Presbytery committee vindicates Abu-Akel

Former moderator the Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel was accused of slander in May of 2003 by Mr. Paul Rolf Jensen.

In response, he asked his own presbytery of Greater Atlanta for vindication against those charges. The presbytery named an investigating committee, which has announced its conclusion that "Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel has not committed the offense of slander and bearing false witness against Mr. Paul Rolf Jensen."

The Witherspoon conference ended with a closing service of worship about 12:30 this afternoon - Saturday, March 8. It's been a great weekend, and there are lots of things to share, but for now, just this:

Friday evening someone suggested that we speak out in some way to express our support for Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel. So this morning we posted a very short statement to the Moderator, and invited anyone who wished, to write their own notes to him.

Many people never got a chance to sign the sheets; because the line was just too long in the short time available. But here is the message from the Witherspoon Society, along with all the notes that people added to it. We will send the original sheets to the Moderator.

If you would like to add your name and message to this modest expression of support, please send a note and we'll add it to this list and forward it to the Moderator.

Click here to send your note!

Thanks!!

March 8, 2003

To Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel:

We who are gathered for the Witherspoon Society conference in Louisville express our deep gratitude for your courageous and faithful witness during this year of conflict in our church and our world.

Be assured of our prayers and support in this time of trial.

In Christ's love and peace!

Notes to the Moderator
from the Witherspoon Society conference

God be with you. Ruth and Russ Morgan, Dandridge, TN

Love and Peace, which passes human understanding, be with you especially now!
Nile Harper, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Brother Fahed - Thanks you for your clear and courageous leadership. May the God of all people carry you through this difficult time.
Rev. James E. Ray

Mr. Moderator,
Thank you for your faithful service and leadership within our Church, and in the world. With hope and grace,
Michael J. Adee, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe, NM, and More Light Presbyterians

Dear Fahed,
We love you! We're with you all the way --
June and Bill Rogers

Mr. Moderator,
You are lifted up to the Light daily. Thank you for living out your call.
Peace, Dick Davis

Mr. Moderator,
May God bless you and keep you. Thank you for your wonderful grace to us all.
Kathie and George Spaeth, elders, Central FL Presbytery

Your visit to Wilmington, DE, was a blessing. May the Spirit bear you up on eagle's wings over the present storms. Peace, brother.
- Rev. Tom Davis, New Castle Presby.

Know that we are here in support of you and your important witness for what we desire to preserve in the church.
Peace, Marian Seagren Hall

May the Spirit undergird you and her wings uplift you in these "trying" times. Jean Rodenbough

Moderator Fahed:
May the Lord God bless you in these trying times. With such important things to do what a waste of your energy to have to deal with this issue. We stand with you. Thank you.
Rev. James E. Roghair

Fahed - 2 Corinthians 12:9
Bob Lodwick

Dear Mr. Holy Moderator -
I and my colleagues are praying for you and for this church you so faithfully serve. We pray God's blessing on your essential efforts for peacemaking, and deeply regret distractions that take you away from that work. Pam Byers

Dear Moderator -
Courage!
Lynne Reade

Dear Fahed - Continue to be strong in the Lord! Your witness at the Synod of the Covenant Assembly, the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, and all over the world - especially among international student and interfaith groups - has empowered us in Scioto Valley (Central Ohio). Les Stansbury

Our prayers are with Ann also! Peg Stansbury

Thank you for your warm, gentle passion for Jesus Christ and his Church.
We love you - Susan Andrews

Thank you for keeping us together!
With great regard, Chris Glaser

May the God of Hope fill you with joy and peace, that filled with the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Kent Winters-Hazelton

Dear Friend,
God is with you and we are with you!
You are doing a marvelous job!!
Peace and strength!!!
Jack Rogers

Thank you for staying the course with calm, grace, and reason, and for your love of the whole church and the church as a whole. May God fill your spirit up and enable your main message of peace and mission to be heard.
Debbie Grohman

Moderator Fahed,
Thank you for your leadership in these difficult times in the PC(USA). I particularly grieve the personal attacks on you and pray that you will know support from across the church.
Ken Smith, Moderator, Presbytery of Detroit

Fahed ... You are a person of great strength, wisdom and faith. We are with you in this time of trial for you.
Bill Hall, Elder

Fahed -
I am and will be with you in spirit and prayer on 3/17. I was a commissioner to 214 and totally agree with you. Thank you and thank God for you.
Helen Templeton

You are in our thoughts and prayers -
Dave and Polly Johnson

Keep on keeping on and being of good courage and good cheer.
Eric Mount

Fahed,
God has chosen you for such a time as this to lead our church. May God give you strength, courage, and peace as you lead us. I am thankful for your witness, leadership, and courageous strength. Than you for representing us. Blessings upon you.
Carolyn Grohman

