Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] PCUSA Presbytery of Redwoods Finds Minister Guilty on Three of Four Counts for Performing Homosexual Marriages, then Rebukes PCUSA for Barring Ministers from Performing Homosexual Marriages

[1] PCUSA Presbytery of Redwoods Finds Minister Guilty on Three of Four Counts for Performing Homosexual Marriages, then Rebukes PCUSA for Barring Ministers from Performing Homosexual Marriages
The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)’s Presbytery of Redwoods’ Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC), in a 24 August 2010 trial of the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr, convicted Spahr on three of four counts related to Spahr’s presiding over a minimum of fifteen same-sex marriages in California between June and November 2008 when same sex marriages were legal in California. Spahr was cited for representing a same-sex ceremony as a marriage and signing the marriage certificate of the two women for whom Spahr had performed the ceremony, contrary to the PCUSA Book of Order; for persisting in a practice of disobedience for performing at least fifteen of these ceremonies; and, for failure to be governed by PCUSA polity in violation of Spahr’s ordination vows. Spahr was acquitted of a charge of failing to further the peace, unity and purity of the church through intentionally and repeatedly acting in violation of the PCUSA Book of Order.

The Redwoods PJC decision went on to commend Spahr for “acting with faithful compassion” in performing the same-sex marriages; to thank Spahr “for her prophetic ministry that for thirty-five years has extended support to “people who seek the dignity, freedom and respect that they have been denied,” and for seeking to right “wrongs against individuals, groups, and peoples in the church, in this nation, and in the world;” and called upon the PCUSA “to reexamine our own fear and ignorance that continues to reject the inclusiveness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ….We say this believing that we have in our own Book of Order conflicting and even contradictory rules and regulations that are against the Gospel.”

The Redwoods PJC issued Spahr a rebuke and an injunction enjoining Spahr to avoid the same offenses in the future, which are not to be imposed immediately if the case is appealed.
.
+ Presbytery of Redwoods, 1226A Salvador Avenue, Napa, California 94558, 707-224-5407, Fax: 707-224-4309, pbyrw@pacbell.net

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
.
.
[2] Biblical Presbyterian Network Asks Biblical Christians in the PCUSA: Is God Calling You to Exile or Exodus?

In the wake of 2010’s Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 219^th General Assembly, Tony Brown of the Biblical Presbyterian Network has written an essay titled “My Reflections,” which questions the value of current efforts within PCUSA renewal organizations to raise funds and to equip people to fight again the same battles in the presbyteries verses leaving the PCUSA for another denomination already upholding biblical standards.

Brown poses the question “Exile or Exodus?,” and calls upon every individual to set aside the fights over temporal matters and to seek whether God is calling an individual to exile or exodus.
.
+ Biblical Presbyterian Network, admin@biblicalpresbyterians.net

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
.
.
[3] New Wineskins 2010 Convocation in Houston, Texas, 26-28 September 2010 – “Equipping Saints for Missional Ministry”

The New Wineskins Association of Churches is hosting the organization’s 2010 Convocation 26-28 September 2010 at the Windwood Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas, with the theme of “Equipping Saints for Missional Ministry.”

The featured speaker will be Reggie McNeal, a Missional Leadership Specialist for the Leadership Network, who serves as a speaker, teacher, and consultant to local church, denomination, and para-church leadership groups throughout North America.

Additionally, Lloyd Lunceford will speak on Property Law and Brad Long will speak on Spiritual Warfare.

Registration information is available at:

http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=877573
.
+ New Wineskins Association of Churches, 8800 Peebles Road, Allison Park, Pennsylvania 15101, 888-754-9693, info@newwineskinsassociation.org

+ Leadership Network, 2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 900, Dallas, Texas 75204, 214-969-5950, Fax: 214-969-9392, client.care@leadnet.org
.
.
[4] Waldensian Synod Votes to Recognize Homosexual Marriage and to Urge Living Will Legislation

A 27 August 2010 article in La Stampa by A. Giaimo and A. Rossi titled “Testamento Biologico e Coppie Omosessuali. Lo Strappo dei Valdesi” reports that the Synod of the Union of the Methodist and Waldensian Churches, meeting in late August 2010 in Turin, Italy, voted to recognize homosexual marriages in their churches and to urge that living will legislation be enacted in Italy.

Additionally, the synod’s Bioethics Commission has recently approved a document in favor of embryonic stem cell research.

The Waldensians began in the late twelfth century as a small group of men who translated Scripture into the vernacular languages and began preaching God’s Word, which they saw scripturally as essential to salvation. Their translation and preaching activities brought the Bible into France, Italy, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe. As the Waldensians continued to study and preach Scripture, they began to reject man-made Roman Catholic doctrines such as the oath, purgatory, prayers for the dead, the mass, and transubstantiation. Rome’s answer was to bring about the Inquisition, in which Waldensian men, women, and children were tortured, burned at the stake, or hunted down and murdered. Many of the Waldensians found protection in the alpine valleys and high plateaus of Switzerland, where their biblical worship of God was able to continue.
.
+ La Stampa, Via Marenco, 32 – 10126 Torino, Italy, mario.calabresi@lastampa.it

+ Union of the Methodist and Waldensian Churches, Via Firenze 38 – 00184 Roma, Italia, 06-4741709, Fax: 06-47885308, info@chiesavaldese.org

+ Protestant Reformed Churches in America, webmaster@prca.org
.
.
[5] Hindu Congregation Moves into Historical Third Reformed Church (RCA) of Raritan Borough, New Jersey

A 24 August 2010 article by Kara L. Richardson on MyCentralNewJersey.com titled “Hindu Congregation Moves into Historic Raritan Borough Church” reports that the congregation of Third Reformed Church (c. 1851) (Reformed Church in America) in Raritan Borough, New Jersey, held its last church service 30 May 2010, after dwindling to about twenty members, merging with another church, and selling the church building to a lifelong resident and civic activist so that a community center could be built. The new owner sold the church to a Hindu congregation in August 2010 after plans for the community center fizzled.

The new occupants have decorated the church walls with posters of Hindu gods and temple leaders, have hung garlands around the building’s posts and railing, and have moved the chairs to the walls – creating an open space for worship.
.
+ MyCentralNewJersey.com, 35 Kennedy Boulevard, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816, 732-246-5500, shidlay@mycentraljersey.com

+ Reformed Church in America, 4500 60th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, 800-968-6065, questions@rca.org
.
.
[6] RCA Minister Attends “Taste of Ramadan” Celebration as Member of Franklin Township (New Jersey) Interfaith Council

A 24 August 2010 article by Mary Ann Bourbeau on MyCentralNewJersey.com titled “Franklin Islam Center Opens Doors to Public for Tradition Ramadan Dinner” reports that Reformed Church in America pastor the Rev. George Montanari of the Middlebush Reformed Church in Somerset, New Jersey, on 26 August 2010, attended a “Taste of Ramadan” dinner at the Why Islam Center in Somerset along with other members of the Franklin Township Interfaith Council.

Montanari said of the dinner: “It will give us an opportunity to build bridges between different religions in Franklin. When you sit down and break bread with someone, it invites a certain level of friendship and familiarity. You start to understand what ties you together as well as what makes you distinctive people.”
.
+ MyCentralNewJersey.com, 35 Kennedy Boulevard, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816, 732-246-5500, shidlay@mycentraljersey.com

+ Reformed Church in America, 4500 60th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, 800-968-6065, questions@rca.org
.
.
[7] Calvin College and Young Life Partner for Christian Leadership Development and to Provide Facilities and Selected Program/Event Participation for Youth Ministry Activities

Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has entered into a new partnership with Young Life, a multi-faceted Colorado Springs, Colorado-based ministry for high school students and other young people.

Young Life will offer the services of area director Eric Kuiper to support Christian leadership development, to assist in exposing high school students to the opportunities for and the benefits of Christian higher education, and to participate in research on the relationship of church and parachurch organizations.

In return, Calvin College will provide Young Life with access to facilities and services on the Knollcrest campus and opportunities for involvement in selected campus programs and events.

Calvin College additionally announced establishment of the Young Life Leadership Scholarship program, which will offer US$1,000 scholarships to high school students who have participated in a Young Life summer camp “work crew” and/or the Young Life Student Leadership Project.
.
+ Calvin College 3201 Burton Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, 616-526-6000

+ Young Life, Post Office Box 520, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901, 877-438-9572, Fax: 719-381-1750, Contact Page

+ 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] RPCNA Pacific Coast Presbytery Winter Youth Conference Scheduled 30 December 2010 – 3 January 2011 in Los Angeles, California

The Pacific Coast Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) has scheduled a Winter Youth Conference for 30 December 2010 – 3 January 2010 at the Los Angeles Reformed Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, California, with the theme “Back to the Basics.”

Four messages will be presented by David Whitla, who serves as Director of the Theological Foundations for Youth Program at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and is Chairman of the Youth Ministries Committee of the RPCNA Synod.
.
+ Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), 7408 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-1177, Fax: 412-731-8861

+ Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 7418 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-8690, Fax: 412-731-4834, info@rpts.edu
.
.
[9] Ligonier Ministries 2010 Pastors Conference Scheduled 12-14 October 2010 in Sanford, Florida – “Peace, Purity, and Unity in the Church”

Ligonier Ministries is conducting the 2010 Pastors Conference 12-14 October 2010 at St. Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida, with the theme “Peace, Purity, and Unity in the Church.”

Conference speakers include Mark Dever, Steven Lawson, Iain Murray, and R.C. Sproul.

Conference information is available at:

http://www.ligonier.org/events/2010-pastors-conference
.
+ Ligonier Ministries, 400 Technology Park, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, 407-333-4244, Fax: 407-333-4233
.
.
[10] Trinity Foundation Publishes First E-Book – The Trinity by Gordon H. Clark

The Trinity Foundation has published their first E-book, The Trinity by Gordon H. Clark.

The Trinity is a new edition of Clark’s 1985 book, and is available as a trade paperback for US$12.95, or for download in MOBI (Kindle compatible) and ePub (most other electronic readers) electronic formats for US$10.
.
+ The Trinity Foundation, Post Office Box 68, Unicoi, Tennessee 37692, 423-743-0199, Fax: 423-743-2005, tjtrinityfound@aol.com
.
.
[11] United Church of Christ Theologian Donald Bloesch – A Father of Mainline Renewal – Passes to Glory

Upon the 24 August 2010 death in Dubuque, Iowa, of Dr. Donald Bloesch, teacher and professor emeritus at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, the Biblical Witness Fellowship (BWF) made the following statement:

“Dr. Bloesch inspired and informed the passion of an entire generation of renewal leaders, not only in his own denomination, the United Church of Christ [UCC], but throughout the Mainline Church. His earlier work such as “The Reform of the Church,” “Evangelical Renaissance,” “Wellsprings of Renewal,” and “The Invaded Church,” were the battle cry and blueprint for those calling their drifting churches back to authentic ecumenical orthodoxy. His later “Christian Foundations Series” will remain a part of classical theological education for years to come. Dr. Bloesch largely authored the founding document of the Biblical Witness Fellowship, the confessing movement in the UCC, known as the Dubuque Declaration.”

BWF Executive Director, David Runnion-Bareford said, “Donald Bloesch was the major theological force in shaping our radical vision for church renewal in the 1970′s and 1980′s. He gave us not only an understanding of the deep perversity in the mainline church, but theological skills to be effective witnesses in a difficult time. He was my inspiration in the early years, and when I found myself in leadership, Dr. Bloesch became an invaluable mentor and friend. It is ironic that this evangelical was the most widely read and respected UCC theologian of his generation. He will be received into glory with great joy! Thank you Dr. Bloesch.”
.
+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Biblical Witness Fellowship, c/o Clifford & Associates, 4150 Belden Village Street Northwest, Suite 601, Canton, Ohio 44718, areformer@aol.com

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

+ University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, 2000 University Avenue, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, 563-589-3112, Fax: 563-589-3110, udtsadms@dbq.edu

.

Shorter Catechism Q & A #42

Q. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments?

A. The sum of the Ten Commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.

Memorize Q & A—Exposition

The Ten Commandments are more than a list of do’s and don’ts; they are an application of the will of God to those for whom Christ died. In obeying the will of God as revealed in his Commandments, we are showing the love of God in us and our love toward him and others.

What does it mean?

Discuss the teaching of Matthew 22:37–40. Definitions:

• love: to love in a moral sense; “To love God as ours is to love him because he is ours, our Creator, Owner, and Ruler, and to conduct ourselves to him as ours, with obedience to him, and dependence on him. We must love God as reconciled to us, and made ours by covenant; that is the foundation of this, Thy God” (Matthew Henry)
• Lord: supreme authority
• God: divine magistrate
• heart: thoughts or feelings
• soul: spirit, breath, life
• mind: imagination, understanding

What is our practice?

To love God with all our heart is an act of obedience toward him who first loved us. Our love for God takes preference over everything else in life, i.e., family, work. This should reveal our love toward God: honoring father and mother, being faithful to husband or wife, truth over lies, respect for others over greed, etc.

