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Theological Task Force
on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church
Responding to the Final Report -- Part 2 |
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Presbyterian Coalition and Theological Task Force hold
discussion showing their differences on what the report could bring
[5-12-06] Leslie Scanlon of Presbyterian
Outlook begins her report:
Folks were civil and respectful – no one screamed and no
one threw dishes. But a blunt exchange on May 10 between board members of
the Presbyterian Coalition and five members of the Theological Task Force
on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
revealed some enduring differences of opinion about what the task force is
trying to accomplish –and about what it will mean for the church if the
General Assembly approves the task force report in June.
The rest of the article >>
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Not Justice, Not Progress, Just the Same Second-Class
Status: An Evaluation of the Theological Task Force Report
[2-15-06]
John Shuck, Pastor of First Presbyterian
Church in Elizabethton, Tennessee, reflects on the "Peace, Unity and Purity"
report in light of his own situation of "heterosexual privilege." That
reflection leads him to assert: "While there is much in the report
that is good, its final recommendation shatters any good that can come from
it. Recommendation number six will allow for neither justice nor progress
for lgbt people in our denomination. It requests that we make no change to
an unjust, untruthful, and discriminatory policy."
And he offers a litany of statements in our
Book of Order, which state clearly our belief as a church that, for
instance, "… homosexuality is not God’s wish for
humanity. This we affirm, despite the fact that some of its forms may be
deeply rooted in an individual’s personality structure."
The Task Force recommendations would leave
such statements standing in our church's Constitution, and we would take no
real steps toward justice.
Read his essay >> |
On the Theological Task Force
report – some say its goes too far, others say it doesn’t go far enough
[10-13-05]
Jean Rodenbough comments with some discouragement on
the recent statement by conservative
Presbyterian groups on the Theological Task Force report on the Peace,
Unity and Purity of the Church.
October 13, 2005
Interesting that two groups in the church who would be most affected by
the adoption of this paper – though in different ways perhaps – have strong
criticisms about it. Looks like some of the dynamics related to the
nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supremes.
The major difference is that the conservative groups oppose it supposedly
on theological and scriptural grounds, while the other groups, with whom
Witherspooners are aligned, feel it is not going to make a significant
difference for them. One group says it goes too far, the other that it
doesn't go far enough.
I'm not up on the Old Light - New Light, and Old School - New School
battles of another time, but this study paper may signify another important
moment in Presbyterian history. To give the right wing folks some credit,
they are being pretty consistent in wanting to control how biblical
standards and Bok of Order issues are interpreted. But it is a "confining
fire" rather than a "refining fire."
Their stand leaves no room for the Spirit to move us toward some common
ground.
Those with whom Witherspoon stands will need lots of support to see this
through. We too have different perspectives within our progressive
organizations, but ones that can be reconciled. I am not sure we can
reconcile with those who signed on to the report from the conservatives.
It simply boggles my mind, however, that in the midst of a world gone
crazy with war and disasters, with the poor suffering and dying, with our
"enemies" unloved by our invading armies, we continue to quibble about the
nature of human beings in their preferences for one another!
Where have Amos and Hosea gone? What is Jesus calling us to do? To invade
the private lives of individuals who live honorable and committed and
responsible lives together? Are we going to continue battling over the Ten
Commandments and ignore the Sermon on the Mount, a far more relevant
description of the call to the Christian life?
This is a most discouraging moment in the life of the Presbyterian
Church, and I do not feel very hopeful at this point about our future.
Jean Rodenbough
Greensboro, NC
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Conservative Presbyterian groups proclaim their opposition to the "Peace,
Unity and Purity Report"
[10-12-05]A number of
evangelical leaders and organizations have issued a declaration of their
opposition to the Theological Task Force report on the Peace, Unity and
Purity Report of the Church.
The statement says, in part:
In spite of [its] valuable affirmations, we conclude
with regret that the Report has not given the church a consistently clear
witness to the word of God. Taken as a whole, it constitutes a blend of
truth and error that, if adopted, will undermine the church's purity and
exacerbate the denomination’s disunity. Indeed, it will promote schism by
permitting the disregard of clear standards of Scripture and the
Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
They conclude:
Because we cannot commend the whole Report to the
church, our renewal organizations will offer resources to assist the
church in discerning a better way to seek its peace, unity, and purity.
Organizations endorsing the statement
include The Institute on Religion and Democracy, The New Wineskins
Initiative, The Presbyterian Coalition, The Presbyterian Forum, The
Presbyterian Lay Committee, and Presbyterians Pro Life.
Read the full
statement >>
Read a comment on the statement >>
Got comments??
Please
send a note, to be shared here. |
| That All May
Freely Serve responds to the Theological Task Force report
Urges continued efforts to remove
ordination ban from Book of Order
Press Release from That All May Freely Serve: September
5, 2005
[9-6-05]
Essential to the work and core values of That All May
Freely Serve is the belief that there can be no second-class membership for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people in the full work and
worship of the Presbyterian Church(USA).
The National Board of That All May Freely Serve is
sincerely grateful for the efforts of the Theological Task Force as it has
thoughtfully and prayerfully written its
report.
