|
| |
|
Affirmation 2001
and the Confessing Church Movement
[5-11-01]
The recent announcement of the Affirmation 2001 statement, which is
modeled on the Auburn Affirmation of 1924, is clearly a matter of
significance in the life of our Presbyterian Church, as is the prior
proclamation of a Confessing Church Movement by the Presbyterian
Layman.
Witherspoon President Jane Hanna offers some reflections
on the Confessing Church Movement, but Affirmation 2001 certainly
deserves comment as well. For background, check out the Affirmation
group's press release.
The Executive Committee of the Witherspoon Society
shares these thoughts:
First, we welcome these two very different
contributions to the ongoing conversation (which may be rather too
polite a term) in our church. They each of them - and especially the two
of them together - make clear that there are serious issues under debate
as we continue to struggle with issues of sexuality and ordination, the
authority and interpretation of Scripture. But the issues are deeper and
broader than that: Shall we understand Jesus' message as a proclamation
of grace, or as a call to purity? Is ordination an confirmation of a
person's call to particular leadership roles in the church, or is it the
recognition of a person's moral and spiritual superiority? Is freedom of
conscience to be respected in our church, or subsumed under the demands
for doctrinal uniformity?
Second, we note that each of these statements invokes
earlier documents which were vital when they were made, with profound
consequences for the churches of their time. The citations of the Auburn
Affirmation and of the Barmen Declaration reflect the seriousness of the
concerns being expressed, and the gravity of the theological issues at
stake.
Affirmation 2001 points to some theological issues about which
progressives are indeed concerned. In affirming the freedom of
conscience which stands at the heart of the Reformed tradition, and the
openness to all people which is the core of Jesus' ministry and
teaching, this statement makes points to which the Witherspoon Society
has long been committed.
We therefore encourage all loyal Presbyterians to look seriously at this
document (which can be found on the Web at www.auburnspirit.org)
and consider adding their names to the list of supporters, perhaps
encouraging their sessions and presbyteries to consider such a
commitment as well.
Finally, this pair of statements suggests strongly to us that another
extended period of study holds little promise for achieving
reconciliation in the Presbyterian Church. We believe rather that some
clear action to remove G-6.0106b from our Book of Order, or at
least to protect freedom of conscience in our church, would do far more
to ease the tensions than more talk.
|
| |
| |
|
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! |
| |
|
