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Archive for July - September, 2000 |
| Added
on 9/25/00 |
| Gene
TeSelle comments on the new GAC emphasis on evangelism, noting it is
only a first step, and questioning the inward focus of an apparent focus
on "outreach." |
| Added
on 9/22/00 |
| The
GAC in a 4-hour meeting on Friday, Sept. 22, ranked its programs on
the basis of a scale valuing evangelism and discipleship above social
and justice concerns. This will help guide 2002 mission budget.
Two
Witherspoon Executive Committee members commented on the GAC action before our
meeting ended on Saturday afternoon, September 23. [9/23/00]
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| Added
on 9/20/00 |
| An
inner-city pastor challenges well-off evangelical suburban churches to partner
with inner-city churches and service agencies. |
| Added
on 9/18/00 |
| Martha
Juillerat, director of the Stoles Project,
preaches on why she is not giving up on the PC(USA), in a sermon on I
Cor. 12 entitled "Next
Year's T-shirt" |
| Ecumenical
News International has issued a lengthy report on reactions from
many Protestant and Catholic leaders to the Vatican's statement, Dominus
Jesus. Hans Kung calls it "a mixture of medieval backwardness
and Vatican megalomania." |
| Added
on 9/16/00 |
| Here's
a belated report on Witherspoon's
annual meeting and election of new officers, held during General
Assembly last June. |
| Have
you or someone you love been web-surfing too long? Click
here! |
| Added
on 9/15/00 |
| More
on "charitable choice"
The Employment Project, based in Manhattan, notes that
"both George W. Bush and Al Gore claim that the contributions of
faith-based organizations (FBOs) have been ignored for too long and that
Charitable Choice is the answer to our country's social problems."
But they warn that "before religious organizations accept that
rhetoric, they should seriously examine its implications." |
| The
Interfaith Alliance speaks in appreciation for congressional action on hate
crimes legislation. |
| Former
General Assembly moderator and stated clerk William
P. Thompson and his wife, Mary, have been honored by the
establishment of an ecumenical scholarship fund in their names. |
| Added
on 9/13/00 |
| Here's
the moving reality of what a genuinely
welcoming congregation can be ... and can mean. |
| Voices
of Sophia speaker explored ways
to work on Jubilee
A featured speaker at the Voices of Sophia breakfast
during the Women's Gathering in July was Rebecca Todd ("Toddie")
Peters, who described graphically the reasons for taking seriously the
current globalization of the world economy, and suggested some ways we
might begin to deal responsibly with the problems it creates.
Click
here to read her talk on the Voices of Sophia web site. |
| Added
on 9/12/00 |
| John
Detterick, Executive Director of the GAC, has now confirmed his plans to
shift funding priorities to a major emphasis on evangelism and church
growth.
Click here for his statement.
And here for an updated
commentary by outgoing Witherspoon president GeneTeSelle.
Witherspooner
Jean Rodenbough adds a comment
from her experience in social ministry. |
| Ten
Presbyterians, from right and left sides of the spectrum, joined for a
weekend of Bible study in search of a basis for unity. Click
here for the PNS report.
And click here
for Leslie Scanlon's report on the Outlook web site.
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| For
one visitor's critique of Lew Daly's analysis of the 212th GA, click
here. And add your own thoughts! |
| Added
on 9/11/00 |
| Lew
Daly, the author of A Moment to Decide, has prepared a careful analysis
of the 212th General Assembly, applying the analysis of
the book to our latest national meeting. |
| Williamsport,
PA session calls for a "season of
prayer and fasting" to repent of the "Particularist-Pluralistic
Dynamic" advanced by Dirk Ficca in his presentation at the
Peacemaking Conference. |
| Charles
Schermerhorn of Lompoc, Calif, sends a note in support of Sam Lanham's
views on power in the PCUSA. Reflecting on his own life
experience, he observes that people use religion (and especially the
Bible) for power, rather than allowing it to transform their own lives.
Click here for his
note. |
| Added
on 9/8/00 |
| We've
received five notes commenting on Sam Lanham's
view of the "power play" in the PCUSA. |
| Added
on 9/7/00 |
| The
arguments swirling around the presentation by Dirk Ficca to the
Peacemaking Conference have given us a fresh awareness of the important
question: How
do we relate to people of other faiths? |
| Witherspoon
staffer Nancy Neal attended the WOW
2000 conference, and saw it as a very challenging event.
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| Added
on 9/6/00 |
Unity,
diversity, and boundaries ... all of them are needed, but how do
we define them?
Gene TeSelle offers some thoughts. |
"Campaign
finance reform" was one action taken by the 2000 General
Assembly. Now what do we do about it, and why?
Chris Iosso outlines the suggested actions, and the reasons for seeking
some degree of voluntary disclosure by Presbyterian-related groups. |
The
state of the PC(USA) -- Maybe
it's all just a "power play"
Sam Lanham, a retired pastor living in Fredericksburg,
Texas, sends this comment on the state of the PC(USA). We share it here
with his permission. [added 9/6/00] |
| Some
of our visitors have asked to know more about John Witherspoon, the only
minister to sign the Declaration of Independence, and our
namesake. So here it is! |
| Added
on 9/2/00 |
| Gene
TeSelle recently commented on current proposals for "charitable
choice."
And now we
add reflections about dealing with charitable
choice on the front lines, from Trina Zelle, a Presbyterian minister
serving on the border of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. |
What
nationality were Adam and Eve? |
| Recent
Presbyterian News reports of interest to Witherspoon folk |
| Advocacy
committees join to affirm the unity of justice and evangelism |
| Peace
activists do jubilee -- helping set a prisoner free |
| James
Emerson named interim president of SFTS |
| Added
on 8/29/00 |
| For
reports on the controversy over the recent Peacemaking
Conference and statements by speaker Dirk Ficca, click
here. |
| Gene
TeSelle offers theological reflections on the
openness of true orthodoxy. |
Reflecting
on the Long Beach General Assembly
For reports, plus comments and
analysis, click
here. |
| Added
on 8/25/00 |
| Two
amendments to the Book of Order should receive special
attention as they go to the presbyteries during the months
ahead. |
| Attorney
Doug Nave offers a thoughtful critique
of Amendment O -- the ban on holy unions. |
| Added
on 8/18/00 |
| "Charitable
choice" looks like a mixed blessing -- and something to
watch.
And
now we add reflections about dealing with charitable
choice on the front lines, from Trina Zelle, a Presbyterian
minister serving on the border of Texas, New Mexico, and
Mexico.
|
| The
Ecumenical Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba, is in need of books
by Walter Brueggemann. |
| A
new version of Bowling Alone
challenges us to a new and social "Great
Awakening" |
| Kids
write fan letters to their pastors. (New in "Just
for fun") |
| Added
on 8/2/00 |
| Ghost
Ranch gathering with authors Ross and Gloria Kinsler
considers the meaning of Sabbath and Jubilee for our living
today. |
| Added
on 7/28/00 |
| Voices
of Orthodox Women now regrets that "GAC [broke] the
rules" to extend its review of the Women's Ministry Program
Area
But of course, they were just doing what VOW
demanded
Click here for a comment by
Doug King |
A
Moment to Decide:
The Crisis in Mainstream Protestantism
has recently been issued by the Institute for
Democracy Studies. Because of its importance, it is being offered to
Witherspoon Society members for $10. Contact our Coordinator, Nancy
Neal, at (718) 625-2819 or <pofn@cloud9.net>. |
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we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
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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. |
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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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