11 July 2012

Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 21:24

This news item was posted in Presbyterians Week category.

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Via Executive Fiat of President David Norman, Erskine Theological Seminary Is Absorbed by Erskine College into Graduate School of Religion

[2] Orange Order Slams Church of Scotland as ‘a Dismal Failure’

[3] United Reformed Church Votes to Host Same-Sex Civil Partnerships

[4] PCUSA General Assembly 2012 Happenings

[5] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com

[6] Headlines from The Christian Institute

[7] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

[8] The Religion of Peace

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[1] Via Executive Fiat of President David Norman, Erskine Theological Seminary Is Absorbed by Erskine College into Graduate School of Religion

In ARPTalk Issue #64, titled “Erskine Theological Seminary – R.I.P.”, editor the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Wilson reports that Erskine President Dr. David Norman announced in two email messages dated 1 June and 20 June 2012 that, [by executive fiat and without the approval of the Erskine board], Erskine College has absorbed Erskine Theological Seminary into “Erskine College and Graduate School of Religion”, thus eliminating the distinct institution founded in 1839 that functioned as the “agency” of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in professional training of candidates for the gospel ministry.

+ ARPTalk Blog, 864-882-6337, wilson6114@bellsouth.net

+ Erskine Theological Seminary, Post Office Box 668, Due West, South Carolina 29639, 800-770-6936

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

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

[2] Orange Order Slams Church of Scotland as ‘a Dismal Failure’

A 4 July 2012 article in The Scotsman titled “Orange Order Slams Kirk as ‘a Dismal Failure’” reports that the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland (Orange Order) has criticized the Church of Scotland for the Kirk’s “dismal failure” to lead in matters of faith and morality.

The Orange Order additionally warned that Scotland is a “nation in turmoil” and raised concerns about the current campaign for devolution.

Grand master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, Henry Dunbar, urged Orange Order members to vote against devolution and to back the Union. Another resolution published ahead of the Orange Order’s 12 July 2012 parade called on the Church of Scotland to stand up for protestant heritage.

Sally Foster Fulton, convener of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council, responded: “The Orange Order has shown itself again and again to be out of date and out of time.”

The Orange Order is the oldest and largest Protestant fraternity in Scotland.

+ 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

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

[3] United Reformed Church Votes to Host Same-Sex Civil Partnerships

An 8 July 2012 Ekklesia article titled “United Reformed Church Votes to Host Same-Sex Civil Partnerships” reports that on 7 July 2012, the United Reformed Church General Assembly voted to allow same-sex civil partnership ceremonies on its premises when the individual congregation agrees.

+ Ekklesia, 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London EC1V 4PY, England, 0845 056 5445, press@ekklesia.co.uk

+ United Reformed Church, Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT, England, 020-7916-2020, Fax: 020-7916-2021, urc@urc.org.uk

[4] PCUSA General Assembly 2012 Happenings

The recently completed 2012 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) included the following happenings:

— Voted to retain the “property clause” of the Book of Order, which says that all property held by or for a congregation is “held in trust nevertheless for the use and benefit” of the denomination. The assembly rejected several proposals to return control of a church’s property to the local church.

— Passed a resolution encouraging the use of discipline methods that do not include corporal punishment of children.

— Voted to support the work of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

— Voted to keep the current definition of marriage “between a woman and a man”, narrowly defeating a proposal to change the wording to “between two people”.

— Voted to affirm the connection with the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba.

— Voted to reject an attempt to reverse ordination standards and once again ban partnered homosexual clergy.

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

+ The Christian Post, National Press Building, 529 14th Street Northwest, Suite 420, Washington DC 20045, 202-347-7734, info@christianpost.com

[5] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com

LifeSiteNews.com headlines of the past week include the following articles:

— Google Launches Worldwide Campaign against ‘Homophobic’ Countries

— Toronto Police Shut Down Preacher at Gay Pride Parade for ‘Promoting Hate’

— British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg Wants to Force Churches to Conduct ‘Gay Marriages’

— Fox News Psychiatrist Says He Fears Threats of Violence When Questioning Homosexual Agenda

— Therapists Who Treat Homosexuality ‘Terrorized’ By Brazil’s Psychology Council Says Expert

— Ontario High School Selects ‘Transgender’ Man as Prom Queen

— Toronto School Board Promotes Curriculum Encouraging Students to Cross-Dress

— Ugandan Gay Activist Killed By Gay Lover, Not by Hatred of LGBT’s As Obama Indicated

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

[6] Headlines from The Christian Institute

The Christian Institute’s headlines of the past week include the following articles:

— Schools Could Be Forced To Teach Gay Marriage

— Women Told To Stock Morning-After Pill in Preparation for London 2012 Disruptions

— British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg Hoists Rainbow Flag over Whitehall

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

[7] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

Articles from the past week regarding kings and rulers setting themselves against the LORD and against his anointed:

— Phoenix, Arizona Man Fined Over US$12,000 and Jailed for Hosting Bible Study in Home

— Man Tells Police Dispatcher His Mentally Disturbed Brother Is Carrying a Fake Gun, Police Kill Him Anyway

— Louisville, Kentucky Airport TSA Agents Laugh at Deaf Man, Call Him “[Bleep]ing Deafie,” Steal His Candy

— New TSA Policy: Ordering Travelers to “Freeze” on Command?

— Colombia County, Florida Code Enforcer Breaks Into Home To Cite Owner for Tall Grass

— Donald Trump Believes U.S. President Obama Will Start Iran War in Effort to Win Reelection

— West Virginia Judge Goes Berates Local Pastor during Divorce Hearing – Addresses Pastor as ‘You Disgusting Piece of–’

+ Freedom Outpost

+ The Liberty Crier

+ PrisonPlanet.com, Post Office Box 19549, Austin, Texas 78760, 512-291-5750, writers@infowars.com