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Winter 2010

Fall 2009

	Co-Moderator Bill Dummer on Mission Celebration ( page 2)
	The Editor’s Spot – "Be still and know ...!" A message for noisy times
	Presbyterian Church calls for just health care reform (10)
	Presbyterians active in Chicago bank protest (13)
	Observations on the "Manhattan Declaration," by Gene TeSelle (15)
	GA PJC rules on ordination cases      (18)
	Baltimore Presbytery sends overture for inclusive marriage (21)      plus other items on efforts toward a more inclusive church
	PHEWA seeks nominations for awards recipients (25)
	Ghost Ranch Seminar, July 26-August 1, 2010 – We’re All In This Together: Confronting the Structures of Injustice (28)
	New Director sought for Washington Office (30)
	Witherspoon/Voices board approves new Mission Statement (38)
	Witherspoon/Voices plans for General Assembly 2010 (34-35)

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Summer 2009

The content of this issue includes (among other things):

	Messages from our Co-Moderators (pp. 2-4)
	The Editor’s Spot – facing change and being faithful to the call to do justice (5-8)
	Meddlin’ – a sermon at the PW Churchwide Gathering, by Margaret Aymer (9-13)
	Getting Back to the Business of Being the Church, by Johnnie Monroe, at the PHEWA gathering at the Big Tent (14-17)
	A report from the Ghost Ranch Peace & Justice Week (18-22)

Announcing next year’s Ghost Ranch seminar: July 26-August 1, 2010 WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE Details on pp. 23-24

Comments on the Form of Government report (25-26)

	More Light Presbyterians meet in Nashville, celebrating “God’s Whole Family” – a report by Gene TeSelle (27-29)
	For the continuing debate on ordination:  Afterthoughts on Authority, by Eric Mount (30-34) Biblicism: Protestantism’s Distinctive Form of Idolatry, by Paul E. Capetz (34-37)

For a higher quality PDF version of this issue, in case you want to print it and share it (and we hope you will!), click here.

	Spring 2009 Some of the features in this issue are: Mitch Trigger’s report on the “Big Tent” Presbyterian gathering in Atlanta – page 5 Marvin Ellison’s “The freedom to marry – at the heart of Christianity” – page 7 Paul Capetz’ “John Calvin: His Significance, Then and Now” – page 9 Gusti Newquist’s feminist statement of faith – page 13 Gene TeSelle on “taking responsibility for the future” – reflections on how we deal with the coming crises in funding Social Security, Medicare, and other retirement benefits and protections – page 16 Sylvia Carlson’s report on a visit to the Presbyterian Church in Sudan, and dealing with differing views on the role of women – page 20 From Homelessness to Hope – a summary of a study report approved by the 218th General Assembly – page 23
	Winter 2009 -- with essays on John Calvin (whose 500th birthday we commemorate this year) by former Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and Gene TeSelle, plus Douglas Ottati's reflections on the state of the society and the church in these troubled times, plus other thoughts and resources for dealing with the current economic crisis.  For a higher quality PDF version of this issue, in case you want to print it and share it (and we hope you will!), click here.
	SUMMER 2008 -- a special issue providing material on the proposed amendment of G-6.0106b (the "fidelity and chastity" requirement), which will be considered in presbyteries during the coming months.
	SPRING 2008 -- our special Pre-Assembly issue brings you analysis and commentary on issues coming to the 218th General Assembly, including the New Social Creed, overtures dealing with ordination, the Heidelberg Catechism, marriage, gun violence, interfaith relations, the Form of Government report, and much more. There are also responses from the four candidates for Moderator to questions from the Witherspoon Society.
	WINTER 2008 -- Focusing on the theme, "The Other Inconvenient Truth: The Growing Gap between Rich and Poor," we offer a variety of perspectives on issues of justice for working people, seen through the work of the organization Interfaith Worker Justice, reflections on issues of worker justice in Latin America, the growing "industry" of union busting, and much more.

