Shift on Same-Sex Marriage by Largest Presbyterian Denomination

The Presbyterian Church, USA, has voted to allow clergy to perform same-sex marriages. The vote of 371-238 took place at the group's annual meeting in Detroit. The decision by the General Assembly now goes to the regional presbyteries. The amendment will need a majority of the 172 presbyteries to go into effect.

Hymnal Controversy

Editors of a forthcoming Presbyterian, USA hymnal have decided to not include the popular Christian song In Christ Alone by a 9-6 vote. They asked writers Keith Getty and Stuart Townend to change Till on that cross as Jesus died/the wrath of God was satisfied to as Jesus died/the love of God was magnified. The decision by the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song has drawn fire from Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore and Samford University's Timothy George, who leads the school's divinity school. They suggested a liberal theological bent is causing the editors to avoid references to God's wrath. George wrote a post about it (which you can read here) titled "No Squishy Love." He asked, "Why do many Christians shrink from any thought of the wrath of God"

However, the committee chair, Mary Louise Bringle of Brevard College, indicated the committee was concern focused on the word satisfied because it is a reference to a specific theology promoted by medieval theologian Anselm. She writes about the controversy in the Christian Century magazine here and says the committee decided to reject "the view of Anselm and Calvin, among others, that God’s honor was violated by human sin and that God’s justice could only be satisfied by the atoning death of a sinless victim." The Glory to God hymnal is due out in a few months.

Fuller Seminary announces new President

Fuller Theological Seminary has a man at the helm. Mark Labberton takes over as president beginning July first. Richard Mouw is retiring from the position at the largest Evangelical Christian seminary in the world. Labberton graduated from Fuller’s Master of Divinity program and spent a quarter of a century pastoring in Presbyterian churches. Fuller is located in Pasadena, California,

Megachurch could leave PCUSA

The First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs will vote Sunday on whether to part ways with the the Presbyterian Church, USA. The 4000 member congregation may bolt for the more conservative Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians. The main source of contention is the definition of marriage. Regional bodies of the denomination allow the ordination of gay clergy who are part of committed relationships. Church leaders are considering a proposal to allow ministers to officiate at same-sex weddings.

Gay Clergy Decision

The Presbyterian Church, USA is dropping its ban on gay clergy. The measure takes effect July 10 and allows each congregation to decide whether to ordain pastors in same-sex relationships. Similar amendments to the denomination's constitutional were rejected three times since 1997.

Minister Cleared of Charges

The highest court of the Presbyterian Church, USA has cleared a minister who married two lesbians. A lower court ruled that Jean Southard violated the denomination's constitution, but the newest ruling overturns that decision. The church constitution says, "marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man."

Getting to Know.. Tullian Tchividjian

William Graham Tullian Tchividjian, the 37-year-old grandson of evangelist Billy Graham will took the pulpit of the late D. James Kennedy at Fort Lauderdale's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church one year ago. Here’s some background on Tchividjian:

• Tchividjian is pronounced chi-VID-gen
• Friends call him Tullian
• Described as “energetic and easygoing”
• Born July 13, 1972, grew up in Coral Springs
• His parents kicked him out of the house at 16 for promiscuity, drinking and drugs
• Attended Westminster Academy
• Studied philosophy at South Carolina's Columbia International
• Attended Orlando’s Reformed Theological Seminary
• Server three years as assistant pastor at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville
• Formally pastor at Margate, Florida’s New City Church
• He founded New City 5 ½ years ago
• Does not oversee the radio, television and print media arm of the church or Westminster Academy and Knox Theological Seminary
• Says he will stay away from politics though he’s a registered Republican

Minister Censured

A Presbyterian, USA court has found a retired minister guilty of violating the denomination's constitution and her vows by officiating at more than a dozen same-sex marriages. At the church trial of Jane Adams Spahr, a panel found voted 4-2 to censure her. They also voted 6-0 that the lesbian's actions did not disrupt the "peace, unity and purity of the church" and praised her ministry to gays and lesbians.

PCUSA to Consider Same-Sex Marriage - Again

A Presbyterian Church, USA committee is recommending the denomination allow same-sex marriage. Another committee wants the church begin ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians. The church's week-long legislative General Assembly is taking place in Minneapolis where delegates will take up discussion of the recommendations. The committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues voted 34-18 in favor of changing the definition of marriage from a covenant between "a man and a woman" to a covenant between "two people." The regional presbyteries have repeatedly rejected gay-ordination proposals, though the denomination has allowed Presbyterian ministers and churches to bless same-sex relationships since 2000.

