"America's Poll on Homosexual Marriage," posted and reported by the American Family Association, continues to grow in its number of responses, with almost 60% favoring the legalization of same-sex marriage, and another 8% supporting civil unions.

All this is being reported by one of the leading organizations working to defend the "traditional family."

The details, as of Monday, December 29:

To be sure, a recent poll by the New York Times and CBS News finds that 55% of Americans
favor a Constitutional amendment banning homosexual marriage.

This is archived on the NYTimes website (so it'll cost you a bit to see the full article).

It is also posted in full (and free) by "The Daily Camera."

It is probably more accurate statistically than the AFA poll, but given the anti-gay values reflected in that organization, the results are surprising and interesting.

It appears that our Issues Analyst, Gene TeSelle, has never met an issue he didn't at least like to think about. Here are two reflections, one on an issue - same-sex marriage - that is of direct concern to the PC(USA), the other - legislative redistricting in Texas and Colorado - that is a matter of "good citizenship" for all of us.

He offers these points with the hope they will generate some good conversation, and perhaps ideas for actions to be suggested at the 2004 General Assembly.

If you have thoughts, please send a note and we'll share it here!

Karen Armstrong considers what's going on "when God goes to war." Noting that the major religions, including Christianity and Islam, seem to support peace and goodwill, she asks why they in fact inspire so much hatred and violence, and why their scriptures depict a God that is so "militant."

The answer, she suggests, is that "religion is the creation of human beings, who are biologically programmed for aggression. We dream of peace but slaughter our own kind, and from the very start our faith systems have reflected this tragic dualism."

Her essay is posted on The Guardian Unlimited. She is the author of A History of God.

NOW with Bill Moyers will present a special program on Friday, Dec. 26, tracing the theology and history of Riverside Church in New York City, along with its commitment to social justice, political witness, and religious diversity.

Check out the details, and for local listings go to http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html

Just yesterday we announced a "poll on homosexual marriage" being taken by the American Family Association, which "represents and stands for traditional family values."

We encouraged anyone who wanted to add a bit of diversity to the poll to register their own opinions on the AFA website.

As of mid-day on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, they report these results:

I oppose legalization of homosexual marriage and "civil unions"
38.78%      (164946 votes)

I favor legalization of homosexual marriage
52.88%     (224886 votes)

I favor a "civil union" with the full benefits of marriage except for the name 8.34%      (35466 votes)

You can check their latest reports, and add your own vote, at http://www.afa.net/petitions/marriagepoll.asp

You may also want to look at the statement of purpose of the American Family Association.
 

In a blow to corporate-driven agenda, the U.S. has been forced to complete a scaled-down CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) without Costa Rica.

BushGreenwatch provides accurate and timely information on the Bush Administration's assault on our environment and public health.

The site's creators say "We are dedicated to expanding media coverage and public awareness of the many vital environmental and public health issues affected by the administration's anti-environmental agenda, which consistently places the interests of corporate donors above the public good."

BushGreenwatch is a project of Environmental Media Services, a nonprofit communications clearinghouse, with support from MoveOn.org, the online advocacy group.

Witherspooner Brian "BJ" Jordan asks this question in an op-ed piece he submitted to a local paper in the Daytona Beach, FL area.

Perspectives offers an exploration of issues facing the church as well as some reflective analysis of our life together as a denomination through the lens of scripture, our Reformed theology, and a constitutional and confessional framework.

Click on the link below to enjoy new articles in the December Perspectives.
http://www.pcusa.org/oga/perspectives/index.htm

"A Church of All and for All"
World Council of Churches

"A God's Eye View"
Susan R. Andrews

"Geography"
Gradye Parsons

"Christmas Message"
Konrad Raiser

Your WebWeaver has been looking for a suitable Christmas gift for all our website friends.

Jack King, formerly campus pastor at Indiana University and my brother, has written a poem that does the job well.   

Subject: "Save the American Family"

The American Family Association seems to be preparing a gay marriage poll to deliver to Congress, presumably to prove how all good Americans want to outlaw any such thing. We're sure they will appreciate having a large number of people from a broader background participate.

Just go to:  http://www.afa.net/petitions/marriagepoll.asp

Thanks, and blessings to all of us -- and all our varieties of families and singles -- at Christmas!

The newest issue of Witherspoon's Network News features a number of discussions of the current policies of the U.S. government to impose our dominance on other nations.

