|
 Reports and
comments from the
213th General Assembly,
Louisville, Kentucky
June 9-16, 2001
|
| Added on October 29 |
Nonviolence
for the Violent
Prof. Walter Wink spoke at the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship breakfast
at last June's General Assembly, shedding new light on Jesus' famously
impractical advice about turning the other cheek, giving up your cloak,
and going the second mile. His thoughts are relevant these
days. |
| Added on September 24 |
| Jane Dempsey Douglass'
Witherspoon address on Mission Essentials
for the Twenty-first Century: Beyond
Conflict over Sexuality offered a positive vision of our church's
mission in the years ahead -- a mission growing out of Christian
freedom, and seeking economic and environmental justice on a global
scale.
Dr. Douglass has graciously provided us with the full
text of her talk, and we are delighted to share it here. |
| Report added on
Saturday, August 11 |
| Moderators begin
putting together "peace, unity and purity" task force
[8-11-01]
More than 500 names have been submitted for 17-member
panel
Presbyterian News Service reports on the August 6-8
meeting of General Assembly moderator Jack Rogers and his two immediate
predecessors, to begin the process of selecting a 17-member task force
that will "try to lead the Presbyterian Church (USA) out of its
current theological malaise." |
| Report added on
Monday, August 6 |
| Witherspoon president
Jane Hanna offers further reflections on the Assembly -- not its actions
as much the way it acted. She sees a mix of civility
and the Spirit at work. [8-4-01] |
| Report added on
Friday, August 3 |
| One of the potentially
most important events of the 213th General Assembly was the pre-assembly
event which introduced antiracism
training to commissioners and visitors on Saturday, June
9. We reported briefly on this in our post-Assembly wrap-up, but
have now added more detail to this report. We hope you'll take a
look. |
| Reports added on
Monday, July 31 |
| To see Amendment A
from the perspective of someone who is personally involved in the issue
of ordination, and who was a commissioner at the 213th General Assembly,
look at a sermon preached by the Rev. Tammy Lindahl the week after the
Assembly, entitled "Mountain
Moving." [7-31-01] |
| This
prayer was distributed to all commissioners at the 213th General
Assembly. It still carries weight and power and love as a prayer
for our whole church during this year. [7-31-01]
Dear Commissioners and Advisory Delegates,
This is a prayer of some of this Assembly's lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgendered Commissioners and advisory delegates.
We hope you will join us in this prayer:
Spirit of the Living Christ, present with us now at
the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), we praise you for your embrace of creative and redemptive
love. As we live and work and struggle together this week, teach us to
respect one another. Help us to love one another. Free us to enjoy one
another. All to your glory. Amen.
May we all be blessed as we seek to live and witness
to Christ's servant love.
Sincerely,
[there follow the names of three elder commissioners,
three minister commissioners, and one (anonymous) advisory delegate]
|
| Reports added on
Monday, July 23 |
| The
official text of Amendment 01-A
Overture 01-08, as approved by the 213th
General Assembly, has now received its official name for the coming
year: Amendment 01-A. Ordination Standards - On Amending G-6.0106
[7-23-01]
The Office of the General Assembly has
published the full official list of
constitutional amendments that will be sent to the presbyteries for
their votes during the coming year. |
| The
story behind the GA "statement of faith"
[7-23-01]
The Rev. Malcolm Brownlee played a vital but
unexpected role at the 213th General Assembly. He was the
commissioner who proposed a statement of faith which sought to affirm
the lordship of Christ without fencing in the grace of God.