Quotes for thought and discussion:

“Observe what the weight and greatness of these commandments is (Matt. 22:40); On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets; that is, this is the sum and substance of all those precepts relating to practical religion, which were written in men’s hearts by nature, revived by Moses, and backed and enforced by the preaching and writing of the prophets. All hang upon the law of love; take away this, and all falls to the ground, and comes to nothing. Rituals and ceremonials must give way to these, as must all spiritual gifts, for love is the more excellent way. This is the spirit of the law, which animates it, the cement of the law, which joins it; it is the root and spring of all other duties, the compendium of the whole Bible, not only of the law and the prophets, but of the gospel too, only supposing this love to be the fruit of faith, and that we love God in Christ, and our neighbour for his sake. All hangs on these two commandments, as the effect doth both on its efficiency and on its final cause; for the fulfilling of the law is love (Rom. 13:10) and the end of the law is love (1 Tim. 1:5).” (Matthew Henry)

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Correction – Scotti Semper Liberi, Almost, and Sometimes Presbyterian

[2] PCA Presbytery Consideration of Administrative Committee Funding BCO Amendments Begins

[3] Former United Church of Christ President Divorcing Wife and Pursuing Adulterous Relationship with Former National UCC Staffer

[4] Married Church of Scotland Minister Suspended for Relationship with Widow in Congregation whose Husband he Helped Bury

[5] Church of Scotland Minister Selected for Top Chaplaincy Post in the Royal Navy

[6] Free Church of Scotland Holds “Worship Wars” Conference to Debate Continuation of Unaccompanied Exclusive Psalmody

[7] Heidelberg Theological Seminary Moves to Sioux Falls, South Dakota

[8] László Megyeri, Secretary Treasurer of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA), Decorated 20 August 2010 with the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
.
—
.
[1] Correction – Scotti Semper Liberi, Almost, and Sometimes Presbyterian

The editor has again tripped over Scotland’s Free Churches, again referencing the Free Church of Scotland instead of the correct reference to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

The 18 August 2010 Presbyterians article “[6] Scotland’s Lord Advocate, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, Urges Sheriffs and Judges to Consider Biblical Principles when Presiding over Court Cases” should have said that Lord Mackay is a former elder in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

The editor again extends apologies to both august bodies and to Lord Mackay, and promises in the future to better proofread the Scots Free Church references.

The editor has additionally determined that if he ever gets to visit Scotland, that a pseudonym may be needed for protection (from embarrassment), and that the editor’s first and middle names might be appropriate to use, i.e., Robert Bruce.
.
+ Christian Observer, Post Office Box 1371, Lexington, Virginia 20110, christianobserver@christianobserver.org

+ 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

+ Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, c/o Rev. Donald A. Ross, Free Presbyterian Manse, Laide, Ross-shire IV22 2NB, Scotland, daross@donaldalexander.freeserve.co.uk
.
.
[2] PCA Presbytery Consideration of Administrative Committee Funding BCO Amendments Begins

Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) are beginning to consider the Book of Church Order (BCO) amendments approved at the 38^th (2010) General Assembly regarding the Funding Plan for the Administrative Committee.

Blue Ridge Presbytery (BRP) will be hosting a discussion on 18 September 2010 in Roanoke, Virginia, on the proposed amendments at a non-stated meeting. Teaching Elder (TE) David Silvernail, a member of the Administrative Committee, will present reasons for voting in favor and TE Dominic Aquila will present reasons for voting against; each of whom will have twenty minutes to present. There will be questions from the floor. It is expected that the entire meeting will be audio recorded and that both twenty-minute presentations will be video recorded, and that these recordings will be made available for purchase with the BRP subsequently providing details.

A document titled “Reasons for Voting Against Amending BCO 14-1 (4) and 14-2:
The Funding Plan for the Administrative Committee” has been made available for TE’s and RE’s to study in advance of their presbytery’s consideration of the BCO amendments, and is reproduced here:

http://christianobserver.org/reasons-for-voting-against-the-funding-plan-for-the-pca-administrative-committee/

A majority vote of twenty-seven or more presbyteries for or against the BCO amendments is needed for their respective passage or rejection.
.
+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org

+ Blue Ridge Presbytery
.
.
[3] Former United Church of Christ President Divorcing Wife and Pursuing Adulterous Relationship with Former National UCC Staffer

A 20 August 2010 media advisory from the Biblical Witness Fellowship (BWF), a confessing movement in the United Church of Christ (UCC), states:

.
“Dr. John Thomas, who completed his final term as President of the [UCC] in September 2009, recently announced that he is living in an adulterous relationship with a fellow national UCC staff member and is consequently separated from and divorcing his wife. The duration of the adulterous relationship with his co-worker, engaged in while he served as President of the UCC in Cleveland, or whether she was a subordinate has not been revealed.”

The BWF responded to the news by saying:

“It is a great sadness for all of us that our former President John Thomas has broken his covenant commitment to marriage in exchange for an adulterous relationship. His action deepens the crisis of integrity in the UCC with consequences well beyond the tragic dissolution of his own family. During his administration, Dr. Thomas was a champion for the religious legitimization of sexual license and the redefinition of marriage. It now appears that his agenda may have been driven by personal justification of his own behavior rather than by any authentic conviction. The whole church is deeply hurt when our leaders fail to keep their vows and engage in this form of duplicity. It compromises the witness of all of us in the body of Christ. We understand that all of us sin and fall short of the glory of God, and call on our brother John Thomas to repent and seek restoration.”

The UCC Collegium of Officers issued a 16 August 2010 statement titled “Collegium Underscores Denomination’s Review Processes in Wake of Information from Former [General Minister President],” which underscored support for UCC processes in place to handle matters that can impact the wider church.
.
+ United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, 216-736-2100, ogm@ucc.org

+ Biblical Witness Fellowship, c/o Clifford & Associates, 4150 Belden Village Street Northwest, Suite 601, Canton, Ohio 44718, areformer@aol.com
.
.
[4] Married Church of Scotland Minister Suspended for Relationship with Widow in Congregation whose Husband he Helped Bury

A 24 August 2010 article in the Daily Express titled “Kirk Kicks Shamed Minister Out of Manse over Affair with Widow” reports that the Judicial Commission of the Church of Scotland, on 20 August 2010, suspended from the ministry for a minimum of two years married father of two the Rev. Michael Erskine for having an affair with a widow in the congregation whose husband he helped bury. Erskine has additionally been evicted from the manse of the Crail and Kingsbarns Church in Fife, Scotland, where he had been minister for almost eight years.

Details of the affair were first reported to the Presbytery of St. Andrews in March 2010.

Erskine is now separated from his wife Jill, and currently lives in Crail, Scotland, with his teenage son and daughter.
.
+ 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 EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722

+ Presbytery of St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, Contact Page
.
.
[5] Church of Scotland Minister Selected for Top Chaplaincy Post in the Royal Navy

An 18 August 2010 article on AllScotlandMedia.com titled “Kirk Minister Selected for Top Chaplaincy Post in Royal Navy” reports that the Rev. Scott J. Brown, QHC Royal Navy, will assume the post of Chaplain of the Fleet and Director General Naval Chaplaincy Service on 1 November 2010, succeeding the Venerable John Green CB QHC.
.
+ AllScotlandMedia.com, Third floor, 44 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 2DR, Scotland, 7710-721-478, info@allmediascotland.com

+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722
.
.
[6] Free Church of Scotland Holds “Worship Wars” Conference to Debate Continuation of Unaccompanied Exclusive Psalmody

A 20 August 2010 Press and Journal article by Alex MacLeod titled “Free Church in ‘Worship Wars’ Dispute” reports that the Free Church of Scotland (FCS) held a 23-24 August 2010 conference in Dingwall, Scotland, to debate proposals to include musical instruments and hymns in worship services, contrary to the longstanding FCS policy of exclusive unaccompanied psalmody for use in worship services. Proponents of the changes believe that potential new members and Church of Scotland congregations disaffected by the Kirk’s appointment of a homosexual minister are more likely to choose the FCS if worship services are opened to musical instruments and hymns.

The FCS board of trustees will subsequently make a final recommendation regarding worship music that will be acted upon by a special FCS assembly in November 2010.
.
+ Press and Journal, Lang Stracht, Mastrick, Aberdeen AB15 6DF, Scotland, 01224-343311, pj.newsdesk@ajl.co.uk

+ 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
.
.
[7] Heidelberg Theological Seminary Moves to Sioux Falls, South Dakota

A 21 August 2010 article by Megan Luther in the Argus Leader titled “Reformed Church moves seminary to Sioux Falls” reports that Heidelberg Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in the United States has moved from Vermillion, South Dakota, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and will begin classes the second week of September 2010 at the Trinity Reformed Church, which on 15 August 2010 dedicated a new US$520,000 building addition for seminary classes and Sunday school programs.

The move was undertaken to give students the support of a larger congregation, and to give them better access to jobs and housing.
.
+ Argus Leader, 200 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104, 605-331-2200, Contact Page

+ Heidelberg Theological Seminary, 7301 South Louise Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108, 309-657-1384, Contact Page

+ Reformed Church in the United States, Post Office Box 486, Eureka, South Dakota 57437
.
.
[8] László Megyeri, Secretary Treasurer of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA), Decorated 20 August 2010 with the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary

On the 20 August 2010 Hungarian National Holiday at the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Washington DC, Ambassador of Hungary to the U.S. H.E. Mr. Béla Szombati decorated László Megyeri, Secretary Treasurer of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA), with the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary for his outstanding behavior during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, his promotion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership of Hungary, and his achievements among Hungarian Americans.

From 1982 to 1995, László Megyeri worked for different committees of the U.S. Congress. From 1995 to 2000, Megyeri primarily dealt with immigration cases as a lawyer. Starting in 2000, Megyeri began supporting Hungarian Americans as the legal advisor of the HRFA. Since 2003, Megyeri has been the secretary treasurer of the HRFA. He is a retired lieutenant colonel of the United States Army Reserve.

+ Embassy of the Republic of Hungary, 3910 Shoemaker Street Northwest, Washington DC 20008, 202-362-6730, Fax: 202-966-8135, ambassador.was@kum.hu

+ Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, 2001 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20036-1011, 202-328-2630, 202- 328-7984, hrfa@hrfa.org

.

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] At White House Ramadan Celebration, U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama Endorses Building Mosque Near Site of 11 September 2001 Attack on New York City by Muslim Terrorists that Killed More than 2000 People

[2] National Council of Churches President Dr. Michael Kinnamon Releases 13 August 2010 Statement to Support Building Mosque Near Site of 11 September 2001 Attack on New York City

[3] MEMRI Broadcasts “Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Arifi: The Desire to Shed Blood, Smash Skulls, and Sever Limbs for the Sake of Allah Is an Honor for the Believer”

[4] Muslim Leaders in Bridgeport, Connecticut Seek to Ban Gospel of Jesus Christ from Vicinity of Mosques

[5] United Kingdom Ministry of Defense Moving toward Appointment of Humanist Chaplains for Atheist Members of Armed Forces

[6] Scotland’s Lord Advocate, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, Urges Sheriffs and Judges to Consider Biblical Principles when Presiding over Court Cases

[7] Scottish Government and Church of Scotland Unveil Plans to Mark 450^th Anniversary of the Scottish Reformation

[8] Outgoing Presbyterian Church of Ghana Moderator Tells General Assembly Delegates not to Depend on Tithes and Offerings

[9] Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa Moderator Takes Stand against Evolution

—

[1] At White House Ramadan Celebration, U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama Endorses Building Mosque Near Site of 11 September 2001 Attack on New York City by Muslim Terrorists that Killed More than 2000 People

A 13 August 2010 article by Abby Phillip and Maggie Haberman in the Free Lance-Star titled “Obama Stands Up for Ground Zero Mosque” reports that at a 13 August 2010 Ramadan celebration at the White House, U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama endorsed plans to build an Islamic mosque near ground zero of the Islamic terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, that killed over 2000 people.

Obama commented: “But let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances.”

A 16 August 2010 The Daily Mail article titled “Obama Backtracks over Ground Zero Mosque after Furious 9/11 Families Label Him ‘Insensitive And Uncaring’” reported:

“The U.S. President was hit by a furious backlash from victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks after he backed the highly controversial plans in a speech on Friday.”

Obama reacted to the barrage of criticism, saying:

“I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding….[M]y intention was simply to let people know what I thought. Which was that in this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion.”

The White House subsequently insisted that Obama was not repudiating his initial comments.
.
+ The Free Lance-Star Publishing Co., 616 Amelia Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401, 540-374-5000, newsroom@fredericksburg.com

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

+ The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20500, 202-456-1414, Fax: 202-456-2461, Contact Page
.
.
[2] National Council of Churches President Dr. Michael Kinnamon Releases 13 August 2010 Statement to Support Building Mosque Near Site of 11 September 2001 Attack on New York City

National Council of Churches (NCC) President Dr. Michael Kinnamon on 13 August 2010 released a statement endorsing plans to build an Islamic mosque near ground zero of the Islamic terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, that killed over 2000 people.

