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| A pastor from Upstate New York sees new
hope through the work of this Assembly
[6-27-01]
Hi, Friends,
I'm back from GA -- had to leave before the Ordination Standards report,
but heard at the Albany airport about the vote. I am heartened that
this, together with the task force recommended by the Peace, Purity, and
Unity report (and whoever was it that changed the order of purity and
unity? Somehow I can't believe it was completely accidental!), may lead
us toward a "third way," a "more excellent way."
I'm encouraged that the agonies of the last year of PJC cases in my
presbytery (Albany) and others may give way to talking, praying, and
focusing together on the things that we have in common ... this is my
hope and my prayer.
Worship at GA was wonderful, as always. I especially appreciated the
preaching of Robina Winbush, at the Ecumenical Worship Service.
Jack Rogers is a gracious, fair, and endlessly patient moderator. Janet
Arbesman, who gave an excellent nominating speech for Jack, proved
herself able and gracious as well as Vice Moderator. Both Syngman Rhee
and Freda Gardner lent wisdom to the deliberations on controversial
issues, as befits former moderators.
I heard the voices from the extreme left and right as always, but I also
heard an awful lot about a "third way" that, if possible,
would offer the opportunity for the gifts of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered people to be accepted and celebrated by the church, but
not to force that on those who interpret the Scriptures to prohibit the
acceptance and celebration of those gifts.
I don't have a crystal ball, of course. And the presbyteries might vote
this down, as they did Amendment A. And we may lose a part of the church
over this, whichever way the vote goes in the presbyteries. And while
that would sadden me, I don't think it would be the end of the world as
we know it.
I'm glad I spent a week of my vacation at GA. But I'm also glad to be
home -- in spite of heat and humidity here in the southeastern corner of
the Adirondacks that is almost a match for that in Louisville ...
shalom -- Lois
Jun 16, 2001
Lois Ann Wolff, Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
Hudson Falls, NY
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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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