Amanda Craft, a global mission professional in the PCUSA has been tapped as the new manager for advocacy in the Office of Immigration issues. Her duties will include development and expansion of Presbyterians for Just Immigration and a campaign to help mobilize churches to affirm civil and human rights in the immigration debate. I have always maintained that while a country has a right to set its immigration policy, it should do so in a way that maintains human rights, and that is consistent with our nation's history of immigration. The stated clerk of the GA went on to say that the church remains committed to helping the PCUSA not only welcome the stranger, but also rediscover its identity as a church of the stranger. You can read the full article at the PCUSA website below.
A new movie called "Hidden Figures" about a female African-American mathematician that helped NASA during the space race is a story about Katherine G Johnson, a longtime Presbyterian. Johnson, a member of Carver Memorial Presbyterian church in Newport News, Va, for over 50 years, is featured in the movie about breaking barriers in math and science.
An emerging Catholic-Muslim dialogue is trying to show public support for Islamic communities in the United States. The U.S. bishops have expressed concern over the uptick in violence against Muslim-Americans. The regional dialogues have been effective in creating better understanding between Muslims and Catholics, it has also been a way for Muslims to express their concerns especially with the incoming administration of a new president-elect talk about monitoring Muslim Americans and limiting entry of visitors from abroad.
An emerging Catholic-Muslim dialogue is trying to show public support for Islamic communities in the United States. The U.S. bishops have expressed concern over the uptick in violence against Muslim-Americans. The regional dialogues have been effective in creating better understanding between Muslims and Catholics, it has also been a way for Muslims to express their concerns especially with the incoming administration of a new president-elect talk about monitoring Muslim Americans and limiting entry of visitors from abroad.
An ELCA seminary recently returned an ancient biblical manuscript called Codes 1424 taken in 1917 from a Monastery in Greece to the Greek Orthodox Church. This action in returning the 9th century New Testament manuscript was done as an expression of partnership between the two Christian denominations. Read more in the link below.
The Pope uses the phrase "temper reformanda!" Pope Francis said about the church and reform, "is first and foremost a sign of life of a church that advances on her pilgrim way, of a church that is living and for this reason semper reformanda, in need of reform because she is alive." The Second Vatican Council expressed that "Christ summons the church to continual reformation as she sojourns here on earth. The church is always in need of this, in so far as she is an institution of men here on earth." This year is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and it is a good time to reflect on the events that tore Christianity in many pieces. While many important emphasis brought about renewal in church theology and practice, it also caused religious wars, suffering, persecution, deaths and so much more pain. It is important to commemorate both the good and the bad that bought about the reformation, learn from past mistakes, but also remember that we called to continue to reform the church to speak to a new millennium.
It is easy to see that as we go into the new year there are many challenges that face us. But the mission of the church is the same, to extend the radical consequences of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the body of Christ, we are united together, race, gender, sexual identity, social class no longer matter. We are sisters and brothers in Christ. Furthermore, we are called to be peacemakers and extend mercy and grace to those around us. The church will continue to face many challenges especially in relating to other Christians, (Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants) as well as other religions. But we should recommit ourselves to the task knowing that it is possible to create a better and more peaceful world, and not radicalism and extremism win the day.
The Pope uses the phrase "temper reformanda!" Pope Francis said about the church and reform, "is first and foremost a sign of life of a church that advances on her pilgrim way, of a church that is living and for this reason semper reformanda, in need of reform because she is alive." The Second Vatican Council expressed that "Christ summons the church to continual reformation as she sojourns here on earth. The church is always in need of this, in so far as she is an institution of men here on earth." This year is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and it is a good time to reflect on the events that tore Christianity in many pieces. While many important emphasis brought about renewal in church theology and practice, it also caused religious wars, suffering, persecution, deaths and so much more pain. It is important to commemorate both the good and the bad that bought about the reformation, learn from past mistakes, but also remember that we called to continue to reform the church to speak to a new millennium.
It is easy to see that as we go into the new year there are many challenges that face us. But the mission of the church is the same, to extend the radical consequences of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the body of Christ, we are united together, race, gender, sexual identity, social class no longer matter. We are sisters and brothers in Christ. Furthermore, we are called to be peacemakers and extend mercy and grace to those around us. The church will continue to face many challenges especially in relating to other Christians, (Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants) as well as other religions. But we should recommit ourselves to the task knowing that it is possible to create a better and more peaceful world, and not radicalism and extremism win the day.
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