Kinnamon commented: “It is that narrow-minded intolerance that has led to the outcry against the building of Cordova House and Mosque near Ground Zero. It is the same ignorance that has led many to the outrageous conclusion that all Muslims advocate hatred and violence against non-Muslims. It is the same ignorance that has led to hate crimes and systematic discrimination against Muslims, and to calls to burn the Qur’an.”

Kinnamon added: “Christ calls us to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matthew 22:39). It is this commandment, more than the simple bonds of our common humanity, which is the basis for our relationship with Muslims around the world.”
.
+ National Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 880, New York, New York 10115
.
.
[3] MEMRI Broadcasts “Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Arifi: The Desire to Shed Blood, Smash Skulls, and Sever Limbs for the Sake of Allah Is an Honor for the Believer”

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has published on its website a film and transcript of the 19 July 2010 of Egyptian Al-Rahma TV broadcast “Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Arifi: The Desire to Shed Blood, Smash Skulls, and Sever Limbs for the Sake of Allah Is an Honor for the Believer.”

Excerpts of the broadcast include comments by Muhammad Al-Arifi such as:

“There is no doubt that a person whom Allah enables to sacrifice his soul, and to fight for the sake of Allah, has been graced with a great honor. The Prophet Muhammad said that the dust of battle for the sake of Allah and the smoke of Hell shall never meet in a man’s nose…

“Devotion to Jihad for the sake of Allah, and the desire to shed blood, to smash skulls and to sever limbs for the sake of Allah and in defense of His religion, is, undoubtedly, an honor for the believer…

“Allah said that if a man fights the infidels, the infidels will be unable to prepare to fight [the Muslims]. By Allah, the infidel countries today – the US and its allies – dare to fight the Muslims, to rape their women and turn them into widows, and to inflict their corruption on Islam and the Muslims on a daily basis only because they see that the Muslims do not even consider fighting the infidels and conquering their countries…

“The Koranic verses that deal with fighting the infidels and conquering their countries say that they should convert to Islam, pay the jizya poll tax, or be killed. If the Muslims had implemented this, we would not have reached the humiliation in which we find ourselves today.”
.
+ Middle East Media Research Institute, Post Office Box 27837, Washington DC 20038, 202-955-9070, Fax: 202-955-9077, memri@memri.org
.
.
[4] Muslim Leaders in Bridgeport, Connecticut Seek to Ban Gospel of Jesus Christ from Vicinity of Mosques

Muslim leaders in Connecticut on 12 August 2010 held a press conference in the state capitol of Hartford, Connecticut, asking Connecticut legislators to censor the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the public forum around mosques. Operation Save America (OSA) held a press conference the following day on the public sidewalk in front of the Bridgeport Islamic Center.

An OSA statement said: “Islam is not a religion, nor a cult, but a total and complete one hundred percent system of life. It has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. In all of the twenty-seven countries ruled by Islam, the church is the state! No other religion will be tolerated.”

OSA spokesman the Rev. Flip Benham added: “Islam presents a monstrous worldview, birthed in the pit of hell, which brings untold misery and murder upon precious people created in the image of God. Religion is its cover (its beard) by which it gains entrance into nations where the ‘freedom of religion’ is sacrosanct. It then takes this freedom afforded to it, and begins its insidious takeover.

“Like a python, slowly moving upon its prey with almost imperceptible and hypnotic movement, it begins to coil around its victim until it squeezes every last breath of air out of him. When dead, the victim is swallowed whole.

“The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, yet the Quran states in Sura 4:89, `Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back (from Islam) take hold of them and kill them wherever you find them.’”

The OSA statement concluded: “The key difference between Islam and Christianity is that Islam believes that we are to lay the lives of others down to promote the cause of Allah. Christianity, on the other hand, believes that we are to lay down our own lives that others might live. There is a huge difference between a Christian martyr (laying his own life down) and a martyr for Islam (laying the lives of others down). One requires courage. The other is the supreme act of cowardice.”
.
+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Operation Save America, Post Office Box 740066, Dallas, Texas 75374, 704-933-3414, 704-932-3361, orn@bigplanet.com
.
.
[5] United Kingdom Ministry of Defense Moving toward Appointment of Humanist Chaplains for Atheist Members of Armed Forces

A 15 August 2010 article by Marc [as spelled by The Scotsman – ed.] Horne in The Scotsman titled “MoD Open to Humanist Chaplains” reports that the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) is moving toward the appointment of humanist chaplains to “offer support and consolation to those with no spiritual beliefs.”
.
+ The Scotsman, Barclay House, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS, Scotland, 131-620-8620

+ Ministry of Defence, Main Building, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB, United Kingdom, 20-7218-9000, Contact Page
.
.
[6] Scotland’s Lord Advocate, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, Urges Sheriffs and Judges to Consider Biblical Principles when Presiding over Court Cases

A 15 August 2010 article by Mark [as spelled by The Herald – ed.] Horne in The Herald titled “Law Chief Urges Scots Courts: Consult The Bible In Judgments” reports that Scotland’s Lord Advocate, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, has asked sheriffs and judges that preside over court cases to become familiar with and to consider biblical principles when administering justice.

Lord Mackay is a former elder in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society commented:

“What Lord Mackay is proposing could put the Sharia laws of the Middle East to shame. He and the [Scottish Bible Society] make absolutely no concessions to the progress of legal thought over the past two millennia. Killing witches and homosexuals and stoning adulterers are all clearly stated legal requirements in the Christian holy book. Are they seriously suggesting that Scottish sheriffs and judges should follow the Bible to the letter?…How would the Scottish seafood industry fare if the biblical ban on shellfish were to be enforced? Would Shetland’s knitwear industry flourish if there was a ban on garments made from two kinds of material, as required in the Bible? Thankfully, I’m sure the Scottish legal establishment is aware that the Enlightenment has occurred and will continue to dispense justice with mercy unconstrained.”

Sanderson made no comment as to whether he is enlightened about the difference between the Old Testament’s moral, judicial, and ceremonial laws, and their applicability or lack thereof during the last almost-2000 years of the New Testament administration.
.
+ The Herald, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland G2 3QB, 0141- 302-7000, Fax: 0141-302-7117, On-lineEditor@theherald.co.uk

+ Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, c/o Rev. Donald A. Ross, Free Presbyterian Manse, Laide, Ross-shire IV22 2NB, Scotland,  daross@donaldalexander.freeserve.co.uk

+ National Secular Society, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL, England, 20- 7404-3126, 870-762-8971, enquiries@secularism.org.uk.
.
.
[7] Scottish Government and Church of Scotland Unveil Plans to Mark 450^th Anniversary of the Scottish Reformation

The Scottish Government and the Church of Scotland (CoS) on 16 August 2010 unveiled plans for celebrating the 450^th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation, which will include a 3 November 2010 conference organized by the Joint Commission on Doctrine, followed by an ecumenical service at St. Giles’ Cathedral, then an evening reception hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle.

The day-long conference, ‘The Scottish Reformation 1560: Marking the Legacy, Imagining the Future‘, will be opened by First Minister Salmond and addressed by Professor Tom Devine, the Rev. Dr. Alan Falconer, the Rev. Dr. Alison Peden, Professor Paul Murray, and the Very Rev. Dr. Sheilagh Kesting.

The CoS is also planning a touring exhibition, alongside the release of hundreds of years of CoS Session minutes which will provide a valuable insight into the CoS‘s development and a mine of information for historians and genealogists.
.
+ Scottish Government, St. Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh
EH1 3DG, Scotland, 131-556-8400, scottish.ministers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722
.
.
[8] Outgoing Presbyterian Church of Ghana Moderator Tells General Assembly Delegates not to Depend on Tithes and Offerings

A 10 August 2010 MyJoyOnline.com article titled “Presby Moderator: Church Offerings are Too Much” reports that Presbyterian Church of Ghana Moderator the Rt. Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso on 7 August 2010 addressed the opening ceremony of the Tenth General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), telling the assembled delegates:

“I wish to restate that we move away from our over dependence on offerings and tithes in the light of current fatigue in giving and the poverty of most of our members….[W]e must-put in every effort and resource with the help of God to execute our resolve for viable investments and projects to sustain the financial base of this church….We must do away with apathy, particularly when it comes to the implementation of decisions of the General Assembly and Presbytery Councils and the payment of assessments, statutory contribution and the Millennium Development Fund and others….Let us build healthy relations between our church and state so as to have a great positive impact on our society and contemporary generations. Ghanaians have great hope in our church and we must not fail.”

A 12 August 2010 GhanaWeb article titled “Presbyterian Church Elects New Moderator” reports that on 11 August 2010 the delegates elected the Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey as the new PCG moderator. Dr. Martey is a professor of systematic theology, and is chairman of the Ga Presbytery.
.
+ MyJoyOnline.com, 3rd Floor Trust Towers, Farrar Avenue, Accra, Ghana, 233-21-226151, Fax: 233-21-233697, info@myjoyonline.com

+ GhanaWeb, Poederooienstraat 66, 1106 CK Amsterdam, Netherlands, 31-207700126, Fax: 1-815-6429100, akoto@ghanaweb.com

+ Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Post Office Box GP 1800, Accra, Ghana, 233-21-662511, Fax: 233-21-665594, pcghg@yahoo.com
.
.
[9] Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa Moderator Takes Stand against Evolution

An August 2010 article in Infobytes, a publication of Creation Ministries International, titled “Church Leader Takes Stand against Evolution!” reports:

“Church leaders tend to avoid publicly participating in the creation-evolution debate. Reasons for this reluctance may be that they consider the debate to be a topic for specialists, or perhaps they simply wish to avoid controversy or criticism. Hence it is of some encouragement when a church leader does speak out in opposition to evolution, and in favor of biblical creation.“Prof. Piet Strauss, moderator of the Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk) in South Africa, was recently interviewed by JUIG! (Joy! – English), a leading Afrikaans Christian magazine. He had the opportunity to state the church’s viewpoint on evolution and its official position on the Bible as the infallible Word of God. The moderator made comments on evolution which drew considerable criticism directed at him, both in the electronic and printed media. These were that evolution is essentially a religion, even a superstition; that his ancestors were not apes; and that no authentic transitions exist between different kinds (types) of organisms.”

In response to Professor Strauss’ statement of faith in the Genesis account of creation, the NG Kerk periodical Die Kerkbode, in a 12 August 2010 article titled “NG Kerk sê nie ja óf nee vir evolusie [DR Church is not for or against evolution – English],” repudiated Professor Strauss’ statements, forthrightly halting the NG Kerk between two opinions:

“In the relationship (interface) between church and science, the NG Kerk supports the faith position that God is the Creator of heaven and earth, but is not competent to speak authoritatively on a scientific theory such as evolution. The NG Kerk feels that there in no need for conflict between theology and science and that both are particular expressions of God’s indescribable greatness and power. Teaching and education lie at the heart of the Reformed tradition. Part of the church’s calling is to additionally guide church members through awareness of the sciences to help them to stand even more in awe of God. The NG Kerk does not regard the Bible as a textbook making all sorts of scientific statements. How exactly creation came about and how it is sustained and functions within certain laws and parameters, believers can only stand in awe, recognizing that various scientific disciplines (and scientists) progressively unfold more and more of this to us.”
.
+ Creation Ministries International, Post Office Box 3349, Durbanville 7551, South Africa, Contact Page

+ Dutch Reformed Church, Posbus 13528, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, 27-0-12-342-0092, Fax: 27-0-12-342-0380, mailto:%20algemenesinode@ngkerk.org.za

.

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Taliban in Afghanistan Murder Ten Medical Missionaries

[2] First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Schenectady, New York, a Sponsor of the Murdered International Assistance Mission Medical Team

[3] Pregnant Afghan Widow Flogged over 200 Times, Then Shot Dead by Taliban for Sexual Misconduct

[4] Ghanaian Vice-President Urges Presbyterian Church of Ghana General Assembly to Support and Teach Nation Building Skills to Youth

[5] Ghanaian First Lady Addresses Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana Women on the Empowerment of Women

[6] South Carolina PCUSA Pastor Arrested for DUI and Child Endangerment

[7] Faith United Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Dedicates Outdoor Labyrinth

[8] Renegade Golfers on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Invade Golf Course Closed for the Sabbath

[9] Presbyterian Church in Canada Rebukes Church for Asking Lesbian Teen to Withdraw from Homosexual Pride Group

[10] Retired Geneva College Professor David Melville Carson Dies 5 August 2010

[11] August 2010 Reformation Voice Available for Download

[12] Reformation Translation Fellowship Changes Address for Contributions
.
—
.
[1] Taliban in Afghanistan Murder Ten Medical Missionaries

A 7 August 2010 article Fox News article titled “US, British, German Aid Workers Killed By Taliban” reports that ten medical missionaries with International Assistance Mission were murdered in Afghanistan by Taliban forces who shot the missionaries as they tried to flee their captors. The ten included six from the U.S., one from Great Britain, one from Germany, and two Afghan translators.

