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Coalition expresses concern about
voting, calls for evangelical get-out-the-vote efforts
[1-24-01]
The Presbyterian Coalition recently sent a note to its
e-mail list, noting with some concern that the results of voting on
Amendment O so far are 12 yes 30 no. They add that three presbyteries
have shifted from support of Amendment B, to rejecting Amendment O this
year. They continue by assuring their readers that "many liberal
leaning presbyteries are voting early. So, we are not concerned
about being this far behind at this stage of the voting."
Warning that "the turnout of conservative elders
was low" in some close votes, they urge their supporters to get out
the vote, "setting up phone trees to call people who would probably
vote in favor of Amendment O ... especially from churches currently
without a pastor, retired members of presbytery, etc."
They then list what they define as some of the
"very important questions":
"--Are we as a church led by God's revelation, or
shall we be led by some other authority?
--shall we keep matrimony holy or redefine marriage at
will as if it is not instituted by God?
--shall the church say to homosexual people that
same-gender sex is OK, and tell them implicitly that change, if they
desire it, is not possible and should not be desired?
--shall we allow our church to lose its connectional
character, and let every local congregation do whatever it pleases,
same-sex union ceremonies, ordination of practicing homosexuals
etc.?"
The authors of the note encourage their friends -- as we would
encourage visitors here -- to visit the web sites of Presbyterians
Together and the Presbyterian
Coalition (but this site seems to load very slowly!), commending
especially a response by Jay Poppinga to the Outlook editorial,
"Amendment O is Bad Polity."
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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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