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Presbyterians cut 75 national staff jobs: Radical restructuring

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) announced this month that 75 national staff jobs will be cut at its Louisville, Kentucky, headquarters, along with 55 positions in its overseas missionary force.

The reductions amount to “the most radical restructuring” of the mainline Protestant denomination’s mission program since 1993, Presbyterian News Service reported. Most of the 75 national staff cuts were effective immediately on May 1, while others will occur by October.

People

Jaroslav Pelikan, widely viewed as the preeminent scholar of Christian history, died May 13 of lung cancer at his home in Hamden, Connecticut. He was 82. The Yale emeritus professor and theologian, former president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, wrote more than 30 books, including the acclaimed five-volume series, The Christian Tradition. Born in Ohio, Pelikan followed his pastor-father into the Lutheran ministry. He received his Ph.D.

Naming names: PCUSA eyes "third way" on homosexuality

I have become profoundly disenchanted with our General Assembly process . . . the unsatisfactory way we were dealing with difficult and complex theological issues . . . and the toxic by-products of perpetually creating winners and losers, friends who are with us and enemies who oppose us.”
Peace, Unity and Purity task force member Scott Anderson