News

News

Century Marks

Century Marks

Dec 14, 2004
Zero tolerance for torture: In 1989 Sister Dianna Ortiz, a missionary teacher among the Mayan people, was abducted and tortured by Guatemalan security forces whose boss was an American. After he raped her, a policeman said to her: “Your God is dead.” But more than God died, she says—both she and her ministry died.

Presbyterians fire two over Hezbollah meeting

A controversial delegation
Dec 14, 2004
In the midst of tense debates with Jewish leaders, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has fired two employees who were part of a controversial delegation that met with Hezbollah officials in Lebanon. Church officials, however, did not say immediately if the firings of Kathy Lueckert and clergyman Peter Sulyok were related to the Middle East visit.

Longtime seminary president to retire

Carnegie Calian of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Dec 14, 2004
Carnegie Samuel Calian, among the longest-serving and most successful seminary presidents in the nation, will retire in January 2006 after 25 years at the helm of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Catholics join new ecumenical movement

Christian Churches Together
Dec 14, 2004
The U.S. Catholic bishops have given a key blessing to a groundbreaking effort to bring Catholics, evangelical and mainline Protestants and the Orthodox around a common table for the first time.

'Look for union collar'? Canada clergy organize

Low wages, abuse by congregants
Dec 14, 2004
Ministers of the United Church of Canada, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, have launched an unprecedented drive to unionize, saying they have been victims of harassment and emotional abuse for too long.