Remembering Tim Keller’s Unwavering Commitment To Spreading The Gospel

Keller was not so much a celebrity preacher as a unique phenomenon of Christian missional accomplishment and Christian apologetics.

Presbyterian Church (USA) adds 'nonbinary/genderqueer category' to denominational statistics



The left-wing Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is placing a "nonbinary/genderqueer category" into its denominational statistics.

"Each year, the Office of the General Assembly gathers statistical information from presbyteries across the country and provides a comprehensive breakdown on church membership, ethnicity and age distribution, as well as other information. But for next year's update, expect to see some changes in what is reported," a post on pcusa.org notes.

Manager of denominational roles and statistics Kris Valerius said, "we've always asked how many female members there are in the church. We're now asking how many men, women and nonbinary/genderqueer members there are. We've never asked that question so we don't know how many people will fill it out."

"If we want to be inclusive, then we have to start asking because you should be aware of who’s a part of your church," Valerius said, according to the post.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) allows for the performance of gay weddings and for the ordination of people who identify as LGBT.

"Ordaining bodies (sessions and presbyteries) are permitted but not required to ordain lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender persons. Candidates for ordination and/or installation must be considered as individuals on a case-by-case basis; it is not permissible to establish a policy that excludes a category of persons in the abstract," presbyterianmission.org explains.

While the denomination points to John Calvin as a key figure in informing many of its beliefs, it is highly unlikely that Calvin would have approved of the denomination's pro-LGBT positions.

"Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him," presbyterianmission.org states.

Major US Christian denomination declares Israel an apartheid state



One of the largest mainline protestant denominations in the U.S. has voted to declare Israel an apartheid state, becoming the first major American Christian denomination to do so.

The governing body of the Presbyterian Church USA on Friday passed a resolution that said the laws, policies, and practices of the Israeli government toward Arabs living in the region known as Palestine "fulfill the international legal definition of apartheid."

Delegates to the church's biannual General Assembly, which took place in Louisville, Kentucky, and online, voted 266-116 to adopt the resolution. The church government — which oversees 1.19 million members — also voted to designate a Nakba Remembrance Day on its calendar — the Palestinian commemoration of Israeli independence in 1948, which Palestinians regard as the destruction of Palestinian society.

The resolution accuses Israel of "establishing two sets of laws, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians, which give preferential treatment to Israeli Jews and oppressive treatment to Palestinians." It also repeats accusations that Israel expropriated Palestinian land for Jewish-only settlements and that the country has forced Palestinians into "separate reserves and ghettos."

Palestinian activists celebrated the vote. "This is an excellent stand by the US Presbyterian Church declaring Israel Apartheid State," said Atef Dalgamouni, one of the "founding fathers" of the Al Jazeera news network.

\u201cThis is an excellent stand by the US Presbyterian Church declaring Israel Apartheid state. \nIt should be called \u201cThe apartheid state of Israel\u201d\n\nUS Presbyterian Church declares Israel 'apartheid state' https://t.co/kFzViDcIXJ\u201d
— Atef Dalgamouni (@Atef Dalgamouni) 1657071205

But some Christian and Jewish leaders condemned the General Assembly's declaration. Rabbi Eric J. Greenberg, director of United Nations Relations and Strategic Partnerships for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said the resolution was "an insult to Jews and Christians alike which damages interfaith relations."

"PCUSA leadership has violated G-d's commandment not to bear false witness, rendered itself irrelevant in the world of peacemaking, and made a mockery of honest dialogue and interfaith relations," Greenberg said after the vote, according to CBN News.

Jonathan Greenblatt, president of the Anti-Defamation League, also criticized the resolution.

"This resolution does not seek to heal or resolve, but rather deepens divides between people of different faiths and hinders the peace process," Greenblatt said. "We encourage the #PCUSA to use its influence in a way that constructively contributes towards a peaceful future for all."

\u201cThis resolution does not seek to heal or resolve, but rather deepens divides between people of different faiths and hinders the peace process. We encourage the #PCUSA to use its influence in a way that constructively contributes towards a peaceful future for all.\u201d
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@Jonathan Greenblatt) 1657206600

The American Jewish Congress before the vote had urged the PCUSA's General Assembly to reject the resolution.

\u201cThe proposed #PCUSA resolution that labels Israel, the only true democracy in the #MidEast, an apartheid state - is unjust & plain wrong. We urge the PCUSA assembly at large to swiftly vote down this clear example of antisemitic, anti-Israel disparagement.\nhttps://t.co/axx1BgBWkh\u201d
— American Jewish Congress (@American Jewish Congress) 1657213582

Church leaders defended the resolution on Monday, remarking that the denomination strongly supports the right of Israel to exist while also supporting "the right of Palestine to be an independent and sovereign state within the pre-1967 borders, the right of return to refugees or a negotiated compensation, the removal of all illegal Israel settlements in occupied Palestinian territories or a 1:1 swap of land, a shared Jerusalem, an end to Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian territories, either the total removal of the Separation Wall or the removal of those portions of the wall that are on Palestinian land, and equal rights for Palestinians who are citizens of Israel."

"We are aware that this decision will affect some of our interfaith relations, especially with a portion of the American Jewish community. We want to say this loud and clear: We are committed to continuing dialogue with our interfaith partners and to combating antisemitism and all forms of violence, discrimination and human rights violations," Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II said in a letter explaining the church's position.
"To increase awareness of violence against people of other faiths in the United States, the 225th General Assembly has approved a Study Document Denouncing Antisemitism and Islamophobia. At the same time, we are convinced that there is a fundamental difference between antisemitism and the right to critique the policies of Israel deemed illegal under international law," Nelson wrote.

The Presbyterian Church of the United States in America is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. It holds a liberal position on church doctrine, supports gay marriage, and ordains women and practicing homosexual and transgender ministers. At its founding in 1983, the denomination boasted 3.1 million members, but it has since fallen to 1.2 million, a 62 percent loss.

By Catering To Rick Warren, The Southern Baptist Convention Subverts The Bible To Social Fads

The fawning protection of Rick Warren by SBC establishment elites in Anaheim is just their latest attempt to reach blue enclaves of Democrat-voting denizens.