Cary McMullen, religion editor of the Lakeland
(Florida) Ledger, fills in some details about Brownlee, and
hears from him what he intended by offering his statement for approval
by the Assembly. |
| Report added on
Friday, July 20 |
| Eric
Mount, professor of religion at Centre College in Kentucky, reflects
on the Assembly's action on Overture 8 and the new task force on the
peace of the church. He deals with some of the debates on the
place of conscience in the church, on the meaning of connectionalism, on
the role of scripture and the confessions, and on what it means to take
time. [7-20-01] |
| Report added on
Monday, July 16 |
| A
Presbyterian is concerned about the Layman's charge that the
General Assembly was "apostate." [7-16-01] |
| Voices
of Sophia offers reflections on the General Assembly, by Sylvia
Thorson-Smith [7-16-01] |
| Report added on
Tuesday, July 10 |
Moderator sends
pastoral letter
As requested by the General Assembly, Moderator Jack Rogers has send a
pastoral letter to the church interpreting the Assembly's action in
sending to the presbyteries an the amendment which would delete
G-6.0106b from the Book of Order. The full
text of the letter is here. |
| Comment added on
Saturday, July 7 |
| National Capital overture
01-56: issues still unanswered
Overture 56, from National Capital Presbytery, sought
a study of inconsistencies in our constitution, and ways to avoid them
in the future. Gene TeSelle sorts through some of the complexities of
this issue - one, he notes, that perhaps "only a polity wonk can
love." |
| Reports added on
Friday, June 29 |
| Two Korean
Presbyterian leaders appealed to the Assembly to pray for peace and
reunification in Korea, and to oppose the Bush missile plan. |
| Nominations
are being sought for members of the task force on peace, unity and
purity of the Church, to be established by action of this Assembly. |
| Elder Reggie
Gates wrote to us a few days ago asking how the Assembly’s vote to
approve Overture 8 could be considered "middle ground." Pastor
Karen L. Kiser of
Granada Hills, California, responds that this is indeed a return to our
historic polity, and turns us away from efforts to legislate morality. |
| Bobbie
McGarey comments on the number of negative comments about the
Assembly being published in Outlook, and offers an affirmation of
faith. |
| Reports added on
Monday, June 25 |
| The PowerPoint presentation
by 30 Overture Advocates from 27 presbyteries, for the 35 overtures
to the 213th General Assembly asking to change or delete G-6.0106b, is
now available here. |
|
"A
MORE EXCELLENT WAY"
The Rev. Theodore J. Wardlaw, of Central
Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, preached a thoughtful reflection on the
Assembly on the Sunday after it adjourned. He dealt with both the
pain and the hope that he found in that week, and saw the approval of
Overture 8 as a step -- a difficult one, to be sure -- toward recovering
our life as a church. |
| West Virginia pastor
John Harris sent a pastoral letter to
his congregation, reporting on the Assembly and the vote to delete
G-6.0106b. |
| Reports added on Thursday, June
21 |
Gene TeSelle and Doug
King have prepared a report summarizing the
actions of the Assembly. It's long, but there are links to the
particular sections you may want to check out.
 | There's a special section reviewing the
main issues raised in the discussions of New York's overture
01-08, which would delete G-6.0106b from the Book of Order. |
| What
happened here? Some thoughts on
the amazing actions of the 2001 General Assembly |
|
| Central
Presbyterian Church of Louisville, which received Witherspoon's
"Whole Gospel Congregation" Award, was described by Clerk of
Session Dr.
Carolyn Klinge as a true Whole Gospel congregation -- caring for one
another, for their community, and the wider world. |
| We
get letters ... including one from a GA commissioner concerned about
distorted reporting in the general press and by our own News Service,
and another wondering how the actions of the Assembly can be considered
"middle ground" |
| Here's the full text
of the address by Dr. 'Buz' Myers at the
Witherspoon pre-Assembly briefing. Addressing concerns about
biblical teachings in relation to sexuality and ordination, he said,
"Consider that in the Bible there are at most six passages that
treat homosexual relations between consenting adults, at most six
passages in sixty-six books, ... at most six passages out of thousands
and thousands of verses. Can any camp claim that it is being true to
Scripture, when it makes what is clearly a minor issue in the Bible into
a so-called 'wedge issue,' one that divides the Church and threatens its
future unity?" |
|
"For
Freedom, Christ Has Set Us Free!"
