| |
Added
on 3/24/01 |
The effects of
the earthquake in El Salvador
are still being felt, and the Reformed Church is now engaged in the
long-term multi-faceted process of "recuperation."
Presbyterian volunteer Marcia Towers has sent an update. |
Conservative
Institute on Religion and Democracy
targets Presbyterian and other churches for "reform" as it
seeks to gain power in governing bodies. |
In response
to a statement by the session of Summit Presbyterian Church, the
Presbytery of Beaver-Butler in Pennsylvania is sending to the General
Assembly Council a confessional statement that calls on other
congregations to join in a
three-fold declaration of faith:
- Affirming that Jesus is the only way to God and
salvation.
- Affirming that the Bible is the "unique and
authoritative witness" for the life of the church and that
"there are no new revelations that show the Bible to be wrong
or outdated."
- Affirming that any sexual activity outside marriage
between a man and a woman is sinful and that the "we should not
ordain or install" any minister, elder or deacon "involved
in any unrepentant sinful behavior, sexual or otherwise."
Barbara Kellam-Scott,
moderator of Semper Reformanda, expresses concern at the notion that a
congregation can adopt its own statement of faith and doctrine. |
Alexa Smith of Presbyterian
News Service ponders the close votes
on most recent issues dealing with sexuality. |
Have you considered joining
the Witherspoon Society? See what it can offer you! |
Added
on 3/21/01 |
Voting on
"O"
 | The current unofficial count is 67 presbyteries
voting for Amendment O, and 92 against -- 158 votes recorded so far,
or 92% of the total. Redstone voted 69 to 67 for "O"
-- compared to 94 - 52 for "B." Donegal voted 92 -
83 for "O."
|
 | Religious News Service
reports on the defeat of Amendment O: "Back at square one on
gay issues" [3-21-01] |
 | Presbyterian News Service has prepared a
map showing the voting on Amendment O (by the unofficial count).
It brings no great surprises, but you may want to take a look - and
you can download a printable version if you want to use it
elsewhere.
In case you have trouble reading the key, as I
did, the colors mean:
 | White = No |
 | Blue = Yes |
 | Green = not yet voting or not yet reported
|
|
 | If you're looking for a calm, reasonable
presentation of the meaning of the defeat
of Amendment O, you might borrow from a presentation by the Rev.
James D. Brown, former Executive Director of the General Assembly
Council, to his congregation in Harrisburg, PA |
For all our reports on Amendment O
voting, go to our special page on that subject. |
Hate
Crimes legislation to be introduced in Congress ... the latest
legislative update from UCC Justice and Peace Ministry |
Inter-religious
violence continues in Indonesia. The Christian Science
Monitor provides a look at the complexities of the situation,
including religious and ethnic conflicts, political groups exploiting
the tensions, and a government seemingly unable to deal with it. |
The latest
issue of Network News -- the quarterly newsletter of the
Witherspoon Society -- is in the mail.
If you'd like a copy, please send
a note - and don't forget to include your snail-mail address! |
Added
on 3/19/01 |
Voting on
"O"
Reports received on Saturday, March 17, indicate that
the unofficial vote count is now 65 in favor of Amendment O, and 92
opposed - out of a total of 157 presbyteries voting, or 91% of the
total.
Latest reports: Newark (36 for - 57 against); Mackinac
(24 - 53); Los Ranchos (140 - 67); Giddings-Lovejoy (55 - 116);
Lackawanna (32 - 47). These votes all follow the voting on Amendment B.
Check our voting
page for more details. |
Other
groups comment on the defeat of Amendment O
Presbyterian-related organizations have responded in different ways to
last week's deciding (but not final!!) votes on Amendment O. We
provide links to some of them comments, and summarize some major points. |
Voices
of Sophia gathers at the border [3-19-01]
The annual Voices of Sophia Gathering held in Tucson,
Arizona from March 1-4, was a great success, drawing record attendance
especially from young people. Focusing on the theme, "Wisdom on the
Border," participants explored the challenge of transforming our
land from one of frontiers and borders that lead to oppression to one in
which justice prevails. |
Privatized
spirituality - a threat to liberal church life too?
[3-19-01]
The Rev. Henry Brinton, who has recently become pastor
of Fairfax Presbyterian Church in Virginia, writes in the
Washington Post about the need for community in our churches. He
sees the proliferation of religious reading materials and individualized
"spirituality" as threats to the communal nature of authentic
religion. Further, he says, communal relationships are a deep human need
that is often unmet today.
