The 2008 Peacemaking Colloquium at Stony Point Center with the theme of “Gun Violence and Gospel Values,” is planned September 15-17 at Stony Point Center, 35 miles north of New York City. 

(PNS) Twelve new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission appointees recently completed orientation and have begun their international assignments.

Synod of Lakes and Prairies Communications Director

 EAGAN, MINN.  — (PNS) The Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies on Aug. 12 dismissed a remedial case filed against the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area that sought to nullify the presbytery’s Jan. 26 action to restore Paul Capetz, an openly gay man, to the exercise of ordained ministry.

(ENI)--Barack Obama articulated his Christian faith thus dispelling rumors he is a Muslim. John McCain demonstrated an ability to electrify evangelical Christians. And Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren proved Americans can discuss religion and politics without the bitterness, rancor and polarization that characterized the 2004 U.S. election.

This is what people from the Gulf Coast tell Linda Gebetsberger, a pastor from Oregon, every time she heads home. “Let them know that we still need help.”

LOUISVILLE — Four top leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have sent a letter to all of the denomination’s congregations asking them to pray for those affected by the shootings in a Knoxville, Tenn., church on July 27.

“It is not about getting the world into the church, it is about getting the church into the world,” said Rob Weingartner to the closing session of the third annual PGF Inside Out Conference that concluded Saturday (August 16.) Throughout the three-day conference in Long Beach, California, that sentiment was intertwined with a question explored in the Friday night session, “Can We Be Faithful in the PC(USA)?”

The Presbyterian Global Fellowship’s third annual conference, “Inside Out,” began in Long Beach, California on Thursday evening.  While a praise band filled the room with U2’s “Beautiful Day,” close to 1000 conference attendees from 34 states and 4 continents filed into the event’s opening session.

After half an hour of praise and worship music led by the Bel Air Praise Band, PGF Executive Director Kelly Kannwisher welcomed the attendees to the conference. 

LOUISVILLE — As the conflict in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia continues, Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has joined with Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, general secretary of the Reformed Church in America (RCA), in sending a letter of concern and solidarity to church partners in Georgia and Russia.

LOUISVILLE — Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is supporting humanitarian relief efforts to help refugees and those displaced by fighting in the embattled former Soviet republic of Georgia.

LOUISVILLE — Janet Edwards, a Presbyterian minister in Pittsburgh, is headed back to church court later this year for conducting a marriage ceremony for two women even though charges against her for performing the nuptials were dismissed in 2006.

LOUISVILLE — (PNS) The Form of Government Task Force (FOGTF), expanded in size and loaded with comments from this year’s General Assembly, is scheduled to meet for the first time since the 218th General Assembly adjourned in June to begin revising the original task force’s report.