(Article originally posted on the ECO web site). Dear Friends, Members of the Synod staff have been in contact with churches affected by the devastating storms in the Southeast; most recently those that endured Hurricane Irma in Florida. Though many churches themselves had minor structural damage, some are still without power, and many have downed…
(By Ravi Zacharias, Christianity Today). The first time I saw Nabeel Qureshi, he sat at a table across from me, his one leg constantly moving almost subconsciously, warming up for a run. It was a habit of his restless disposition. That was Nabeel in true expression; he hated sitting still. He was a man with…
(By the Rev. Janet Edwards, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Written in response to the lament published by the Post-Gazette on 9/9/17 by Holly Lott, “A Presbyterian’s lament: Our church is forsaking core values with ‘reform’ that deforms.“). When I was ordained in September 1977 to the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament in what is…
(By Leslie Scanlon, The Presbyterian Outlook). A ministerial team of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board that’s been considering how the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) allocates overhead costs is recommending changes – concluding that the rates themselves are reasonable, but that the agency should generally charge agency departments a single, flat rate and that donors need more…
In the second half of the Sept. 14, 2017 Reconnect radio show, Carmen Laberge interviewed Dr. Alf Halvorson, who gives us a glimpse into the hurricane relief ministry of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. Their robust site, worthy of emulation, offers numerous practical resources, emotional coping tools, even an invitation for victims to…
The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Office of Theology and Worship has declared the denomination “agnostic around issues of homosexuality,” in its response to the recently released Nashville Statement. Written and signed by more than 150 evangelical Christian leaders, the Nashville Statement upholds the Biblical standards that marriage is between one man and one woman and “homosexual…
(By Tamara Wolk, The Walker County Messenger, GA). The story of First Presbyterian Church of Fort Oglethorpe comes in two parts. There’s the building itself and there’s the congregation that now owns it. Perhaps the best person to share the stories is Herman McConathy, one of the early elders of the congregation and a collector…
(By Leslie Scanlon, The Presbyterian Outlook). Tony De La Rosa, interim executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, has resigned, apparently effective immediately, and David D. Crittenden, a mid council executive, has been named to replace him as acting director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. De La Rosa’s term had been scheduled to continue through November….
(By Ely Portillo, The Charlotte Observer, NC). Covenant Presbyterian Church has decided to invest $2 million in a new affordable housing development in west Charlotte, the church said Tuesday. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership is developing 185 apartments at the southwest corner of Freedom Drive and Camp Green Street. About 30 percent of the units will rent…
(By Tawana Roberts, The News-Herald). Dozens gathered in unity on the front steps of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights on Sept. 12. The Rev. John C. Lentz, who is the pastor, announced that Forest Hill Presbyterian, 3031 Monticello Blvd.,has welcomed Leonor Garcia and her children to live in sanctuary. “Leonor came to America from Mexico as a young…