26 November 2008
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Presbyterians Week Headlines
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[1] PCUSA Stated Clerk Accuses Presbyterian Lay Committee of Factual Errors and Misrepresentation
[2] John Knox Presbytery Votes to Enroll Practicing Homosexual as Candidate for the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament
[3] Presbyterian Coalition Answers “Yes!” to Question: Is “Fidelity-Chastity” Still in Effect?
[4] EPC Gets No Reply from PCUSA About False Allegations of Recruiting Dissenting PCUSA Churches
[5] WARC Leader Says Divisions Compromise Church’s Peace Message
[6] Wilmington, North Carolina Reformed Church Meets in Former Roman Catholic Church
[7] Kenyan Women’s Ministry Representatives in Zeeland, Michigan
[8] Pastor Jeff Voorhees of the Drenthe Christian Reformed Church in Zeeland, Michigan Dies from Car Accident Injuries
[9] First Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan Offers “Half Church” Service for Newcomers
[10] Church of Scotland Minister Celebrates 50 Years of Ministry
[11] CRC Distributes More Than US$1,500,000 from Sea to Sea Bike Tour 2008 to Worldwide Poverty-Fighting Programs
[12] EPC Ghana Calls for Peaceful December Elections
[13] Calvin Quincentenary Tour and Conferences in July 2009
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[1] PCUSA Stated Clerk Accuses Presbyterian Lay Committee of Factual Errors and Misrepresentation
In an 18 November 2008 letter responding to a letter sent earlier in the same month by the Presbyterian Lay Committee (PLC) to 10,743 Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) congregations, PCUSA Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons made several allegations of factual error and misrepresentation being contained in the PLC’s letter.
Parsons contested the PLC’s statement that presbyteries are suing local churches and, in some cases are naming their session members and trustees individually in an attempt to seize their property. Parsons also objected to the PLC’s statement that the 2008 General Assembly established a US$2,000,000 fund to support presbyteries in their litigation against local churches.
Parsons additionally took issue with the PLC’s statement that the heavy-handed tactics have been exacerbated by a recent ruling from the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission. The PLC said, “Defying its own constitution, our denomination’s highest court has ruled that presbyteries can establish permanent commissions armed with the power to defrock your minister, remove your session, seize your property and even deny your congregation the right to hold a meeting.”
The PLC denied each of the allegations in specific detail, citing relevant PCUSA documents and court decisions.
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+ Presbyterian Lay Committee, Post Office Box 2210, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645, 828-758-8716, Fax: 828-758-0920, laymanletters@layman.org
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+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
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[2] John Knox Presbytery Votes to Enroll Practicing Homosexual as Candidate for the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament
The John Knox Presbytery on 18 November 2008 voted to enroll practicing homosexual Scott Anderson as a candidate for the ministry of the Word and Sacrament in the PCUSA.
Anderson presented an “affirmation of conscience” to the presbytery containing biblical and theological arguments for his belief that ordination should be open to homosexual people in faithful, lifelong partnerships.
Anderson’s statement formally declared his disagreement with section G-60106b of the PCUSA’s Book of Order that limits ordination to those who “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.”
The presbytery acted in accordance with the General Assembly’s 2006 authoritative interpretation of The Book of Order section G-60108, reaffirmed in 2008, that allows candidates to raise principled objections and reaffirms the presbytery’s responsibility to determine fitness of candidates on an individual basis.
John Knox Presbytery is a regional governing body of the PCUSA that includes 61 congregations and more than 110 ministers in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest and south central Wisconsin.
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+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
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[3] Presbyterian Coalition Answers “Yes!” to Question: Is “Fidelity-Chastity” Still in Effect?
Due to confusion within the PCUSA about sexual standards for ordination because of General Assembly actions in 2006 and 2008 and a decision by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission in 2008 regarding section G-60106b of the PCUSA’s Book of Order that limits ordination to those who “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness,” The Presbyterian Coalition has published three articles by James Tony and Gordon Fish that seek to clarify these issues and demonstrate clearly that the Fidelity and Chastity amendment is still in effect.
