Earlier stories are indexed:

Gene TeSelle adds more thoughts on the relevance of this 100-year-old statement for our own time.   [11-18-04]

The 216th General Assembly called for conversations and studies to commemorate the centennial of the 1908 Social Creed of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. That statement called for reforms such as an end to child labor, the six-day week, occupational safety, a living wage, and other steps aimed at moving American society closer to what a "Christ-like God" was believed to want for all Americans.

Beyond celebrating the past, the action calls for looking forward with "a survey of key Christian principles to guide 21st century Presbyterians and others in addressing major and likely future concerns, such as the lack of health insurance for 44 million Americans, the outsourcing of jobs to countries without human rights or environmental safeguards, and the impact of growing economic inequality on our democracy ..."

This is obviously a project close to the heart of Witherspoon's values. As a first step toward supporting the study, Gene TeSelle offers a background paper on the Social Creed, and Chris Iosso explores some of the details of the 1908 statement, and what such a new statement might mean for us today.

Some questions and concerns about this action are shared by Gordon Shull -- questions about what happened, and concerns about values such as seeking to communicate with the one called "enemy," and about our integrity as a church when we allow the government or other groups to dictate the terms of our working for peace and justice.   [12-7-04]

A comment on the dismissal of two national church leaders

We recently reported on the sudden dismissal of two key Presbyterian Church (USA) staff members, Kathy Lueckert and Peter Sulyok, apparently because they participated in a meeting of a Presbyterian delegation in Lebanon with Hezbollah, listed as a terrorist organization.

We have just received one message expressing serious concern about this action, in which (says the writer) "our Presbyterian leaders disavow an authentic 'good news' initiative in peacemaking."    [11-18-04]

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick has notified churches bodies around the country that the Presbyterian Center in Louisville has received an anonymous letter postmarked Queens, NY, which threatens arson attacks against Presbyterian churches in retaliation for "your anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitudes."

The 216th General Assembly called for conversations and studies to commemorate the centennial of the 1908 Social Creed of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. That statement engaged churches in advocating for reforms such as an end to child labor, the six-day week, occupational safety, a living wage, and other steps aimed at moving American society closer to what a "Christ-like God" was believed to want for all Americans.

Beyond celebrating the past, the action calls for looking forward with "a survey of key Christian principles to guide 21st century Presbyterians and others in addressing major and likely future concerns, such as the lack of health insurance for 44 million Americans, the outsourcing of jobs to countries without human rights or environmental safeguards, and the impact of growing economic inequality on our democracy ..."

In a note dated September 7, 2004, Dave Hackett informs us that Rick Ufford-Chase has opened a direct-feed Web log - popularly known as a blog - to respond to the many people who have expressed interest in hearing about his moderatorial travels and experiences. The blog, named "U-C: What I See," is available online at http://www.what-i-see.blogspot.com/.

The site already has several blog entries. Rick hopes to share his thoughts and reflections every few days as he travels.

Rick invites his readers to share comments on any blog posting by clicking on the "comments" link attached to each entry. He hopes to have additional interactive features up and running soon, including a "forum" discussion group people can join and contribute their thoughts to.

The Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church concluded its meeting in Dallas on August 6, after focusing at last on the issue of ordination of lgbt Presbyterians, without saying anything publicly about its thinking on the question which led to its creation.

Leslie Scanlon reports in Presbyterian Outlook that the group plans to issue a pastoral letter aimed in part to dampen expectations that the final report will somehow provide a "magic pill" to resolve the differences over ordination and other issues.

Rather, the letter may offer suggestions for processes by which dialogue can move forward among people who differ. And that process is seen is a long-term project.

As was evident in their presentation at the pre-Assembly conference on the work of the Task Force, the group believes presbyteries must encourage various forms of conversation among their own members, while the Task Force continues to seek ways of spiritual discernment in fulfilling its own mandate.

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Negative views from the Layman

Meanwhile, Parker Williamson (chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor in chief of its publications) proclaims that the Task Force is merely putting on a hollow show of unity, while failing to deal with the real issues that divide the church.

Williamson blames the show of unity partly on "a heavy dose of interest-group scrutiny." And just what group might that be, we wonder.

And John Adams of the Layman takes note of the concern expressed by the Rev. Gary Demarest, one of the Task Force members and former pastor of a Confessing Church congregation, that the Task Force has not begun to gather feedback from churches and presbyteries.

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In response to the invitation to conversation from "Keklamenos," we're received two more thoughtful comments, both welcoming the chance for dialogue. One writer, from California, notes that our Presbyterian Church has always acknowledged the legitimacy of other Christians churches with which we may have great differences of theology and practice, and have also affirmed diversity within our own community. The second writer, from Michigan comments that change has always occurred in our church, and with it has come tension - but that we have also affirmed the possibility of coming to new understandings of Scripture.

Also, Gene TeSelle has added more thoughts to his earlier responses to Keklamenos' call for dialogue - affirming, as has Arthur Fullerton - our historic appreciation for diversity.

On July 17 we received a note from someone who requested anonymity as he/she invited us, as representing the progressive side of the Presbyterian Church, to join in "a genuine dialogue."

We clearly prefer not to post messages whose authors do not identify themselves in some way, but after some reflection the Witherspoon executive committee decided that in this case there was some justification for anonymity, and that the invitation to dialogue was one which we should accept and pursue.

So here's the note, with the author's promise "not to engage in personal attacks, name-calling, etc. while shielded by anonymity."

And to open the conversation, we offer a response from Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon's Issues Analyst.

We're happy to present:

The 2004 General Assembly
A Special Report to Witherspoon Society Members
by 
Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Issues Analyst,
 and 
Doug King, Network News editor and WebWeaver

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