The trustees at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (MDPC) in Houston have filed a lawsuit asking the civil court to reaffirm that the church, itself, owns its property as “supported by established law in Texas.” The trustees also filed – and was granted – a temporary restraining order to protect the church from any interference by…
As hundreds of congregations in the Presbyterian Church (USA) continue to evaluate their denominational affiliation and as presbyteries continue to deal with requests for dismissal in a myriad of ways, people continue to ask questions. Recently a church sent a list of what have become frequently asked questions. My answers are my own and should…
First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colo., has joined the inauspicious million dollar club, after agreeing to pay the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks more than a $2 million “tithe” so it could be dismissed from the Presbyterian Church (USA) with its property. At its Oct. 23 meeting, the presbytery approved a dismissal agreement, in which…
By R. Albert Mohler Jr., www.albertmohler.com The historic First Baptist Church of Greenville, South Carolina, announced in May that it would declare itself be “open and welcoming” to all people and that it would allow same-sex marriage and ordain openly homosexual ministers. The move came after the church had undergone a “discernment” process under the…
The Presbyterian Lay Committee has a new resource posted on its web site The Layman “designed to describe the challenges faced by theologically centrist congregations who continue to adhere to the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the Confessions of the Church but which are no longer lived out in some of…
By Viola Larson, Naming His Grace blog. We get Letters! Well if you are an ordained member of Journey Presbyterian Church in Folsom, California you got a letter inviting you to a meeting. The invite came by way of what was the Sacramento Presbytery’s discernment team but is now the engagement team. This is a…
Click HERE for the audio (Mp3) of the March 17, 2015 “Conversation with Carmen” conference call. If you want to download the file, right-click on the link above.
The 2,631-member Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas voted to enter into the discernment process with its presbytery this past Sunday (10/20/13). During the congregational meeting, 616 ballots were cast, and 552 voted in favor of entering into the discernment process with New Covenant Presbytery; 64 voted against entering the process. Sam Knight, interim pastor,…
A number of churches in southern California are exploring their denominational future with the Presbyterian Church (USA), including the possibility of affiliation with another Reformed body. Sessions from a host of churches have submitted letters to the Presbytery of Los Ranchos (PLR) seeking the opportunity to engage in a discernment and exploration process to discuss…
By the Rev. Mary Holder Naegeli In my review of The Bible: Episode One, I mentioned the voice of God as quiet and young-sounding. Noah, Abraham and Moses unmistakably heard God’s voice and distinguished it from their own inner voices. Consequently, they gave great weight to the message they heard. Sarah needed a little convincing—I…