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Covenant Network appeals for unity |
| The Covenant
Network has sent a letter to all pastors and clerks of session,
encouraging them to consider seriously our Presbyterian
commitment to the unity of the church. They see "the
greatest danger to the unity of the church" as coming
"not from those who advocate change but from a different
source. It is summarized in a statement, 'A Strategic Vision for
Transformation of the PCUSA,' recently issued by the
Presbyterian Coalition." [1-19-02] |
January 2002
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
We write out of concern for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Many believe
it faces a crisis. Some fear a possible schism; others worry that a
partisan spirit will prevail.
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians has been
committed since its founding to the unity of the church. We support the
passage of Amendment 01-A, because the current standards in G-6.0106b
have so deeply divided the church. We do not expect Amendment A to
create instant unity; but we believe that confirming the historic right
and responsibility of local governing bodies to make ordination
decisions will provide a better basis for a diverse church to grow
together in Christ.
We believe that the greatest danger to the unity of
the church comes not from those who advocate change but from a different
source. It is summarized in a statement, "A Strategic Vision for
Transformation of the PCUSA," recently issued by the Presbyterian
Coalition. (If you have not seen it, you may find it posted on their
website, at www.presbycoalition.org/strategicVision.htm.)
The statement, which reiterates a presentation made by
the Presbyterian Lay Committee's chairman at the Coalition's meeting in
fall, 2001, calls for the transformation of the Presbyterian Church into
a narrowly conservative body and the creation of "an effective
shadow denomination while the PC(USA) is being transformed." To
this end, the statement outlines the following steps:
 | destabilizing the denomination by withholding
mission support and per capita funds "to accelerate dynamic and
drastic restructuring of the PC(USA)" ; |
| taking control of the governing bodies by
restricting membership in presbyteries to "ministers who are
accountable to viable congregations"; |
| redefining "connectionalism" as only
among "like-minded churches"; |
| forcing those who disagree with them on ordination
standards "to peacefully separate" from the church or be
disciplined. |
We are confident that most Presbyterians, whether or not they agree with
us on matters of ordination, do not want to live in the denomination
this "strategy" would create - one where all must hold the
same perspective, where pastors of struggling congregations, military
and hospital chaplains, retired clergy, and ministers who serve our
governing bodies and seminaries would no longer be members of
presbytery, where the threat of withdrawing financial support is wielded
as a means for getting one's way, and where no efforts at reconciliation
for the sake of the unity of the Body of Christ would be attempted.
We agree that the Church is in need of the
transformation promised by the Holy Spirit. We, too, long to be built up
into the body of the One who is Head of the Church. We believe, however,
that such transformation will come about by all sides seeking the
"new openness" called for in the Constitution of our church
(G-3.0401). It will not result from the church-dividing pressure tactics
that the Coalition and Lay Committee advocate.
We urge Presbyterians of every viewpoint to reject the
Coalition's plan. We hope that all will join in active support of the
denomination's mission, ministry and leadership, and in commitment to
honest, respectful dialogue about matters currently dividing us. We
appeal to the leaders of the Presbyterian Coalition and Presbyterian Lay
Committee, and to others with whom we disagree, to work with us to
embrace the unity and freedom God has already given in Christ, the
Presbyterian tradition of tolerance in non-essential matters, and a
spirit of love and mutual forbearance that becomes a Christian
community.
Grace and peace,
The Executive Committee of the Covenant Network of
Presbyterians
Joanna M. Adams
Pastor, Trinity Church, Atlanta
Eugene C. Bay
Pastor, Bryn Mawr Church, Bryn Mawr, PA
Deborah A. Block
Pastor, Immanuel Church, Milwaukee
Robert W. Bohl
Pastor, Village Church, Prairie Village, KS
John M. Buchanan
Pastor, Fourth Church, Chicago
Cynthia M. Campbell
President, McCormick Seminary, Chicago
Sheila Gustafson
Pastor, First Church, Santa Fe
Timothy D. Hart-Andersen
Pastor, Westminster Church, Minneapolis
Barbara Wheeler
President, Auburn Seminary, New York
John Wilkinson
Pastor, Third Church, Rochester, NY
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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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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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