Calling on congregations to offer an educational event exploring The Doctrine of Discovery, the September edition of Facing Racism from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) asks participants to consider the history of exploitation of Indigenous Peoples in the United States. As the Church prepares to celebrate Native American Day on Sept. 22, PC(USA) has offered resources related to The Doctrine of Discovery. For more than five centuries, the doctrine and the laws based upon it have legalized the theft of land, labor and resources from Indigenous Peoples, and systematically denied their human rights. The 222nd General Assembly of the PC(USA) called the church to confess its complicity and repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Gregg Brekke can be found at "Doctrine of Discovery."

PMAB votes to change its size, structure

The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board voted Sept. 21 to reduce its size from 40 voting members to 20 -- and to give the advocacy and advisory committees in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voting seats on the board. The board's Governance Task Force had recommended moving to a board of 16 voting members -- but the board approved an amendment proposed by Brenton Thompson of Pennsylvania, who said having 20 voting members instead of 16 would give a little more "breathing room." The board had a long, intricate discussion about the task force proposal -- a conversation that both recognized the advantages of having a smaller board and the difficulty of designing it in a way that reflects diversity and brings the needed gifts and talents, discerned in complicated ways. The complete Presbyterian Outlook story by Leslie Scanlon can be found at "Reduction in Size."

Tony De La Rosa, who most recently served as interim executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, writes in the current issue of Presbyterians Today magazine about the difficult discussion of racism. He notes, " In a few weeks, many of us will make our way to a place we call home in observance of Thanksgiving, our most religiously secular and secularly religious holiday. Gathered around a table of plenty, we will partake and share, acknowledging God's gracious bounty to all and giving thanks for it. ... Politics, economics and religion often make their way into our Thanksgiving conversations, testing the familial and social glue that binds us together. Frequently at the center of these traditionally taboo subjects is race in America." De La Rosa's complete column can be found at "Talking About Race."

The Way Forward Commission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) concluded its meeting in Louisville this week. The leading item up for discussion was the role of the Stated Clerk and if, or how, that elected official can speak on behalf of the denomination.The closing topic for the commission focused on the role, responsibilities and potential reach of the stated clerk as the head of the PC(USA). The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Gregg Brekke can be found at "Way Forward."

The 62nd Commission on the Status of Women is scheduled to take place at the United Nations headquarters, March 12-23. Representatives from member states, U.N. entities and specific non- governmental organizations (NGOs), from across the world will attend. Presbyterians will have the opportunity to join the church's ecumenical women partners to advocate on social justice issues. The theme is challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls. "There's an opportunity to gain exposure and knowledge from women around the world. This is the global gender norm setting body," said Ryan Smith, director of the Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Rick Jones can be found at " Status of Women ."