Just posted here is a feature essay by Ross and Gloria Kinsler on "Pax Americana: an Inter-American Perspective," as seen from their long experience in Central America, with Biblical and practical reflections on how we might respond to it.

For other discussions of Pax Americana," or the "new American Empire," you might look at "Empire and Church," by Rick Ufford-Chase, and "Pax Americana: a crisis for the Church," by Kent Winters-Hazelton.

Since we posted the first few responses to Dr. Douglas Ottati's theological reflections on "why we shouldn't wait" to ordain LGBT people, the stream of comments has continued.

The Saint Petersburg Times reports on the boycott, both locally and nationally.

Presbyterian News Service reports on the COM vote in the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, recommending that the Presbytery not validate the ministry of the Rev. Parker T. Williamson as chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor in chief of its publications.

Presbytery's Committee on Ministry recommends not validating ministry of Parker Williamson

We've received interesting comments on Dr. Doug Ottati's essay on "why we shouldn't wait" to ordain gay and lesbian people who are called to offices in the Presbyterian Church.  So far one writer agrees strongly with Ottati, while two are less than enthusiastic.

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Christian ethicist concludes same-sex marriage is okay -- but marriage is not for everyone

Titled Same-sex Marriage? A Christian Ethical Analysis, a new book by Marvin M. Ellison, co-editor of Body and Soul: Rethinking Sexuality as Justice-Love, examines the arguments for and against same-sex marriage and concludes that as a matter of justice, the institution should be open to same-sex couples. But he adds the interesting point that marriage is not necessarily ideal for all lesbian or gay people, and that marriage is not for all straight people either.

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Law prof suggests that the issue of "gay marriage" could be settled by separating the civil and religious dimensions

In an article in the L A Times, Harvard law professor and noted attorney Alan M. Dershowitz urges that our nation, like many others, might ease some of the tensions about "gay marriage," while offering guarantees for the rights of lesbian and gay couples, by observing the distinction between the government's role in recognizing stable, committed relationships and supporting them by protecting "the secular rights and responsibilities that are currently associated with the sacrament of marriage: the financial consequences of divorce, the custody of children, Social Security and hospital benefits, etc."

That would leave religious institutions free to recognize and affirm committed relationships in whatever way they choose, and within whatever limits they choose. (Your WebWeaver has to note one error in the article, though: Dershowitz follows President Bush's mistaken assumption that all religious communities consider marriage a sacrament.)

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Kurt Kremlick, a retired Presbyterian minister, sent a comment in response to the latest issue of Witherspoon's Network News, which includes a talk by Rick Ufford-Chase on "empire and church," along with another article by Ross and Gloria Kinsler on "Pax Americana: an inter-American perspective."

Dr. Douglas Ottati writes a regular column of "Theological Musings" for Witherspoon's Network News. In his new column, in the current issue, he considers the reasons why "we shouldn't wait to ordain called and qualified gays and lesbians to all offices of the church, and to endorse same sex unions and / or gay marriages between persons committed to a loving relationship of mutual help and care."

"Oh my Goodness God, is this what you had in mind?"

The Rev. Bobbie McGarey, who serves the Southwest Oklahoma Parish, offers a provocative reflection on Advent -- a season where a shopper gets trampled, but where there's much more, too. 

For earlier reflections on the holy season of Advent:

Police actions against mostly peaceful demonstrators in Miami have drawn more attention and analysis as an example of the continuing expansion of government power against dissent - and against basic human rights.

Sojourners points to three good sources, while the LA Times on Nov. 23 published a provocative opinion piece under the headline, "Mission Creep Hits Home: American armed forces are assuming major new domestic policing and surveillance roles"

On the day after a new Middle East peace accord was signed in Geneva, 31 U.S. Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders today announced in Washington a new collaborative effort -- "Walk the Road to Peace" -- to mobilize public and Bush Administration support for the plan.

For background:

Now's the time to urge the President to provide new funding for child nutrition 

Covenant Network will seek repeal of 1978 "Authoritative Interpretation"

At the 2004 General Assembly, the Covenant Network will seek repeal of the Authoritative Interpretation of 1978, the first action of the PC(USA) to ban the ordination of lesbian and gay people.

Nonviolent protest met with US military violence

Russell Mokhiber, editor of the Corporate Crime Reporter, and Robert Weissman, editor of the Multinational Monitor, reported on the military-style police repression of mostly nonviolent protests against the FTAA meeting in Miami on CommonDreams.org