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General Assembly 2004
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Overture dealing with G-6.0106b |
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Overture from Western Reserve calls for new authoritative interpretation
[2-27-04]
Your WebWeaver regrets having missed
posting this overture some time ago. Thanks to the Rev. Tricia
Dykers Koenig for a reminder!
This overture has
received concurrences
from the presbyteries of Milwaukee, New York City, Long Island, Albany,
and Santa Fe.
Overture 04-18. On issuing
an Authoritative Interpretation Clarifying Standards
for Ordination.
The Presbytery of the
Western Reserve respectfully overtures the 216th General
Assembly (2004) to issue the following authoritative interpretation:
In carrying out their responsibilities under the Constitution to determine
fitness for office, Sessions and Presbyteries are not bound by statements
of the General Assembly and its Commissions, regarding ordained service by
homosexual persons, that predate
the adoption of
G-6.0106b.
Rationale
In the decades preceding the
adoption of G-6.0106b, General Assemblies and Permanent Judicial
Commissions of the PCUSA, UPCUSA, and PCUS issued
various policy and interpretive statements regarding ordained service by
"self-affirming, practicing homosexual persons." Such statements
were largely grounded in the "Policy Statement and Recommendations" issued
in 1978 by the 190th General Assembly of the UPCUSA, known as "definitive
guidance."
“Definitive guidance" and the
"authoritative interpretations" which followed had the effect of amending
our constitutional standards for ordination without the ratification of
the presbyteries. This effect has been neither definitive nor
authoritative. Rather, these statements have contributed to conflict
and confusion in the Church, and have undermined respect for the
Constitution.
The 208th General
Assembly (1996) moved to end this conflict and confusion by adopting a new
provision in the Constitution, G-6.0106b, that
specifically addresses our standards for the sexual conduct of candidates
for ordained office. This provision was ratified by the
presbyteries, and actually changed the Book of Order. In
order to eliminate continuing confusion and conflict, the 216th
General Assembly should make clear that the language of the Constitution
itself takes precedence over older General Assembly statements
interpreting the Constitution before it was changed.
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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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 |
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