CHURCH RET AINS BUILDING. Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, whose minister is the well-known James Montgomery Boice , has gained possession of its property. The Philadelphia Presbytery (comparable to CRC Classis) had gained title to the church building by the ruling of a Philadelphia judge, but has agreed to let the church continue to use the building in downtown Philadelphia for 49 years. At that time if Tenth Church has continued to maintain its ministry there, remaining faithful to the Westminster Confession, the congregation will be given full title to the building. In exchange, a building on Delancey Street that has served as the manse was transferred to the ownership of the Presbytery. In March 1980, Tenth Church voted 362 to 7 to withdraw from the former United Presbyterian Church (North) because of what it regarded as departures by the denomination from some aspects of biblical faith. The church is now affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America (Evangelical Newsletter, 312184.)

“NO PLACE TO LAY THEIR HEADS.” Evangelical Newsletter (3/2/84) contains a digest of an article in Psychology Today (Feb. 1984) about the so-called “street people.” It is estimated that more than two million people live on our nation’s streets. Among others they are “runaway children, immigrants, bag ladies, unemployed, alcoholics and drug abusers and the mentally ill.” Perhaps one third are believed to be the mentally ill. In 1955, 550,000 were in state mental institutions while today only some 125,000 are. The author asks, “Where did these people go?” and answers, “Many found places for themselves in the community, but many ended up homeless.” It is estimated that up to 40% of the homeless are alcoholics and drug abusers, who cannot keep jobs because of their addiction. Also many inexpensive rooming houses and apartments have been torn down to make way for expensive condos and single family homes. The author concludes: “If the problem is ever to be solved, if people are to stop living and dying on the streets, there will have to be a reduction in the public’s willingness to tolerate the situation and a concerted, coordinated effort, involving the courts, lawmakers and public and private organizations.”

“LEBANON’S RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY” is the title of an article by Dr. Bert DeVries of Calvin College in the Reformed Journal for February 1984. It gives a historical review of how the present involved situation in this small country developed. The following comparison is helpful. “If one were to overlay the Mediterranean shore on the shore of Lake Michigan, placing Beirut on Holland-Saugatuck, Baalbek on Grand Rapids, Ludington would be Latayeh in Syria, Ionia would be Damascus, and Michigan City would be Haifa in Israel.” Yet in this area there are at least six major ethnic-religious groups divided by age-old animosities. DeVries g ives brief sketches of the Shi‘ ite Muslims, estimated at 850,000; the Marionite Christians, politically and economically the dominant party since Lebanon became a nation, numbering 750,000; the Druze, an Islamic cult, with about 250,000; the Sunni Muslims, found mostly in larger cities, numbering some 600,000; the Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic communities numbering 300,000 and 200,000 respectively; and finally the Armenians numbering about 160,000. This article gives very enlightening background information on the religious, historical, economic and political factors in the sad turmoil that is destroying this once prosperous country.

HOME SCHOOLING. Moody Monthly (March 1984) has three articles about the movement of many Christians to teach their children in their own homes. “While thought of home schooling may raise some eyebrows, the success it enjoys leaves dissenters silent.” The first article discusses some of the advantages of home schooling. The author mentions examples of present day children who were taught by their parents and excelled over public school children in tests. He also lists many famous men who were taught at home. Constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead is the author of the second article in which he goes into legal aspects of home schools. In more and more states the right of parents to teach at home is being established. Whitehead gives details on how to comply with laws and regulations. Only twelve states do not permit home schools; they are permitted to Michigan, Iowa and Illinois, among many others. The third article, “Counting the Cost,” gives practical information about such things as curricula, textbooks, relationship to school systems, etc. It is said that home schools in California may number as many as 100,000. Among others, Bill Gothard is vigorously supporting this movement in his Ministers’ Seminars throughout the country. The article closes with a list of organizations that can furnish information and material on home schools.

A GOOD EXAMPLE. Moody Monthly (March 1984) reports that a Baptist church in Chicago is paying back some 200 investors who lost almost a million dollars when a retirement center sponsored by the church met financial disaster in 1981. Although the developer received court protection under the bankruptcy laws, the Ashburn Baptist Church members felt a moral obligation to pay the money. They have raised and repaid $575,000 in less than three years and plan to pay off the entire debt in five years. The pastor said the decision to repay investors was “a matter of simple, old-fashioned honesty.”