A new hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette,
inspired by Paul's letter to the Galatians, seems especially fitting at
the end of the 2001 General Assembly.
|
| Reports added on Tuesday, June
19 |
| We now have the full
text of James Hudnut-Beumler's address
at the Witherspoon luncheon on Sunday, June 10. He spoke on "The
Limits of Polity in Making a Just Church" |
| The Assembly refused
to take actions against choice in relation to abortion, supported equal
benefits for mental health care, and took other health-related
actions. |
| The Rev. Bobbie McGarey, Parish
Pastor of Southwest Oklahoma
Presbyterian Parish, shares "a
prayer after GA." She offered a prayer before
the Assembly, and now adds this one. |
| If you have comments
to share or questions about the Assembly, please
send a note! |
| We'll soon bring you
a summary report of the whole Assembly. So come back soon! |
| Reports added on Monday, June
18 |
| A visitor expresses appreciation
-- and hope -- for the statement of YAD Amy Bell in Committee 6 -
and later on the floor of the Assembly as it debated the ordination of
gay and lesbian people. |
| Commissioners
commented on the vote to send Overture 01-08 to the presbyteries.
[6-18-01]
Witherspooner Mitch Trigger talked with a few
commissioners after the vote on Overture 8. Here's a sampling of the
comments he heard:
John VanderZee, minister commissioner, Presbytery of
Ohio Valley: "I'm pleased. Amendment B had to go."
Patricia Cockrell Wood, minister commissioner, Blackhawk Presbytery:
"I'm glad, but I think we have a lot of pain ahead of us."
Other commissioner comments:
"We have a year of battle waiting for the
presbyteries."
"People are fools if they don't realize that we will all be
hurting. In the body of Christ, when one of us hurts, so do all of us.
That's what has been happening for a long time...it will be a different
pain, but all of us will still be hurting."
"I don't know if the presbyteries can handle what lies ahead." |
| Reports added on
Saturday, June 16 |
| Thoughts on a
new day -- from your WebWeaver |
| Got thoughts, comments,
messages?? Please send a note
and we'll share responses here! |
| Press
conference offers reactions from two sides to ordination action |
| Reports added on Friday, June
15 |
| The
Presbyterian Church has taken a big step toward the deletion of
G-6.0106b
The 213th General Assembly has spoken, and our church
has taken one great step forward toward restoring its own health and
mission. The Assembly voted this afternoon, by 317 to 208, to
approve Overture 01-08, from the Presbytery of New York City, which if
approved by a majority of the presbyteries will delete G-6.0106b from
our Book of Order. |
| We'll add more news
later, so y'all come back!! |
| Reports added on Thursday, June
14 |
Three overtures
calling for confession of salvation only in Christ are
rejected.
Recommendation from Committee on
Theological Issues and Educational Institutions is accepted, with an
added statement of faith |
| Assembly
approves task force to seek peace, unity
and purity of the church
Moderator Rogers
offers comments in press conference: hopes for "breathing
space" from pro- and anti-ordination groups |
| Bill Knox spoke to
the Restoring Creation luncheon,
saying that a grassroots movement remains the key to environmental
issues |
| Assembly approves Committee
on Procedures recommendations for reporting from "affinity
groups," maintains ban on demonstrations. |
Former Moderator Herb
Valentine examines nature of absolutism and fanaticism in challenging
speech at Semper Reformanda dinner
Semper Reformanda also approves merger with
Witherspoon Society
|
| Assembly rejects
proposal for "change ministry"
resources |
| Moderator backs away
from criticism of Confessing Church
Movement supporters, saying some backers
are affirming confessions and promoting unity |
| Reports added on
Wednesday, June 13 |
| New
York's overture 8 passes Committee 6
-- now get the details, and some of the arguments.
YAD offers moving testimony
in Committee 6
Former national staffer speaks of her "surprises" |
| Check out our resource
page, listing material on this site and others that may help you in
considering Overture 01-08. |
| Committees
are sending their reports to the Assembly, and we summarize a few of
the more important recommendations. |
| Got comments??