He also suggests that the web may help deal with this
need.
Some have suggested that much of "liberal
Christianity" has fallen victim to this plague of spiritual
individualism. What do you think? Please
share your thoughts! And we'll share the conversation (if
any!) here.
Thanks to onReligion.com |
Added
on 3/17/01 |
Two
visitors have commented in response to some of the
thoughts we have published regarding the defeat of Amendment
O. Sam Lanham points to the important of the human dimension of
the issue in presbytery debates. |
We have a
new page listing all available information on overtures
to the 213th General Assembly. The official GA website has begun listing
overtures, but so far just nine (along with some
concurring overtures) are on the list, with links to the text of each
one. Texts of detailed rationales and advisory opinions will be
added later. |
Witherspoon
events for General Assembly are listed, with information on ordering
tickets.
And we're looking for volunteers
who'd like to help us at the Assembly. |
Added
on 3/16/01 |
More
comments on the defeat of Amendment O
|
We have an
interesting report on the debate in San
Gabriel Presbytery. Is Satan at work here?!? |
What's
happening with Amendment
A?? The best we can offer comes from Mary Ruth Phares of
the Office of the General Assembly, who reported on March 16 that the
official tally on Amendment A is 71 affirmative and 64 negative votes. |
We're
still voting on "O"
The latest presbyteries: Washington (51 - 45); New
Brunswick 54 - 128) ; Pacific (87 - 110 - a shift from their 97 -95 vote
in favor of Amendment B).
Check our voting page
for earlier reports and details. |
We have a
new page listing all available information on overtures
to the 213th General Assembly. The official GA website has begun listing
overtures, but so far just nine (along with some
concurring overtures) are on the list, with links to the text of each
one. Texts of detailed rationales and advisory opinions will be
added later. |
Added
on 3/15/01 |
Doug Nave
sees many hopeful elements in the
defeat of Amendment O
Witherspoon member Doug Nave is a practicing attorney,
and serves as a Trustee of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York
City. He sent this note soon after the deciding votes were reported that
meant the rejection of Amendment O. After analyzing the
patterns of voting, he considers some of the implications
of the debate thus far, and urges continued efforts for the remaining
presbytery votes.
His conclusion: "It really is time to remember
the fundamental reasons why we're a church, to stop debating sex and
start doing service." |
At the Voices
of Sophia gathering in Tucson, Arizona, on March 1 - 4, 2001, one of the
prayers was offered by Meredith White-Zeager, who will be serving as
Witherspoon's Wareham Intern during the coming General Assembly.
It's a prayer for wisdom, of wisdom,
and we're glad to share it here. |
Added
on 3/14/01 |
Some
Witherspoon reflections on the defeat of Amendment O
Two
visitors have commented in response to some of these and other
thoughts we have published regarding the defeat of Amendment
O. Sam Lanham points to the important of the human dimension
of the issue in presbytery debates. [3-17-01]
Our group has not had
time to discuss this collectively, but here are a few immediate comments
from some officers as individuals. More will be added as they come in. And
if you'd like to share your thoughts about this decision, please
send us a note!
Doug King (your
WebWeaver) notes that this vote is a healthy step back from the
unceasing pressures to constrict our church's witness to a gracious God.
But even though the decision has been rendered, progressives will need
to keep working to make the vote as convincing as possible in the
presbyteries that have yet to vote. We will continue to provide whatever
resources we can for that effort.
Clearly, the
really important steps toward an inclusive church have yet to be taken,
and they will be much more challenging than this one.
Nevertheless,
this is a hopeful indication that many people in our Presbyterian Church
are concerned to protect the integrity of the church and its ministries.
While there is strong and legitimate concern for families, there is a
growing awareness that "family" and healthy relationships can
take many forms.
We celebrate this
step away from a morality of exclusion, and we're grateful to the many
sisters and brothers who have worked (and are still working!) so hard to
bring us to this point. We look forward with renewed hope for the
vital witness of our Presbyterian Church to the gracious love of God for
all people.
Jane Hanna,
president of the group, appreciates this action partly because
"using the Book of Order to decide controversial issues
about what constitutes moral behavior is not in the best interest of the
Church. With opinion so evenly divided on this subject, it is healthier
for the whole body to leave room for individual conscience, and for
congregational and presbytery rights to decision making about matters of
faith and biblical interpretation."
