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Witherspoon Conference
September 16 - 19, 2007
Odds & Ends
For an
index to all our reports on the conference |
"Open
Space Technology" -- time (and space) for do-it-yourself small group
discussions
[10-4-07]
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One open space group at work.
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Tuesday afternoon, following Roberto Jordan’s challenging
discussion of the Accra Confession and the new "Covenanting for Justice in
the Economy and the Earth" program, we made use of the Open Space Technology
method for creating small group conversations about a variety of topics that
were announced and led by conference participants.
A number of discussions centered on possible overtures to
the 2008 General Assembly, including one dealing with fair trade purchasing,
one to challenge the U.S. system of providing international food aid, and
one calling for a study of how the church can speak to our nation’s current
state of disarray. Other groups discussed the Young Adult Volunteer program
(with those who’ve been a part of it), our calling to be "friends with the
Earth," and other topics.
Wednesday morning we took time to hear brief reports from
all of the small groups, with more comments and ideas being offered.
A number of people expressed appreciation for that loose
style of arranging for discussion – some expressing surprise that it worked
so well, and affirming that it was a good chance to hear one another’s
concerns and ideas. |
Closing
worship – commissioned for justice
[10-4-07]
Closing worship, again led by David Gambrel, was designed as a service of
commissioning, with the readings based mainly on the Accra Confession which
had been the centerpiece of our time together and now provided a direction
for our going forth.
The Call to Worship drew us together with these words from
Accra:
We believe that we are called in the Spirit
to account for the hope that is within us through Jesus Christ.
We believe that justice shall prevail and peace shall reign.
We commit ourselves to seek a global covenant for justice
in the economy, in the earth, and in the household of God.
We join in praise to God, Creator, Redeemer, Spirit,
who has "brought down the mighty from their thrones,
lifted up the lowly, filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands."
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Don Beisswenger receives
anointment from Kathy Lancaster |
The commissioning itself was symbolized by an act of
anointing. David Gambrel had prepared a small vessel of oil, and as each of
us walked forward, we received a touch of oil on our foreheads, then turned
to give the same anointment to the one following us – a nice acting out of
the receiving and giving of grace. We were invited to say as we
applied the oil, "The Spirit of God is with you. Seek the peace and
justice of Christ."
The service closed with words taken again from the Accra
Confession, this time as a "Covenant of Solidarity and Commitment" –
By confessing our faith together, we covenant
in obedience to God’s will as an act of faithfulness
in mutual solidarity and in accountable relationships.
This binds us together to work for justice
in the economy and the earth
both in our common global context
as well as our various regional and local settings.
Now we proclaim with passion:
that we will commit ourselves, our time, and our energy,
to changing, renewing, and restoring the economy and the earth,
choosing life, so that we and our descendants might live.
We were sent forth, then, with the words of hope and
commitment from the Canto de Esperanza, the Song of Hope (# 432 in the
Presbyterian Hymnal):
May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Praying, let us work for peace;
singing, share our joy with all;
working for a world that’s new,
faithful when we hear Christ’s call.
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice 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 "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
Darcy Hawk
4007 Gibsonia Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
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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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