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An open letter
to President Bush
as threats of war grow louder |
| The Executive Committee of the Witherspoon Society has
approved this brief statement as an expression of our concern and
convictions. [1-27-03]
Dear President Bush:
The Executive Committee of the Witherspoon Society, an
affinity group of the Presbyterian Church (USA) dedicated to peace and
justice, feels the urgent need to add our voices to the millions across the
nation and especially within the religious community, in questioning the
planned war with Iraq.
We come to this conviction out of concerns for the public
interest and strong doubts about the strategic benefits of such a military
operation, as well as our belief that this would in no way meet the historic
criteria for a just war. But you and your advisors have heard all of those
arguments before.
Rather we want to lift up the voice of Jesus, the Christ,
who spoke of peace and of unity with all peoples of the earth. The Prince of
Peace, whose birth we celebrated less than a month ago, is watching us and
expects nothing less of us than to witness to that peace and unity.
We join with myriad voices in the faith community:
Methodist Women, the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church
(USA), the Episcopal Council of Bishops, Pope John Paul, the New Mexico
Conference of Churches, the National Council of Churches and the scores of
individuals and congregations in our denomination as well as others that
have taken the courageous step of questioning the efficacy of this impending
war. We stand in solidarity with those who feel compelled to witness to
their faith in opposition to war in Iraq.
It is with saddened and troubled hearts that we issue this
plea to you from the thousands in the Christian community: please reconsider
this venture in light of Biblical teaching and Christ's message of peace.
In the spirit of Christ's Shalom,
The Executive Committee of The Witherspoon Society
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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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 |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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