+ 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
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[4] EPC Gets No Reply from PCUSA About False Allegations of Recruiting Dissenting PCUSA Churches
At their 2008 General Assembly (GA), the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) addressed accusations made against them by the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) that the EPC was recruiting churches to depart the PCUSA and come into the EPC.
The GA directed Stated Clerk Jeff Jeremiah to write a letter to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) about this situation, as it is through the EPC’s membership in the WARC that they are in correspondence with the PCUSA.
Jeremiah reiterated the EPC’s policy and practice of not soliciting, initiating contact, or recruiting churches and leaders who are outside of the denomination and requested that the WARC ask the PCUSA to cease its unwarranted accusations against the EPC.
The EPC General Assembly office has heard from the WARC on other recent issues, but as of 20 November 2008 they have yet to receive a reply to the letter regarding recruiting allegations.
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+ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 17197 North Laurel Park Drive Suite 567, Livonia, Michigan 48152, 734-742-2020, Fax: 734-742-2033, webmaster@epc.org
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+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
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+ 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
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[5] WARC Leader Says Divisions Compromise Church’s Peace Message
During an address on 18 November 2008 to the ‘At the Civilisation of Peace – Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue’ conference in Nicosia, Cyprus, World Alliance of Reformed Churches General Secretary Setri Nyomi said that the Body of Christ is rendering its own peace message ineffective because of internal divisions and strife at a time when persistent threats to global peace and security make the quest for Christian unity more urgent than ever.
Nyomi stressed the successful role of ecumenical organizations as peace builders through their work in areas like economic injustice, poverty, disease, and environmental care.
+ Christian Today, 200 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YB, England, 44-0-20-7378-5705, 44-0-20-7407-5647
+ 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
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[6] Wilmington, North Carolina Reformed Church Meets in Former Roman Catholic Church
The River City Reformed Church (RCRC) of Wilmington, North Carolina has been meeting for the past two years in the St. Thomas Preservation Hall, an events location that was once the home to St. Thomas the Apostle [Roman] Catholic Church.
RCRC bases their beliefs in the inerrancy of the Bible in its original manuscripts and in the statements of faith in the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
RCRC does outreach programs at the nearby beaches in the summer, and plans to attend anti-evolution events in response to the University of North Carolina Wilmington‘s Evolution Learning Community project in 2009 marking the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or, The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
RCRC is currently not connected with a denomination, but its leadership is receptive to the possibility of placing itself under the authority of, and affiliation with, other believers who have a compatible vision for sound doctrine, a zeal for Biblical instruction, and a reformed body life.
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+ Star-News, Post Office Box 840, Wilmington, North Carolina 28402, 910-343-2000, bob.gruber@starnewsonline.com
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+ River City Reformed Church, 208 Dock Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401, 910-520-0272, Fax: 910-343-4317, rcrcnc@gmail.com
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[7] Kenyan Women’s Ministry Representatives in Zeeland, Michigan
The Rev. Judy Mbugua and Alice Muigai do women’s missions work in Kibera, Kenya under the sponsorship of I.N. Network USA of Zeeland, Michigan. Mbugua and Muigai are currently in Michigan meeting with schools, civic organizations, and churches – including Hamilton Reformed Church of Hamilton, Michigan where they will be speaking at 9:30 AM on 30 November 2008.
Mbugua and Muigai are promoting a new child-sponsorship program that will help provide food, medication and school supplies to about 60 children in Kibera. Muigai says that, “Most of the kids in Kibera are orphaned, and food is a big challenge. They do not have mothers and fathers to take care of the education need.” Muigai also talked about the continuing generational poverty in Kibera, describing it as, “out of control.”
Mbugua described the current “Obama-mania” in Kenya fueled by the November 2008 U.S. presidential election of Barack Obama. People are happy because “Obama is a child of Kenya,” she said, and women from his family’s village hope the president-elect can get them new teeth.
Mbugua too said that unless Obama “becomes a man after God’s own heart” and other U.S. Christians follow, tourism may be Kenya‘s only gain from [Obama’s] election.
