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Forming Voices for
Justice
chapters |
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Forming a local chapter of
Presbyterian Voices for Justice
[4-24-01 -- updated 3-12-10]]
Vicki Moss and John Harris, both Presbyterian
pastors in West Virginia, were invited recently to meet with a group
of seminary students who are interested in forming some kind of
on-going organization among progressive students at their seminary.
Harris prepared this brief sketch of what might be involved in
forming a local Witherspoon chapter, with comments added by some
current Witherspoon officers.
We share it here, just in case others (students or
anyone else) might be thinking along similar lines. And we hope you
will!
A note to friends looking for scandalous
doings in the Witherspoon Society: We trust you can read this
recognizing that some of it is offered with tongue in cheek.
))))))))))((((((((((
What does a chapter of the Witherspoon Society look like? How is one
formed? What does the Witherspoon Society expect of its chapters? What
can a chapter expect from the Witherspoon Society? What are the
potential pitfalls experienced by chapter?
What does a chapter of the Witherspoon Society look like?
 | Since The Witherspoon Society seems to be composed
mainly of people who think for themselves, chapters will be
different at every location depending upon the personalities and
eccentricities (especially the latter) of the people involved.
Certainly the fundamental value of social justice is there, but
beyond that your guess is as good as mine. I suspect that none of
them eat much red meat or have a concealed weapons license (unless
it's a Texas chapter). |
How is one formed?
| Call a meeting -- preferably in the most popular
nearby gathering place -- and offer door prizes -- a weekend in
Chiapas, first dance at the GA Witherspoon party, etc. |
| Get in touch with our Communications Coordinator,
Doug King, at (608) 782-5275 or by e-mail at
dougking2@aol.com --
for advice, support, whatever. |
| If you want extra copies of the Witherspoon
newsletter, Network News, get in touch with the editor, Doug
King, at (608) 782-5275, or by e-mail to dougking2@aol.com |
What does the Witherspoon Society expect of its
chapters?
| To raise tons of money and forward most of it on to
the executive committee. If that's not likely, host occasional
seminars on how to keep the faith without losing your pulpit.
Develop an informal placement process where Witherspoon Society
types can find like-minded churches and ministry positions. To
develop friendships that are going to offer mutual support
throughout what may sometimes be a long and isolated ministry. |
What can a chapter expect from the Witherspoon
Society?
| "Our thoughts and prayers. Occasional visits
to lead a workshop in the area of the particular board member's
expertise or experience. Access to our informal and wide-spread
network of progressives in the church -- especially the ones who
live close to the particular chapter." (Trina Zelle) |
| "We welcome creativity. I do not think we
expect anything in particular from our chapters; they are free to
design their meetings and programs as they see fit. My suggestion is
to build a program around an issue or speaker, have a reasonably
priced catered dinner (or pot-luck), have a presentation and then
brainstorm.. Select a few participants to follow up brainstorming
ideas. To me (as a board member) the critical thing is for people to
get together and to talk about how these issues effect them and
their faith. We are losing some of the debate because we do not get
together and talk about our common concerns, questions or ideas.
There are too many lone Witherspooners. We can offer extra copies of
Network News if we get enough notice before the editor runs
a new edition. We encourage regular review of the web site for
update d information of the drama unfolding in our church. With our
limited budget, we cannot offer a regular presence at meetings. Much
of our work is at the GA level and in information sharing with our
allies." (Kent Winters-Hazelton) |
| "I think that any 'chapter' would be for the
purposes of educating people in our presbyteries, recruitment, and
mutual support (all three, at least). Experience in presbyteries
indicate s that 'chapters' or 'liberal caucuses' can grow around
Witherspoon, or More Light, or Covenant Network; we don't want
jurisdictional disputes, and boundaries should be porous."
(Eugene Teselle) |
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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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