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Our reports about the 219th General Assembly, July 2010

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Comments on Ottati:
"Why we shouldn't wait"

More on "why we shouldn't wait"
[12-8-03]

Brian "BJ" Jordan, a recent transplant from the Northeast to Florida, sends this comment on Doug Ottati's essay on "Why we shouldn't wait."

~~~~~~~~~

Re: Ottati's paper.

I should preface my comments with an aside that I'm just a regular guy who leans left to see the world the way it could be.

Obviously [Ottati's paper is] well constructed and to the point.

It's reassuring and inspirational that what reverbs so deep within me has found such a strong voice in Ottati's work.

I'm sure many others who have had the privilege to read this paper feel the same.

Amen and Grace be to God for the inspiration and movement of the Spirit to lend voice through Doug to what our hearts testify.

On the issue at large.. Maybe it's me, but I'm really not so sure why we (progressives) are so overly concerned with fundamentalists splitting the denomination over the issue.

In a very simplistic sense why should we continue to compromise God's Love for the sake of polity? (note my choice of capitalization)

We have become a product of our own devices as a democratic body, sacrificing core beliefs and theologically subjugating our brothers and sisters simply for the sake of organizational union.

To me, this is utilitarianism gone awry. At the end of the day what utility is there in withholding the full and unconditional Love of our community from our brothers and sisters - no matter how many or how few they number - simply because they are "different." And let's be honest here... Like all of us.. I'm all for common ground, I'm all for compromise, I'm all for findings ways for all of us to "just get along"... But... There are moments in time where we must ask ourselves if such a compromise, if what we consider "common ground" is actually at the expense of the Love which we are all called to bear witness too. When it is, God help us all if we lack the courage to fight for Christ's convictions.

There are times when we must stand up and move Onward as Christian Soldiers. For when we sit idly by, we ignore the Spirit strumming the strings of our heart and we refuse to lend our own voices to the Harmony at hand.

And after all of this, for those left with lingering doubt based not on a possible split, but rather, based on exegesis of one form or another...

In any human debate over judgement in the eyes of God, is it not wise to always err on the side of Love ?

Isn't that the minimum that She would expect from Her children?
 

Brian "BJ" Jordan

~~~~~~~~~~

Dec 5,2003

Regarding the above subject. May I please refer the professor to Romans Chapter 8?

Regards,

Dean Murphy
Wichita, Ks

~~~~~~~~~~

12.06.03

The PCUSA should not wait any more. It should get rid of all kind of lust in shape of "Homosexuals" in the church. The "Evil" and "Devil Disciples" (Homosexuals) are not under the Grace according to the Holy Bible.

Bishop Timotheus Nasir
Presbyterian Bishop of Pakistan,

The United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan.

P. O. Box. 570

Gujranwala. 52250

Pakistan
E-mail. gunner@brain.net.pk

 

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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:

bullet 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!

bullet 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.

bullet Amendment 10-1, which  adopts the new Form of Government that was approved by the Assembly.   Approved.
 

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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!

 

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