Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
issues call for school kits
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has issued a call for Gift of the Heart School Kits. After the latest shipment of Church World Service Gift of the Heart School Kits in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the number of School Kits fell down to less than 200 cartons. The kits give children in impoverished schools, refugee camps or other difficult settings some of the basic tools for learning. Details about the kits can be found at "Gift of the Heart."
Parsons says church compelled
to act for marginalized
Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), wrote June 4 to congregations, noting, "The economic crisis that has affected our lives in recent years has only exacerbated the long-running battle among those who are entrapped in the cycle of poverty. ... Extreme income inequality and the loss of worker rights have impacted communities across the United States, especially racial ethnic families and communities.The 220th General Assembly ... set forth recommendations referred by the Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns, compelling us to take action in support of the continued advocacy for those whose voices are not heard." Parsons' complete letter can be found at "Compelled to Action."
Number of social justice issues
on General Assembly agendaGun violence, abortion, hunger, and the U.S. economy are among the topics that will be discussed by commissioners to the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) when they gather June 14-21 in Detroit. Two of the overtures assigned to the Assembly's Committee on Social Justice Issues advocate measures to prevent gun violence. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Social Justice."
General Assembly to consider 3 church-
wide evangelism, mission initiatives
Three initiatives aimed at unifying Presbyterians around ambitious goals in mission and evangelism will receive docket time at the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) when it meets June 14-21 in Detroit. The Assembly Committee on Congregational Vitality will hear a progress report on a movement to organize 1,001 new worshiping communities in the PC(USA) in the next decade. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Evangelism and Mission."
Detroit provides backdrop for proposals
on racism, employment, income
Meeting in Detroit - which is emblematic of the social and economic malaise affecting both the United States and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - the Assembly Committee on Mission Coordination of the PC(USA)'s 221st General Assembly will address a number of issues related to racism, employment, compensation and how to revive the nation's urban areas and the churches in them. The Assembly meets June 14-21. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Economic Malaise."
60 years ago General Assembly
met amid social, racial change
Sixty years ago, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. - now the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - held its 166th General Assembly in Detroit. The U.S. auto industry was booming, and the city had acquired considerable wealth and size. At the same time, however, Detroit was experiencing an "inner-city problem." The complete story by Nancy Taylor of the Presbyterian Historical Society can be found at "Detroit 1954."
Fellowship, Presbyterians
for Renewal plan merger
The Fellowship of Presbyterians is parting ways structurally with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians and is joining with Presbyterians for Renewal to work with "gospel-centered" congregations and individuals in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In a joint statement released May 30, the Fellowship and Presbyterians for Renewal (PFR) announced that they are launching a "new movement" called the Fellowship Community, hoping to "nurture and connect gospel-centered PC(USA) congregations and expand relationships with our counterparts in other mainline traditions." The complete story by Leslie Scanlon of The Presbyterian Outlook can be found at "Merger."
Deadline approaches to apply
to be host to International Peacemaker
Applications are due June 30 to be host to an International Peacemaker, according to an announcement from the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. Each year peacemaking leaders from the program's partner churches around the world come to the United States to share their experiences as peacemakers in their own lands. This year International Peacemakers will be available between Sept. 19 and Oct. 12. Details of the program can be found at "International Peacemaker."
Southern Baptists meet
as membership, baptism decline continues
For Southern Baptists, it's happened again: Another annual report shows the denomination is losing members and baptizing fewer people. The Rev. Fred Luter, outgoing president of the Southern Baptist Convention, thinks old-time methods to spread the gospel have met a culture that's younger, more diverse and doesn't necessarily see the pew - or even sin - as a priority. "Our society is just not what it used to be," said Luter, who admitted he's discouraged by the reports. The complete story by Adelle M. Banks of the Religion News Service can be found at "Southern Baptists."
Survey: One-quarter of world
harbors anti-Semitic sentiment
The first-ever global study of anti-Semitic attitudes shows that more than a quarter of the world's population harbors intense anti-Jewish sentiment, with region, more than religion, shaping people's view of Jews and Judaism. The poll, released May 13 by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League, also finds that a large proportion of the world has never heard of the Holocaust or denies historical accounts of it. Of those polled, 46 percent have either not heard of the Holocaust that killed 6 million Jews or think it is a myth or exaggerated. The complete story by Lauren Markoe of Religion News Service can be found at "Attitudes."
Chapman will be artist-
A project of the synods of Lakes and Prairies, Lincoln Trails and Mid-America, just.good.food. is a "gardens for giving project" that connects congregations, and a few other organizations, in efforts to provide food for the hungry. By the end of last year's gardening season, just.good.food. gardeners contributed more than 2.5 tons of fresh produce. The project regularly provides garden information through its 
Nebraska Disaster Response,
to event for new pastors
Congregational Ministries Publishing of the Presbyterian Mission Agency has a number of curriculum resources for youth. It notes, "As young people mature in faith and life, they search for greater understanding of themselves and their world. Provide your church with resources that teach teenagers and young adults they can turn to their Bible and the Reformed tradition to find guidance throughout their lives." The resources can be found at "
IRMS offers curriculum
snapchat, confide, whisper, ask.fm, and likely many others. But your editor spends hours with Facebook (at least that's what he's been told). Your editor believes nothing can go wrong on Facebook (well, he really doesn't believe that). And here are a few lessons from Adrienne Crezo, writing for mental_floss, who found "