Freedom Rising, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) initiative “to address and improve the worsening plight of the African-American male,” has received gifts totaling $78,461 from a Pittsburgh-based charitable foundation, two mid-councils and an offering collected at a Presbyterian collegiate conference.
At its fall meeting, the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board (PMAB) voted to recommend the 223rd General Assembly (2018) approve the Institutional Relationship Agreement between the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its Historically Presbyterian Racial Ethnic Institutions.
In 2016, Americans left $3.76 billion to non-profits in their estates. Churches can be beneficiaries of this generosity but it takes a good plan and a strong message to spur those gifts, says Karl Mattison, Vice President of Planned Giving Resources for the Presbyterian Foundation.
Two representatives of the Mexican Communion of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches (CMIRP) met with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) World Mission staff in Louisville last week to explore the possibility of engaging in mission together.
It was partly cloudy and windy on Monday, as Be’sha Blondin, with the Yellowknife Tribe, led a “Fire and Water” ceremony along the river banks at Celilo Park. Joined by attendees of the Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) Conference, Be’sha sang to the east, west, north and south and along with the rest of the group, poured water and placed a piece of tobacco into the river.
Presbyterian mission co-workers Jeff and Christi Boyd developed a floor and board game several years ago to help U.S. Presbyterians appreciate the joint efforts of students, parents, communities and churches to improve education in Africa. The game also prompts players to ponder the plight of African children.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation approved the recommendation of the Finance Committee to make changes to The Joan Fong New Church Development (NCD) Capital Grant and that the necessary changes be made to the Policies and Guidelines of the General Assembly Church Loan Program Endowment Funds to reflect those approved by the A Corporation.
The Rev. Edwin González-Castillo, Stated Clerk of the San Juan Presbytery in Puerto Rico, says the biggest challenge he is facing in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria is communications. Attempting to reach and coordinate relief efforts across the island has been hampered by downed communication lines outside of San Juan, infrastructure damage due to flooding and ongoing concerns about fuel shortages.
Non-profits are doing a better job than most churches of compelling people to support their work, says Adam Copeland, a noted stewardship expert. He believes churches need to work harder at telling the stories of their work and the ways the church impacts lives, and ensure church members make the spiritual connection to giving.
Clear blue skies were on display during the opening day of the Presbyterians for Earth Care Conference at Menucha Retreat and Conference Center near Portland, Oregon. Just two weeks ago, organizers were concerned that the smoke and flames from a season of wildfires would force them to find a new location.