Stand strong, Fahed! Barbara Roche

Peace through love, Brother Fahed, Judson McConnell

Thank you for meeting with our Louisville Arab-American friends. May God bless your efforts to bring reconciliation with them and also with our unhappy Presbyterian sisters and brothers.
Arch Taylor

Thanks for your witness and leadership, from Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

Blessings - We stand firmly with you, in faith and hope!
Martha Juillerat

Holy Moderator - Our prayers surround you - Janis Adams

Jesus' blessings on you, Fahed. "Blessed are you when they persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." Love, peace and prayers.
Peggy Howland

Dear Fahed,
You have lived out for all of us the meaning of grace and peace in the face of bitterness and violence. We're grateful, and we pray that grace and peace will sustain you through these months.
Doug King

More notes of support

These expression of support for Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel have come by e-mail since the first posting two days ago. If you'd like to add your name or a note, from yourself or some body of the PC(USA), please send a note.

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Dear Moderator,

Thanks for your courage and faithfulness. The debate has turned somewhat ugly, but the church belongs to Jesus Christ, and his grace and holiness will prevail.

Frank B. Baldwin Stated Clerk Presbytery of Philadelphia

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You are very much in our prayers and thoughts. While this is a personal greeting from me, I know I express the support of the members of the church to which I belong - Community Presbyterian Church of Pismo Beach, California. Keep the faith -- stay the course.

Blessings, Rod Martin, former president of Witherspoon and a lifelong member.

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Mr. Holy Moderator,

As an elder commissioner to the 214th General Assembly I have admired and enjoyed watching your "holy" conduct of the office of moderator during this past year. My prayers have been and will continue to be with you.

God's peace and strength be with you,

Mike Bailey, Corinth Presbyterian Church

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Thank you for your presence March 8 at our Presbytery meeting and your comments especially on the Middle East. Keep up the good work! God Bless!

Rev. Kurt J. Kremlick, Jr, HR, Lake Michigan Presbytery

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Thank you, Moderator Fahed, for standing strong. What a shame you have to spend your valuable time and energy on this issue when you do so much for the church.

Annie King

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FAHED, BE ASSURED THAT OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME!!!

ROSALIND AND EMMETT HERNDON

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Dear Mr. Moderator,

Thanks for your good work! My prayers are with you always!

Russell Sullivan

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More notes added on 3-11-03
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To the Moderator -

I would like to add my name to the list of others sending you this message of support. You have been a faithful witness and shown much grace under pressure. May you experience God's peace and blessings as well as the support you have from so many members.

June Begany, Moderator, Presbytery of the Western Reserve.

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Dear Fahed,

We heard about your painful difficulties with some PCUSA members and send our love, prayers, and support to you. Thank you for the outstanding leadership you have given our denomination your entire life, especially this past year. We are strong supporters of Witherspoon, and hope you can visit us at the G.A. in Denver...if only for a moment!

In the love of Christ,
Anne Hale and Art Johnson

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You are in our prayers. God Bless you and Clifton for your work in the name of the church.

Dave Tornblom

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A number of people have sent their names to be added to the list, without adding messages of their own. The most recent:

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I want to join with the others in expressing my appreciation support for our Moderator, Fahed Abu-Akel. We need his voice and courageous witness more than ever at this time. My prayers are with him.

JimPalm

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Dear brother Fahed,

Please know that the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Waltham is praying for you and for the Presbyterian Church (USA). If there is something in addition to prayer that we can do to show our support for you, please let us know.

May God strengthen you in this time of trial.

~Jean Southard
Stated Supply Pastor
First Presbyterian Church of Waltham

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Your grace and courage are an inspiration for us all - pilgrims together on
this journey of faith.
Peace be with you,

Shirley Rakacs Funk

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More people (and a presbytery!) have sent messages in support of Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel

[3-12-03]

Please add my name to the list of names writing to the Moderator. He was here in February for the annual Synod Mission and Stewardship Rally. We appreciated all he said. He is a first class leader.

Konrad Kingshill

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Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel,

You are held in our thoughts, our hearts, and our prayers.

Janet Winslow, Shadow Hills, California

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Dear Moderator Abu-Adel:

Thank you for being true to "reformed yet still reforming" of our Presbyterian heritage. Your courage and conviction give me hope for our church which I pray may yet stand firm for the truth and live the Gospel!!

I am an advocate for peace, not violence, and for the abolition of the death penalty.

I am a hymn writer and attach a text I wrote shortly after 9-11. I could write no other than a sincere prayer for forgiveness.  [Click here for the hymn, "Hear Us Now."]

Shalom Salaam

Edith Sinclair Downing

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Add me to the list of intervenors, supporters, prayer list, and acclaimers...

