13 November 2013

Wednesday, November 13, 2013, 0:00

This news item was posted in Presbyterians Week category.

“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” [Ezekiel 33:6]

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.“ [Ephesians 6:12]

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Retired TEC Bishop of New Hampshire the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson Teaches Sunday School, Reflects on the State of the Christian Church in America, and Sells Books 9-10 November 2013 at East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

[2] Homosexual Rights Activists Are Against Kirk Voting Policy for Congregations Calling Homosexual Clergy

[3] Scots Church Ministers May Not Be Able to Opt Out of Performing Homosexual Marriages

[4] Poverty, not Islam, Is the Enemy, Niger Peacemaker Says: Life of Prayer and Love of Jesus Christ Works Better than Confrontation

[5] Banner of Truth Christmas Special Runs through 31 December 2013

[6] 1912 United Presbyterian Church Psalter with Responsive Readings Available from Google Books

[7] Go and Tell Three Hour Seminar Teaches Becoming a Fisher of Men (Matthew 4:19) Based Upon the Heidelberg Catechism

[8] News from the Deepest Recesses of Hell

[9] Headlines from Christian Concern

[10] Headlines from The Christian Institute

[11] The Thinning Blue Line

[12] Articles from LifesiteNews.com

[13] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

[14] The Religion of Peace

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Former Episcopal (TEC) Bishop of New Hampshire the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, who ten years ago was ordained the first openly homosexual TEC bishop, spoke at East Liberty Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the evening of 9 November 2013 on the state of the Christian church in America and on the ongoing need for full inclusion of the church’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual (LGBT) members. Following Robinson’s speech, he answered questions from the audience and signed copies of his recent book God Believes in Love: Straight Talk about Gay Marriage that were available for purchase.

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005

+ Episcopal Church Center 815 Second Avenue New York, New York 10017, 800-334-7626, cdawkins@episcopalchurch.org

[2] Homosexual Rights Activists Are Against Kirk Voting Policy for Congregations Calling Homosexual Clergy

A 7 November 2013 The Herald article by Brian Donnelly titled “Gay Rights Supporters Urge Kirk Rethink” reports that homosexual activists are calling for the Church of Scotland to reconsider its proposed congregational voting policy where parishes would vote twice on the principle of allowing homosexual ministers and be required to get a two-thirds favorable majority each time before the congregation can vote for a preferred candidate by a simple majority.

PinkNews, the online publication that claims to be “Europe’s Largest Gay News Service” stated that any Kirk congregation should only have to vote once by a simple majority for any ministerial candidate.

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

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

+ PinkNews, Unit M, Spectrum House, 32-Gordon House Road, London NW5 1LP, England, 07853-234-206, news@pinknews.co.uk

[3] Scots Church Ministers May Not Be Able to Opt Out of Performing Homosexual Marriages

An 11 November 2013 The Scotsman article by Scott Macnab titled “Ministers May Face Legal Action over Gay Marriage” reports that the Scottish Parliament’s equal opportunities committee has been told that the proposed Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill (MCPB) may “lead to individual ministers being unable to refuse on grounds of religious conscience to conduct gay marriage ceremonies.” Another committee report “highlights concerns that safeguards in the bill for such ministers may not be enough to prevent a legal challenge.”

The Church of Scotland is considering stopping all weddings over threats of legal action against those refusing to conduct homosexual weddings. Kirk minister the Rev. Alan MacDonald told MSPs:

“I think that in a short space of time, schools that do not teach the new morality and charities that do not accept the new morality will be legislated against….In fact I do not think that there will need to be legislation – I think the courts will find against and we will get hammered.”

Under the terms of the MCPB, churches must “opt in” before conducting homosexual marriages.

+ The Scotsman, Barclay House, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS, Scotland, 131-620-8620

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

[4] Poverty, not Islam, Is the Enemy, Niger Peacemaker Says: Life of Prayer and Love of Jesus Christ Works Better than Confrontation

By Jerry L. Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service

Eleven international peacemakers from around the world visited congregations, presbyteries and colleges of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from Sept. 27-Oct. 21.

They shared their stories about church-based ministries in their countries that seek peace justice and pursue peace in the name of Jesus Christ. This year’s international peacemakers come from Bolivia, Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Jamaica, Madagascar, Niger, Northern Ireland, South Sudan and Syria.

The International Peacemaker program is sponsored by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

The Rev. Sani Nomaou as served since 2010 as president of the EvangelicalChurch in the Republic of Niger (ECRN). With a membership of about 8,000, the ECRN is the largest Christian denomination in a country that is 98 percent Muslim. As a prominent Christian leader, Nomaou is often a key voice the national dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Niger.

During his international peacemaker itineration, Nomaou ? accompanied by the Rev. Josh Heikkila, the PC(USA)’s regional liaison for West Africa ? visited the presbyteries of the James, Twin Cities Area and Albany, as well as Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.

What is the situation in your country that you addressed?

In the Gospel of John chapter 14 Jesus Christ gives us his peace. The peace of God doesn’t depend on the people or their popularity or on our enemy. Sometimes we look on Muslims as our enemy, but they are not the enemy. Poverty and its causes are the enemy.

How are the faith communities addressing this situation?