She adds that
"none of us has been given the power to determine upon whom God's
blessing should be given. [Check out Sarah
Melcher's essay on this subject, published here just yesterday.] As
others have pointed out, the health of a committed relationship between
two people is a far more important moral concern than the matter of who
the two people may be. In no way do the faithful relationships of
homosexual couples threaten heterosexual relationships. Any loving
relationships between people give additional health to the whole
community."
She concludes:
"We know the subject is not likely to be dropped, but we are
grateful that for now this uncharitable attempt at exclusion has been
defeated."
For more on the
voting, go to our special voting
reports. |
The
decision is No on O
Amendment O has been rejected by 88 No to 64 Yes.
Voting continues (this is just 89% of all presbyteries) - and it
still matters.
The requisite 87 presbyteries have now decided the issue: Amendment O,
which would ban the blessing of holy unions (and in wording, if not in
intent, the blessing of many other events and persons as well), has been
rejected.
With 152 (89%) votes unofficially reported, 64 favor
"O," and 88 reject it.
In voting on Tuesday, March 13, two presbyteries shifted from their
votes on Amendment B. Kiskiminetas, which rejected "B" by 64
to 76, yesterday approved "O" by 89 to 59. Presbytery of the
Pacific moved the other way; having once approved "B" by a
narrow 97 to 95, they yesterday rejected "O" by 87 to 100.
Other No votes came from Eastminster (55 - 56); Cincinnati (105 -
123); New
Brunswick (54 - 128), and Utica (voice vote); Yes votes came
from Washington (51 - 45), San Gabriel (163 - 113) and Missouri Union (49 - 42).
Go to our voting
page for earlier reports, details, and more.
Presbyterians Together [not Presbyterian
Partners, as we stated earlier!], a conservative umbrella group
formed to support Amendment O, published a statement in their on-line
Presbyterian Coalition News. Acknowledging the defeat of "O,"
they add:
"While the Church has lost this vote, the
Church is by no means lost. We have no intention of relaxing our
efforts to affirm the message and authority of scripture and to uphold
the confessional statements of the Presbyterian Church (USA)."
Well, we're glad to know who defines "the
Church." But not quite yet, at least. |
Interfaith
Alliance and Baptist group issue booklet dealing with government funding
through religious groups
The Interfaith
Alliance Foundation and The Baptist Joint Committee on
Public Affairs are publishing a free educational booklet, "Keeping
the Faith: The Promise of Cooperation, The Perils of Government Funding:
Guidelines for Houses of Worship," that will offer guidance and
information to religious leaders searching for answers on how to serve
those in need without jeopardizing their autonomy or the constitutional
and civil rights of those served.
The Dallas
Morning News web site carries an AP report on the launching of
the project, which aims to distribute 20,000 copies of the booklet
around the country. |
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has
written a thoughtful critique of the President's proposal to provide
government funding for religiously based social service programs.
But ... faith-based air traffic
control??? |
Americans
United for Separation of Church and State has issued a press
release, dated 3-13-01, analyzing the reasons for the Administration's
pull-back on their proposed use of religious groups for government
programs. |
Killing
in Indonesia: Let's face the reality that Christians do it
too. Those who portray Christians as always the victims of Muslim
violence are distorting reality. |
Added
on 3/13/01 |
The Reformed
understanding of the freedom of conscience has been discussed as
presbyteries have debated Amendment O, but is a matter of far broader
import. For one thing, numerous overtures to the 213th
General Assembly deal with G-6.0106b on the basis of conscience. Dr.
Sarah Melcher looks at Calvin's Institutes to help us consider
this issue. |
Thoughts
on blessing: As the voting on Amendment O,
which would ban the blessing of holy unions, draws toward an end, Dr.
Sarah Melcher, a Presbyterian pastor now teaching Hebrew Scriptures at
Xavier University in Cincinnati, offers deeply biblical reflections on
"blessing." She concludes: "Nothing in the
biblical text encourages us, as sinners before God, to limit our
blessings to only those who fulfill our human notion of righteousness.
Without Christ, none of us are righteous before God." |
UCC Justice
and Peace Ministry urges action to
resist tax cuts as they come up in the U.S. Senate. |
Added
on 3/12/01 |
Second
Bible study between "left" and "right" has been
held in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
According to a first
report from Outlook's Leslie Scanlon, five representatives of
groups opposing ordination of gays and lesbians, and five from groups
urging ordination, met on March 9 and 10 to continue the discussion
initiated during the 2000 General Assembly.
We
also have a report from Presbyterian
News Service. One major issue remained the question of whether
we are to live "under Scripture" or in obedience to Christ.
|
Covenant
Network newsletter is online.
