|
| |
The Presbyterian Coalition responds to
the "Call to the Church" to seek a "third way"
December 18, 2000
Response to "A Call to the
Church"
by Jerry Andrews, Anita Bell, Bill
Giles,
Terry Schlossberg, Parker Williamson
Recently, a number of Executive Presbyters and other
Presbytery officers issued "A Call to the Church", urging the
church to seek "a third way". They affirmed bible studies held
by a group of 10 leaders, 5 of them in favor of maintaining the
historical, biblical standards for church officers, 5 of them wanting
the church to allow the ordination of practicing homosexuals.
Here is the response of the 5 participants from the
Coalition/Renewal groups side.
Recently we agreed to meet with some in the church
with whom we disagree, with the distinct conviction that Christ alone is
Head of the Church and that knowing and obeying his will as revealed in
Scripture is the calling of the Church. The five of us, in agreeing to
participate in these meetings, claim neither the authority nor the
intention to negotiate any constitutional standard of the PCUSA. We
studied Scripture together with others in September and are agreed to do
the same again this March.
We are troubled that our participation in these
Scripture discussions would be understood by any as seeking a political
settlement. It is not. Involvement in the issues of our day and church,
including meeting with those with whom we disagree, has never been, nor
is it now, about our way, or their way, or some other third way which
might be mutually satisfying. Rather it is about Christ's way. Alone.
Therefore, we have not, and we will not, engage in any
search for an alternative to Scripture's clear and plain teaching, for
we believe, as our Preliminary Principles declare "Insofar as
Christ's will for the Church is set forth in Scripture, it is to be
obeyed." Christ's way is about seeking his will by studying his
Word and agreeing to obey it in his church. It is about open and honest
discussion and debate among all Presbyterians; it is about open and
honest deliberation and decision by the governing bodies of the church.
To this we pledge ourselves, invite any and all to join with us, and
expect this of the church, the whole church. We proclaim in our theology
and order in our polity, Christ's will. Alone. .
Click
here to read the statement on the Coalition web site. |
| |
|
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! |
| |
|
