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Missionary views on "A" |
One Retired Missionary's Response to
"An Open Letter from Our Missionaries"
Written 12-9-01, posted 12-10-01
Retired missionary Bill Hopper writes in response to
"An
Open Letter from Our Missionaries," in which they express the
fear that "If Amendment A should pass, compromising our church's
commitment to the biblical and confessional understanding of chastity
as faithfulness in marriage and celibacy in singleness, we will put
our partnerships with sister Churches around the world in profound
jeopardy."
Bill and his wife, Mollie, have served our church in
Iran and Pakistan. He was Secretary for Interpretation for the
Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations in the UPCUSA,
from 1967 to '68. He headed the office of mission
personnel with what was then the Global Mission Unit, 1989-90.
It seems a tad presumptive to address an Open
Letter from "Our Missionaries" as if this self-designated
group were speaking for all missionaries; they are not. Many of us could
list an equal number of missionaries with the opposite conviction. As a
former missionary in two countries and for a brief time the head of the
office of mission personnel for our denomination, I know that a number
of these signers were never missionaries of the Presbyterian Church
(USA).
Having said that, the point that this group of friends and colleagues
make is important, and their particular view should be heard. They are
concerned about the important matter of our denomination's relationships
with other Christians around the world, and we all should care
tremendously about these ties.
It is surprising, therefore, that this group seems to denigrate the
caliber of biblical interpretation and theological insight of these
other churches. Our partner churches are perfectly capable of deciding
for themselves in their own culture and context how the Bible, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, speaks to them about all issues of
sexuality. It is almost unconscionable that we American Presbyterians
should interject our internal biblical disagreements upon them.
Our discussions on Amendment 01-A are polity issues, not biblical, as
some try to suggest. Amendment 01-A would return our Constitution to
what it was from 1729 to 1978, the period when most of our ecumenical
relations were established so that those with whom we had comity
arrangements then would relate to us just as they did previously. It is
a scare tactic for "Our Missionaries" to assert that the
passage of Amendment A would "compromise our church's commitment to
the biblical and confessional understanding..." of anything. It
would do no such thing.
They further charge that the passage of Amendment A would show that we
have succumbed to cultural pressures. Rather, 60% of the members our
recent General Assembly came to see that the biblical message of God's
love, grace and mercy must be extended to all persons, each of whom has
been created in God's image. It is the culture that discriminates in all
kinds of ways; the proponents of Amendment A are sharing the good news
that it is almighty God who liberates, frees and redeems.
An increasing number of churches around the world are now reviewing
their stands on divorce and the ordination of women, in part precisely
because our denomination changed its understanding of Scripture and
God's inclusive love, and took the lead in demonstrating that inclusive
readings of the Bible are possible and proper. It is quite likely that
other churches will some day praise the Presbyterian Church (USA) for
rejecting cultural taboos, hates and discriminations for an inclusive
and merciful reading of Scripture. May God grant wisdom to us all as we
seek to be faithful to our mission task here and abroad!
William H. Hopper, Jr.
Duarte, CA 91010
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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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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Witherspoon’s Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’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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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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Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
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