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+ The Grand Rapids Press, 155 Michigan Street Northwest, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, 616-222-5818, dgaydou@grpress.com
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+ Reformed Church in America, 4500 60th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, 800-968-6065, questions@rca.org
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[8] Pastor Jeff Voorhees of the Drenthe Christian Reformed Church in Zeeland, Michigan Dies from Car Accident Injuries
Pastor Jeff Voorhees, age 37, of the Drenthe Christian Reformed Church in Zeeland, Michigan died 21 November 2008 from injuries sustained in a car accident.
He is survived by his wife Katie and four children: Calvin, Hannah, Felicity and Gabriel.
Funeral services were held 25 November 2008 at the Drenthe Christian Reformed Church.
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+ Holland Sentinel, 54 West 8th Street, Holland, Michigan 49423, 616-546-4200, Fax: 616-393-6710, peter.esser@hollandsentinel.com
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+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org
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[9] First Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan Offers “Half Church” Service for Newcomers
The First Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan is offering a special casual gathering called ‘Half Church’ on Sunday mornings in an effort to make it easy for newcomers to check out their programs and feel at ease.
‘Half Church’ consists of a video of the morning’s sermon from the earlier service, along with coffee, refreshments, and an informal opportunity to discuss and ask questions of the pastors and the church staff.
Senior Pastor Dan Gillett said that worship services today are more interactive, and reflect the true meaning of the word liturgy, which is, “the work of the people. Hopefully, we will promote interaction between the people and God.”
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+ Holland Sentinel, 54 West 8th Street, Holland, Michigan 49423, 616-546-4200, Fax: 616-393-6710, peter.esser@hollandsentinel.com
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+ Reformed Church in America, 4500 60th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, 800-968-6065, questions@rca.org
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[10] Church of Scotland Minister Celebrates 50 Years of Ministry
On Sunday 16 November 2008, the congregation of Monifieth Parish Church of Scotland joined with the Rev. Donald Fraser at a special service to celebrate his 50 years in the ministry.
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+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH2 4YN, 0131-225-5722
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+ Carnoustie Guide & Gazette, 21 Market Place, Arbroath DD11 1HR, Scotland, 01241-872274
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[11] CRC Distributes More Than US$1,500,000 from Sea to Sea Bike Tour 2008 to Worldwide Poverty-Fighting Programs
On 14 November 2008, the Christian Reformed Church distributed more than US$1,500,000 to poverty-fighting programs worldwide, including helping to build a Christian school in the Dominican Republic, equipping business leaders with the tools to share their skills with cross-cultural partners, and improving communities in Sierra Leone.
220 bicycle riders participated in the summer 2008 journey that began in Seattle, Washington, and traveled through a portion of Canada on the way to the New Jersey shore tour terminus.
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+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org
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[12] EPC Ghana Calls for Peaceful December Elections
Speaking on the topic of ‘The Need for Peace’ at a 22 November 2008 breakfast meeting in Accra, Ghana, the Rev. Daniel. Y. Bruce of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana called on Ghanaians to ensure peace during the December elections. Bruce warned against any deliberate attempt by individuals or groups to ignore the call for peace.
Bruce urged Ghanaians to collaborate with the Electoral Commission and other stakeholders in the electoral process for credible polls. Presbyter Emmanuel Danku, president of West Volta Presbytery Presbyters Union, urged Ghanaians to elect faithful, humble and wise persons as leaders on 7 December. He called for peaceful elections, saying women and children were always most affected during political violence.
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+ GhanaWeb, Poederooienstraat 66, 1106 CK Amsterdam, Netherlands, 31-207700126, Fax: 1-815-6429100, akoto@ghanaweb.com
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+ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Post Office Box HP 18, Ho – Volta Region, Ghana, +233-91-26755, Fax: +233-91-28275, Epchurch@Ghana.Com
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[13] Calvin Quincentenary Tour and Conferences in July 2009
Several Reformed seminaries and organizations are sponsoring a Calvin Quincentenary celebration with a tour and conferences in Paris and Strasbourg, France, and in Bern and Geneva, Switzerland in July 2009 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin on July 10, 1509.
Additionally, Calvin College is providing a comprehensive list of Calvin Quincentenary events.
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+ Calvin 500.org, 4635 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs, Georgia 30127, 770-422-4974, David.Hall@calvin500.org
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+ Calvin College 3201 Burton Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49546, 616-526-6000
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