Our response to the Theological Task Force and its work offers respect and
appreciation for their achievement but disappointment for what was left
unsaid and undone.
That All May Freely Serve holds up the Task Force's
affirmation of the constitutional provisions of G-6.0108 a. and b. These
provisions are firmly rooted in "The Adopting Act of 1729" and the "Plan of
Union of 1758." The principle and practice of "scruples" is steadfastly
based on the right and responsibility of the governing body that ordains
and/or installs a candidate. That governing body is the ultimate deciding
body in judging whether or not the candidate has departed from the
essentials of Reformed faith and polity and thus worthy of being ordained
and/or installed to an ordained office.
Our polity makes it clear that the General Assembly
establishes the ordination standards that are to be held in common across
the denomination. In alignment with that fact, we uphold the principle of
Presbyterian polity: presbyteries and sessions are given responsibility and
authority, as succinctly summarized in G-6.0108, to decide what candidates
may or may not be ordained and/or installed by that particular governing
body. That All May Freely Serve cites Amendment G-6.0106 b. as an aberration
set within the context of this rich and historical principle of Presbyterian
polity. For this and many other reasons G-6.0106 b. must be deleted without
delay.
What disappoints us is that the exclusionary practices of
this church continue to be tolerated as part of a timeline for the promise
of peace, purity, and unity. Such a position at any level of our government
or in any recommendations is tantamount to accepting the inherent violence
in the exclusion of the LGBT faith community as an acceptable price to pay.
That All May Freely Serve can never acquiesce to any recommendation,
amendment, or other provisions that prolong marginalization of our LGBT
family. We work and pray for an awakening in our church that finds its
prophetic voice with a resounding "No!" to any practice that continues the
oppression and dehumanization of our LGBT brothers and sisters.
Still, we stay and work tirelessly for a season of justice
sooner, rather than later. We welcome and invite full and open dialogue with
our brothers and sisters who may share different views. However, we ask all
to hear us when we say there can be no pause in our work until G-6.0106 b.
is deleted from the Book of Order. We are bound by our conscience, our
calls, and the lives of those we serve to reject any moratorium in the
furtherance of this mission.
There can be no rest for us until our LGBT family worships
and works in this church with the same rights as our heterosexual sisters
and brothers. Peace, purity, and unity can only be achieved when the doors
in this church are taken off their hinges opened widely so that all may
freely serve. Only then will we be able to embrace one another in the
wonderful diversity of our Creator and be faithful servants to the baptism
we share as members of the Body and Church of Jesus Christ.
The full statement from TAMFS >> |
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Response from the Executive
Committee of
The Covenant Network Of Presbyterians
to the Final Report of the
Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of
the Church
August 31, 2005
[8-31-05]
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians has, since its founding, worked to
make the church more just and inclusive for all its members. We have sought
to change church policies, longing for the day when God’s call to ordained
office of faithful Presbyterians in committed same-gender relationships
might be recognized and celebrated. Making such a change is critically
important as a matter of both theological integrity and Presbyterian
tradition.
At the same time, the Covenant Network has placed great
significance on remaining together as a family of faith in the oneness that
is ours in Jesus Christ. We remain deeply committed to both of these goals –
full inclusion and church unity – for the Presbyterian Church (USA).
In light of those two basic commitments, we with other
Presbyterians have waited four years with eager hope for the completion of
the work of the Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church. Last
week the Task Force finished its labor.
Our first response to the Task Force is gratitude for
their careful work and for their shared dedication to the church. We believe
that the report is theologically sound, solidly Reformed, and faithfully
wrought. The work of four years, by twenty deeply committed Presbyterians,
cannot fairly be reduced overnight to easy sound bites or partisan
rebuttals. In our view, it requires study, prayer, conversation, and ongoing
discernment, especially with those who disagree with us about ends and
means.
While the Task Force report calls convincingly for the unity of the
church, we note sadly that the final recommendations do not address all of
our hopes for the church – in particular, for its gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender members. We understand that the Task Force was not charged
to provide solutions to all the challenges facing the church around
ordination. However, the Covenant Network continues to hold a vision of the
church as generous and just as God’s grace and remains committed to changing
ordination standards we believe to be a departure from Presbyterian
tradition and Jesus’ own teaching and practice.
Like the church itself, the Task Force was comprised of
individual Presbyterians who disagree on many issues, including ordination.
Yet the work of the Task Force is imbued with an irenic and gracious spirit.
Task Force members found the humility to "step back from controversies that
threaten the peace, unity, and purity of the church and take time to seek
the truth together" (lines 201-203). With prayerful deliberation on
difficult issues, they committed themselves to "make room for the living God
to lead us and guide us by the Spirit" (lines 203-204).
For the first time in decades, a group with the topic of
sexuality in its mandate has reached unanimity in its recommendations, with
no minority report. In light of the fact that Task Force members were chosen
for the strength and diversity of their views, that is an extraordinary
agreement and perhaps a sign of God’s guidance.
For this reason, the Covenant Network believes all
Presbyterians must take the full report of the Task Force very seriously,
honoring its spirit and thinking deeply about the matters discerned in it.
We hope that the whole church will join in a time of careful deliberation,
prayer, and conversation about it in the months ahead. |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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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. |
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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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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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