Mission Yearbook: Honoring veterans for 250 years of Marine Corps

MARINE CHAPLAIN HOLDS BIBLE CLASS IN JAPANESE WATERS, Religious News
Service photograph collection, 1945. islandora:357605

Imagine a birthday celebration so huge, there was a party thrown in each state. With the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s 50 State Cake-Cutting initiative, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps was celebrated that way.

A cake-cutting was scheduled in each state, with one slicing occurring at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia, five blocks away from the Presbyterian Historical Society. The celebrations continued into the evening, with the 100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball kicking off at the Grand Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia — the same venue that held the inaugural Birthday Ball a century ago.

On this commemoration of 250 years of the United States Marine Corps, the historical society once again offers up archival images from the Religious News Service collection to honor those who have served.

Religious guidance, advice and reflection made available in the middle of Tokyo Harbor — that’s what Navy Lt. Bernard H. Boyd was able to provide to his fellow Marines during their service. 

Before his enlistment, Boyd was a professor of Bible Literature at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. Though he was no longer standing at a podium in front of a blackboard, Boyd was still able to provide mentorship, discourse and encouragement all the same. 

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THE PASTOR ENTERTAINS AN OKINAWA FAMILY, 1945. islandora:357562.

Navy Chaplain William Larsen served with a Marine regiment in Okinawa since the beginning of the military campaign. Not only did chaplains play a large role within the regiments themselves — the enlisted men being their first priority — but they also provided comfort to the people in the surrounding communities, by way of kindness, conversation and the unwavering belief in the universality of God’s love.

To be a chaplain is to offer comfort. More than a shoulder upon which to rest a weary head, and more than a figure reading aloud from the Bible, chaplains like Capt. Paul Toland of Boston provide emotional, spiritual and mental rest. 

“Though far away from home during Holy Week,” the caption reads, “American servicemen of all faiths received spiritual comfort from their chaplains accompanying them.”  

Marine Corporal Lanny Johnson’s letter to the Los Angeles Times detailing the great need of the Vietnamese went a tad viral. His correspondence, in which he asked for help with providing “practical things” like soap, clothing, toothbrushes and the like, was reprinted in newspapers across the U.S. 

Johnson’s appeal “produced a flood of gifts from the U.S.”, the logistics of which were being handled by Rev. Harold Weatherly, the pastor of Cpl. Johnson’s home church in Pierre, South Dakota. From there, Marine, Navy, and Air Force transport units cooperated in flying the gifts over to Johnson in Vietnam.

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RETIRES FROM ACTIVE DUTY, Religious News Service photograph collection, 1962.

Master Sergeant Catherine G. Murray had enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1943. Fast forward to Nov. 30, 1962, and Murray has become “the first enlisted woman Marine to retire from active duty when she completes nearly 20 years of service.”

Before enlisting, Murray was a civil service stenographer. After enlisting, she became a member of the motor transport team, driving “sedans and five-ton trucks for the Corps during World War II” while moving through 15 duty stations from London to Hawaii. Murray was later assigned to the Marine Corps Schools in Quantico, Virginia, where she was “instrumental in planning and writing many of the military examinations in use.”

Murray even served three tours of duty in Washington, D.C., serving as Secretary to the Director of Women Marines as well as at the Marine Corps Institute. She was retained on active duty when the Armed Forces demobilized, and was “fourth in seniority of the 30 active-duty women Marines.”

Murray earned many decorations, including six iterations of the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. Her retirement did not signal the end of her involvement with the Marine Corps, however. Rather, Murray continued to serve her country, becoming the first enlisted woman to join the Fleet Marine Reserves, where she served until 1972.

Upon her death in late December 2017 at the age of 100, Murray’s loved ones wrote of her tendency to wear a Marine Corps pin on her lapel or necklace around her neck as evidence of her immense pride in her service. Murray rests in Arlington Cemetery, where she is surrounded by her fellow veterans.

