In Brief

The assembly is set for May 8, the 59th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Its purpose is to look to the future of the continent with the European Union's expansion to 25 members May 1.

Participants will be "working together to give a soul to the new Europe in the making, unity in diversity, for the Europe that lives up to its vocation of peace and unity among nations," organizers said.

-- Religion News Service

Presbyterian Court Rejects Dues Penalty

A mid-level court of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has ruled that congregations that refuse to pay dues to the national church cannot be denied loans or services from other church bodies.

The church's Mid-America Synod, which covers churches in Kansas and Missouri, said dissenting churches may not be "punished" for withholding funds. The court added, however, that churches that withhold money are acting in "serious breach of . . . trust and love."

The eight-member court based its decision on a ruling last year from the denomination's highest court, which said that local contributions are voluntary and that churches may not be forced to pay per-member dues.

Conservative congregations, including two in Kansas, have advocated withholding funds to protest church policies on homosexuality and theology.

The church's top official, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick, has suggested that pastors who advocate denying funds are in violation of their ordination vows.

-- Religion News Service