acswp Archives

Won’t you be an ‘honest patriot’ this Fourth of July?

Posted July 3rd, 2018

Yes, the title is a tribute to the documentary on Fred Rogers currently in theatres, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” For about 40 years, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was featured on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations as a children’s — but really families’ — afterschool program.

What the General Assembly may say about St. Louis

Posted June 12th, 2018

The city of St. Louis is the historic centerpiece of a highly accomplished cultural and economic region. At the same time, like most of the United States, it is divided along lines of race and class. How do Presbyterian congregations minister and do mission faithfully in light of these realities? What can our larger church learn from our sisters and brothers in St. Louis?

PC(USA) corporate entity recommendations debated for second day

Posted April 9th, 2018

Groups with competing proposals for reforming the corporate structure of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), known as the “A Corp.”, gathered for the second day of discussion on the content and intent of the proposals leading up to General Assembly 223 in St. Louis this summer.

PC(USA) leaders react to President Trump’s newest stance on gun violence legislation

Posted March 2nd, 2018

Social witness advocates within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are hoping recent statements by President Donald Trump will result in a move toward more aggressive gun safety laws.

Unbound publishes first issue after six-month hiatus

Posted September 26th, 2017

After a brief hiatus, Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice, published its first edition since the hire of new managing editor Henry Koenig Stone. The current installment: Defending the Common Good, covers diverse issues such as defending truth in media, sanctuary churches, human trafficking, an ecumenical call to good ecological stewardship, and the role of faith communities in resisting white supremacy.

Making church campuses more accessible

Posted June 21st, 2017

Congregations wishing to make their facilities more accessible and inclusive of people living with disabilities have a new option for funding enhancements to their campuses: the Accessibility Loan from the Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program (PILP).

Managing editor hired for Christian social justice journal, Unbound

Posted May 26th, 2017

Unbound, the online social justice journal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is getting a new editor. Henry Koenig Stone has been selected to helm the award-winning journal, sponsored by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP).

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

Posted March 2nd, 2017

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.

Urban Ministry Network meeting renews call for ‘urban vision’

Posted November 1st, 2016

PC(USA) group seeks to serve pastors in urban contexts by Chris Iosso | Special to Presbyterian News Service ST. LOUIS – The Urban Ministry Network of the Presbyterian Church… Read more »

Presbyterians affirm Department of Justice decision to end use of private prisons

Posted August 25th, 2016

The Justice Department’s recent decision to end the use of private prisons is welcome news to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which has argued against the use of these facilities for more than a dozen years. The department made the announcement after concluding private prisons were not as safe or effective as those run by the government.