McKenna Britton, Communications, Presbyterian Historical Society, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Kaeli McCartin, Operations Administrator Funds Services, Operations, The Presbyterian Foundation
Doris McCray, Director, Employer Services, Plan Operations, The Board of Pensions   

Let us pray:

Almighty God, give us the courage to be partners with our brothers and sisters to promote peace and justice. We pray for peace in our country and among all nations. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

WCC NEWS: WCC executive committee affirms steadfast witness of the Palestinian Christians

In a statement, the World Council of Churches executive committee acknowledged the profound challenges affecting the Holy Land, where the Israeli occupation, entry restrictions, conflicts, wars and insecurity have curtailed access to Palestine. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 12 June 2026 “Yet even amid these challenges, the executive committee wishes first and foremost to affirm the steadfast witness of the Palestinian Christian community, whose presence in the land of Christ's birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection remains a living testimony of faith, hope, and resilience,” the statement reads. “For generations, Palestinian Christians have maintained their commitment to their land, their churches, and their vocation as peacemakers despite occupation, displacement, discrimination, and economic hardship.” The statement acknowledges the “theological witness” of Christians in Palestine, which offers an important contribution to Christian reflection on faith, human rights, peacebuilding, and reconciliation. The WCC executive committee is meeting online 8 to 12 June. Read the full statement See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

Mission Yearbook: Gathering of African leaders offers opportunity to reimagine global partnerships

“When African traditions are honored, through worship, food, or fellowship, it strengthens the sense of belonging and mutual respect across cultures,” observed one participant at the third national gathering of the African Presbyterian Leaders Alliance at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.

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Photos of the African Presbyterian Leaders Alliance by John Alonge

The gathering brought together 30 African Presbyterian leaders from across the United States under the theme “Bridging Worlds, Building Tomorrow: African Leadership Reimagining Presbyterian Global Partnerships.” The sessions focused on questions of cultural identity, belonging and leadership within the PC(USA), exploring how African immigrant communities can move from feeling like guests to becoming full participants in denominational life.

The alliance has existed since 2019, though the Covid pandemic and financial constraints delayed its first official gathering until 2023. The latest event marked its third meeting, with all African constituents invited to attend.

The three-day retreat followed an intensive schedule, beginning on a Thursday afternoon with leadership team preparation and evening storytelling sessions. Friday featured worship, breakout discussions on cultural identity and faith journeys, and group debriefs. The conference concluded on a Saturday morning with personal reflections and discussions about next steps for the alliance.

The Rev. Cheryl Barnes, manager of U.S. Global Engagement and Leadership, and Destini Hodges, manager of the Young Adult Volunteer program, attended the gathering. Stephanie Vasquez, manager of Global Language Resources, met with alliance leadership before the conference.

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Photos of the African Presbyterian Leaders Alliance by John Alonge

The Rev. Dr. Moses Biney, pastor and head of staff at Bethel Presbyterian Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York, and moderator of the Conference of Ghanaian Presbyterian Churches in North America, described how African perspectives enrich PC(USA) ministry.

“African immigrant communities bring vibrant worship traditions, deep biblical engagement, and strong evangelistic fervor that revitalizes many congregations,” Biney said. “We bring transnational networks that connect American churches to the global church in tangible ways.”

Biney, who was commissioned in 1993 and ordained in 1995 by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana before being received into PC(USA) membership in 2007, emphasized the educational and experiential depth African leaders contribute.

“It’s important to note that many Africans in the PC(USA) are highly educated with several years of pastoral experience and are now serving as pastors of congregations, leaders of mid councils, and professors in seminaries, bringing rich theological and practical expertise to these roles,” he said.

Mary Kiriaku, a church elder ordained in 2006 at Emory Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, who now serves at Church of Amazing Grace International, explained what meaningful inclusion looks like.

“Belonging looks like mutual acceptance for who one is and an appreciation for what they bring,” Kiriaku said.

She noted how African communities’ diverse experiences can strengthen the broader church. “The resilience and openness that comes with such experiences can enhance leadership within the PC(USA)," she said.

Dr. Ayodele John Alonge, a theology student from Africa who photographed the conference and compiled its communiqué, which he published on his blog, observed how participants understood belonging as active participation.

“Belonging is not automatic; it is something we create by showing up, by volunteering, by participating in the life of the church,” Alonge reported one participant sharing during discussions.

Another participant added, “We must not wait to be invited; leadership begins when we take initiative.”

Conference discussions highlighted how food, language and music serve as powerful tools for cultural expression and fellowship, with participants noting that churches hosting multicultural festivals and community meals build bridges across cultures.

