c. 2007 Religion News Service

Kirkpatrick to Step Down as Top Presbyterian Leader

(RNS) The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the highest elected official in the Presbyterian Church (USA), has announced that he will step down as stated clerk when his term ends next June.

First elected by the denomination’s General Assembly in 1996, Kirkpatrick has served three successive four-year terms. Kirkpatrick, 62, said “this has been the best job I ever had” but one that also comes with “stresses and strains.”

Kirkpatrick said he looks forward to devoting more time to his family and his presidency of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

“It has been a tremendous privilege to give voice to the witness of our church to the gospel and to justice and peace in the world, to be a leader in the ecumenical movement, to guide the church (even in our contentions) toward unity in diversity … and to pioneer new ways to express old truth,” he said in a statement.

The contentions in the 3 million-member denomination have increased in recent years, as they have in most mainline denominations. Leaders have struggled to manage a controversial debate over homosexual clergy, same-sex blessings and the authority of Scripture. Declining donations and membership also trouble the church.

As stated clerk, Kirkpatrick was responsible for interpreting the denomination’s constitution, promoting unity in the church, conducting annual sessions of the General Assembly and representing the public face of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

A new stated clerk will be elected at the next General Assembly in June 2008.

_ Daniel Burke

IRS Clears Dobson, Focus on the Family

WASHINGTON (RNS) The Internal Revenue Service has cleared Focus on the Family Chairman James Dobson after an investigation into charges that he had violated IRS rules by being involved in prohibited politicking.

Dobson hailed the IRS’ conclusion in a broadcast on his conservative Christian radio program on Monday (Sept. 10) and read from documents he received from the agency.

“Our examination revealed that Dr. Dobson’s reported remarks did not occur in publications of Focus on the Family, did not occur at functions of Focus on the Family, and did not involve Dr. Dobson suggesting that he was speaking as a representative of Focus on the Family,” the IRS said.

The agency spent almost a year auditing Dobson’s ministries after receiving a 99-page request in November 2005 from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which accused him of endorsing Republican candidates and requested the revocation of Focus on the Family’s tax-exempt status.

On his broadcast, Dobson said the Washington watchdog group’s intent was to try to frighten clergy and other nonprofit organizations from addressing moral issues such as marriage, homosexuality and abortion.

“I think the purpose for this was not only to see if they could damage us and maybe shut us up and take us out but to scare every pastor and every nonprofit that’s out there,” Dobson said.

The IRS sent letters reaffirming the continuing tax-exempt status of both Focus on the Family and Focus on the Family Action, its political arm that has greater latitude to be involved in lobbying activities. Dobson chairs both organizations.

An official of Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington could not be reached immediately for comment.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Outspoken Zimbabwe Archbishop Steps Down

VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Roman Catholic archbishop who has been a leading critic of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe resigned on Tuesday (Sept. 11) amid allegations of a sexual affair with a married woman.

Pius Ncube, archbishop of the Bulawayo diocese in Zimbabwe since 1998, said he was resigning “in order to spare my fellow bishops and the body of the church any further attacks.”

But Ncube said that he had “not been silenced by the crude machinations of a wicked regime” and would “continue to speak out on the issues that sadly become more acute by the day.”

The Vatican issued a one-sentence statement that it had accepted Ncube’s resignation under a provision of church law that allows bishops to step down in case of illness or other “grave” impediments.

Catholic leaders have been among the most outspoken critics of the authoritarian Mugabe, who has held power since 1980, and who is widely accused of corruption and human rights violations.

In April of this year, the country’s bishops issued a pastoral letter calling for a new “democratic leadership chosen in free and fair elections.”

Ncube himself has emerged as a particularly fierce antagonist of the regime, voicing his willingness to “go in front of blazing guns” to bring it down.

In July, two government-controlled newspapers published what they described as photos of Ncube naked in bed with a married woman. The woman’s husband has filed an adultery suit against Ncube, seeking $160,000 in damages.

_ Francis X. Rocca

Quote of the Day: U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y.

(RNS) “It seems to me that we’re trying to be in the middle of a dysfunctional, violent family. And the question that I first think about is, can we afford to put a cop in every bad marriage, especially when the parties aren’t even showing up for counseling?”

_ U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman D-N.Y., on the war in Iraq. He was quoted by Congressional Quarterly.

KRE/CM END RNS