Presbyterian News Service

ACSWP and Foothills Presbytery hold conversations on church’s public witness

Teams from the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) and Foothills Presbytery in upstate South Carolina met Saturday, February 18 through Tuesday, February 21. The two groups gathered to discuss differences of opinion on how the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should make known its Christian social witness.

Comité de revisión de las seis agencias culmina su primera reunión

El Comité de Revisión de las Seis Agencias comisionado por la 222a Asamblea General (2016) de la Iglesia Presbiteriana (EE.UU.) se reunieron aquí esta semana para comenzar el proceso de discernimiento sobre sus metas y escuchar a los representantes de las seis agencias que conforman la denominación.

Presbyterians stand with Jewish community after cemetery vandalism, threats

Vandalism in two Jewish cemeteries in recent weeks has not only caused concern in the Jewish community, but also among interfaith partners working to confront religious-based violence. Members of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy in St. Louis and the Presbytery of Philadelphia have come alongside Jewish partners to offer support.

WJK launches first book in its new children’s program

Westminster John Knox Press (WJK) will release the first in a brand new line of children’s books this May. Who Counts? 100 Sheep, 10 Coins, and 2 Sons by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is a creative retelling of three popular Jesus parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son.

Martha H. Reisner named church consultant in Mid-Atlantic region

Martha H. Reisner has been named Church Consultant for The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), assigned to the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. She joins the Board from Capital Region Theological Center (CRTC), where she was Executive Director.

‘Hidden Figures’ heroine Katherine Johnson honored at Oscars

Although “Hidden Figures,” the film about three female African-American mathematicians who were integral to the early days of NASA’s space program, didn’t take home any trophies at last night’s Oscars awards, the Academy honored the film’s main character, Katherine Johnson, during the presentation for Best Documentary.

Service remembers Wyatt Outlaw, victim of 1870 lynching in N.C.

It happened in Graham, the seat of Alamance County, on February 26, 1870. A racially charged crowd hung Wyatt Outlaw from a tree until his last breath. None of the hooded men involved in the lynching of the former slave, who was then serving on the Graham Town Commission, would ever serve prison time.

Six Agency Review Committee concludes its first meeting

The Six Agency Review Committee commissioned by the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) met here this week to begin the process of discerning their goals and hear from representatives of the six agencies that comprise the denomination.

Finding spiritual values in Oscar’s ‘Best Pictures’

Each year the Academy for Motion Pictures and Sciences nominates five to ten films for the “Best Picture” category. I wish that it were a full ten this year, with the addition of Martin Scorcese’s haunting Silence rounding out the number.