The Rev. Princeton Abaraoha, an associate at the Interim Unified Agency working with African Immigrant Support, reflected on its broader impact. “The African Presbyterian Leaders Alliance gathering has been a gift to the national church. It brings together African leaders to worship, learn and celebrate our shared faith," Abaraoha said. "Each year, we remind the church that its witness is global and vibrant, rooted in hope, resilience and community.”

Looking ahead, Biney expressed hope for deeper integration. “I envision African immigrant ministries not existing parallel to but fully interwoven with the PC(USA)’s fabric, where our theological insights, worship styles, and mission perspectives help reshape American Christianity for the 21st century.”

He added, “True belonging happens when the church recognizes that diversity isn’t a challenge to overcome but a gift that reflects God’s kingdom.”

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Karl Mattison, VP of Planned Giving Resources, Planned Giving, The Presbyterian Foundation
Anne Marie Mazzone, Director, Financial Systems & Operations, Finance, The Board of Pensions                 

Let us pray:

Gracious God, you have taught us to celebrate with those who are celebrating and to cry with those who are crying. May our eyes be open to see and distinguish between the two. Keep us mindful of all those who need your Spirit shining through us as much as they may need our monies and our labors. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Author shares about her spiritual memoir of coming home

When author Christy Berghoef took to the “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” microphone for a recent episode, hosts Simon Doong and the Rev. Lee Catoe asked her what it was like for her to return to a place she once lived with “a different worldview and faith than the one you were raised in? How do we redefine ourselves when returning to places we call home?”

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That’s at the center of Berghoef’s most recent book, “Rooted: A Spiritual Memoir of Homecoming.” Her engaging conversation with Catoe and Doong can be heard here.

During the 59-minute podcast, Berghoef described the small town she was raised in, including being raised “in a pretty small container within that small town.”

“When I moved away, I was stretched in a number of ways,” that are described in her first memoir, “Cracking the Pot.”

“This book focuses on coming home,” she said. “Coming back has been grounding and very disorienting at the same time. It’s a bit like coming into a room and all the furniture has been rearranged.”

“It’s brought a mixture of grief and gratitude,” Berghoef said, “and a new kind of clarity.”

The grief came from mourning the loss “of shared language with the people at home, a shared identity, a shared understanding. It’s tough to come back and realize I just don’t fit anymore.”

Feelings of gratitude came from “the sense that my journey and my experience has brought me to a deeper kind of joy and freedom and compassion and, hopefully, humility,” she said. “Clarity, because when you step back and then step into it again, you can see it with new eyes, at least in my case.”

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“I saw these are systems that shaped my beliefs and I can also see why I had to let some of those things go because of the realities I encountered outside of that small container I grew up in.”

Berghoef said she still clings “to the same values I was handed. But the expression of those values has shifted tremendously because of what I encountered in the world, because of people’s hardships and because of the human struggle that I’ve seen.”

“it’s hard for me to say I’m not this person anymore,” she told the hosts. “It’s about showing up with a kind of honesty about who I am, and also showing up with a love that envelops all perspectives — and also a new kind of humility and integrity about what I believe. It’s learning to hold space for others but not shrinking away from who I am.”

She said in returning to her small town, “I had to resist this urge to ether run away in fear … and I had to resist the urge to come back like a crusader, saying, ‘no, let me tell you how it is. You should all be like me! Look how enlightened I am.’”

Instead, she returned to the place “with the mentality of a pilgrim,” she said. “I am here with open hands. Those open hands represent my willingness to give of who I am and also to receive other people and their journeys.” Reciprocal respect and mutuality were not values she learned growing up “in my small container, and so in that way it’s a different way of expressing the faith,” she said. “I think home is where we can show up with grace despite our differences.”

“That’s when I know I’m home,” she said, “when I can be who I am and they can be who they are and we have grace for each other and we try to understand each other. That’s become home for me.”

New editions of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” drop every Thursday. Watch previous episodes here.

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Brad Masters, VP Business Dev. and Financial Advisor, Trust Services, The Presbyterian Foundation
John Matekovic, Vice President, Income Security, Benefits, The Board of Pensions

Let us pray:

God, your compassion for all your children is reflected in the lives of so many people in your church. We thank you for their quiet faithfulness as they minister, each in his and her own way, to those around them. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Book explores Book of Isaiah’s pivotal moments

 In “Unwavering Faithfulness: Pivotal Moments in the Book of Isaiah,” Walter Brueggemann and Brent Strawn lead readers through the prophetic book of Isaiah, moving between looming predictions of punishment against Israel for breaking covenant with God and exultation in the ultimate hope of Israel’s restoration.