Most people in Niger live on about $1 a day. We try to address this situation through schools, clinics and development programs like deep-water wells. The illiteracy rate in Niger is 70 percent and 47 percent of the people don’t have access to clean water. We share the gospel through our schools ? students learn to read by using the Bible. We train pastors for our churches and we educate our children. With our Muslim sisters and brothers, the challenge is not confrontation. The challenge is to invite them into Christian community through a life of prayer and love.

What lessons from your situation are you trying to communicate to U.S. Presbyterians?

We need to understand Muslims and what they believe and what we believe as Christians. That’s the only way to understanding.

What is the primary message you want to communicate to U.S. Presbyterians?

We need to be together to help our society.

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

[5] Banner of Truth Christmas Special Runs through 31 December 2013

Banner of Truth is running a Christmas special through 31 December 2013 with a thirty percent discount on everything and specially designed sets at up to a fifty percent discount.

For more information, please see:

http://banneroftruth.org/us/store/

+ The Banner of Truth Trust, P.O. Box 621, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013, 717-249-5747, info@banneroftruth.org

[6] 1912 United Presbyterian Church Psalter with Responsive Readings Available from Google Books

The Psalter with Responsive Readings published by the United Presbyterian Board of Publication in 1912 is available at:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Wm0Cl8tI8KgC

+ Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043, 650-253-0000, Fax: 650-253-0001, press@google.com

[7] Go and Tell Three Hour Seminar Teaches Becoming a Fisher of Men (Matthew 4:19) Based Upon the Heidelberg Catechism

Pastor Jim Halstead of Community Christian Reformed Church in Ft. Wayne, Indiana is available to teach Go and Tell, an easy and practical way to equip you to become a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19) based on the Heidelberg Catechism.

This three hour seminar will provide you with the tools to “be active in sharing your faith” (Philemon 6) with others.

Introduction: Go

HC Lord’s Day 1: Q/A 1-‘What is your only comfort in life & death?”

Session 1: Sin

HC Lord’s Day 2 Q/A 3-“How do you come to know your misery?”

Session 2: Salvation

HC Lord’s Day 11 Q/A 29-“Why is the Son of God called Jesus?”

Session 3: Service

HC LD 33 Q/A 88-“What is involved in genuine repentance?”

To schedule a Go and Tell seminar, please contact Pastor Jim Halstead at

Community CRC – 260-493-2398 – fwcrc@hotmail.com – http://fortwaynecrc.com/.

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

[8] News from the Deepest Recesses of Hell

— New York City Mayor Wants More Abortion Clinics, Will Use Tax Dollars to Build Them

— Planned Parenthood Wants Preschoolers to Know Mechanics of Sexual Intercourse

— Parents of Suicidal Gay Teen Sue New Jersey Governor for Not Allowing Them to Receive Therapy

— Wales: Hundreds of Babies Died in Abortions after Hospital Botches Miscarriage Scans

— Mayor-Elect and Mad Marxist Butcher Bill de Blasio Vows to Close New York City Crisis Pregnancy Centers

— Gummy Bears, Pharmaceutical Drugs and Vaccines Made Out of People

— Gay Activist Says Abortion Should Be Mandated for Population Control

— Bellingham, Washington Planned Parenthood Obstructed Child Rape Investigation, Admitted Breaking the Law

+ LifeNews.com, Post Office Box 270841, Fort Collins, Colorado 80527, news@lifenews.com

+ American Vision, 3150-A Florence Road, Suite 2, Powder Springs, Georgia 30127, 800-628-9460, Fax: 770-222-7269, Comments@AmericanVision.org

+ All Christian News, Contact Page

+ Freedom Outpost, 1116 North Market Street, Paris, Tennessee 38242, 73-644-2220, Contact Page

[9] Headlines from Christian Concern

Headlines of the past week from Christian Concern:

— Victory as Council Drops Charges against Street Preacher

— Gideon Bibles Banned in Student Housing at Huddersfield University

— German Home Schooling Family Faces Deportation from the U.S.

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

[10] Headlines from The Christian Institute

Headlines of the past week from The Christian Institute:

— Prime Minister David Cameron Announces Sharia Law Finance Plans for U.K.

— Gay Marriage Safeguards ‘Not Adequate’ Say MSPs

+ 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

[11] The Thinning Blue Line

— Police Assault on Americans, Becoming Business As Usual

— Henrico County, Virginia Policeman Shoots Man Holding Cellphone, Receives Silver Valor Award

— Chicago Cop Cleared: Admits to Drinking before He Shot Unarmed Man in Back Three Times, Cop’s Third Shooting in Six Months

— New Mexico Police Force Enemas and Anal Cavity Searches on Drivers Pulled Over for Minor Violations

— New Mexico Woman Anally and Vaginally Violated by El Paso, Texas Police

— Oklahoma Police Beat a Man and Lie about It in Their Reports, Dashcam Video Shows the Truth

— Snohomish County, Washington Jail Officers Ignore Man as He Dies from Severe Allergic Attack in Jail Cell

— Putin Ends NATO Missile Shield Cooperation, Warns Prepare For War

— Tragic End to Father’s Attempt to Teach Son a Lesson

— Kitchener, Ontario Father Strip Searched, Children Taken by Child Protective Services Because Daughter Drew Picture of a Toy Gun

— Springfield, Virginia Officers under Investigation: Unarmed Man Shot and Armored Vehicle Driven through Front Door