The ten were a medical team providing eye care to Afghans located in remote areas of the country.
.
+ Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, 888-369-4762, Fax: 212-462-6127, yourquestions@foxnews.com

+ International Assistance Mission, hq@iamafg.org
.
.
[2] First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Schenectady, New York, a Sponsor of the Murdered International Assistance Mission Medical Team

A 7 August 2010 article by Jennifer Gish in the Times Union titled “Violent End to Life of Caring” reports that First Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)) in Schenectady, New York, was one of the churches that sponsored the International Assistance Mission ministry of Tom and Libby Little in Afghanistan. Tome was among the ten medical missionaries murdered by the Taliban.

Mrs. Little, who normally would have been part of the medical team, stayed behind in her home in Kabul, Afghanistan, because the Little’s were expecting their first grandchild in the fall of 2010.
.
+ Times Union, Box 15000, News Plaza, Albany, New York 12212, 518-454-5694, ttyler@timesunion.com

+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org
.
.
[3] Pregnant Afghan Widow Flogged over 200 Times, Then Shot Dead by Taliban for Sexual Misconduct

A 10 August 2010 article by Jerome Starkey in The Scotsman titled “Taleban Judges Condemn Pregnant Woman to be Flogged and Shot Dead” reports that a pregnant widow named Bibi Sanubar in the Badghis province of Afghanistan for sexual misconduct was recently sentenced by three Taliban mullahs to be publically flogged more than 200 times then shot to death. Sanubar’s and her unborn child’s bodies were then dumped in an area controlled by the Afghan government.

Sanubar’s sentence reflects the Sharia verdicts handed down by Taliban courts when they controlled much of Afghanistan.

Adulterers and runaways are usually jailed for two to three years by Afghan courts, or are returned to their families where the women often face “honor killings.” Rape victims are normally sentenced to prison for having non-marital sex.
.
+ The Scotsman, Barclay House, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS, Scotland, 131-620-8620
.
.
[4] Ghanaian Vice-President Urges Presbyterian Church of Ghana General Assembly to Support and Teach Nation Building Skills to Youth

An 8 August 2010 GhanaWeb article titled “Vice President Urges Churches to Invest in the Youth” reports that the Tenth General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) opened in Takoradi, Ghana, the weekend of 7 August 2010, and that a speech by Ghanaian Vice-President John Dramani Mahama was read to the assembly by Western Regional Minister Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, where Mahama urged PCG churches in support of Ghana’s youths to establish income generating ventures such as rural banks; fruit processing companies; and the construction of guest houses, along with educational training centers where training on topical issues and social vices can be provided.

Vice-President Mahama additionally implored cooperation between all segments of Ghanaian society irrespective of political, religious, and ethnic differences, and the vice-president expressed concerns about undisciplined behavior, tribalism, lack of respect for political leadership and sabotage as problems adversely affecting the country.

Mahama concluded by urging Ghanaians to ensure that the Holy Spirit guided them to lead upright lives both outwardly and inwardly, to free from sins.
.
+ GhanaWeb, Poederooienstraat 66, 1106 CK Amsterdam, Netherlands, 31-207700126, Fax: 1-815-6429100, akoto@ghanaweb.com

+ Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Post Office Box GP 1800, Accra, Ghana, 233-21-662511, Fax: 233-21-665594, pcghg@yahoo.com
.
.
[5] Ghanaian First Lady Addresses Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana Women on the Empowerment of Women

An 8 August 2010 GhanaWeb article titled “Women Empowerment should Go beyond Slogans-Naadu Mills” reports that the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills, addressed 36th Annual Conference of the West Volta Presbytery Women Class of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, the weekend of 7 August 2010, on the subject of empowering women.

Mrs. Naadu Mills said that the empowerment of women should go beyond slogans and advertisement, to daily participation in divine appraisal for women, so to enjoy natural and national benefits. The First Lady additionally decried the subjugation of women to mere menial and domestic tasks and said it was very important that the potential of every human was harnessed to the growth and development of communities and the nation.

The conference titled “Newness in Christ, the Ministry of Kindness and the Role of Women” is focusing on the role of women performing acts of kindness, to touch the lives of people, in bringing them to Christ or enriching their faith in Christ.
.
+ GhanaWeb, Poederooienstraat 66, 1106 CK Amsterdam, Netherlands, 31-207700126, Fax: 1-815-6429100, akoto@ghanaweb.com

+ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Post Office Box HP 18, Ho – Volta Region, Ghana, +233-91-26755, Fax: +233-91-28275, Epchurch@Ghana.Com
.
.
[6] South Carolina PCUSA Pastor Arrested for DUI and Child Endangerment

A 9 August 2010 WSPA Channel 7 video segment titled “Pastor Charged in DUI” reports that the Rev. Jake Young, pastor of North Anderson Community Church (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) in Anderson, South Carolina, was arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and Child Endangerment early on 7 August 2010 when he was stopped by the South Carolina Highway Patrol while transporting his daughter. Pastor Young is currently out on bond.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol was conducting their Sober or Slammer campaign in the Anderson area where 131 violations were given out. The campaign goal is to reduce the number of summer highway deaths in South Carolina, half of which involve drunk drivers.
.
+ WSPA Channel 7, 250 International Drive, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29303, 864-576-7777, Contact Page

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
.
.
[7] Faith United Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Dedicates Outdoor Labyrinth

A 6 August 2010 article by Christie Campbell in the Observer-Reporter titled “Faith U.P. Members Dedicate Labyrinth Outside Church” reports that Faith United Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) of Washington, Pennsylvania, in early August 2010 dedicated a labyrinth outside the church for use in prayer and meditation.

More than sixty tons of stone, coarse gravel, and fine gravel were used in the construction of the labyrinth, and church members were asked to bring to the dedication a stone from their own property to add to the rock aggregate as a way of connecting with the labyrinth.

A 6 December 2005 post on The Puritan Board by the Rev. Bruce Buchanan of the Chain-O-Lakes Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Central Lake, Michigan, describes the prayer labyrinth as “an occult path of the dead. Successful navigation of it led one to heaven; the lost wandered it forever in terror, ending up in the center pit from which there was no escape. Arcane knowledge (gnosis) of traversing it or a suitable guide, therefore, was [a] necessary part of pagan religion. In other incarnations, it serves a gnostic purpose of meditation…not the “inner-peace” type, but the “path”…to enlightenment.”
.
+ Observer-Reporter, 122 S. Main Street, Washington, Pennsylvania 15301, 724-222-2200, Fax: 724-225-2077, pburroughs@observer-reporter.com

+ The Puritan Board, Contact Page

+ The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 North Easton Road, Building E, Box P, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 19090, 215-830-0900, Fax: 215-830-0350

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
.
.
[8] Renegade Golfers on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Invade Golf Course Closed for the Sabbath

A 6 August 2010 article by David Sapsted in The National titled “Rebels without a Tee Time Take Over Church Course” reports that golfers on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, upset with the Sabbath closure of the Stornoway Golf Club have taken to illegally invading the golf course on Sundays and playing golf for free.

The Sabbath-keeping Free Church of Scotland (FCS) is the dominent church on the Isle of Lewis. After a recent unsuccessful bid to have the golf course club house opened on Sundays to serve alcohol and host social events, FCS Presbytery Clerk Callum MacLean said: “Our primary concern is the desecration of the Sabbath Day, arising from a licence permitting the sale of alcohol.”
.
+ The National, Post Office Box 111434, Abu Dhabi, 971-2-4145328, newsdesk@thenational.ae

+ 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
.
.
[9] Presbyterian Church in Canada Rebukes Church for Asking Lesbian Teen to Withdraw from Homosexual Pride Group

A 5 August 2010 article byJennifer Saltman in The Province titled “New West Church Bucked Policy by Asking Lesbian Teen to Leave Pride Group” reports that The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) has admonished the First Presbyterian Church in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, for violating the PCC Social Action Handbook policy saying: “…the church does not limit the roles of its members on the basis of their sexual orientation. These roles include church school teachers, musicians, youth leaders, ruling elders, teaching elders and members of the Order of Diaconal Ministries.”

The church minister in June 2010 suggested the teen leave the Royal City Pride Society after the teen was featured in a newspaper story about the homosexual pride group. The teen and her parents then left the church.

PCC Presbytery of Westminster Moderator the Rev. Jim Smith commented: The actions of First Presbyterian Church, as reported by The Province, seem contradictory to the decisions of the general assemblies as summarized in the Social Action Handbook. The [PCC] has never limited the activities of its members based on sexual orientation.”
.
+ The Province, 200 Granville Street, Suite #1, Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C 3N3, Canada, 604-605-2000, Fax: 604-605-2759, wmoriarty@theprovince.com

+ The Presbyterian Church in Canada, 50 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7, 416-441-1111, Fax: 416-441-2825, skendall@presbyterian.ca
.
.
[10] Retired Geneva College Professor David Melville Carson Dies 5 August 2010

Retired Geneva College professor Dr. David M. Carson passed away 5 August 2010.

Dr. Carson served as the Samuel A. Sterrett Professor of Political Philosophy at Geneva College. His first college service was as a part-time instructor in 1946 while serving as the pastor of the Eastvale Reformed Presbyterian Church. He was appointed to the full-time faculty in 1951 and served until his retirement in 1992. He was awarded Emeritus status on his retirement. He was a graduate of Yale University and the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. In 1964, he received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Carson is survived by his wife, Margaret, two daughters, Elizabeth “Betsy” Wilson and Christina Townsend and their husbands, three grandchildren, a brother, and a sister.

A memorial service for Dr. Carson was held on 9 August 2010 at in the John H. White Chapel on the Geneva College campus.
.
+ Geneva College, 3200 College Avenue, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 15010, 724-846-5100, Fax: 724.847.6696, pr@geneva.edu

+ Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 7418 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-8690, Fax: 412-731-4834, info@rpts.edu
.
.
[11] August 2010 Reformation Voice Available for Download

The August 2010 Reformation Voice is available for download at the Heidelberg Reformation Association website.
.
+ Heidelberg Reformation Association, Rev. Howard Sloan, Secretary, 5543 Business 220, Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522
.
.
[12] Reformation Translation Fellowship Changes Address for Contributions

The Reformation Translation Fellowship mailing address for contributions is changing from its Bloomington, Indiana, address to the following address:

Reformation Translation Fellowship
PO Box 2345
Terre Haute, IN 47802-2345
.
+ Reformation Translation Fellowship, Post Office Box 2345, Terra Haute, Indiana 47802, bill4rtf@gmail.com

.

.

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Christian Observer Highlights for July and August 2010

[2] REC News Exchange Publishes Final Issue

[3] Presbyterian Missionary Union Celebrates Twenty-Five Years of Service

[4] The Trinity Review for July-August 2010 Publishes “The Sine Qua Non of Enduring Freedom” by John W. Robbins

[5] First Covenanter Communion Service in New World to be Commemorated 21 August 2010 in New Kingstown, Pennsylvania

[6] Christian Reformed Church Sponsors Prayer Vigil against Arizona Immigration Law

[7] “Onward Christian Soldiers” Banned from Funeral by Church of Scotland Minister for Politically Incorrect War Theme

[8] URCNA Synod 2010 Strongly Rejects Federal Vision Theology

[9] Twelve Suspected Islamist Gunmen Murder Five Christians Leaving Church Building in Sukkar, Pakistan

[10] Update – Change of Venue – Joe Morecraft to Speak on “God And Politics” at 3 September 2010 Institute on the Constitution’s First Friday at the Gladway Farm in Bowie, Maryland

[11] New Study Shows Homeschoolers Succeeding in College

—

[1] Christian Observer Highlights for July and August 2010

New articles in the Christian Observer for July and August 2010 include:

– Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis Addresses Bruce Waltke Resignation – Answers in Genesis president Ken Ham discusses “conservative evangelical” Professor Bruce Waltke’s characterization of biblical creationists as a “cult” and the creation days of Genesis as “..metaphorical representations of a reality beyond human comprehension and imitation,” and points out that the majority of conservative evangelical institutions of higher education teach evolutionary theory or hybrid theories of creation that compromise the creation account in Genesis.

– Why Don’t Many Christian Leaders and Scholars Believe Genesis? – by Dr. Terry Mortenson of Answers in Genesis – discusses the false assumption by many people that Bible scholars and other Christian leaders or educators who accept millions of years and hold to the gap theory or day-age view or framework hypothesis or a localized Noachian Flood do so because of careful attention to the Biblical text in the original languages.

– Exposing a Fundamental Compromise – by Dr. Terry Mortenson of Answers in Genesis – discusses how in the process of defending the Christian faith, respected Christian leaders have unknowingly compromised with error; leaders including James Orr, Charles Hodge, B. B. Warfield, James Montgomery Boice, and Bruce Waltke.

– The Global Cultural War and Education – by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Dr. Joe Renfro – discusses the influence of various world religions and cultures on how the religion and culture influence educational philosophy.

– The Reformed Educational Influence in American Education – by Christian Observer Contributing Editor Dr. Joe Renfro – discusses the influence of Reformed doctrine on the development of education in the United States.

