14 July 2010
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Presbyterians Week Headlines
[2] Somali Muslims Execute Christian
[5] North Carolina House of Representatives Chaplain Relieved of Duties after Praying in Jesus’ Name
[7] The Presbyterian Coalition Issues Statement on PCUSA 219th GA Vote to Continue Study on Marriage
[8] Evangelical Presbyterian Church 30th 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
[12] The Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi: 18 December 1919 – 12 July 2010
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[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.”
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+ 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
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[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.
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+ Assist USA, Post Office Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, 949-380-1558, danjuma1@aol.com
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[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).
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+ WDIV Local 4, 550 West Lafayette, Detroit, Michigan 48226, 313-222-0444, Contact Page
+ Acts 17 Apologetics, Nabeel@acts17.net
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[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
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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.”
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+ 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
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[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.
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+ Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, 888-369-4762, Fax: 212-462-6127, yourquestions@foxnews.com
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[6] 219th PCUSA General Assembly Votes Yet Again to Drop Fidelity and Chastity Standards for Ordained Church Officers
The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 219th 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.
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+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
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[7] The Presbyterian Coalition Issues Statement on PCUSA 219th GA Vote to Continue Study on Marriage
After the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 219th 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.”
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+ The Presbyterian Coalition, 4604 Grove Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23226, 804-615-3243, office@presbycoalition.org
+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
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[8] Evangelical Presbyterian Church 30th 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.
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+ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 17197 North Laurel Park Drive Suite 567, Livonia, Michigan 48152, 734-742-2020, Fax: 734-742-2033, webmaster@epc.org
+ Mid-America Presbytery, moderator@presbyteryofmidamerica.org
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[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.
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+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org
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[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 17th century British Protestant military victories over Irish Catholics.
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+ 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
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[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.
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+ Institute on the Constitution, 8028 Ritchie Highway Suite 211, Pasadena, Maryland 21122, 866-730-9796, Fax: 410-760-5642
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[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.
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+ 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
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