Growing up in South Africa, Bobby Musengwa couldn’t imagine coming to America to attend seminary. But it was his uncle’s friendship with Heath Rada, who later served as moderator of the 221st General Assembly (2014), that brought this possibility to light for him — and the mentoring community of professors, pastors, family and friends reinforced Musengwa’s call.
There was something that felt perfectly right about the celebration of life of the Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon at Bethpage United Presbyterian Church on Aug. 14 in Concord, North Carolina. First, there was the community that gathered. It was like a reunion of reunions for African-American Presbyterians and many others. We gathered, greeted each other, sang, praised God, read Scripture, remembered, celebrated and renewed our faith, even at a time of death of a beloved sister, aunt, friend and educator.
In armed conflicts around the world, the combatants include tens of thousands of children who were conscripted to serve against their will. They are snatched away from their childhood innocence and from the nurture and comfort of their families.
The vision for the SoulFood Greenhouse at NorthPark Presbyterian Church in Dallas grew from the roots of its predecessor, the SoulPatch organic vegetable garden, which was planted on the church grounds by the Visions Sunday School class in the spring of 2011.
When a psychological help “hotline” was started at Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana-Reformada de la Habana (First Presbyterian-Reformed Church of Havana) in 1995, there were virtually no telephones in Cuba, “so we had to adapt,” said Martha Rodriguez, one of two psychologists who run the unique counseling service.
Members of an Atlanta congregation are continuing to honor the legacy of a longtime member who played key roles in the church and society.
Charles F. Easley Sr., vice moderator of the 215th General Assembly (2003) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), died May 23. Services were held June 2 — just before the 223rd General Assembly — at Radcliffe Presbyterian Church, where he was a member for more than 50 years. He was 82.
Despite being part of the same church family, Hazel Pflugmacher and Jaquette Easterlin never met.
“I’ve heard a lot about her,” Easterlin said. “She was a big part of creating a place where I could go and be loved on.”
With the fall kickoff to the church program year fresh in mind, my thoughts keep coming back to the Protestant idea of the priesthood of all believers. This doctrine teaches that because of Jesus Christ, there is no need for someone to act as a mediator between the people and God. Everyone is just as spiritual, just as capable of speaking to God, and just as called to deliver God’s message to the world. Everyone is equally called to do God’s work and to minister to God’s people.
The history of organizing Latino Hispanic Presbyterian Women dates to the 1930s, when small groups of women gathered in their churches to discuss women’s issues and help with the work of the church. Over the years, this work broadened, and the groups joined other groups of women in presbyteries and started to work with groups of women at the synod level.
Faith-based organizations have been at the forefront of calls to accelerate HIV testing and treatment for children and adolescents. As gaps in infection and treatment between adults and children have become more apparent, there are now efforts to “super fast-track” services for children. But will they be enough?
