Denomination

A theologically conservative Presbyterian group held an event Monday in Pittsburgh to help equip churches that are considering separation from the mainline Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The New Wineskins Association of Churches, the group that sponsored the event, hopes to have churches return to a “historic orthodox faith.”

“Many churches are asking questions, both theological and civil, in their process of discerning where God is leading them to serve the Kingdom. We decided to hold an event because no one else was stepping forward to address these hard questions,” said Eric Amundson, pastor and board member for the NWAC, in an interview with The Christian Post. more >>

Perhaps hungry to assimilate into American culture, more second and third generation Hispanics raised as Catholics are finding the worship style of evangelical churches in the U.S. more to their liking and leaving the centuries old religion.

Although the trend has been reported in the past, a recent National Public Radio (NPR) article points to the shift led by young Latinos as the major reason for the increasing numbers of U.S. Hispanics leaving the Catholic church.

Even more specifically, a movement toward Pentecostal churches may be where the influx of Hispanics from the Catholic faith is seen most, according to NPR. more >>

A Sacramento, Calif., congregation voted Sunday to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), months after the denomination removed its ban on openly gay clergy.

Fremont Presbyterian Church members approved a measure to seek dismissal from the PC(USA), 427 to 164, according to The Sacramento Bee. The church plans to join the smaller and more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

It was in May of this year when a majority of the PC(USA)'s 173 presbyteries chose to do away with the denomination's requirement for clergy to live “in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.” more >>

Dr. Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, is not backing down from his controversial statement that Mormonism is a “cult.” In a phone interview Tuesday with The Christian Post from his office in Dallas, Jeffress clarified and expanded on his theological examination of Mormonism and what qualities are important for Christians to consider when selecting candidates for elected office.

Jeffress came under intense fire since last Friday for saying Mormonism is a theological “cult” while talking to reporters at the Values Voter Summit that attracted all the major Republican presidential candidates and over 3,000 conservative voters. He told reporters that while he thought former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was a good and moral family man, he is not a born-again follower of Jesus Christ and that Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is a professed Christian, would be a better GOP nominee.

The following are excerpts from the interview: more >>

Scott Anderson, an official with the Wisconsin Council of Churches, is set to be the first openly homosexual man to be ordained a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Saturday.

"The decision to remove sexual conduct from PC(USA) ordination vows is symptomatic of a deeper, ongoing struggle within the church over the authority of holy scripture," said Presbyterian Action Committee Chairman Gary Green. "This action stands in contradiction to the PCUSA confessions of faith, which continue to teach that faithful Christians have the choice either to be faithful in marriage or chaste in singleness."

The ordination comes after a majority of presbyteries in the PC(USA) voted to remove the "fidelity/chastity" standard from the church constitution earlier this year. In July, the standard was changed from one that required either a single man to remain chaste or a married man to remain faithful to his wife, but the new requirement does not address guidance for sexual behavior, nor does it include a biblical reason for why non-marital sexual relationships are now acceptable for ordained ministers. more >>

The Southern Baptist Convention, which is the nation's largest Protestant denomination, is giving serious thought to changing its name in order to better reach people for Jesus Christ.

But changing a 166-year-old name that 16 million members reportedly identify with is expected to spark some heated debate. Emotions were already high when SBC President Bryant Wright placed the proposal on the table on Monday.

"Vigorous and emotional discussion over potential SBC name change now on floor of SBC Executive Committee," R. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, tweeted Monday. more >>