The April 2001 issue of the Covenant Connection
newsletter is now online. It offers a brief letter from the
Cop-Moderators, the full text of William Placher's address at last
fall's Covenant Conference, a preview of some overtures making their way
to the 2001 General Assembly, and much more. |
Witherspoon
events for General Assembly are listed, with information on ordering
tickets.
And we're looking for volunteers
who'd like to help us at the Assembly. |
Added
on 3/10/01 |
When people
oppose Amendment O, a major reason seems to be their recognition of the
human cost of such exclusion. Elder Millie Sieber of Cleveland,
Tennessee, as the mother of a gay son, represented that cost clearly in
the discussion in East Tennessee Presbytery. |
The second Semper
Reformanda News Update includes:
|
Jubilee
2000/USA becomes the Jubilee USA Network
and seeks to end debt domination
Following up on the successes achieved toward debt
cancellation, a coalition of faith-based and activist organizations
launched the Jubilee/USA Network at a three
day meeting in Denver, Colorado February 16-18, 2001. We now
have a more complete report of decisions
and plans shaped at that meeting. The newly formed Jubilee USA
Network will continue urging full cancellation of debts owed by
developing nations to the IMF and the World Bank, will work for making
more treatment for AIDS available to developing nations, and will urge
the completion of legislative action needed this year to get full
Congressional appropriations for existing debt relief programs. |
Added
on 3/8/01 |
Presbyterian
News Service recently reported on a survey
of PCUSA members which indicates that most of them still oppose any
blessing of same-sex unions.
 | Doug Nave has
commented on the survey and current voting on Amendment O, finding
hopeful signs in both. |
 | Barbara
Kellam-Scott has been critical of the reports of the survey. |
|
Prof. Eugene
March, speaking at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary,
says Christians must repent of their age-old mistreatment of Jews, calls
on church to change in this age of religious pluralism. |
Three models of spirituality
and justice
Prof. Albert C. Winn, in a lecture at Louisville
Presbyterian Theological Seminary, explored the lives of three
extraordinary Christian writers who in his mind exemplify the ideal
balance between "deep spirituality" on the one hand and
"radical social concern" on the other: Quaker
abolitionist John Woolman,
Trappist monk Thomas Merton,
and Elizabeth O'Connor,
leader in an ecumenical congregation and activist. |
Just yesterday
we published one comment
questioning a recent editorial in the on-line Presbyterian
Layman, which seems to assert that commissioners to presbytery
should agree beforehand on the true and Biblical position on an issue
such as Amendment O, and then vote as a bloc. We have now received
other comments by attorney Doug Nave
and elder Marcia Casais, each
stating their own concerns with the Layman's notion of voting
"in lockstep," as Justice calls it. |
Added
on 3/7/01 |
Most of the
analysis of "charitable choice"
that we have published here has been critical of Pres. Bush's initiative
to use faith-based organizations in government programs.
Here is an essay offering a
theological perspective on charitable choice which takes a more
positive view of the program. The author, the Rev. Dr. Nile
Harper, is a Presbyterian pastor, an officer of Semper Reformanda, and
former professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
The author has also provided information clarifying what
is meant by the "charitable choice" program, and some practical
suggestions for participating in it. |
Jonathan
Justice comments on a Layman editorial, disputing the notion
that pastors should instruct their elder commissioners on how to vote at
presbytery, and that any commissioner should feel compelled merely to
"represent" his or her congregation. |
Added
on 3/6/01 |
GAC
member Cathy Cummings Chisholm
comments on the recent meeting, seeing greater unity than in recent
years.
[3-6-01] |
We
now have one page linking to all our reports on the General
Assembly Council meeting in Louisville, Feb. 19-24, 2001. |
Web
site created on Auburn Affirmation
The recently established Silicon Valley chapter of the Witherspoon
Society has been busy, among other things discussing the Auburn
Affirmation of 1923 as a possible framework for dealing responsibly with
present tensions in the Presbyterian Church. |
Ten
African-American employees of the Christian
Coalition have filed suit against the organization and Pat
Robertson, charging glaring problems of racial discrimination. One
white employee charges
that he has been fired for refusing to spy on the African-Americans. |
Pastor
expresses support for Kellam-Scott's critique
of The Layman
A pastor supports Barbara Kellam-Scott's comments on the recent issue of
The Layman. The Rev. Kristine Jane Jensen, pastor of First
Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa, has written a
letter to PresbyWeb,
As a recent graduate of Union Theological
Seminary-Presbyterian School of Christian Education, she notes that
"my fellow students and I would read the publication and wonder
what school the Layman was talking about, so far from the reality of
campus life they seemed to be."
