Two major initiatives from Compassion, Peace & Justice (CPJ) ministries took significant steps forward Friday during the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board (PMAB) winter meeting and will be up for approval by General Assembly 224, June 20 to 27.
The Rev. Frank Clark Spencer, president of the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has been granted a travel leave for March 11-May 8, 2020, announced the Rev. Dr. Fairfax F. Fair, chair of the agency’s Board of Directors.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) took a step Thursday that could eventually lead to divestment from a trio of oil and gas companies for environmental and climate change-related reasons — if General Assembly commissioners agree this summer.
Important protections for retirement and health benefits plans operated by churches, religious institutions, and affiliated organizations were included in the federal spending packages signed into law Dec. 20, 2019.
Last summer, the Rev. Dr. José Irizarry took a mission trip to Puerto Rico with 10 teenagers from his church. They knew he’d been a university professor and administrator, and on a break from repairing houses, they circled him, wanting how-tos on college life. Irizarry describes the trip as “part work, part worship and part listening.”
“I believe the church extends far beyond the congregation or building,” said the Rev. Mary Sellers Shaw. “I am called to build community both inside and outside the church.”
A majority of pastors of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations feel financially secure, but those who are paid less are less satisfied, results of a 2013 survey of PC(USA) pastors showed.
With a market value of $9.6 billion, the Board of Pensions’ Balanced Investment Portfolio returned 10.3 percent during the first eight months of 2019, more than 4 percent over the long-term investment return assumption of 3, 10 and 20 years.
Last summer, the Rev. Dr. José Irizarry took a mission trip to Puerto Rico with 10 teenagers from his church. They knew he’d been a university professor and administrator, and on a break from repairing houses, they circled him, wanting how-tos on college life. Irizarry describes the trip as “part work, part worship and part listening.”
A complete revamping of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s two main websites as they merge into one site, at http://www.pcusa.org, will take about two years and will come about only with significant input from the Presbyterians who use them.
