News in brief
Presbyterians active in WCRC events
The Layman, June 25, 2010
From the Presbytery of Lake Michigan serving as a host, to former Presbyterian Church (USA) Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick playing a key role in the historic merger, Presbyterians have been active in the ongoing World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) festivities this month in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Beginning with a conference entitled “Reformed Mission in an Age of World Christianity” on the campus of Calvin College, Fuller Theological Seminary president Richard Mouw was the keynote speaker.
The conference was followed by the Uniting General Conference (UGC), a nine-day assembly from June 18 to June 27 where the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) merged into WCRC.
Nearby PCUSA congregations, including those in Lake Michigan Presbytery, were invited to participate, volunteer and assist with the 10-day event. Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Grand Rapids hosted worship for conference participants, where Kirkpatrick preached on breaking down walls of division.
Later in the week Kirkpatrick, who is the former president of WARC, praised the new partnership and the merger – which likely has as much to do with financial sustainability as encouraging unity.
Kirkpatrick was quoted in one WCRC news release as saying: “We really can be one. We’re entering an era where there’s a new
sense we belong together in the church of Jesus Christ.”
Kirkpatrick’s counterpart, REC president Peter Borgdorff, said the merger is not the first step toward a global church as much as it is
a recognition that the church is global.
In another article, Kirkpatrick acknowledged struggles and a commitment to strategies that have drawn criticism of traditionally liberal worldwide ecumenical bodies.
“Throughout the Global North our movement is in decline numerically and financially, and far too many of our congregations are living on the edge of survival,” Kirkpatrick said. The article continues: “But in his six years as president, Kirkpatrick said he has seen great strengths of the Reformed tradition: last year’s John Calvin quincentennial, the engagement of churches in the struggle for justice, the growing inclusion and influence of women in church leadership, growing ecumenical engagement and the vitality of many churches.”
The list of hosting denominations, in addition to PCUSA, includes the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Korean Presbyterian Church in America and The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Group lobbies against PCUSA Middle East report
B’nai B’rith International is urging delegates to the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly to oppose the adoption of “anti-Israel” reports and resolutions. The General Assembly is scheduled for July 3-10 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Proposed actions related to the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians at the GA include: declaring Israel’s policy “apartheid;” divesting the PCUSA’s interests in Caterpillar Inc., which sells equipment to Israel; and using “A Moment of Truth: A Word of Faith and Hope from the Heart of Palestinian Suffering” as an advocacy tool. The report has been criticized for being biased toward Israel, and lacking the balance it claims to have.
B’nai B’rith is circulating a letter from former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin urging church delegates against unbalanced or counterproductive steps on the Middle East. The letter is posted on the organization’s Web site.
Cluster hosts cooperative ministry event
The Laurens County Cluster of Smaller Membership Churches, located in Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Trinity Presbytery, hosted about 100 guests in Clinton, S.C. for “Linking for Ministry” earlier this month.
The goal of the event was to help participants enhance existing ministries or initiate cooperative ministries. Leaders from the Laurens County cluster offered advice and hosted worship for the June 2-4 workshop.
Co-sponsors for “Linking for Ministry” included the PCUSA’s Small Church and Community Ministry, Presbyterians for Renewal’s Wee Kirk Ministry, The Outreach Foundation, Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship and Trinity Presbytery.