The Presbyterian Record is pleased to welcome a new circulation manager, Deborah Leader. Born in Toronto and currently living in Mississauga, Leader comes to 50 Wynford from a full-time circulation position with Canadian Homes and Cottages. An active volunteer with the Girl Guides of Canada, she is looking forward to warmer weather so she can enjoy her summer home on Lake Erie in Wainfleet, Ont. Leader replaces Eva Breeze, who retired from the Record after 14 years of service.

Military chaplains may soon have to wear insignias on their uniforms that will apply to all faiths. Chaplains currently wear a Maltese Cross on their caps — a feature of the badge worn by all Canadian forces chaplains since the three services united in 1968. "It's still in the development stage, but we're seriously considering it," said Col. Stan Johnstone, director of chaplain policy, at the Chaplain's General Office.

In the midst of peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, several organizations have been criticised for trumpeting divestment in companies involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Moshe Fox, an Israeli embassy official in the United States, was quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying: "While maintaining that this recommendation is neither one-sided nor anti-Jewish, it is clearly both."

Presbyterians' generosity to the Asia tsunami relief fund has surpassed the million-dollar mark. As of March 14, $1,196,772 had been donated to Presbyterian World Service and Development. More than $755,000 of that will be matched by the federal government.

The seven Presbyterian Members of Parliament have each declared their position on same-sex marriage. See their parliamentary websites for the full statements.

The questions kept coming. And coming. For an hour, Rick Fee, director of Presbyterian World Service & Development, assured the female caller that her donation would be well spent. Her concerns are not unique. Other PWS&D staffers fielded similar calls. After giving nearly $926,000 to tsunami relief, Presbyterians want to be certain their money is well spent.

I fled both the church and the small town in which it was located as soon as I graduated from high school. I looked back with disdain upon the rather simple activities of the church, the uncritical acceptance of what I perceived to be church members' idiosyncrasies and the dogged determination to keep the dwindling congregation alive.

Congregations who fail to implement the church's proposed volunteer screening and training policy may find themselves without insurance to cover abuse claims. The warning comes from Michael Petersen of Marsh Canada Insurance. Petersen said the coverage "is not a warranty" against possible slip-ups or oversights in abuse protocols. He said the possibility exists for a congregation to make a claim and, if found not to be in full compliance with the guidelines, refused compensation.

Congregations contributed more than $8.7 million to Presbyterians Sharing for 2004 — an increase of $7,000 from the previous year. Gifts from individuals helped the ministry surpass its target of $8.8 million.

Once the debris is cleared away, bodies are buried, emergency food and supplies are handed out and immediate wounds and illnesses are tended to, the long process of rehabilitation and reconstruction to tsunami-ravaged countries must begin. "We're well into rehabilitation now," said Rick Fee, director of Presbyterian World Service & Development. "We're beginning to look at more long-term issues."

A private Christian graduate school has received permission to grant masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy. Established in 1967 the Institute for Christian Studies describes itself as, "a school in the Reformed tradition, committed to self-critique and continual change." Pursuing a Christian approach to philosophy, the humanities and social sciences are the school's main endeavours.