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New university in Colombia |
| Presbyterian mission co-worker seeks
help in urging U.S. senators to support new Reformed University,
successor to Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Colombia, South
America
[5-28-01]
In an e-mail note dated 5/20/01, Witherspoon member Alice Winters
wrote from Barranquilla, Colombia, explaining that the new university
is in the final stages of seeking government approval. Given the close
ties between the governments of Colombia and the U.S., a word from the
U.S. ambassador could be very helpful, and we can urge our senators in
Washington to encourage the ambassador to speak such a word.
The following will be included in a newsletter that
you should receive in a couple of weeks, but the need is so urgent I am
sharing it with some folks in advance:
I have tried to keep you informed of the progress of our new Reformed
University, successor to the Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Our
project has gone very well and has been received with praise through
every part of the process of accreditation. But now we are entering the
last stage-- the project is going before the commission that will
finally determine whether or not to approve our status as a university
corporation.
But here we need something more than a good project. A good project may
sit on the shelf for years unless persons with influence on the national
- or international - level speak to the commission of the Minister of
Education on its behalf. We are proud that the Vice President of
Colombia, Gustavo Bell, has taken an interest in our university; that is
a big plus. Also some Colombian Senators have gotten behind our project.
But our advisors in the Education Ministry have told us that, given the
current relationship between Colombia and the US based on the extensive
aid coming to this country through the Plan Colombia, a word from the US
Ambassador could be definitive.
The way to enlist the Ambassador's support is through the U.S. Senate,
Therefore I am asking you to write, and to get members of your church,
and hopefully other churches in your presbytery, to write to your
Senators. Ask them to request that the US Ambassador in Colombia speak
to the Colombian Minister of Education on behalf of the "Corporación
Universitaria Reformada -- CUR." That is the formal name of our
university in Spanish. It means Reformed University Corporation. You
might mention that the CUR is an institution which provides important
educational alternatives for this war-torn country, emphasizing a
culture of peace and human development.
It would be very significant if the Ambassador could say that a number
of US Senators have expressed interest in the accreditation of the CUR
and that many US churches are directly interested in this work. We have
reason to believe that once the Ambassador's interest is expressed, the
final papers will be expedited.
And please pray for the CUR in this critical time. Pray that our final
papers will be processed with a minimum of delay and pray that we may
truly respond to the needs of Colombia. I know that you hear much about
Colombia in your newspapers - the violence, the
poverty, the human rights violations are all real. But we are making
a difference and your contribution right now is especially important.
Please write to your Senators today.
Blessings on you . . .
Alice Winters
E-mail: alicia@latino.net.co
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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
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Click here to send a
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Or send your check, made
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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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