planned in October in Missouri

The joint conference of the Association of Retired Ministers, Spouses and Survivors, and the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network will take place Oct. 14-17 in Excelsior, Mo. The Rev. Nancy Copeland-Payton, author of "The Losses of Our Lives: The Sacred Gifts of Renewal in Everyday Loss," will be the keynote speaker. Details are in the brochure at "Joint Conference."

IRMS offers engaging format

A witty, engaging format reminiscent of Rocky and Bullwinkle, is used to reveal the real, unpolished and unexpected personalities of the old and new testaments in two new DVD resources from Iowa Religious Media Services. "Reform (Re:form) Ancestors Old Testament" and "Reform (Re:form) Ancestors New Testament" have teacher guides and "anti-work" books. The resources were developed for junior and senior high students, but they will also work for adults.

Blog offers "Twitter Chat" basics

Book notes 'dos, don'ts'

for attracting young people to church

The Sept. 2 issue of the Valley Bridge, the newsletter of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys, points to the work of Naomi Schaefer Riley, author of "Got Religion?' sharing some of her findings about religious institutions - churches, synagogues, mosques - that have succeeded in attracting young people. The newsletter directs readers to an article in Duke Divinity School's Faith and Leadership magazine that notes Riley "profiles seven religious institutions that have created new models for inviting young adults into lives of faith. Interestingly, she says, technology is not the answer." The complete article is at "Attracting the Young."

Grace Presbytery, Highland Park

Presbyterian Church settle lawsuit

Highland Park Presbyterian Church of Dallas will pay $7.8 million to Grace Presbytery in order to obtain both a release of its obligations under the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s trust clause and ecclesiastical dismissal from the denomination. The settlement agreement - which also includes an agreement between Highland Park and Grace Presbytery to send a joint letter to the members of Highland Park allowing them the opportunity to choose whether they wish to remain affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - will resolve the pending lawsuit between Grace Presbytery and Highland Park. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Settle Lawsuit." The pastor of Highland Park, the Rev. Bryan Dunagan, offered his remarks in a video posted this week at "Settlement."

Rada offers thoughtful answers

to biblical questions

Heath Rada, moderator of the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offers thoughtful answers this week to questions of biblical belief. He notes, "The query from the floor was, 'How does the PC(USA) believe it has the privilege of changing God's word to make it fit its own purposes? How do you get away with changing the wording of the Bible when it comes to marriage, which clearly states that marriage is between a man and a woman, to saying something else?' There was an air of distrust and a hint of anger in his voice when he asked me that question. He was seated near the back of the sanctuary where I was a guest answering questions. My answer? 'First of all, I want to thank you for coming tonight and caring enough about the church to ask your question. Your presence indicates you care, and that you are not closing others out who might think differently. Secondly, let me say that you are not the only member of the PC(USA) to ask those questions. Many others have wondered about it, and have entered into disciplined study about the matter. One person wrote to ask me why the committee dealing with same-gender marriage at General Assembly did not pray nor read the Bible. I assured her that they prayed and read the Bible with great care.'" Rada's complete column can be found at "Questions."

Current Presbyterians Today

issue addresses civil rights

In the current edition of Presbyterians Today magazine, Shaya Gregory Poku writes, "In the midmorning sticky heat of North Carolina, protestors brandish signs that read 'Stop Criminalizing Youth of Color,' 'Voter Suppression Is Unjust,' 'Student Power,' and, quoting Zechariah 7:10, 'Oppress not the widow, nor the orphan, the sojourner, nor the poor.' Led by the North Carolina chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the assembled are part of North Carolina's Moral Monday protests. Moral Mondays arose in 2013 in response to education reforms, cuts to social programs, and changes to voting laws that appear to target low-income families, people of color, women, seniors, and college students." The complete story can be found at "Justice Today."

Presbyterian Women's Justice,

Peace Committee issues letter

The chair of Presbyterian Women's Justice and Peace Committee issued a letter in a response to the violence in Ferguson, Mo., calling on herself to "be a change agent." Her letter appeared in an issue of Justice and Peace Notes which was published late last month. She writes, "As a mother, a woman of faith and an advocate for justice and peace I've had to reflect on the issues of "How did America get to this uncomfortable place? Are we as Americans that angry and full of hate? Does the life of a citizen have value regardless of race or socioeconomic status? What does it mean for a law enforcement officer to take an oath to protect citizens? ...  I will be challenging myself to discern what the Lord requires of me in order that I may be a change agent." Her complete letter is at "Justice and Peace."

Valentine's message writes

of racism in church, society

"In the wake of the violence, unrest, and national outcry following the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed, African American teenager, in Ferguson, Mo., let us continue to pray that we as a church would stand, speak, and be found on God's side as we name and confront the racism that persists in church and society," writes Linda Valentine, executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, in her Weekly Update. Her complete column, along with other information, "Violence, Unrest, Outcry."

Hunger figures show millions

of Americans have food insecurity

On Sept. 3 the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual report, "Household Food Security in the United States 2013," revealing 14.3 percent of U.S. households were food-insecure. This number is a slight decline since 2011, but remains well above the rates of food insecurity recorded before the recession. "Our elected officials need to make ending hunger a national priority," said the Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "It is unacceptable that 17.5 million households in this country must choose between paying for medicine, rent, day care, or food." The complete story from Bread for the World Communications can be found at "Hunger Figures."   

'Reverse Food Truck' collects

food rather than selling it