|
| |
| ACC comments
on overtures dealing with G-6.0106b
[4-28-01]
The Advisory Committee on the Constitution has
published its report to the Assembly, including comments on the various
types of overtures aimed at dealing with G-6.0106b. They are categorized
as: Exemption Waiver, Inclusion Lists, Governing Body Discretion, Amend
or Delete G-6.0106b, and New Authoritative Interpretation.
We hope to bring a discussion of these comments soon.
In the meantime, check
them out for yourself! But you'll need to be patient. This is a big
page, and may take a while to download. |
| The Advisory Committee on the
Constitution has also published its response
to Request 00-3, from the 212th General Assembly, which
sought clarification about the obligations
of a nominating committee in relation to G-6.0106b.
[4-28-01]
The ACC responds that nominating committees do not
bear responsibility for examining candidates for ordination, since only
a session or a presbytery is required to carry out such examinations. A
nominating committee may do so, however, "after receiving
information from any source that raises a question whether the
candidate's present manner of life is a demonstration of the Christian
gospel in the church and the world."
The Committee adds that examination should deal only with a candidate's
present life, and not be concerned with the person's past life.
The response concludes: "Genuine repentance does not imply future
perfection. The Heidelberg Catechism and The Westminster Larger
Catechism teach that sanctification is a process that does not reach
completion in this life (The Book of Confessions, 4.114-.115;
7.187-.188) Even regenerate believers who sincerely repent fall short of
perfection. We should, therefore, refrain from expecting perfection of
anyone. Inquiries into the lives of candidates should be sensitively
aware of these truths. ..."
|
| |
|
Visit
our lively
new website! |
|
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:
 |
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! |
|
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. |
|
Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
|
| |
|
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 |
| |
|
Some blogs worth visiting |
|
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. |
| |
|
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. |
| |
|
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. |
| |
|
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. |
| |
|
Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
| |
|