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

.

.

[2] REC News Exchange Publishes Final Issue

The final issue of the REC (Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC)) News Exchange, Volume 47, No. 6, June – July 2010, has been published, as the Reformed Ecumenical Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches merger into the World Communion of Reformed Churches continues to unfold.

The Christian Observer commends REC News Exchange Editor Richard L. van Houten and Contributing Editor Samantha Beuker, and their REC colleagues and predecessors who have published the REC News Exchange monthly since 1964, and wish them God’s blessings and direction as they begin other endeavors.

.

+ Reformed Ecumenical Council, 2050 Breton Road Southeast, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, 616-949-2910, rvh@recweb.org

+ 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

+ 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

.

.

[3] Presbyterian Missionary Union Celebrates Twenty-Five Years of Service

The Presbyterian Missionary Union in 2010 is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the worldwide missionary and church planting agency’s founding in Media, Pennsylvania, 15-16 January 1985.

.

+ Presbyterian Missionary Union, 1650 Love Road, Grand Island, New York 14072, 716-775-0442, office@presbyterianmissions.org

+ Bible Presbyterian Church

.

.

[4] The Trinity Review for July-August 2010 Publishes “The Sine Qua Non of Enduring Freedom” by John W. Robbins

The July-August 2010 issue of The Trinity Review features an essay by John W. Robbins titled “The Sine Qua Non of Enduring Freedom,” which discusses the four principle methods of defending a free society: economics, Natural Law, Utilitarianism, and biblical revelation, showing the fallacies of the first three methods while demonstrating that the Bible and the Hebrew Republic are the only real model for good government and the competent defense of a free society.

.

+ The Trinity Foundation, Post Office Box 68, Unicoi, Tennessee 37692, 423-743-0199, Fax: 423-743-2005, tjtrinityfound@aol.com

.

.

[5] First Covenanter Communion Service in New World to be Commemorated 21 August 2010 in New Kingstown, Pennsylvania

The first recorded Reformed Presbyterian communion service to be held in the Western Hemisphere occurred 23 August 1752 at the “Junkin Tent” on land owned by Joseph and Elizabeth Junkin in what is now New Kingstown, Pennsylvania. The service was conducted by Covenanter Minister John Cuthbertson, who had arrived 5 August 1751 after a forty-six day sea voyage from Derry Lock, Ireland. Cuthbertson was the first ordained Covenanter minister in the New World.

A celebration of the event will be held 21 August 2010 in New Kingstown, Pennsylvania, in an area behind the St.Stephen Lutheran Church, the original location of the “Junkin Tent,” and will feature the dedication and unveiling of a Pennsylvania historical marker commemorating the communion service, and a speech titled “The Covenanters – Then and Now” by David A. Weir, Ph.D., Elder of the Ridgefield Park Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

For further information, please see:

http://www.newkingstownprojects.org/2010celebration.htm

.

+ New Kingstown Projects, c/o 130 State Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17050, 717-697-1441, info@newkingstownprojects.org

+ Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), 7408 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-1177, Fax: 412-731-8861

.

.

[6] Christian Reformed Church Sponsors Prayer Vigil against Arizona Immigration Law

A 27 July 2010 article in The Grand Rapids Press titled “Prayer Vigil Planned in Grand Rapids to Protest Arizona Immigration Law” reports that a prayer vigil in opposition to the Arizona immigration law was held 28 July 2010 in the Ah-Nab-Awen Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of the sponsors being the Office of Social Justice of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

.

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

.

.

[7] “Onward Christian Soldiers” Banned from Funeral by Church of Scotland Minister for Politically Incorrect War Theme

A 2 August 2010 Argyll News article titled “No Soldiers Marching Onwards in Kirn” reports that brother-in-law of the deceased William Thomas said that the Rev. Sarah Nicol, Minister at Kirn Parish Church near Dunoon in the Cowal peninsula of Scotland, at the funeral of Mrs. Agnes Thomas at the Greenock Crematorium in Greencock, Scotland, refused to allow the singing of the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers” because of the politically incorrect war theme of the hymn.

Mrs. Thomas had requested that the hymn, her favorite, be sung at her funeral - as it had been sung at her late husband’s funeral.

Ms. Nicol denies that she banned the singing of the hymn.

.

+ ForArgyll.com, Dunans Castle, Argyll PA22 3AD, Scotland, 870-255-5555, Fax: 870-255-5666, Contact Page

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

.

.

[8] URCNA Synod 2010 Strongly Rejects Federal Vision Theology

The United Reformed Churches in North America Synod 2010, meeting in London, Ontario, Canada, 26-30 July 2010, on 30 July 2010 adopted the report of the Justification/Federal Vision Study Committee, with strengthening language added by the report’s advisory committee, “…rejecting Federal Vision and all of its associated points as error.”

.

+ URCNA Synod Reports (Not an official URCNA resource), URCNAReports@gmail.com

+ United Reformed Churches in North America, c/o Mr. Bill Konynenbelt, 5824 Bowwater Circle Northwest, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2E2, Canada, 403-286-0521, Fax: 403-286-0759, urcna@shaw.ca

.

.

[9] Twelve Suspected Islamist Gunmen Murder Five Christians Leaving Church Building in Sukkar, Pakistan

Twelve suspected Islamist masked gunmen murdered five Christians 15 July 2010 as they exited the Full Gospel Church in Sukkur, Pakistan.

Police arrived forty-five minutes later, and later an ambulance arrived to treat the one survivor who had been shot in the arm.

.

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

.

.

[10] Update – Change of Venue – Joe Morecraft to Speak on “God And Politics” at 3 September 2010 Institute on the Constitution’s First Friday at the Gladway Farm in Bowie, Maryland

“God And Politics” is the subject of a lecture by the Rev. Joseph C. Morecraft III of the Chalcedon Presbyterian Church in Cumming, Georgia, at the 3 September 2010 First Friday 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time presentation at the Institute on the Constitution in Pasadena, Maryland. Joe Morecraft is a noted lecturer on contemporary political and historical trends in the United States and the world at large.

A picnic will begin at 5:30 p.m., with hot dogs, chips, and drinks provided, and guests if they want can bring a side dish or dessert.

Tickets to the event are free, and are available at:

http://www.iotconline.com/content.php?61-September-First-Friday

The lecture is additionally available as a live feed, accessible on the same web page.

.

+ Institute on the Constitution, 8028 Ritchie Highway Suite 211, Pasadena, Maryland 21122, 866-730-9796, Fax: 410-760-5642

.

.

[11] New Study Shows Homeschoolers Succeeding in College

An article in the Summer 2010 Journal of College Admission by Michael F. Cogan titled “Exploring Academic Outcomes of Homeschooled Students” reports major findings about home schooled students in college including:

– Homeschoolers scored higher on the ACT (26.5) compared with the overall student body (25).

– Homeschoolers earned more college credit (14.7) prior to their freshman year compared to the student body (6).

– Homeschooled students earned a higher fall semester grade point average (GPA) (3.37) when compared to other freshman students (3.08).

– Homeschooled students earned a higher first-year GPA (3.41) when compared to other freshman students (3.12).

– Homeschooled students earned a higher fourth-year GPA (3.46) when compared to other freshman students who completed their fourth year (3.16).

– Homeschooled students achieved a higher graduation rate (66.7 percent) when compared to the overall population (57.5 percent).

.

+ Home School Legal Defense Association, Post Office Box 3000, Purcellville, Virginia 20134, 540-338-5600

+ National Association for College Admission Counseling, 1050 North Highland Street, Suite 400, Arlington, Virginia 22201, 703/836-2222, 703/243-9375, info@nacacnet.org

.

Presbyterians Week Headlines

.

[1] ARPTalk Issue 33 Asks: “Why has the lawsuit by Erskine Board of Trustee (BOT) members Richard Taylor, Parker Young, and David Chesnut NOT been dropped?”

[2] United Church of Christ “Stillspeaking” Daily Devotional for 21 July 2010 Denies Divinity of Jesus Christ

[3] 200 Women per Year Killed in India after being Accused of Witchcraft

[4] Guest Speaker at PCUSA General Assembly Rouses Delegates by Straying from the Party Line

[5] PCUSA Board of Pensions Directed to Study Providing Domestic Partner Benefits by 2012

[6] Update – Audit finds La Crosse, Wisconsin, PCUSA Church Employee Embezzled US$364,418.12 in Ten Years

[7] Reformed Church in America General Secretary the Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson Stepping Down in Fall 2011

[8] Church of Scotland Suggests Harnessing Scottish Saints in Order to Boost Tourism

[9] Crown and Covenant Publications Offers Digital Versions of The Book of Psalms for Worship

[10] Death of Calvin Synod Minister the Rev. Frank Juhasz- Shepherd

.

—

.

[1] ARPTalk Issue 33 Asks: “Why has the lawsuit by Erskine Board of Trustee (BOT) members Richard Taylor, Parker Young, and David Chesnut NOT been dropped?”

Dr. Charles Wilson published issue number thirty-three of ARPTalk on 24 July 2010, containing two articles.

The first article is titled “The News from Lake Woe-Be-Gone: The Meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church In The United States of America in Minneapolis,” and reports on seven events at the meeting showing that “that any resemblance that now exists between the [Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)] and historic Christianity is only vestigial or accidental.”

The second article titled “The Commission was Right!!! The Lawsuit is Still Active!,” reports on the bad-faith repudiation of the compromise worked out at the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP)’s June 2010 General Synod meeting so that the lawsuit against the ARP Synod could be dropped. Dr. Wilson reports upon the additional demands being made by attorneys for the plaintiffs, including that the jurisdiction of church courts be taken away from ARP church sessions, presbyteries, and the General Synod for taking action against the plaintiffs for behaviors including their egregious violation of the prohibition of Christians using the secular courts to sue fellow Christians contained in I Corinthians 6.

The article concludes with a factual review of the findings of the Moderator’s Commission on Erskine appointed at the 2009 ARP meeting of the General Synod, showing the findings to be completely factual and thus belying the claims of Erskine supporters that misrepresent the findings of the Moderator’s Commission.

.

+ ARPTalk, wilson6114@bellsouth.net

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

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

+ Erskine College and Theological Seminary, 2 Washington Street, Due West, South Carolina 29639, 864-379-2131, 864-379-2167, norman@erskine.edu

.

.

[2] United Church of Christ “Stillspeaking” Daily Devotional for 21 July 2010 Denies Divinity of Jesus Christ

The United Church of Christ (UCC) Daily Devotional Stillspeaking for 21 July 2010 titled “Is Jesus God?” by UCC minister William C. Green begins “Jesus is not God, but God is like Jesus.”

Green continues: “While the church has debated the doctrine of Jesus’ divinity, the New Testament is not doctrine. And the Bible is not theology: it’s an anthology of stories about God often culminating in twist endings that bring O’Henry to mind. In these narratives we see God imperfectly, “as in a mirror dimly.” But we still see.”

The devotional continues with a mention of Moses meeting God in the Burning Bush, another of the Prodigal Son, another of the Good Samaritan, then a brief application before concluding with prayer: “God, may I find your love in the common bushes of my life and in other strange places. Amen.”

In addition to his being a UCC minister, William C. Green is the Director of Long Looking, a consultancy service specializing in fundraising and education for congregations. His new book, 52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Generous Giving, has just been published.

.

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

+ Long Looking, Post Office Box 20293, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120, 216-548-5939, longlooking@gmail.com

.

.

[3] 200 Women per Year Killed in India after being Accused of Witchcraft

A 26 July 2010 article in the Herald Sun titled “200 ‘Witches’ Killed in India Each Year – Report” reports that 200 women in India each year, usually single or widowed with money or land wanted by someone else, in poverty-stricken villages in the states of Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Orissa, are accused of witchcraft and then killed. Many more women commit suicide out of shame after being accused, then humiliated by being forced to ingest human excrement and paraded naked through their village.

The charity Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra estimates that in India, 2500 women since 1995 have been killed after being accused of witchcraft.

.

+ Herald Sun, Post Office Box 14999, Melbourne City MC, 8001 Australia, 03-9292-2000, Fax: 03-9292-2112, news@heraldsun.com.au

+ Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, 68/1 Surya lok Colony, Rajpur Road,  Dehradun – 248001, Uttarakhand, India, 91-135-2746071, Fax: 91-135-2741931

.

.

[4] Guest Speaker at PCUSA General Assembly Rouses Delegates by Straying from the Party Line

A 21 July 2010 article by Terry Mattingly of the Scripps Howard News Service titled “Religion: Shocking Words to the Presbyterians” describes the scene at the recently-concluded Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 219^th General Assembly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when guest speaker Father Siarhei Hardun of the Orthodox Church of Belarus delivered a message as “ecumenical advisory delegate,” and shocked the audience by thanking the PCUSA for the aid they provided to rebuild churches after communism was overthrown twenty years ago, and then adding:

“Christian morality is as old as Christianity itself. It doesn’t need to be invented now. Those attempts to invent new morality look for me like attempts to invent a new religion — a sort of modern paganism.