	FALL 2007 -- featuring reports from the Witherspoon conference on "Becoming Neighbors" -- a conference on global mission justice.  You'll find most of the material -- and more -- in our online reports.  But now you'll have it in print as well.  You'll also find in the print version an announcement of a new arrangement for Witherspoon's "issues analyst" function (page 7), and nominations and a ballot for new officers (page 15).
	SUMMER 2007 -- including reports from the Week for Peace and Justice at Ghost Ranch; Gene TeSelle's discussion of the "Social Creed," 100 years after its adoption; a discussion on "Immigration, Identity, and God's Providence," and much more.  For table of contents (and page numbers), jump to back cover.
	SPRING 2007 -- including four pieces dealing with our never-ending war in Iraq  (pp. 5-14); "Four steps toward a just peace" -- Shannon O'Donnell reports from Jerusalem  (15-17); reflections after the Virginia Tech "massacre"   (18-19); Easter hope in a Good Friday world, Theological musings by Dr. Paul Capetz  (20-21); learning to live with G-6.0108 and the Authoritative Interpretation, by Gene TeSelle  (22-23); list of contents (back cover)
	WINTER 2007 -- a new report from Mission Volunteer Shannon O'Donnell on "meeting the real Holy Land"; Jake Young on "being a neighbor" in Nicaragua; a survey of concerns about the proposed Federal Budget; "Who Cares about the Iraquis?" by Victoria Furio, and much more.
	FALL 2006 -- reports on Witherspoon's new Global Engagement Initiative (and you can read it on this website, too), along with other creative reflections on the "mission imperative" and the PC(USA)'s social and moral witness in our global context.  And lots more.
	SUMMER 2006 -- comments and analysis from the 2006 General Assembly, plus presentations at Witherspoon events, including Mark Lewis Taylor on "what's going on in the USA?" -- looking at "the rise of an imperial triumvirate"; Eugenia Gamble on "embodying love" in a Birmingham congregation; two reports on the Ghost Ranch seminar on economy, ecology, and empire -- and more.
	SPRING 2006 -- the pre-General Assembly issue, which includes an overview of issues coming the Assembly, with analysis by Gene TeSelle, plus perspectives on various issues including the Theological Task Force report, Israel/Palestine, torture, accompaniment in Haiti and Colombia, and more.
	WINTER 2006 includes an essay by the Rev. John Shuck, commenting on the Theological Task Force report under the title "Not Justice, Not Progress, just the Same Second-Blass Status."  There are articles dealing with torture, the Hamas election victory in Palestine, and much more.
	FALL 2005 -- with a statement by the Witherspoon board on the report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church, along with Doug Ottati's theological analysis of the report; also reports and papers from the Witherspoon conference on our conference on "Dancing with God," on global mission as work for peace and justice.
	SUMMER 2005 (with comments by Gene TeSelle and Doug King on the report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church; reports on a conference to form a Network of Spiritual Progressives, reports on the Ghost Ranch seminar on "Paths to a Just and Peaceful World," and on Cindy Sheehan's vigil in Crawford, Texas ... and much more!)
	SPRING 2005 (with Peter Hodgson on "theological virtues in an age of terror, the problem of torture, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches' statement on "Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth," fair trade, and much more)
	Winter 2005 (with a theological critique of the war on terror, and more on the world's dys-order, Palestinian experiences of violation and affirmations of hope, and more)
	Fall 2004 (with comments and analysis on the presidential election, and on issues relating to Israel, Palestine, divestment, and more)
	Summer 2004 (the issue carrying reports and reflections on General Assembly, and much more)
	Spring 2004 (the issue just before General Assembly)
	Winter 2004 (on living in the New American Empire, and more)
	Fall 2003 (on Pax Americana and the new American empire)
	Summer 2003 (reporting on the 215th General Assembly)
	Spring 2003 (looking toward the 2003 General Assembly)
	Winter 2003 (seeking peace as war drew near)

Some blogs worth visiting

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.

You can post your own news and views, or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you.

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.

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.

Please send a note, and we'll see what we can do!

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE

Susan Robertson  
9650 Clover Circle
Eden Prairie, MN  55347