|
| |
|
 General Assembly 2004
National Issues |
| "Christian Declaration of Marriage" is not approved
Some support is shown for
same-sex relationships
[7-2-04]
In a long Thursday evening session filled with slightly
inconsistent decisions, the Assembly dealt with many questions about
marriage in its various forms - or whether it may take various
forms.
The much-debated "Christian Declaration of Marriage"
came before the Assembly on Thursday evening in the report of the
Committee on National Issues. The committee - by a vote of 32 to 29 -
called for a year of prayer for the family, without approving of the
Declaration. One basis for their action was the belief that the Book of
Order makes very clear the meaning of marriage as a covenant between a man
and a woman.
Donald Wade of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
presented a minority report, asking approval of the whole overture,
including "A Christian Declaration of Marriage," asserting his belief that
the whole Assembly should have the opportunity to discuss and vote on the
issue.
Supporting the Declaration, he said, would give the
PU(USA) a chance to express its unity with over 50 denominations in the
United States, and its commitment to strengthen marriages and families. It
would also encourage the wide use of the new "Transforming Families"
paper, which emphasizes the positives values of marriage. He assured the
Assembly that it does not have anything to do with the proposed Federal
Marriage Amendment, nor the question of homosexual marriage.
The minority report was rejected by 226 yes votes to 290
no votes, and the committee's majority report was passed by 394 to 211.
| Perhaps the best statement in this
debate was contributed by a YAD: "Paul said, 'Only marry if
you've got a bad case of lust.'" |
A Commissioners' Resolution expressing concern for the new law going into
effect today in the Commonwealth of Virginia, which denies civil and
economic rights to all same-sex couples, was passed fairly quickly by 350
to 132.
In response to an overture seeking recognition for civil marriage for
same-sex couples, the committee offered a statement affirming instead
"civil rights for same-gender couples." The debate focused on the tension
between people's concern for maintaining what they see as the limits of
Christian marriage, and the Christian commitment to respect the dignity of
all people. By a vote of 290 to 224, the Assembly approved an amendment to
add an affirmation of "Christian marriage," and the full statement was
then approved by 386 to 122.
But then in another action, the committee recommended a statement that no
action of this Assembly "is to be construed to state or imply a position
for or against the Federal Marriage Amendment. General Assembly entities
shall not advocate for or against the Federal Marriage Amendment." An
amendment was proposed to delete the second sentence, thus supporting the
recent support of the Washington Office for an ecumenical statement in
opposition to the FMA; that amendment was defeated by 275 to 224. The
motion was then approved.
A reaffirmation of "our nation's social insurance system (Social Security
and Medicare)" was approved by voice vote.
Responding to a call for the repeal of the Patriot Act, the committee
recommended instead a call for "a thorough, calm, and reasoned review of
the USA Patriot Act." That was passed by a weary voice vote at 10:59 PM.
|
| |
|
Visit
our lively
new website! |
|
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:
 |
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! |
|
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. |
|
Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
|
| |
|
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 |
| |
|
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! |
| |
|
