From Worldmag.com UPDATE (10: 50 a.m.): The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 vote Wednesday, ruled that proponents of California’s Proposition 8, which is a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, did not have standing in the case to appeal it at the federal level. The decision not to decide…

The Supreme Court invalidated a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act Wednesday. DOMA, which easily passed Congress and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, kept married same-sex couples from receiving some tax, health, and retirement benefits generally available to those in traditional marriages. The vote was 5-4. Justice Anthony…

Arklie Hooten serves as the Mission to North America (MNA) disaster response director. The ministry has been busy, coming alongside churches in Mississippi, New York, and New Jersey — extending a helping hand to those hit by disaster.

SISSONVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) — A fierce and unforgiving fire robbed one family of a home and one firefighter of his life Monday afternoon. Officials say John Appleton, 62, of Malden, suffered cardiac arrest while fighting a fire that destroyed a home along Happy Hollow Road. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive….

For the first time, the federal government has issued written guidelines for houses of worship that are confronted with a homicidal gunman. Beyond seeking shelter and waiting for police to arrive, as many Newtown victims did, the new rules also advise adults in congregations to fight back — as a last resort — in a bid to stop the shooter. The new federal doctrine is “run, hide or fight.”

Late on Thursday evening, June 20, the 41st General Assembly affirmed the votes of the Overtures Committee as follows: Answer in the affirmative, as amended: Amend BCO 20-6 Regarding Terms of Call and add BCO Appendix J, Sample Form Amend BCO 34-8 and 37-6 to Require a Two-thirds Majority Vote to Remove Censure of Deposition If Imposed for Scandalous…

In response to a request from the Overtures Committee, the moderator of 41st General Assembly has ruled Overture 19 and 23 as out of order.

The controversy over paedo-communion, and whether a presbytery may ordain a man who holds this view, has resurfaced for the third consecutive year.

After a sometimes emotional debate, the 41st General Assembly voted to recommit the Report of the Ad-Interim Committee on Insider Movements: “Theology, Gospel Missions, and Insider Movements.” To facilitate the Assembly’s vote the Administrative Committee met is a special session to extend the committee and establish a budget for its continued deliberation. The Ad-Interim Committee’s…

Over the past 40 years, the principle of biblical inerrancy has come under increasing fire from theological liberals. On Thursday morning, June 20, Dr. Ligon Duncan III, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss., hosted a discussion at the 41st General Assembly with Dr. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, on…