“When people say that they are led and guided by the Holy Spirit to do it, I wonder if it is the same Holy Spirit that inspired the Bible, if it is the same Holy Spirit that inspires the Holy Orthodox Church not to change anything in Christian doctrine and moral standards. But if it is the same Spirit, I wonder … if there are different spirits acting in different denominations and inspiring them to develop in different directions and to create different theologies and different morals?”

Father Harden then closed by citing Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

.

+ The Republic, 333 2nd Street, Columbus, Indiana 47201, 812-379-5769, Contact Page

+ Scripps Howard News Service, 1090 Vermont Avenue Northwest, Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, 202-408-1484, Fax: 202-408-2062, copelandp@shns.com

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

.

.

[5] PCUSA Board of Pensions Directed to Study Providing Domestic Partner Benefits by 2012

At the July 2010 meeting of the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Board of Pensions (BoP), BoP management was encouraged to carefully and thoroughly consider the recommendation of the July 2010 219^th General Assembly that the BoP provide domestic partner benefits. The BoP was directed to bring proposals for discussion to the directors’ meeting in the summer of 2011 with the intention of making formal recommendations in the fall of 2011. The BoP board hopes to implement initial changes in 2012.

.

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

.

.

[6] Update – Audit finds La Crosse, Wisconsin, PCUSA Church Employee Embezzled US$364,418.12 in Ten Years

A 23 July 2010 article by Ann Jungen in the La Crosse Tribune titled “Former Church Bookkeeper Charged with Embezzling [US]$360,000” reports that an audit of the books of North Presbyterian Church in La Crosse, Wisconsin, determined that former bookkeeper Ann Carson, since 2000, wrote US$364,418.12 in checks to herself from six church accounts. Carson was charged 23 July 2010 with one count of theft from a business setting over [US]$10,000, and is scheduled to be arraigned 29 July 2010 in the La Crosse County [Wisconsin] Circuit Court.

.

+ La Crosse Tribune, 401 North Third Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601, 608-782-9710, 608-782-9723, rusty.cunningham@lee.net

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

.

.

[7] Reformed Church in America General Secretary the Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson Stepping Down in Fall 2011

Reformed Church in America (RCA) General Secretary the Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson announced 19 July 2010 that he will complete his service in the fall of 2011.

Granberg-Michaelson has served as RCA general secretary since 1994.

.

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

.

.

[8] Church of Scotland Suggests Harnessing Scottish Saints in Order to Boost Tourism

A 26 July 2010 article by George Mair in The Scotsman titled “Scotland’s Saints Begged to Perform Miracles for Tourism” reports that the Church of Scotland, in an editorial in the Kirk’s Life and Work magazine, has suggested using the religious significance and fascinating history of Scottish saints in order to draw more tourists to Scotland.

.

+ 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

.

.

[9] Crown and Covenant Publications Offers Digital Versions of The Book of Psalms for Worship

Crown & Covenant Publications has completed preparation of digital versions of The Book of Psalms for Worship that can be obtained for a yearly license fee for churches that do not have pew copies of the publication.

Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America congregations that have purchased The Book of Psalms for Worship can get free access to the digital versions by contacting Josh Wisley at josh@crownandcovenant.com.

.

+ Crown & Covenant Publications, 7408 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-241-0436, info@crownandcovenant.com

+ Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), 7408 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15208, 412-731-1177, Fax: 412-731-8861

.

.

[10] Death of Calvin Synod Minister the Rev. Frank Juhasz- Shepherd

After 55 years of Christian ministry the Rev. Frank Juhasz Shepherd was taken by our Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter God. Frank was ordained by the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), and was affiliated with the United Church of Christ, the Western Reserve Association, and the Calvin Synod Conference.

For the last several years, Juhasz-Shepherd preached the Gospel at the East Side Hungarian Lutheran Church of Cleveland, Ohio, and was available for pulpit supply for Hungarian Reformed Churches in the Cleveland vicinity.

He was a musician and composer, and he was educated in psychology and counseling.

In 1956 he was working for the Hungarian Refugee program in California.

Frank’s funeral service will be at the West Side Hungarian Reformed Church of Cleveland, Ohio, at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Friday, 30 July 2010.

.

+ Calvin Synod, C/O Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, General Secretary, 7319 Tapper Avenue, Hammond, Indiana 46324, 219-931-4321, kkludwig@aol.com

+ 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

.

.

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Pakistani Muslims Murder Christian Pastor and Brother Falsely Accused of Blasphemy

[2] FaceBook Takes Down Four Muslim-Oriented Spamming Pages, 2.5 Million Muslims Threaten to Leave for Alternative Islamic Site

[3] Disabled Veteran Pastor in Charlotte, North Carolina Arrested for Preaching on Public Right-of-Way in Front of Abortion Clinic

[4] Norfolk, Virginia, Elementary School Staffer Suspended for Giving 3^rd to 5^th Grade Students Dolls Depicting Twelve-Week-Old Unborn Baby

[5] Washington DC Court of Appeals Refuses to Let Residents Vote For or Against Homosexual Marriage

[6] North Carolina Bar Association Considering Non-Discrimination Rules for “Gender Identity” and “Sexual Orientation”

[7] The Social Contract Quarterly Issues 100 Page Special Report on the Southern Poverty Law Center

[8] Church of Scotland Approves Plan to Double Stack Bodies in Grave Sites

[9] La Crosse, Wisconsin, PCUSA Church Employee Arrested for Embezzlement of Church Funds

[10] PCUSA Publishes New Form of Government Questions and Answers

[11] Ligonier Ministries Publishes “Holy, Holy, Holy: Proclaiming the Perfections of God”

.

—

.

[1] Pakistani Muslims Murder Christian Pastor and Brother Falsely Accused of Blasphemy

A 19 July 2010 Compass Direct News Service article titled “Christians Accused of ‘Blasphemy’ Slain in Pakistan” reports that Christians the Rev. Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajid Emmanuel, both officials of United Ministries Pakistan, were murdered by masked gunmen 19 July 2010 while in police custody in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

The brothers had been falsely charged with blaspheming Muhammad in writing, but a handwriting expert found that the signatures on the forged blaspheming papers were not those of the Emmanuel brothers.

.

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

.

.

[2] FaceBook Takes Down Four Muslim-Oriented Spamming Pages, 2.5 Million Muslims Threaten to Leave for Alternative Islamic Site

A 16 July 2010 article by Niall Firth in The Daily Mail titled “More than 2.5m Muslims Threaten to Leave Facebook after Four Islamic Pages are Taken Down” reports that after FaceBook removed four Muslim-oriented FaceBook pages in violation of user agreements for using a JavaScript application, which uses an address entered into the address bar to add all of a user’s “Friends” to the Page Suggestions, a template letter began being posted to many FaceBook pages, threatening to move more than 2.5 million Muslim FaceBook users to an alternate Islamic site.

The template letter additionally demands that FaceBook make it a violation of its user agreement to post anti-Islamic comments.

.

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

+ Facebook, Inc., 471 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, California 94301, 650-543-4800, Fax: 650-543-4801, Contact Page

.

.

[3] Disabled Veteran Pastor in Charlotte, North Carolina Arrested for Preaching on Public Right-of-Way in Front of Abortion Clinic

At 8:30 a.m., Saturday, 17 July 2010, Pastor Ronnie Wallace, a pastor and disabled veteran from Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested by seven police officers on the public right of way in front of the Family Reproductive Health abortion clinic on Hebron Street in Charlotte, North Carolina, for obstruction. Pastor Wallace comes regularly to the same location to preach the gospel and offer hope to women who are entering the clinic. Pastor Wallace, a disabled war veteran, walks with a cane and cannot stand for long periods of time.

When Pastor Wallace arrived, sat on a step ladder, and began to preach with sound amplification, the police told him to stop. He turned off the sound amplifier and began to preach using his voice alone. At this point, the police demanded that he stop and come down from the step ladder. When he refused, citing his First Amendment right to assemble and preach, he was arrested under a statute that states it is unlawful to place or maintain an obstruction in the right of way, “in consideration of the harm or risk created by the obstruction.” Pastor Wallace placed his step ladder approximately 12 feet from the road, well away from traffic.

Director of Operation Save America the Rev. Philip L. (Flip) Benham commented: “A black Pastor does obstruct Satan and those who serve him by proclaiming Jesus. Pastor Wallace threatened Satan and his minions by proclaiming another king, King Jesus.”

Pastor Wallace returned to the public right-of-way on 20 July 2010, and again began preaching from atop his step ladder. When the police ordered Wallace to stop preaching, he stepped over from the ladder to an adjacent tree, where he remained unarrested as of a 12:17 p.m. Operation Save America press release.

The press release concluded:

“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” — Matt. 10:27-28

“When a pastor cannot find a housetop to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, then a tree will do!” — The Rev. Rusty Thomas

.

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

+ Operation Save America, Post Office Box 740066, Dallas, Texas 75374, 704-933-3414, 704-932-3361, orn@bigplanet.com

.

.

[4] Norfolk, Virginia, Elementary School Staffer Suspended for Giving Third to Fifth Grade Students Dolls Depicting Twelve-Week-Old Unborn Baby

A 25 May 2010 LifeSiteNews.com article by Kathleen Gilbert “School Official Suspended for Distributing 4″ Fetus Models” reports that an unidentified staffer at the Oakwood Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia, were suspended after giving the school’s third to fifth grade students each a doll that is a model of an unborn baby twelve weeks after conception, along with a card that describes the unborn baby’s development for each of the twelve weeks.

Pro-life blogger Jill Stanek questioned the reasoning behind the uproar over the tiny baby dolls, calling a local television station’s description of the dolls as “fetus figures” with a “clear anti-abortion message attached,” a “hit job against rationality.” Stanek additionally commented: “Shock! Horror! Since when did human biology become a ‘clear anti-abortion message’?”

Oakwood Principal Sheila Holas was put on administrative leave 21 May 2010, after the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia demanded that the principal cease inviting students and teachers to participate in prayer and Bible study.

In related news, Liberty Counsel has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico on behalf of eight students at two Roswell, New Mexico high schools who on 29 January 2010 handed out the same type of dolls along with fliers for a local crisis pregnancy center. The materials were confiscated by school officials and the students disciplined for handing out the materials. The students, part of a Christian youth group, had previously handed out various materials, evangelistic and otherwise, to the teachers and students, but had never before been disciplined for doing so.

.

+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, Post Office Box 25382, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220, 866-787-9947, lsn@lifesitenews.com

+ Life Issues Institute, 1821 West Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45239, 513-729-3600, info@lifeissues.org

+ Liberty Counsel, Post Office Box 540774, Orlando, Florida 32854, 800-671-1776, Liberty@LC.org

.

.

[5] Washington DC Court of Appeals Refuses to Let Residents Vote For or Against Homosexual Marriage

The Washington DC Court of Appeals on 15 July 2010, in a five-to-four decision, ruled that the citizens of Washington DC do not have the right to vote on whether or not homosexual marriage will be legalized in the U.S. capital city.

Concerned Women for America Chief Executive Officer Penny Nance denounced the opinion, saying: “Knowing that whenever the issue of homosexual marriage is left to the voters the people overwhelmingly choose to protect traditional marriage and recognize only marriages between one man and one woman, a handful of activist judges who want to promote what they see as a desirable policy for our country, have taken matters into their own hands and imposed homosexual marriage by judicial fiat.”

.

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

+ Concerned Women for America, 1015 Fifteenth Street Northwest, Suite 1100, Washington DC 20005, 202-488-7000, Fax: 202-488-0806

.

.

[6] North Carolina Bar Association Considering Non-Discrimination Rules for “Gender Identity” and “Sexual Orientation”

A 20 July 2010 OneNewsNow article by Charlie Butts titled “Possible Ultimatum for NC Attorneys” reports that the North Carolina Bar Association is considering the addition of non-discrimination rules for “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” for lawyers licensed to practice in North Carolina.

Alliance Defense Fund senior counsel Joe Infranco commented: “Attorneys might be penalized just for abiding by their beliefs if this revision is approved…It potentially threatens religious free exercise of attorneys who might be advocating against those types of behavior in a particular case,” and offered the example of an attorney representing a church that dismissed a homosexual employee on biblical grounds that could face possible punishment for defending the church.

.

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

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

.

.

[7] The Social Contract Quarterly Issues 100 Page Special Report on the Southern Poverty Law Center

The Spring 2010 edition of The Social Contract Quarterly (SCQ) is a 100-plus page special report on the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which the publication describes as “an organization that has long been trying to curtail open debate on critical public issues.”

As the SCQ details, the SPLC:

– Engages in dubious fund-raising. A recent audit disclosed that SPLC spent eighty-nine percent of its total income on fund-raising and administrative costs. Unknown to most donors, the tax-exempt SPLC flunked an audit by the Better Business Bureau‘s Wise Giving Alliance.

– The Alabama-based organization recklessly attacks principled opponents of their agenda as “racists.” Targets have included: The American Enterprise Institute, The Heritage Foundation, Eagle Forum, Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs, and even the blockbuster film, “Lord of the Rings.”

