Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion&Democracy, 202-682-4131, jwalton@TheIRD.orgWASHINGTON, July 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- Last Friday, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly passed a heavily amended policy statement on the Middle East by a 558-119 vote. The original draft of the statement had provoked division, with pro-Palestinian groups hailing it and pro-Israel groups denouncing it. The final compromise was welcomed by leading representatives of both sides. Source: Institute on Religion&Democracy

Contact: Coby Dillard, Press Asst., 757-277-6043; Bishop E.W. Jackson Sr. President, S.T.A.N.D., 757-410-7740, stand@standamerica.us MEDIA ADVISORY, July 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- According to prominent black minister, Bishop E.W. Jackson Sr., whose organization Staying True to America's National Destiny (STAND) denounced the New Black Panther Party as a racist hate group, has taken aim at the NAACP for a proposed resolution accusing the Tea Party of racism. STAND is a Source: S.T.A.N.D

Contact: Chaplain Klingenschmitt, www.PrayInJesusName.org, 719-360-5132, chaplaingate@yahoo.comRALEIGH, N.C., July 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Pray In Jesus Name Project is faxing more than 140,000 petitions to the North Carolina State-House, demanding legislators reverse Speaker Joe Hackney's ban against the forbidden word"Jesus"during public prayers spoken by volunteer pastors giving the invocation.Nearly 1,000 citizens from all 50 states signed the free petition on the fir Source: www.prayinjesusname.org

Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, 540-538-4741, 202-547-1735; Kristopher Keating, 860-250-4792WASHINGTON, July 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- The vigil will held on Friday, July 9 beginning at 11:30 P.M. It will be in front of the Interests Section of Iran located at 2209 Wisconsin Ave. NW in Washington, D.C.Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is scheduled to be executed by stoning, as early as this weekend, for adultery. Ms. Ashtiani has recanted her confession saying she gave it under severe physic Source: Christian Defense Coalition

Contact: Allison K. Aranda, Staff Counsel, Life Legal Defense Foundation, 951-541-9327BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- A federal district court in Alabama approved a consent order today ensuring that police in Birmingham, Alabama, will not interfere with the expressive activities of the pro-life youth group Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust. The city agreed to the order after the Survivors, represented by the Life Legal Defense Foundation, sued for injunctive relief and Source: Life Legal Defense Foundation

Dr John Sentamu issued a reminder at the closing worship service of the Edinburgh 2010 conference that the verdict on Christianity rests on the shoulders of its adherents.

Christian mission is about sharing both spiritual and material goods, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches said, preaching in Edinburgh on Sunday 6 June.

Engagement with other churches has helped Catholic bishops educated in a dated “theology of exclusion” to move towards a genuine “ecumenical commitment”, Edinburgh 2010 observers have heard.

The horror that was visited on West Cumbria on 2 June 2010 has been met with considerable dignity and emotional continence by the people of those shocked communities.read more

The concluding worship and reflection from the Edinburgh 2010 conference on world Christianity and its future will be broadcast live on the internet at 3pm today, Sunday 6 June.read more

How are Christians in Zambia responding to the HIV-AIDS pandemic, and what challenges does it pose for Christian words and actions in the world today? Jane Stranz interviewed Sarah Kaulule, a lay preacher in the United Church of Zambia, at the Edinburgh 2010 conference on world Christianity to find out.

Churches across the country are celebrating Environment Sunday on 6 June 2010, as the United Nations prepares a crucial biodiversity report on saving"natural goods and services".

The World Council of Churches is working with partners in Congo to resist the increased oppression of human rights defenders, following the death of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire.

Football connects people in positive ways, but also exposes the limitations and injustices of human society, says Tinyiko Sam Maluleke, reflecting on modern South Africa, the World Cup, and the challenge of global Christianity.

The leader of one of the world's largest Pentecostal congregations has reaffirmed his church's commitment to support the World Council of Churches'10th Assembly in Korea, in 2013.