News & Announcements
Latest News
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May 24, 2013
CLAI Assembly gets going with worship
Service draws church members, TV cameras, Cuban officials
From Presbyterian Mission Agency—Presbyterian News Service
HAVANA—Rarely do worship services in the United States draw attention from the national government and news media.
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May 24, 2013
Abundant life includes sexual and reproductive rights, says CLAI
Two-day consultation wraps up with call to work for end to sexual violence
From Presbyterian Mission Agency—Presbyterian News Service
HAVANA—Building on a global effort led by the United Nations to address the issues of sexual and reproductive health, the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) has concluded a two-day consultation here to develop plans for action in this region, one of the most hard-hit in the world by sexual violence.
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May 24, 2013
Human cloning breakthrough prompts religious objections
WASHINGTON—News that scientists had for the first time recovered stem cells from cloned human embryos prompted dire warnings from religious leaders who say the research crosses a moral red line and could lead to designer babies.
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May 24, 2013
Mexico’s community radio stations fight for survival and recognition
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May 23, 2013
The greatest story ever (re)told
Fresh approaches to e-vangelism in the digital age
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May 23, 2013
New translation of the Heidelberg Catechism achieves required two-thirds majority of presbyteries
All but one of 19 constitutional amendments under consideration have been approved
From Office of the General Assembly—220th General Assembly (2012)
Blogs:
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Indigenous food sovereignty
Published May 24, 2013
by Brendan Welsh
I attended a side event of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues entitled, “Our Food Is Our Life.” The presenters elaborated on Article 31 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which addresses the sovereignty of indigenous people over their food, traditions, and intellectual property.
Andrea Carmen, executive director of the International Indian Treaty Council, said, “since the Mayan creation story states that human beings are made from corn, Mayans see the issue of genetically modified American corn as a spiritual one.” According to Carmen, “the USDA’s poisonous corn varieties, unfit for human ...
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What I Have Been Through Is Not Who I Am
Published May 24, 2013
by Brendan Welsh
Carol Smolenski, executive director of ECPAT-USA, spoke to yesterday’s seminar group from the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, NJ about her organization's work to protect American children from sexual trafficking. In her organization’s film What I Have Been Through Is Not Who I Am we meet Katrina, a young woman who was coerced out of her job as an Atlanta restaurant hostess when she was 17 by a patron who, unbeknownst to her, was intent on making money off of her through the sex trade. The man gained Katrina’s trust not only by paying ...
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Only a glimpse
Published May 24, 2013
by Marissa Costello
I was inspired today by three speakers whose presentations all related to one atrocity: human trafficking and forced labor. Ryan Smith, Presbyterian representative to the United Nations, Kevin Cassidy, Senior for the International Labour Organization, and Carol Smolenski, executive director of ECPAT-USA, each spoke to a seminar group from the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, New Jersey. I was inspired by each speaker’s passion to change the world one life at a time, which just left me in pure awe. Let me tell you a bit about one presentation.
Mr. Cassidy presented a PowerPoint that incorporated pictures ...
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