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Dr. Walter Brueggemann

“Unwavering Faithfulness” provides an accessible guide to Isaiah, helping contemporary readers grasp both the uncompromising demands of God’s holiness and God’s unshakable faithfulness to covenant relationship and desire to bring about a good future for God’s people.

Isaiah is a dramatic book of prophecy and oracles that sweeps through the histories of Israel’s kings and dealings with surrounding nations, levying judgment but also offering the hope of restoration, blessing and shalom.

This great prophet’s words are a lot to take in. Israel is taken to task for exploiting the poor and seeking security in political treaties and the human economy rather than in the fidelity of God.

Ignoring the call of covenant to enact economic justice and righteousness for neighbors, Israel experiences the holy rule of God as working through geopolitical events that lead to the destruction of Jerusalem.

But Isaiah doesn’t rest here, and “Unwavering Faithfulness” forecasts ahead to the promise of Israel’s return to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile and to the imagination of the early church, inspired by the poetry of Isaiah to place its hope in Jesus the Messiah.

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The ultimacy of God’s governance and faithfulness in the swirl of global political chaos anchors this Bible study, helping readers grasp Isaiah’s vision of the covenantal fidelity of the Lord who wills newness and redemption amid failed histories.

This book will help readers seek to identify the movement of God in the midst of the natural consequences of forsaking the holy way on a global scale (climate disaster and the self-destruction of fearful, power-mongering governments) and to continue to look for the inbreaking of God’s shalom.

Questions for reflection and discussion are included at the end of each chapter, making this book ideal for individual or group study.

Strawn is Professor of Old Testament and Professor of Law at the Duke Divinity School. He is the author of numerous articles, chapters, and books, including “The Old Testament Is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment” and “The Old Testament: A Concise Introduction.”

Brueggemann was a beloved and prolific writer, astute biblical theologian and Old Testament scholar, and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Brueggemann, who died in June 2025 at age 92, taught for 17 years at Columbia Theological Seminary. He wrote dozens of acclaimed books, including “Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now,” “Interrupting Silence: God’s Command to Speak Out,” and “Truth and Hope: Essays for a Perilous Age.” Often heralded as a prophetic voice in our time, Brueggemann constantly reminded readers of God’s covenantal love and God’s call to speak truth to power, to remember that grace abounds and to loosen the bonds of injustice.

Westminster John Knox Press (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Rhonda Martin, Financial Manager, Presbyterian Women
Dina Martinez, Customer Service Representative, Operations, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation 

Let us pray:

Holy God, you honor us by calling us to be your people and sending us into the world to be your servants. May all those who suffer hardship know the comfort of your Spirit. Prosper the work of the hands that reach out to help rebuild lives. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Pastor of Harlem church discusses preaching from a biblical character’s perspective

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The Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen (photo courtesy of St. James Presbyterian Church).

The Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen recently led participants in the Synod of the Covenant’s Equipping Preachers series in a master class on preaching from the perspective of a biblical character.

McQueen is well qualified: His undergraduate degree is in theater, and he’s preached from the perspective of any number of biblical characters, including the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem.

Watch McQueen’s 88-minute presentation here. Synod Executive the Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick introduces him at the eight-minute mark.

McQueen is pastor of St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem, which was founded in 1822 as Shiloh Presbyterian Church, an abolitionist faith community. “We are still in the work of liberation — not just in Harlem, but around the world,” said McQueen, who also teaches at Union Theological Seminary.

McQueen reminded webinar participants, most of them preachers, that:

• We do not preach about the Bible; we preach from within it
• The pulpit is not performance — it is presence
• Through exegesis, embodiment and imagination, we listen to the heartbeat of the text
• Preaching is persuasive speech
• The Word becomes flesh again when we dare to enter the story — not as observers, but as participants.

In theater training, “I learned that truth is discovered in the body before it is spoken by the tongue,” McQueen said. “Preaching is an act of radical empathy, a rehearsal for justice.”

Much of McQueen’s preaching style comes from listening to people like his Aunt Dot tell stories, or his grandparents recount their fishing trips to Jacksonville, Florida. “You all have those stories in your histories, those embodied memories,” he said. “It’s about resurrecting that feeling you had.”

