Witherspooners speak out and pray in support of
Moderator
[3-8-03]
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
| Would you like to add your note of
support? We'll be happy to hear from you, and we'll post it here.
Just send your
note! |
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FAHED, BE ASSURED THAT OUR
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME!!!
ROSALIND AND EMMETT HERNDON
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Mr. Moderator,
Thanks for your good work! My prayers are
with you always!
Russell Sullivan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More notes added on 3-11-03
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are in our prayers. God Bless you and
Clifton for your work in the name of the church.
Dave Tornblom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A number of people have sent their names to be added to
the list, without adding messages of their own. The most recent:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your grace and courage are an inspiration for us all -
pilgrims together on
this journey of faith.
Peace be with you,
Shirley Rakacs Funk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel,
You are held in our thoughts, our hearts, and our
prayers.
Janet Winslow, Shadow Hills, California
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Add me to the list of intervenors, supporters, prayer
list, and acclaimers...
Bill Yolton
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Fahed,
Thanks for trying to keep the welfare of the church in
your holy heart!
Rev. Ed Dykstra
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These people have also added their names to the list:
Bill Hopper
Sally L. Hill
Mark D. Stansbery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes received
since March 14, 2003, are now posted on a separate page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
Thanks!
