In addition to my earlier posts on the approval by the presbyteries of the act concerning partnered same-gender clergy in the Church of Scotland and the various Christmas messages, here are a few items that caught my attention at the end of the year:
There was a crash of a bin lorry (garbage truck) into a group of Christmas shoppers in Glasgow just before Christmas resulting in six fatalities and numerous injuries. The Church of Scotland was a major responder and these articles talk about that pastoral care and remembrance as well as having quotes from the Moderator of the General Assembly and the Moderator of Glasgow Presbytery.
Glasgow bin lorry crash: Church leader tries to comfort grieving families – from The Guardian
Glasgow bin lorry crash: Memorial service for dead and hurt – from Glasgow Churches Together
Kirk moderator warns there are “no trite answers” to George Square tragedy – from Herald Scotland
Also from the Scotland, the Kirk is one of a group of churches forming a credit union to promote fair financial practices. The new endeavour received government approval.
Church’s flagship credit union is ready to launch – from Church Times
The AirAsia jet that crashed in the ocean off southeast Asia carried a family from the Yeosu First Presbyterian Church
Missing AirAsia Jet Carried A Young Family Of Korean Christian Missionaries – from Huffington Post (an excerpt from a WSJ subscription article)
In Ghana, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church had some critical words for the country’s leadership
Ghana Needs A Visionary Leader – Presby Moderator – from Daily Guide
The Louisville Institute at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary received a major grant from the Lilly Endowment for work with Native American pastoral leaders:
Seminary institute awarded $2.5 million grant – from The Courier-Journal
Professor Kevin J. Vanhoozer of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School won the 2014 Christianity Today Book Award in the theology/ethics category with his book “Faith Speaking Understanding: Performing the Drama of Doctrine.” Dr. Vanhoozer has served on the Panel of Doctrine for the Church of Scotland and the book was published by the PC(USA)’s publishing arm Westminster John Knox Press.
Trinity’s Vanhoozer wins 2015 Christianity Today book award – from Chicago Tribune
And in the category of stories that have taken on a life of their own, two that the press have managed to exaggerate or just get wrong. The first is a report that the Church of Scotland was evaluating its meeting space and while finding someplace else is a possibility it is not as much a probability as this story makes it seem…
Church plans exodus from historic Edinburgh home – from The Scotsman
And from the PC(USA) an erroneous headline about a piece of business supposedly taken up at the last GA…
Presbyterian Church USA Voted on Erasing “Israel” from Prayers – from Breaking Israel News
As Romania marks the 25th anniversary of its revolution, a brief tribute to the Reformed pastor who started it:
The Pastor Who Brought Down a Dictator – from The Daily Signal
And another anniversary, the 10th of the Great Sumatran Earthquake and the recollectons of a minister who was working in Sri Lanka:
Kirk minister recalls tsunami horror 10 years on – The Scotsman
Finally, numerous commemorations were held of the centennial of the World War I Christmas Truce:
Kings Presbyterian will mark First World War Christmas truce with special service – from Nova News Now (Canada)
Ballyclare match to recreate Christmas truce in Great War trenches – from Belfast News Letter (Ireland)
Christmas truce football statue unveiled in Liverpool – from BBC News