Reviewed by the Rev. Dr. Walter L. Taylor Special to The Layman The first time he ever seriously studied the theology of John Calvin, the 20th-century theologian Karl Barth wrote to his best friend, “Calvin is a cataract, a primeval forest, a demonic power, something directly down from Himalaya, absolutely Chinese, strange, mythological; I lack…
By Megan Lea The congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church marked its final worship service last Sunday. The church on the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Andrews Highway will shut its doors today. During a special meeting in January the Tres Rios Presbytery granted the request to dissolve the congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church. “The decision…
Westminster (Fernwood) Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg in South Carolina will pay $350,000 over the next five years as part of settlement reached with the Foothills Presbytery to be dismissed from the Presbyterian Church (USA). The financial terms were reached between the Westminster session and a gracious dismissal task force appointed by the presbytery and then…
Fire destroyed a New York church just four days after Easter in 2011. On Easter Sunday this year, Mayfield Presbyterian Church members found themselves seated for their first service in a new sanctuary. The new sanctuary was built and finally occupied after the membership of Mayfield raised the funds to reconstruct a larger and more…
By Stephanie Butzer For Powell Sykes, the pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, (Burlington, N.C.) everything started with a simple question from a member of his church: “How did this happen?” The member was referring to how the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denomination that the church belonged to had voted to remove standards of fidelity in marriage…
By Jane Gargas To be — or to be something else. That’s the question facing two Yakima Presbyterian churches, Westminster and First Presbyterian. They are in the process of deciding if they want to change to a different Presbyterian branch or leave the Presbyterian fold altogether. Both are currently part of a denomination known as…
By Elizabeth Googe The demolition process on the two church buildings that were part of Westminster Presbyterian Church has been completed. Reverend Steve Ramp says it’s still slow moving with the insurance company, but the staff and church members are making do. “While it’s not the speediest process with the insurance company, we are still…
A devastating tornado that caused substantial damage to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., has not hampered the congregation’s ability to worship and serve the Lord. Members of Westminster have been sharing facilities with the congregation of a local Methodist church for worship services while insurance adjustments and, ultimately, repairs to their sanctuary take place….
By Dustin Wyatt A Presbyterian church in Spartanburg is trying to cut ties with its denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA). On Feb. 10, 86 percent of the congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church on Fernwood Drive voted to leave the Foothills Presbytery, the regional council of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and move to the ECO —…
For 50 years, the sanctuary of Westminster Presbyterian Church has been a place of refuge for those seeking to hear the Word of God and come to know Jesus Christ. It has been a haven for many. In less than 30 seconds on a Sunday evening, the sanctuary that has stood for more than five…