Devotion, Intercessory Prayer, Podcast

The Association For Church Renewal (ACR)’s most recent issue of Renewal News From The Mainline Church points out that the Presbyterian Church in Canada offers daily biblical devotion, intercessory prayer, and podcast feeds through their website saying:

“The ACR has been receiving the daily Bible readings and devotionals offered by the Presbyterian Church in Canada which are Biblically reliable and well done! They offer intercessory pray and a podcast of the daily devotionals. Check it out.”

+ Association For Church Renewal, Post Office Box 102, 182 High Street, Candia, New Hampshire 03034, 603-867-7711, Renewall.acr@gmail.com

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

4 March 2009

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Christian Observer for March 2009
[2] Care Net Condemns President Obama’s Directive to Force Medical Professionals to Refer Patients to Abortionists and to Perform Abortions
[3] Christian Defense Coalition Director Comments on Presidential Nomination of Abortion Proponent Kansas Governor Sebelius as HHS Secretary
[4] British Library Council Recommends Bibles and Other Religious Books Be Placed Out of Reach on Top Shelf to Avoid Offending Muslims
[5] Tennessee Elementary School Censors “God,” “Prayer,” and Scripture-Related Statements on Student Posters Announcing an Upcoming ‘See You at the Pole’ Event


[1] Christian Observer for March 2009

New Christian Observer articles for March 2009 include:

A Brief History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and Erskine Theological Seminary by Erskine Theological Seminary Executive Vice-President H. Neely Gaston;

A review by Christian Observer Associate Editor Chuck Huckaby of the new Lifeway book Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches That Reach Them;

The Stimulus Bill Ignored an Educational Problem by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Joe Renfro;

Happy Birthday Protestants – a message from Christian Observer Publisher Edwin Elliott;

along with our regular features including weekly Sabbath School lessons by Dr. Robert LaMay and daily devotionals by T.M. Moore.

+ Christian Observer, 9400 Fairview Avenue, Manassas, Virginia 20110, 703-335-2844, christianobserver@christianobserver.org


[2] Care Net Condemns President Obama’s Directive to Force Medical Professionals to Refer Patients to Abortionists and to Perform Abortions

Melinda Delahoyde, President of Care Net, responded to news on 27 February 2009 that U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama has directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to overturn regulations that protect medical professionals from being forced to perform or refer patients for abortion.

Delahoyde said that the Care Net network of 1,160 pregnancy center affiliates will feel the damaging blow of this action, if implemented. "Pregnancy centers empower women facing unplanned pregnancy to choose abortion alternatives," Delahoyde said. "To accomplish this, we offer critical, free medical services, such as limited obstetrical ultrasounds and STD [sexually-transmitted disease] testing. Because of our commitment to providing alternatives to abortion, we rely on the availability of pro-life medical professionals - nurses, OB-GYNs [Obstetrician-Gynecologists], nurse practitioners, sonographers, and others. If the rights of these individuals are violated, then they will simply leave the field of practice or not enter it altogether. With more than 470 pregnancy centers in the Care Net network that offer medical services, we're simply not willing to take that risk."

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Care Net, 44180 Riverside Parkway, Suite 200, Lansdowne, Virginia 20176, 703-478-5661, Fax: 703-478-5668, info@care-net.org


[3] Christian Defense Coalition Director Comments on Presidential Nomination of Abortion Proponent Kansas Governor Sebelius as HHS Secretary

Reformed Presbyterian minister and director of the Christian Defense Coalition, the Rev. Pat Mahoney, released the following statements in response to the nomination of the abortion proponent governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama:

“President Obama continues losing streak on Cabinet appointments with nomination of Governor Sebelius as HHS Secretary.

President Obama nominates a governor who radically supports abortion rights and is closely linked with indicted late-term abortion provider George Tiller.

The President also affirms his status as "The Abortion President" by nominating a radical extremist on abortion rights to oversee the nation's health care and social programs.

The Governor has blocked legislation that would have stopped late-term abortions, she impeded the investigation into the death of a young woman at Dr. George Tiller's abortion clinic and Catholic Church officials have told her not to receive communion because of her radical support of abortion.

This nomination paves the way for taxpayer funded abortions as part of the Administration's health care policies.

The Christian Defense Coalition asks why President Obama would nominate such a divisive and extremist candidate after he campaigned on brining unity and civility to government.

The Christian Defense Coalition vows a vocal, public and national campaign to prevent a person who so devalues human life and social justice to become HHS Secretary.

If the President is looking for a fight with the pro-life and pro-family movement, he certainly is going to get one.”

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Christian Defense Coalition, 540-538-4741


[4] British Library Council Recommends Bibles and Other Religious Books Be Placed Out of Reach on Top Shelf to Avoid Offending Muslims

Great Britain’s Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC), a Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organization (QUANGO) that answers to British culture secretary Andy Burnham, has issued guidance to librarians telling them that they should store Bibles and other religious texts on the top shelves in order to avoid offending Muslims. The MLAC guidance suggests moving all religious texts to the top shelf because of the Muslim belief that the Koran should not be kept among ‘common things’.

British Poet Laureate and atheist Andrew Motion said during an interview that children should be taught more about the Bible because it is an “essential piece of cultural luggage”.

Motion additionally said that too many students now arrive at the university to study English Literature with scant knowledge of its deeply biblical foundations. “When I ask [my students] anything about the Bible, they frankly, by and large, don’t know. I don’t particularly blame them for it…I do think there is a real problem with the education system that has allowed these great stories to disappear, to fade out of the diet everyone gets at school.”

+ The Christian Institute, Wilberforce House, 4 Park Road, Gosforth Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 8DG, England, 44-0-191-281-5664, Fax: 44-0-191-281-4272, info@christian.org.uk


[5] Tennessee Elementary School Censors “God,” “Prayer,” and Scripture-Related Statements on Student Posters Announcing an Upcoming ‘See You at the Pole’ Event

School officials of Lakeview Elementary School in Wilson County, Tennessee ordered “God Bless the USA,” “In God We Trust,” and other phrases referencing God, prayer, and Scripture to be covered up on posters announcing an upcoming ‘See You at the Pole’ event before they could be displayed in the school’s hallways.

‘See You at the Pole’ is a student-led prayer event upheld by a prior federal court decision regarding in Wilson County, Tennessee schools acknowledging that Christians cannot be discriminated against for their beliefs, and that personal prayer, mentions of God, and Christmas references are constitutionally appropriate in school.

The Alliance Defense Fund representing Lakeview students and their parents on 2 March 2009 filed suit against the Wilson County Schools and asked for a preliminary injunction.

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

+ See You at the Pole, Post Office Box 60134, Fort Worth, Texas 76115-0134, 817-447-7526