She adds that in her role as pastor, she believes she
is called to present to her congregation "the range of ideas that
are being expressed in church and society," and that doing less
would be an act of distrust in their "intelligence and
discernment."
|
Campaign
finance reform has been supported a number of
times by General Assembly actions. The United Church of Christ Justice
& Witness Ministries office publishes a weekly update on justice
issues, and their latest one provides specific suggestions
for action on this issue, as the McCain/Feingold campaign finance
reform bill banning "soft money" in elections is scheduled for
two weeks of Senate debate, amendment and final vote, during the week of
March 19th or 26th. |
If you're
thinking of joining in the gathering
of progressive faith groups in Washington, DC, on April 4-6, we now
have a detailed statement of the
thinking behind the gathering. |
Mt.
Auburn Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, Ohio, has submitted (for
the ninth year in a row) a letter of dissent from the strictures of
G-6.0106b. |
Added
on 3/3/01 |
Barbara Kellam-Scott,
a Presbyterian elder and moderator of Semper Reformanda,
is a professional writer. Out of that experience she does a careful
analysis of the Jan/Feb 2001 issue of The Presbyterian Layman.
Asserting that information matters,
she urges that we take seriously the "misinformation" that is
so influential in our church. |
Added
on 3/2/01 |
Your
WebWeaver apologizes for his long absence. Getting Network News
(the paper version of this web site -- which you can receive by joining
Witherspoon!) to the printer has absorbed most of the past
week. He'll try to catch up a bit, at the risk of boring you with
some news you may have seen elsewhere. |
More
reports on the GAC meeting last week in Louisville:
 | Presbyterian News Service
provided a summary of the final
actions of the Council. |
 | Responding to protests from the
Right, the GAC affirmed the lordship
of Christ, and asserted the freedom of Presbyterians to express
their views at GAC-sponsored event. |
 | Parker Williamson of The Layman
immediately distributed a statement
protesting the action, and asserting that "Presbyterians
are no longer obliged to follow"
the leadership of GAC. |
 | GAC adopts $136 million
budget for '02, and accepted John Detterick's plan to shift
funds into mission program areas
considered "high-impact" |
 | GAC received a report on the success of the Jubilee
2000 campaign, applauding the role played by Presbyterians. A
video about the debt-relief campaign will go to Assembly. |
 | The Layman reports on GAC's receiving
of reports calling for studies
of reparations to people of color, and of the
"disenfranchisement of people of color in the United States'
electoral system." |
|
Stated
Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick shared with GAC his expectation of what will
be the "top 10 issues" at the
coming General Assembly. |
The
Rev. James D. Brown, former Executive Director of the General Assembly
Council, preached at the installation of the Rev. Kent Winters-Hazelton
at Claremont Presbyterian Church, Claremont, CA, on January 21, 2001. His
sermon was entitled "Presbyterians
at the Crossroads." His text, Peter's encounter with Cornelius
in Acts 11, led him to reflect on the radical demands of the Gospel for
openness to what is new and unexpected. He concluded with Paul's
question, "Who are we that we could hinder God?" |
Do you want to go
back in time??
To wander through earlier headlines and
links:
 | from the first part of December,
2001 |
 | from November,
2001 |
 | from October,
2001 |
 | from September,
2001 |
 | from August,
2001. |
 | from July,
2001 |
 | from June,
2001. |
 | from May,
2001. |
 | from April,
2001. |
 | from March,
2001. |
 | from February,
2001. |
 | from January, 2001. |
 | from December,
2000. |
 | from November 2000
including reports on
|
 | articles from
the Spring 2000 issue of Network News |
 | from mid-September through October,
2000. |
 | from July through
mid-September, click
here. |
 | from January through June
2000. |
|
| |
|
GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly are now being sent to the presbyteries for their
action, to confirm or reject them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book
of Order.
We're providing resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest are:
 |
Amendment 10-A,
which would remove the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers. |
 |
Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. |
 |
Amendment
10-1, which would adopt the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. |
|
|
If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a
gift online, using your credit card, through PayPal.
Or send your check, made
out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
Darcy Hawk
4007 Gibsonia Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
|
Some blogs worth visiting |
PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
|
Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
|
John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
|
John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
|
Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
|
|