News, opinions, questions?? Please
let us know, by sending a quick note! |
| For other news (and
there is some!), check
our home page.
More news and commentary will be added later today.
In the meantime, check the official PCUSA
web page. |
| Reports added on Tuesday, June
12 |
New
York's overture 8, to delete G-6.0106b and the authoritative
interpretations, passes Committee 6
[6-12-01, 3:45 pm]
By a vote of 31 to 25, the Committee on Ordination
Standards has just voted to recommend to the full Assembly the adoption
of Overture 01-08 from the Presbytery of New York City.
It first had rejected a substitute motion which would have taken no
action on overture 8 or any of the other overtures relating to
G-6.0106b, by almost the same vote.
Read the details, and some of the
main arguments.
|
| Testimony
to ordination standards committee -- one sample from a woman's
experience of "surprises" |
Need a little
break? Check out some new puns.
(If there
are truly new puns.) |
| Reports added on Monday, June
11 |
| "Three
sisters" glbt groups worship with
joy |
| The committee on ordination
standards heard lengthy testimony on ways of dealing with G-6.0106b |
| Campus
ministry report is approved by committee on evangelism and church
development |
| Rhee, Detterick,
and Kirkpatrick are continuing to urge formation
of a commission, and perhaps the writing
of a new confession. Moderator Jack Rogers also visited Committee
6 this afternoon, encouraging them to consider such a commission as
well. |
| The
Layman is not enthusiastic about Moderator Rogers. |
| Thanks for
visiting!! If you find these bits of news helpful, maybe you'd
find the Witherspoon Society a good source of information and
connections. Check us out! |
| Reports added on
Sunday, June 10 |
| Witherspoon
luncheon hears call for economic justice from Jane Dempsey Douglass,
and from James Hudnut-Beumler, doubts about polity as an instrument of
change |
| The
"three sisters" (More Light Presbyterians, Shower of
Stoles, and That All May Freely Serve) packed their banquet hall last
night to hear Jimmy Creech describe the "call" and marriage
as gifts of God and responses by the persons involved -- and not the
right of the church to confer.
That All May Freely Serve has a
more complete report on Jimmy Creech's talk -- and an
audio of it.
|
| Barbara
Kellam Scott comments on the election of the moderator. |
| George
Will tells Lay Committee gathering that now is the time to 'serve
the soul' |
| Reports from Saturday,
June 9 |
| Jack
Rogers elected GA Moderator on first ballot |
| Presbyterian Bible
professors call for responsible
interpretation of Scripture
A majority of Bible professors at Presbyterian
seminaries has issued a letter, accompanied by a statement, in an effort
to offer some help to the coming discussions at General Assembly. |
Are you here at the
Assembly??
If you are, and if you get hungry sometimes but don't always want to go
to nearby -- and crowded -- and maybe expensive places, check our list
of nearby places to feed your inner self.
And if you have comments on what we report here, or can add news or
observations of your own, please send
a note!!
And if you're not here, but have comments or
questions, we certainly want to hear from you -- so by all means send
a note. |
| Reports from Friday,
June 8 |
| The Rev. Bobbie
McGarey has sent us a prayer for this 213th
General Assembly. |
| Semper
Reformanda offers four perspectives on Assembly issues |
| Covenant
Network hears former moderators set the tone for the Assembly |
Witherspoon offers orientation
session for commissioners
Sexuality in the Bible is put in perspective |
| Presbyterians plan Sunday
morning celebration expressing commitment to an inclusive church |
| CMD
affirms relationship with Scouters group, criticizes Presbyterian
Layman
The Congregational Ministries Division Committee (CMDC),
reacting to what it angrily called "misconceptions perpetrated by The
Presbyterian Layman," has adopted a statement affirming its
covenant with the National Association of Presbyterian Scouters. |
