|
| |
|
Comments on the voting on Amendment
A
as of mid-March, 2002 |
| Pastor
gives away his stoles as a symbol of solidarity
[3-25-02]
The Rev. John Mann, pastor of Peace Presbyterian
Church in St. Louis Park, MN, has found a creative way to show through
his ministry his solidarity with those who are excluded from ministry.
He is giving his stoles to people who cannot be ordained, and will no
longer wear stoles until they can, as well.
Read how he describes the path that has led him to
this action. But be aware that if you follow his example, you too may
expect what he describes as "vitriolic" responses. |
| The vote on Amendment 01-A: 46 yes -
120 no
[3-13-02]
Recent votes:
YES: New Brunswick, Cascades; Lake Michigan; Miami; Grand Canyon (122 -
96 - a shift from past votes in favor of 96-B and against 97-A.
NO: Cincinnati, Indian Nations
Here are some comments from presbyteries that have
voted most recently:
From Indian Nations:
In a message dated 3/10/02, Bobbie McGarey writes:
The vote was taken Saturday March 9, the
vote was a tie ... 52-52 and one abstaining. The moderator had voted in
the original vote so his vote could not be the one to break the tie.
Therefore it was "technically defeated." What does this mean
in this presbytery? We are surely evenly divided. Debate ... didn't
happen ... question called for quickly ...
So cover your pictures of Jesus and those Jesus Dolls are surely out,
tear up those multi-fabric clothes (better go check my robe), get out
your checkbook and be sure you tithe, no golf or football or play on
Sunday and I am not sure if you can drive to church, you women ministers
stop that radical baptizing, watch your weight or begin losing to prove
you are really not a glutton (we'll weigh in everyone at presbytery and
you have until the next meeting to get into compliant weight or at least
show that you are trying to get there ..., wake up! the God-squad is
coming! and this is really not funny. But remember fair is fair ... if
you are going to take some to court for non compliance ... "well we
all go together or we don't go at all..."(song by John McGarey)
Having said that ... we wrestle with an angel for a blessing because
there is nothing clear about what is ahead for the PCUSA except to know
that God abides.
Bobbie McGarey
I remain...a self-avowed, un repentant, female baptizer. but how long
will that last?
~~~~~~~
One observer in the Presbytery
of Grand Canyon reports:
Presbytery of Grand Canyon also voted on Amendment A this past Saturday.
The vote was 122 FOR, 96 AGAINST, 3 ABSTENTIONS. I had fears that, as in
previous votes on the topic, it will fail in conservative AZ. But I
guess the opposition has been reducing from year to year. The previous
vote (2001) on same gender unions failed here by one single vote.
I'm happy to share that the spirit was moving and the presbytery
approved A (even though it has failed nationally). I'm happier to report
that with that vote we joined our three sister presbyteries to have the
entire Synod of The Southwest voting affirmatively on A. I have not kept
track. Are there other synods with the same results?
~~~~~~~
Kurt Kremlick reports from Lake
Michigan Presbytery's meeting on March 9:
On 01-A, the vote was 82 yes, 59 no, and 1 abstention. Debate was about
a half hour and civil, about 8-9 people spoke, equally divided. When the
previous question was moved it passed with no audible "no's."
~~~~~~~
Hal Porter comments
on Cincinnati's vote to disapprove Amendment 01-A.
|
| |
|
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! |
| |
|