McQueen suggested this approach:

• Choose a biblical companion. “Find solidarity in voices like Esther, Moses, or the woman with the alabaster jar” and others, he said. “Freedom begins when silenced voices find resonance. The pulpit can be that resonant chamber.”
• Research and contextualize the character. Study their world. What empire surrounds them? What theology sustains or constrains them? What power dynamics define their courage? McQueen recommended drawing on critical tools, including feminist and womanist interpretations and post-colonial readings.
• Journal the journey. “Write as if the companion is speaking directly to you,” McQueen suggested. “What fear do they ask you to face?” When McQueen was journaling with the prophet Hosea, “I heard him whisper, ‘love even when it hurts your dignity. That’s how God loves you.’”
• Construct the sermon from their world to ours. “The preacher stands with one foot on the world of the Bible and one foot in the world of today,” said McQueen, quoting Dr. Tom Long. “The Word lands among us. The preacher’s task is to carry that voice across time without losing its accent of compassion or its rhythm of protest.”
• Preach with embodiment and celebration. “Trust your voice as an instrument and your body as a vessel to make sure you are not acting — you are incarnating,” McQueen said.

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Neal Martin, Service Desk Technician, Administrative Services Group
Michael Marrone, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Strategic Planning, The Board of Pensions

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ, your sacrifice came in dying. May ours come through living — in the shadow of the cross. Amen.

WCC NEWS: As European Christian Internet Conference opens, communicators draw strength from community

Agnieszka Godfrejów-Tarnogórska is a spokesperson of the Lutheran Church in Poland, and president of the European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) network. As the ECIC opened on 10 June in Rome, Godfrejów-Tarnogórska took time to reflect on the role of the ECIC for churches in Europe, and highlights from nearly a decade of organizing the conference.  Agnieszka Godfrejów-Tarnogórska, spokesperson of the Lutheran Church in Poland and president of the European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) during the annual gathering of the ECIC network in Bossey and Geneva, 9 September 2024.  Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 10 June 2026 As the ECIC gathering in Rome opens, what is the significance of this network for churches in Europe? Godfrejów-Tarnogórska: ECIC is a unique network for cooperation, the exchange of experiences, and learning from one another. It is also an opportunity for church communicators to discuss current media-related topics, such as the impact of technology on media development, digitalisation in churches, or the most topical issue of the moment: the use of artificial intelligence. At the same time, ECIC is a space where media specialists can learn about the situation in other churches and maintain direct contact with one another, for example, in cases where fake news or disinformation about a particular community appears in the media. Thanks to the relationships we have with one another, we can identify the source of a particular piece of news and have access to direct information. Another component of the network is its spiritual and ecumenical dimension. ECIC provides an opportunity for prayers and building communion. By visiting different European countries, participants learn about the churches and ecumenical situation in each country. As your term as president of ECIC comes to an end, what are the major issues from past conferences that are strong in your memory?  Godfrejów-Tarnogórska: Since my first conference in 2015, each subsequent one has been a chance for me to discover something new, or to explore a topic in greater depth that isn’t always addressed in this way in the churches in my country. This has given me a unique impulse for growth every time. In fact, I could mention every single one of the conferences. I remember what a revelation gamification was for me, and the ways it can be used in youth work, for example the Fisucraft platform created in the style of Minecraft by the Church of Finland. An interesting topic was discovering which emotions matter online and how they can be used not only for good, but unfortunately also for manipulation. In Warsaw, when I was the local organiser, we explored the topic of virtual reality, pondering what a virtual community might be. In a way, we were ahead of our time, because in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, certain topics became particularly relevant. In subsequent conferences, various aspects of artificial intelligence became an increasingly prominent topic: the misuse of AI for disinformation, the creation of fake news or deepfakes, but also a focus on the ethical aspects of AI use within the churches. After organizing so many ECIC annual gatherings, what is your message of hope for the future of ECIC?  Godfrejów-Tarnogórska: I hope that the ECIC network will endure and that “in-person” conferences will continue to take place. Although many of us operate in the digital space, ECIC has allowed me to discover that online is not enough for us. When putting together the programme for each conference, we try to find space for networking because it is the participants' wish. I believe this is no coincidence, because as Christians we need a real community where we encounter the living Christ, where we get to know our sisters and brothers, and where, drawing strength from this community, we can build bridges in the increasingly divided world. European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) ECIC conference in Rome See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland