Having gotten behind on news headlines I am just going to push the reset button and post a current one. And yes, a bunch of other stuff is sitting as drafts or in research right now.
There was a lot of news the in this time period so here are some headlines on select topics from the second half of June. (Not counting some GA stuff I plan to post on separately.)
In a still developing situation, two Presbyterian pastors from South Sudan have gone on trial in Sudan for preaching there (including some more recent information):
In Sudan: Imprisoned pastors facing possible death penalty barred from seeing families, lawyers – from Pulse Nigeria
Are Christians in Sudan facing persecution? – from BBC News
Sudan: South Sudanese Priests Defend Themselves During Trial Session – from allAfrica
PCUSA Writes to President Obama with Concern Regarding Imprisoned Sudanese Pastors – from Christianity Daily
The shootings and grieving at and for Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston had some Presbyterian connections:
‘All Shall Be Well’: Hear the Touching Voicemail from Charleston Massacre Victim Sharonda Coleman-Singleton – from People (and a bit more from the Presbytery of Los Ranchos)
Denmark Vesey and Clementa Pinckney – from Cheraw Chronical; The freed slave Denmark Vesey who founded Emmanuel AME was before that a member of Second Presbyterian Church next door
Salisbury native leads vigil in Charleston after mass shooting – from Salisbury Post; And while Emmanuel AME was closed Second Presbyterian next door provided space for prayer services
Cynthia Hurd funeral delivers a message of hope and mark on history – from The Charlotte Observer; Second Presbyterian also providing overflow seating for funerals
Delaware Pastor Writes Hymn for Charleston Victims ‘They Met to Read the Bible;’ Song Goes Global – from The Christian Post
A terrorist attack in Tunisia took 38 lives, most of them tourists from Britain on holiday. It included two from Scotland praised for their faith and work in the Church of Scotland. Their funeral was just held.
Tunisia attack: Prayers at Cumbernauld church for couple – from BBC News
Tributes paid to Scottish Christian couple killed in Tunisia terrorist attack – from Christian Today
Tunisia beach attack: funeral held in Scotland for Jim and Anne McGuire – from The Guardian
Digging back a little bit, in the various meetings this spring a number of Reformed branches have voted to become more inclusive, with some reactions from more traditional denominations:
French Protestant church allows gay marriage blessing – from Reuters UK
Largest Protestant denomination in Belgium allows gay and lesbian clergy – from Gay Star News; “The Synod of the United Protestant Church of Belgium has voted to decide that being gay should not be a barrier to being a minister in the church which already performs blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.”
Russian Church severs ties with Scotland & France churches; warns a blessing of LGBT clergy paves the way for the Antichrist – from Christian Examiner
And looking at it more broadly:
Free Presbyterians slam supporters of ‘yes’ vote – from Portadown Times; a reaction to the Ireland referendum
Minister faces Presbytery probe over same-sex views – from Portadown Times; the only Presbyterian Church in Ireland minister to openly support the “Yes” vote was examined over her beliefs
How humanists changed Scottish marriage – from BBC News; “The first humanist wedding in Scotland took place exactly 10 years ago. Over the past decade the number of ceremonies conducted by humanist celebrants has grown massively, already overtaking Catholic weddings and threatening to replace Church of Scotland as the most popular belief service.”
A publicity campaign by the Church of Scotland to recruit new, and younger, ministers appears to be working:
Church of Scotland hails recruitment drive success – from The Scotsman
And in Zimbabwe, the Health Minister thanks the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland for working with the local residents to build a clinic, but more are needed:
Health Minister Says More Clinics Needed in Nkayi – from Voice of America Zimbabwe
From the PC(USA)
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) missions chief resigns – from WDRB; Linda Valentine steps down as executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency
A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court goes in favor of a small Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and its temporary signage in Gilbert, Arizona:
Supreme Court rules for church in case against Arizona town’s sign law – from The Washington Post
In the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) a battle over property between the Livingstonia Synod and a break-away church as well as a dispute involving an out-spoken cleric in Blantyre Synod.
CCAP Controversies Rage On: Livingstonia battle and Blantyre Synod Infighting – from Nyasa Times
High-profile PCA pastor, TE Tullian Tchividjian, resigns admitting infidelity
Renowned South Florida pastor steps down amid marital affair – from Local 10
After affair leads to pastor’s exit, Coral Ridge worshippers urged to keep the faith – from The Sun Sentinel
A proud adherent, if not member, of the PC(USA) declares his candidacy for President of the United States. Worth noting that his church, First Presbyterian of Jamaica, Queens, is the oldest continually serving Presbyterian church in the U.S.
5 faith facts about Donald Trump: a Presbyterian who collects Bibles – from Religion News Service
Donald Trump Is A Proud Presbyterian – from World Religion News
And finally, it may not be continuously serving, but a neighbor of First Presbyterian, Jamaica, was founded a bit earlier and is celebrating a milestone anniversary.
First Presbyterian Church of Southold to Celebrate 375th Year Anniversary – from Long Island Exchange