Bill Yolton

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We met in Buffalo when you addressed the Center for Mid East Studies. Thank you for your witness then, since, and throughout your ministry.

Sincerely, Rev. John R. Long

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Dear Mr. Moderator - I was a minister commissioner last summer and watched with great joy the spirit you brought to the meetings, and proudly put your beautiful Christmas picture up in my office. You have had a rough time, yet have always acted with compassion and grace. God continue to bless you and give you a great heart. I look forward to seeing you later this spring when you come to this presbytery.

Blessings and Peace,

Becky Kiser

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Please let Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel know that we pray for him AND for Ann Beran Jones (who is a member of Knox Presbyterian where I serve as Associate) in their ministry and to stay strong in the midst of difficult times. "God is not mocked." I went to the Church Women United service on Friday March 7, 2003 where we heard the voices of Christian Women in Lebanon. It was a very moving service and I thought of our Moderator at that time.

Cindy Karis

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Paul talks about our participating in the sufferings of Christ, that we may also experience His resurrection. May He carry you through this time of suffering into that new day!

Len Bjorkman

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Dear Fahed,

I have a photo taken of us when I introduced you at the Witherspoon Dinner in Columbus last year. I treasure it and the opportunity to meet you. I have followed and admired your leadership as moderator and appreciated the many ways you have modeled reconciliation and understanding in both the church and internationally. It distresses me that your work on behalf of the Presbyterian Church is being criticized and questioned. I'm sad that your moderatorial year has been impacted by these challenges but admire your response to them. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as our Church struggles to bridge division.

Peace and hope,

Jane Hanna

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Dear Fahed,

Thanks for trying to keep the welfare of the church in your holy heart!

Rev. Ed Dykstra

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Dear Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel

We pray each week in our churches for God's good grace to be yours. May you know you are surrounded by prayer and the hopes of all that we can get on with the work Jesus taught us. Thank you for standing in the midst of the storm and bringing peace all around you.

My family and I attended GA and were moved by your work and presence.

May you know that my five congregations are in prayer for you.

God abide

Bobbie McGarey, Southwest Oklahoma

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Thank you for your example of Christ-like faith and love. God is blessing you.

In His love, Shirley Garth

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Mr. Moderator-

In this season of Lent I've been impressed with the idea that we are truly a denomination which, for reasons known to God, has been called into the wilderness, and like the Israelites, we've found more than enough reasons to murmur. Thanks for playing the role of Moses (or is it Aaron) and putting up with this stiff-necked people as we await God's call to enter a new land of promise.

The Rev. Dr. Charles Valenti-Hein
Memorial Presbyterian Church
Appleton, WI

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These people have simply asked that their names be added to the list:

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More messages, added on 3-13-03.

Dear Brother Fahed,

So many more Presbyterians are proud to stand with you. You have surely carried out your responsibilities with immense dignity, grace and humility.

Blessings, Don Smith

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Dear Moderator Fahed,

As a Racial Ethnic person I am grateful to you for your powerful witness to the Church and to the world about our racial ethnic ministries. It is a shame that the interest of a small group of Presbyterians put you in this situation, when you have more important things to do than be responding to arguments about the calling of a special Assembly. I was a commissioner to the 213 GA, and I know from first hand how time and money consuming an Assembly could be. You made the right decision not to call a special Assembly. Be assured that a majority of Presbyterians like me agreed with your decision, and that we stand beside you with prayers and courage.

Elder Ricardo Moreno
Immanuel Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles
Moderator of The National Hispanic/Latino Caucus
Chair of the Racial Ethnic Cross Caucus
Presbyterian Church USA

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Dear Mr. Moderator,

What a tragedy that the church is wasting your valuable time with this. Thank you for your excellent leadership throughout this year, you are truly a blessing to the PC(USA). My prayers are with you now and in the weeks ahead.

Blessings,
The Rev. Donna Lee Merz
First Presbyterian Church
Santa Monica, CA

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Mr. Moderator,

We have been blessed by your leadership among us. Know that we will continue to pray for God's wisdom and strength to guide and uphold you in these difficult days.

Rev. Joy Nelson-Jeffers, First Presbyterian Church, Wausau, Wisconsin

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Moderator Fahed,

I deeply appreciate the respect you have for our Presbyterian polity. My prayers accompany you during the upcoming judicial proceedings.

Gracefilled Peace,
Rev. Edie Gause
Presbytery of Genesee Valley

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These people have also added their names to the list:

Bill Hopper
Sally L. Hill
Mark D. Stansbery

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Notes received since March 14, 2003, are now posted on a separate page.

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Do you want to join your voice with all these others, in support of our Moderator?

Just send a note with your name and whatever you'd like to say to our Moderator (or even just your name!) and we'll post it is soon as we can.

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