– The SPLC is ideologically aligned with cultural Marxists and far-left militants, such as Weather Underground terror-bomber Bill Ayers, who is described by the SPLC‘s “Teaching Tolerance” project as merely a “civil rights organizer … teacher and author.”

Articles in the Spring 2010 edition of the SCQ include:

– A Note from the Editor – The SPLC: Poisoning Public Discourse

– Cooking the Books on ‘Hate’- A Closer Look at SPLC’s Famous List

– SPLC: America’s Left-Wing Hate Machine

– The Practice of Ritual Defamation – How Values, Opinions, and Beliefs Are Controlled in Democratic Societies

– What’s Behind the Anti-Tea Party Hate Narrative?

– Power, Politics, and the New Proletariat – Race Extortion in the Age of Cultural Marxism

– Hyping ‘Hate’ – Understanding the Incestuous Relationship between the Mass Media and the SPLC

.

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

+ The Social Contract Press, 445 East Mitchell Street, Petoskey, Michigan 49770, 231-347-1171, Fax: 231-347-1185, Contact Page

+ Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104, 334-956-8200, Contact Page

.

.

[8] Church of Scotland Approves Plan to Double Stack Bodies in Grave Sites

A 15 July 2010 article in The Scotsman titled “Leader: Double Parking the Dead” reports that in response to a shortage of burial plots in Scotland, the Church of Scotland approves of government plans to dig up remains more than seventy-five years old from cemetery plots, deepen the plots, rebury the disinterred remains, then bury another body on top of the former sole occupant of the grave site.

The Scotsman questions how long until the seventy-five year old remains requirement is lowered, and comments: “It turns once peaceful and reflective cemeteries into little more than municipal car parks for old bones.”

.

+ 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

.

.

[9] La Crosse, Wisconsin, PCUSA Church Employee Arrested for Embezzlement of Church Funds

A 17 July 2010 article in the La Crosse Tribune titled “Church Employee Accused of Embezzlement” reports that Ann Carson, former employee of the North Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) was arrested 15 July 2010 and is expected to be charged with embezzlement of US$1000’s from the church over ten years by writing checks to herself and logging the checks into accounting ledgers as being paid to someone else. An audit revealed several checks for large amounts that had been altered and cashed.

.

+ La Crosse Tribune, 401 North Third Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601, 608-782-9710, 608-782-9723, rusty.cunningham@lee.net

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

.

.

[10] PCUSA Publishes New Form of Government Questions and Answers

The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Office of the General Assembly has published a list of questions and answers about the new form of government approved by the July 2010 219^th General Assembly, which is being submitted to the PCUSA presbyteries for consideration:

http://www.pcusa.org/news/2010/7/15/new-form-government-questions-and-answers/

.

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

.

.

[11] Ligonier Ministries Publishes “Holy, Holy, Holy: Proclaiming the Perfections of God”

Ligonier Ministries has adapted lectures from the Ligonier Ministries‘ 2009 National Conference into the book Holy, Holy, Holy: Proclaiming the Perfections of God, contributed to by Thabiti Anyabwile, Alistair Begg, D.A. Carson, Sinclair B. Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven J. Lawson, R.C. Sproul, R.C. Sproul Jr., and Derek W.H. Thomas.

.

+ Ligonier Ministries, 400 Technology Park, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, 407-333-4244, Fax: 407-333-4233

.

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Muslim Mob in Jhelum, Pakistan Murders Wife and Four Children of Recently Transferred Christian Policeman

[2] Somali Muslims Execute Christian

[3] Update – Four Christian Missionaries Arraigned for Disturbing the Peace for Handing Out Literature at Dearborn, Michigan Arab American Festival

[4] Christian Defense Coalition Condemns the Administration of U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama for Offering Incentives for Kenya to Add Abortion to its Constitution

[5] North Carolina House of Representatives Chaplain Relieved of Duties after Praying in Jesus’ Name

[6] 219^th PCUSA General Assembly Votes Yet Again to Drop Fidelity and Chastity Standards for Ordained Church Officers

[7] The Presbyterian Coalition Issues Statement on PCUSA 219^th GA Vote to Continue Study on Marriage

[8] Evangelical Presbyterian Church 30^th General Assembly Meets 23-26 June 2010 in Englewood, Colorado

[9] PCA Stated Clerk Releases “Actions of the 38th General Assembly”

[10] Orange Order Parades in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Followed by Irish Nationalist Rioting

[11] Joe Morecraft to Speak on “God And Politics” at 3 September 2010 First Friday at the Institute on the Constitution in Pasadina, Maryland

[12] The Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi: 18 December 1919 – 12 July 2010
.
—
.
[1] Muslim Mob in Jhelum, Pakistan Murders Wife and Four Children of Recently Transferred Christian Policeman

An 8 July 2010 ASSIST News article by Dan Wooding titled “Muslim Mob Kills Wife, Children of Christian in Pakistan” reports that the wife and four children of a Christian policeman recently transferred from Gujrat to Jhelumto, Pakistan, on 21 June 2010, were murdered by a Muslim mob led by Muslim religious leader Maulana Mahfooz Khan, who stormed the policeman’s house and killed the policeman’s wife and children after accusing the policeman’s eleven-year old son of blaspheming Muhammad.

Authorities in Jhelumto have filed no charges against the murders because they fear Khan.

Presbyterian clergyman Saleem Mall reported that the Christian policeman said: “I am a poor man, I have a family, and I was pressured by higher authorities not to register the FIR [First Information Report] as Khan is a very influential man. I am sorry; I don’t have anything in my hands.’” The policeman later filed a complaint with the chief minister of the Punjab Province.

The Presbyterian clergyman commented: “We condemn this brutal murder of innocent children in the name of Islam. This has to stop now. We appeal to the government to let us live in peace.”

.
+ Assist USA, Post Office Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, 949-380-1558, danjuma1@aol.com

+ Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, 6 Empress Road, Lahore, Pakistan, 92-42-36284262-3, pcpoffice@brain.net.pk
.
.
[2] Somali Muslims Execute Christian

A 7 July 2010 ASSIST News article by Jeremy Reynalds titled “Somali Islamists Execute Christian Convert” reports that Christian convert from Islam Muhammad Guul Hashim Idiris set out by land from an Ethiopian border town in Somalia to visit his mother in Mogadishu, Somalia, when a fellow passenger recognized the Christian convert, and asked him if he thought the prophet Muhammad was a genuine messenger from God. Idiris answered “If I thought so, I would have believed in him instead of the Messiah.”

Once they reached the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terror network stronghold of the Hudur district of Somalia, the Muslim fellow-traveler reported Idiris to Al-Shabaab. Idiris was charged with blaspheming Mohammad, then executed 1 July 2010 in a makeshift stadium attended by hundreds of people including school children forced to watch the grizzly martyrdom of Idiris.
.

+ Assist USA, Post Office Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, 949-380-1558, danjuma1@aol.com
.
.
[3] Update – Four Christian Missionaries Arraigned for Disturbing the Peace for Handing Out Literature at Dearborn, Michigan Arab American Festival

A 12 July 2010 WDIV Local 4 article titled “Christian Missionaries Arraigned” reports that the four Christian missionaries from the Acts 17 Apologetics ministry arrested 18 June 2010 while handing out literature at the annual Arab American Festival in Dearborn, Michigan, were arraigned 12 July 2010 on misdemeanor charges of disturbing the peace, with one of the four additionally being arraigned for a charge of disobeying an officer.

Despite the missionaries’ claim to have only been evangelizing the festival attendees, Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly says that the four came to Dearborn only to cause trouble and to obtain videos to be used for fundraising. The mayor additionally claims that the missionaries’ ulterior motive was to preach to the Arabs in the festival crowd in order to rile them up.

For background information, please see the 23 June 2010 Presbyterians Week article [1] Group of Muslims Cheer and Shout “Allahu Akbar” as Dearborn, Michigan, Police Arrest Four Christians for Evangelizing Muslims at Arab International Festival after Federal Appeals Court Ruling against Dearborn Censorship (Extended Article).
.

+ WDIV Local 4, 550 West Lafayette, Detroit, Michigan 48226, 313-222-0444, Contact Page

+ Acts 17 Apologetics, Nabeel@acts17.net
.
.
[4] Christian Defense Coalition Condemns the Administration of U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama for Offering Incentives for Kenya to Add Abortion to its Constitution

.

The Christian Defense Coalition has condemned the administration of U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama for offering incentives, including foreign aid monies, to the nation of Kenya if a new constitution is approved that legalizes abortion in Kenya for the first time.

Reformed Presbyterian pastor and Director of the Christian Defense Coalition the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney states:

“When then Senator Obama was campaigning for President, the Christian Defense Coalition launched a national campaign called ‘Barak Obama the Abortion President.’ In that campaign, we said if elected Mr. Obama would be the most pro-abortion President in American history.

“Sadly, this has turned out to be the case. President Obama lifted the Mexico City Policy which had prevented federal dollars from being used to fund and refer abortions in foreign countries. President Obama’s national health care plan allows tax dollars to be used to provide and subsidize abortions. And now, his administration has linked aid and support to Kenya in return for them allowing abortion in their Constitution.

“This is a gross trampling of human rights by the President and it should now be clear to every person of faith and good will that Mr. Obama has no regard for the dignity of human life and no commitment to social justice. To link economic aid with abortion is a betrayal of all the America stands for and once again shows the extreme and radical pro-abortion policies of this administration.”

.
+ 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
.
.
[5] North Carolina House of Representatives Chaplain Relieved of Duties after Praying in Jesus’ Name

A 9 July 2010 Fox News article by Todd Starnes titled “Pastor Yanked From Capitol Over ‘Jesus’ Prayer” reports that Ron Baity, pastor of the Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was invited to lead the opening prayers for the North Carolina House of Representatives as honorary chaplain for the week of 31 May 2010, until a house clerk asked to read the text of Baity’s prayer, saw “Jesus” at the end of the prayer, and told Baity that it was preferred that he didn’t pray in Jesus’ name because it would offend some of the people present.

Baity protested, the situation was brought to the attention of House Speaker Joe Hackney, and Baity was relieved of his honorary chaplain duties.

.
+ Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, 888-369-4762, Fax: 212-462-6127, yourquestions@foxnews.com
.
.
[6] 219^th PCUSA General Assembly Votes Yet Again to Drop Fidelity and Chastity Standards for Ordained Church Officers

The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 219^th General Assembly, meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2-10 July 2010, on 8 July approved, 373-323 with four abstentions, and for the fifth time, a proposed change to the PCUSA Constitution, which would delete provision G-6.0106b, known as the Fidelity and Chastity Amendment, which reads:

“Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.”,

And replace the Fidelity and Chastity Amendment with the statement:

“Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”

The proposed change will be sent to the 173 PCUSA presbyteries for a vote by 10 July 2011, for or against the proposed change, the approval of the majority of the presbyteries needed to pass the recommendation.
.

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
.
.
[7] The Presbyterian Coalition Issues Statement on PCUSA 219^th GA Vote to Continue Study on Marriage

After the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 219^th General Assembly disapproved three overtures to reafirm the Church’s biblical and historical teaching on marriage, then voted to continue to study the other overtures to redefine marriage, The Presbyterian Coalition issued a statement on marriage and civil unions, calling the continued study “an opportunity to do the needed work to help our denomination reappropriate the Church’s teaching on marriage.”

The statement concluded: “True love for our erring brothers and sisters is not expressed by acceptance of behavior that is contrary to the will of God and the true well-being of all. True love is expressed in pastoral ministry that raises up hope for the forgiveness and transformation offered by our Lord Jesus Christ and made available to us through his death and resurrection.”

.
+ 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
.
.
[8] Evangelical Presbyterian Church 30^th General Assembly Meets 23-26 June 2010 in Englewood, Colorado

The 30th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church met 23-26 June 2010 at the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Englewood, Colorado.

The assembly on 24 June received the report of the Interim Committee on Women Teaching Elders and were presented an opportunity to ask questions, then on 25 June approved four “descending” recommendations for amendments to the Book of Order and a fifth, revised recommendation. The Book of Order “descending” amendments will go to the presbyteries for a vote, and if approved by six of the eight presbyteries, will be returned to the 2011 General Assembly for ratification.

In other assembly business, a study group was appointed to investigate the possibility of creating new presbyteries to accommodate the growth in number of EPC churches, and the Committee on Administration was given commission power to consider splitting the Mid-America Presbytery into two distinct presbyteries.

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

+ Mid-America Presbytery, moderator@presbyteryofmidamerica.org
.
.
[9] PCA Stated Clerk Releases “Actions of the 38th General Assembly”

Presbyterian Church in America stated clerk Dr. L. Roy Taylor on 13 July 2010 released “Actions of the 38th General Assembly,” available at:

http://byfaithonline.com/page/pca-news/stated-clerk-releases-actions-of-the-38th-general-assembly

A version including explanatory charts will be available sometime in the future.

