Moving on to the next group of headlines, here are a few things that caught my attention.
A good chunk of Church of Scotland news in this period including the following:
An honorary degree from Glasgow University for a former Moderator
Honorary degree for former Moderator Lorna Hood – from The Scotsman
A challenge from the Moderator and questions about trying to grow the Kirk, including connecting online
Moderator hopes 100,000 people click with Kirk – from The Scotsman
Doubts over whether new stance on gay clergy could revive Kirk membership – from The Press and Journal
Church of Scotland: Will online outreach help ailing attendance figures? – from Christian Today
Moderator calls for Church to redefine membership in digital age – from Church of Scotland
The launch of the Scottish Leaders Welfare Group that includes the Church of Scotland. And for a bit of context, the issue of poverty was an important one in the Indy Ref campaign as well as the ongoing work of the Kirk, which will be regularly mentioned in these headlines posts.
Church and union leaders unite in bid to end cruel austerity measures in Scotland – from Daily Record
And in worship news
New Gaelic hymn book launched – Hebrides News; compiled by a church in Skye with new and classic hymns; the continued use of Gaelic in worship is a major factor in maintaining the language
The issue of religious conscience in a commercial setting and same-sex marriage has become a hot topic in the U.S. but there is similar controversy about it elsewhere, in this case Northern Ireland, and the local presbytery sides with the baker after Equality Commission ruled against them:
Presbytery backs Ashers in legal row – from Ballymena Times
And similarly, dwindling congregations can be found the world over as well, in this case a church in Andersons Bay, New Zealand
Historic church’s future in doubt – Otago Daily Times
At the annual conference of the Mizoram Synod in that province of India:
Mizoram Synod turns down proposal to ordain women theologians – from Business Standard
From the U.S., one of the more unique stories of the time period…
Shurat Hadin charges US Presbyterian Church with having ties to Hezbollah: Israeli NGO says tax-free status should be revoked. – from The Jerusalem Post
Water projects built by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana
Presby[terian] Moderator commissions water projects for Northern and Upper presbyteries – from ModernGhana
Upper Presbytery Commission Water Project at the Cost of GHc 100,000 – from MyGhanaOnline
Buildings, buildings and more buildings…
W. Lebanon Church Has New Owner – from Valley News; former Seventh Day Adventist building bought by Providence Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Old Sutersville church may yet survive – from Trib Live; former Presbyterian Church building, believed oldest structure in borough, saved from wrecking ball for now.
Insurance costs could shut Inverness’ Old High Church – from BBC News
For Neighbors, Construction On Kansas City Church Is Good News – from Kansas City Public Media; update on a previously mentioned redevelopment project by the presbytery
First Look: Downtown church’s $17.7M transformation into a community center – from Columbus Business First
These Philadelphians Want to Get Closer to Their Neighbors – from Next City; a church being converted into a cohousing development
That’s it for now. Moving on to the next topic.