|
| |
|
General Assembly 2004
|
|
"Other" Overtures |
|
An overture to stabilize
the world's population
[6-10-04]
Overture 04-48 calls on the
Presbyterian Church to update its policies on population and environmental
issues to deal with the new challenges of the 21st century.
William Gibson and Willem Bodisco Massink provide
a brief background paper
on the reasons behind the overture. |
| Overture 04-54 calls for new
study of religious pluralism [3-16-04]
Overture 04-54, from the Presbytery of Eastern Oklahoma, asks
the General Assembly to call on the presidents of Presbyterian seminaries to
"designate scholars in the field of religious pluralism to form a task force
to draft a denominational policy consistent with the religious pluralism
reality in the United States of America and in the world." |
Hudson River Presbytery approves overture on
examination of candidates
[2-14-04]
On Thursday, Feb. 5, the Presbytery of Hudson
River voted to approve an overture "On Examining
the Conscience of Candidates," which would provide guidance to ordaining
bodies on what are and are not appropriate matters on which candidates for
ordination may be examined, and how the freedom of Christian conscience is
to be respected.
The Rev. Dr. Chris Iosso, former
Witherspoon Issues Analyst and head of the Faith and Order Committee and the
Third Way Project of the Presbytery, reports:
It was a voice vote, virtually unanimous,
on second hearing. The Presbytery considers itself a welcoming presbytery,
with a diversity of theological stances and ministry styles. Changes in
the text reflect awareness of controversies in other presbyteries that
"narrow the gate" for ministers, as well as a desire to affirm a diversity
of perspectives on individual sessions and boards of deacons. It follows
up the Presbytery's concern for the use of the Confession of 1967 and the
whole Book of Confessions.
He invites other presbyteries to consider endorsing this
overture. |
|
Overture for population
stabilization
The Presbytery of Lackawanna recently passed
an overture to the General Assembly, calling on the church, the government,
and individuals to work toward stabilizing and then reducing the global
population, as a vital means of stewardship of God's creation.
[1-31-04] |
| Overture to Philadelphia Presbytery would
require Stated Clerk to apologize to ministers removed for refusing to
ordain women. [1-20-04] We have
received the text of an overture from Bethany
Collegiate Church, in
Havertown, PA,
which may be of interest as a counter-move to those who now call on the
Presbyterian Church (USA) to allow some freedom in matters of ordaining LGBT
people.
The Layman Online has reported on this, and
the full text of the proposed overture is here, too.
Bethany Collegiate Presbyterian Church is a member of the
"Confessing Churches" movement.
The congregation's website is at
http://www.bethanycollegiate.com |
|
"Gracious separation" overture is rejected by Washington Presbytery
[1-20-04] By a vote of 26 in favor to 76
opposed, the Presbytery of Washington, in western Pennsylvania, rejected
the proposal that has been put forward by a number of conservative groups
in the PC(USA). [The vote count comes from the
Washington County [PA] Observer-Reporter; the
Layman Online reports a vote of 28 in favor.]
The Rev. L. Rus Howard, pastor of Peters Creek United
Presbyterian Church, introduced the motion calling for an overture on
gracious separation. The Rev. Mr. Hubbard gained national attention in
October of 2002 when he, with four other Presbyterian ministers, taped a
"Call to Confession and Repentance"
on a wall of the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, charging that the
PC(USA) is "decaying and dying in the belly of the beast" and is
"irretrievably apostate under current management." The Peters Creek church
is a member of the "Confessing Church" movement.
The
proposal for "gracious separation" was largely authored by attorney
Bob Howard, a former chair and still a member of the Board of the
Presbyterian Lay Committee (no relation to Rus Howard). His proposal
essentially called on conservatives and evangelicals to split from the
PC(USA) and form a separate church. His proposal was one of the major
points of discussion - and disagreement - during the October 2003 national
conference of the Presbyterian Coalition. |
| |
| |
|
Some blogs worth visiting |
| |
|
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. |
| |
|
Witherspoon’s Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’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. |
| |
|
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! |
| |
|
Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
| |
|
If you like what you find
here,
we hope you'll help us keep this website 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 "Witherspoon Society" and marked "web site," to our
Witherspoon Bookkeeper:
Susan Robertson
9650 Clover Circle
Eden Prairie, MN 55347 |
| |
|