Clergy Glut

There are more than 600,000 ministers in the but only 338,000 churches in the US, according to the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. For instance, there are four Presbyterian ministers looking for work for every job that's available. At the same time, there are 300 churches that are members of the Tennessee Baptist Convention without a pastor. The average church has only 75 members, so many congregations cannot afford a full-time pastor. The Association of Theological Schools says seminary enrollment is down more than six percent in the last five years, so the number of pastors without churches is likely to fall over the next few years.

PCUSA Cutbacks

The Presbyterian Church, USA has cut 49 positions at its headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. The denomination's governing board has agreed to cut the budget from this year's total of $93.8 million to just $82 million for 2011 and $80 million for 2012. The denomination has struggled with the issue of ordaining clergy in same-gender relationships.

College Firings on Hold

A judge has issued a temporary injunction stopping the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church from removing 14 Erskine College board members. Three of the trustees filed suit against the church. Students at the South Carolina school have complained that professors are promoting nonChristian views in the classrooms.

Supposed to Be in Haiti

Memphis-area church group misses earthquake by one day. WREG-TV reports.

Breakaway Churches

Three California congregations in the Presbyterian Church, USA are leaving the denomination. The three are:

• Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clovis
• First Presbyterian Church in Fresno
• Fowler Presbyterian Church

Each breakaway church has joined the more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church based in Michigan. The congregations will keep their church properties.

Fake Check in Offering

Police are looking for a Pittsburgh-area woman who put a fake check in the offering at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday that came from a stolen checkbook. She also stole a member’s wallet, using it to buy items from a New Brighton store.

Petitions to Oust Pastor

Petitions calling for the ouster of a megachurch pastor have been turned in to the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Some members want to get ride of new pastor Tullian Tchividjian and they want to put the issue before the congregation. The church is part of the Presbyterian Church in America. Denominational laws require a congregational meeting on the issue within one month of such a petition.

Meanwhile, church leaders are moving forward with a disciplinary process that could lead to the excommunicate of the six decedent leaders. Among them, the daughter of D James Kennedy who founded the church.

Stay Away from Church

A group of dissenters at a Florida megachurch have agreed to stay away. Six members of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, including the daughter of D James Kennedy who founded the church have been banned from activities by the current pastor, Tullian Tchividjian. They believe he’s moving the direction in a direction that Kennedy would not have approved. Executive director Scott Spell has resigned over the controversy. He worked with Tchividjian at his former church. An attempt at reconciliation is planned and although the group that objects to the new leadership has agreed to stay away from the church for the time being, they do not agree with the decision. What is it they find so offensive that's new at the church? Longer sermons, new methods of evangelism, dropping minister’s robes and contemporary music.

D. James Kennedy's Daughter Banned From Church

Six members of a Florida megachurch have been thrown out. That includes the daughter of the man who founded Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, D. James Kennedy. After Kennedy passed away last fall, the Fort Lauderdale church got a new pastor: Tullian Tchividjian, the grandson of evangelist Billy Graham. The people banned from church functions are trying to get him fired. Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy has been ordered to stay off church property and out of church programs. She and others have circulated a petition. Among other things, they object to his appointment of some of his own people on the church staff, of changing the church’s worship style and selling church land to make up for budget shortfalls. At a recent church meeting, Tchividjian denied any budget shortfall and told the congregation that only about a dozen of the 70 or so staffers come from his former church.

Gay Clergy Voted Down

The Presbyterian Church, USA has turned aside efforts to allow gay clergy – but the margin is getting narrower. Two church districts (or presbyteries) voted against the plan yesterday which ensures the proposal will be defeated. It passed the denomination’s General Assembly last summer but still needed the approval of of the nation's 173 presbyteries. The margin of rejection was smaller than a similar earlier measure.

Lesbian Ordination Stopped

A setback for gay rights supports in the Presbyterian Church, USA. The denomination has stopped the application for ordination of a lesbian deacon. The San Francisco presbytery had given Lisa Larges the green light. But a church commission overturned the decision. Larges has been turned down twice already because she is a lesbian.