.
+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org
.
.
[10] Orange Order Parades in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Followed by Irish Nationalist Rioting

A 13 July 2010 The Independent article by Steven McCaffery titled “First Minister Condemns Parades ‘Thuggery’” reports that rioting in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Irish nationalists following the annual 12 July Orange Order parades left eighty-two police officers injured.

The annual Orange Order parades celebrate 17^th century British Protestant military victories over Irish Catholics.
.

+ Independent Print Limited, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF, England, 44-0-20- 7005-2000, newseditor@independent.co.uk

+ The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Schomberg House, 368 Cregagh Road, Belfast BT6 9YE, Northern Ireland, 44-0-28-9070-1122, Fax: 44-0-28-9040-3700, info@grandorangelodge.co.uk
.
.
[11] Joe Morecraft to Speak on “God And Politics” at 3 September 2010 First Friday at the Institute on the Constitution in Pasadena, Maryland

“God And Politics” is the subject of a lecture by the Rev. Joseph C. Morecraft III of the Chalcedon Presbyterian Church in Cumming, Georgia, at the 3 September 2010 First Friday 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time presentation at the Institute on the Constitution in Pasadena, Maryland. Joe Morecraft is a noted lecturer on contemporary political and historical trends in the United States and the world at large.

Tickets to the event are free, and are available at:

http://www.iotconline.com/content.php?61-September-First-Friday

The lecture is additionally available as a live feed, accessible on the same web page.

.
+ Institute on the Constitution, 8028 Ritchie Highway Suite 211, Pasadena, Maryland 21122, 866-730-9796, Fax: 410-760-5642
.
.
[12] The Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi: 18 December 1919 – 12 July 2010

The Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi was called home by his Lord on the morning of 12 July 2010.

Dr. Butosi served as Conference Minister / Chief Executive Officer of the Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ for a total of twelve years between 1967 and 1985, four years as Calvin Synod President and eight years as Bishop. Active in the Pastoral Ministry in Calvin Synod from 1950 to 1989, Dr. Butosi then served as a Theological Professor in Hungary for eight years prior to retiring from active service.

Dr. Butosi passed away in Shelton, Connecticut, where he made his home with daughter Ann, her husband James Ballas, and grandchildren Matthew and Erica.
.

+ Calvin Synod, C/O Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, General Secretary, 7319 Tapper Avenue, Hammond, Indiana 46324, 219-931-4321, kkludwig@aol.com

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

.

Presbyterians Week Headlines

.
[1] Advertisement

[2] PCA 38^th General Assembly Affirms 2010 Strategic Plan, Affirms No Ordination for Deacons’ Assistants, and Affirms Overtures for Protection of Military Chaplains

[3] PCUSA 219^th General Assembly Opening Worship Includes Costumed Animals and Native American Interpretive Dancing

[4] Early Business of the PCUSA 219^th General Assembly

[5] PCUSA Suffers Three Percent Membership Decline in 2009

[6] Orange Order in Glasgow, Scotland, Parades 8000 Members and Ninety Bands

[7] The Trinity Foundation Announces New Resources

[8] Ian Paisley Condemns Roman Catholic Pontiff’s Planned September 2010 Visit to Scotland

[9] Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Offers Pastors’ Summer Course on the Epistle of Paul to Titus

[10] Bishop E.W. Jackson Sr. Denounces U.S. Attorney General for Ignoring Voter Intimidation by the New Black Panther Party in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Election Day 2008

[11] Update — Christian Author Mosab Hassan Yousef Granted U.S. Asylum

[12] Update – U.S. Attorney Fails to Appear for Arraignment of Pastor Arrested for Praying on Public Sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood Washington DC Office

.

—

.

[1] Advertisement

The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Manassas, Virginia (www.rpchurch.org) is seeking a new minister following the death of its longtime pastor Dr. Edwin P. Elliott Jr.

In keeping with our position of many decades, we are looking for a pastor who will affirm and expound the doctrines of Historic Presbyterianism. Our church is not interested in the latest political or theological fads. If you are an ardent student of John Calvin and John Knox, apt to teach and preach and evangelize, then please contact us for further details.

We are affiliated with Hanover Presbytery (www.rpchanover.org). If you are looking for a denominational career, we are not your answer. If you want a challenging opportunity to minister with the most powerful tools God has revealed to us, email us at: pastorsearch@rpchurch.org

.

+ Reformed Presbyterian Church, 9400 Fairview Avenue, Manassas, Virginia 20110, 703-361-2300, pastorsearch@rpchurch.org

.

[2] PCA 38^th General Assembly Affirms 2010 Strategic Plan, Affirms No Ordination for Deacons’ Assistants, and Affirms Overtures for Protection of Military Chaplains

The 39^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, 29 June – 2 July 2010, approved the 2010 Strategic Plan, approved Overture 7 which reinforces ordination limitations in that deacons’ assistants cannot be ordained, and approved Overtures 12, 17, and 22, which petitions the U.S. President and U.S. Government to protect the free exercise of religion within the armed forces, and expresses several concerns about military chaplains if the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is eliminated.

.

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

.

.

[3] PCUSA 219^th General Assembly Opening Worship Includes Costumed Animals and Native American Interpretive Dancing

A 5 July 2010 article by Edward Terry of Presbyterian Lay Committee titled “Opening Worship: Skunks, Rabbits and Wolves, Oh My” reports that the call to worship of the opening service of the 219^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), being held 3-10 July 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, featured the attendees facing the four points of the compass while praying for the Holy Spirit to come, and watching people dressed as furry animals march through the aisles and throughout the worship space. Additionally, interpretive dancing and four processions of flowing banners rounded out the call to worship, all paying homage to the area’s Native American heritage.

A man that attended the service afterwards described it as “pagan” and another attendee broke into tears while discussing what he had just seen.

.

+ Presbyterian Lay Committee, Post Office Box 2210, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645, 828-758-8716, Fax: 828-758-0920, laymanletters@layman.org

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

.

.

[4] Early Business of the PCUSA 219^th General Assembly

Some of the early business conducted during the 219^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) included:

– The Peacemaking and International Issues Committee voted forty-nine to two for the assembly to call on the U.S. to pull out of the war in Afghanistan.

– The Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions voted fifty-one to four to recommend the 220th General Assembly in 2012 adopt a new translation of the Heidelberg Catechism to replace the current version in The Book of Confessions in cooperation with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) and the Reformed Church in America (RCA), and to consider inclusion of appropriate scriptural citations and/or textual references that correspond to each article. Amendments to add footnotes from

– The Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions voted forty-three to eleven with one abstention to recommend that the 219^th General Assembly approve the inclusion of the Belhar Confession in The Book of Confessions, and that the amendment be sent to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes by June 2011. Amendments to add footnotes from an earlier version of the confession, that an accompanying letter be included with the confession, and that a fully-inclusive language version of the confession be created and posted on the World Wide Web.

.

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

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

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

.

.

[5] PCUSA Suffers Three Percent Membership Decline in 2009

The Office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) on 1 July 2010, released a report showing that membership statistics for 2009 reflect a drop of 63,027 members, or three percent from 2008 — from 2,140,165 in 2008 to 2,077,138 in 2009.

.

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

.

.

[6] Orange Order in Glasgow, Scotland, Parades 8000 Members and Ninety Bands

A 4 July 2010 article by Karl Mansfield in The Scotsman titled “Thousands Take Part in Orange Order Marches” reports that the 3 July 2010 Orange Order Parade in Glasgow, Scotland, reported that up to 8000 marchers and ninety bands took part in the annual march, which additionally marked 2010 as being the 450th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation.

.

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

+ Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, Olympia House, 13 Olympia Street, Glasgow G40 3TA, Scotland, 0141-414-1418, Fax: 0141-414-1419, info@orangeorderscotland.org.uk

.

.

[7] The Trinity Foundation Announces New Resources

The Trinity Foundation has published Gordon Clark’s book “Good and Evil: The Problem Solved” in audio format, which is available for US$5.00 as a download in MP3 format or on CD, plus shipping and handling.

Additionally, three articles have been added to the website’s “Horror Files” section:

– John Piper Invites Rick Warren to speak at 2010 Desiring God Conference

– Bruce Waltke – Theistic Evolution Controversy

– Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship Invites Roman Catholic Speaker

.

+ The Trinity Foundation, Post Office Box 68, Unicoi, Tennessee 37692, 423-743-0199, Fax: 423-743-2005, tjtrinityfound@aol.com

.

.

[8] Ian Paisley Condemns Roman Catholic Pontiff’s Planned September 2010 Visit to Scotland

A 2 July 2010 BBC article titled “Pope Benedict XVI UK visit a ‘mistake’ says Ian Paisley” reports that former Democratic Unionist Party leader, member of the European Parliament, founding member of the Free Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and soon-to-be United Kingdom House of Lords member, Ian Paisley spoke out against the Roman Pontiff’s upcoming September 2010 visit to Scotland.

Paisley said: “I think he should not be invited to the country….We have had a terrible happening in Ireland with the priests and monks and nuns all taking part in acts of disgraceful behaviour with young people, and we haven’t seen the [Roman] Catholic Church taking a strong stand on this,” he told the BBC World Service….A person, like some of the priests we’ve had, destroying the lives of young people and then going out and saying ‘I can forgive sins’, it’s only right that be called what it is….That is anti-Christ in teaching and in doctrine.”

.

+ BBC, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS, England, Fax: 020-8008-2398

+ Democratic Unionist Party, 91 Dundela Avenue, Belfast BT4 3BU, Northern Ireland, 028-9047-1155, Fax: 028-9052-1289, info@dup.org.uk

+ Free Presbyterian Church in Ireland, info@freepres.org

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

.

.

[9] Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Offers Pastors’ Summer Course on the Epistle of Paul to Titus

Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (GPTS) is offering a pastors’ summer course on the Epistle of Paul to Titus titled “The Grace of God Has Appeared: Pastoral Advice for Living a Godly Life,” 26-30 July 2010, to be taught by GPTS Board Chairman Dr. George W. Knight III.

For information, please see:

http://www.gpts.edu/pastors/summer_class.php

.

+ Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 200 East Main Street, Post Office Box 690, Taylors, South Carolina, 29687, 864-322-2717, Fax: 864-322-2719, info@gpts.edu

.

.

[10] Bishop E.W. Jackson Sr. Denounces U.S. Attorney General for Ignoring Voter Intimidation by the New Black Panther Party in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Election Day 2008

Bishop E.W. Jackson Sr. of Staying True to America’s National Destiny (STAND), a grassroots organization dedicated to ending the racial divide, on 1 July 2010 denounced U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for refusing to prosecute members of the New Black Panther Party that stood outside a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, polling station on Election Day 2008, in black uniforms and carrying nightsticks, physically blocking the voting entrance at times and making racially incendiary statements such as, “Now you are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker.” They also called white voters “devils.”

The New Black Panther Party emblem, as shown on their website, shows a black panther (cat) in the foreground of the African continent, with the motto “Freedom or Death” on the bottom border.

.

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

+ STAND, Post Office Box 15111, Chesapeake, Virginia 23328, 757-410-7740, Stand@Standamerica.us

+ New Black Panther Party, nbpphq@yahoo.com

.

.

[11] Update — Christian Author Mosab Hassan Yousef  Granted U.S. Asylum

A 30 June 2010 ASSIST News article by Dan Wooding titled “‘Son of Hamas’ Can Stay” reported that best-selling author Mosab Hassan Yousef on 30 June 2010 was granted U.S. asylum after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dropped its objections.

The speciousness of the DHS objections was described in the 30 June 2010 Presbyterians Week article “[10] U.S. Department of Homeland Security Trying to Deport Muslim Convert to Christianity that Saved Countless Lives Working as an Agent for Israel”

.

+ Assist USA, Post Office Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, 949-380-1558, danjuma1@aol.com

+ U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington DC 20528, 202-282-8000, Contact Form

.

.

[12] Update – U.S. Attorney Fails to Appear for Arraignment of Pastor Arrested for Praying on Public Sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood Washington DC Office

The U.S. Attorney failed to appear at the 30 June 2010 arraignment of Christian Defense Coalition (CDC) Director and Reformed Presbyterian pastor the Rev. the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, who was arrested 8 June 2010 for praying on the public sidewalk outside a Washington DC Planned Parenthood abortuary, said public sidewalk having been fenced in by Planned Parenthood and posted with “No Trespassing” signs. The CDC stated that U.S. Attorney’s absence indicated that the Rev. Mahoney was clearly praying on a public sidewalk and his actions did not violate the law.

The CDC plans a major event at Planned Parenthood, Washington DC 13-14 August 2010 where people will join in prayer on the public sidewalk where the Rev. Mahoney was arrested.

Further background on this incident along with photos can be found in the 16 June 2010 Presbyterians Week article “[4] Reformed Presbyterian Pastor and Pro-Life Activist Arrested for Praying on Public Sidewalk in Front of Washington DC Planned Parenthood Facility,” and in the 2 June 2010 Presbyterians Week article “[4] Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington DC Erects Fence Around Public Sidewalk and Property, and Threatens Arrest of “Trespassers”.”

.

+ 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

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

.