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Moderator sends a letter to church
interpreting Assembly's action on G-6.0106b
[posted 7-10-01]
(Note from Presbyterian News Service:
[July 6, 2001] When the 213th General Assembly sent out a
proposed constitutional amendment that would delete G-6.0106b from the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order, it asked Moderator the Rev.
Jack Rogers to write a letter to the church interpreting its action.
There follows the complete text of that letter. - Jerry L. Van Marter)
July, 2002
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Apostle Paul urges that we rejoice with those who
rejoice and weep with those who weep. I find myself in that position as
Moderator. By a vote of 317-208, or 60%, the 213th General
Assembly sent a proposed constitutional amendment to the presbyteries
that -- if ratified by a majority of the 173 presbyteries -- would
return us to the status prior to 1978 when our struggle over gay and
lesbian ordination began. I rejoice with those who feel that what has
seemed an unjust restriction might be removed. I weep with those who
feel that the church has violated their understanding of its
foundational belief and morality. It is my hope as Moderator this year
to listen well to those on all sides and to seek ways to work toward
bridging our differences with integrity and love.
I was asked by the Assembly to interpret its actions
regarding G-6.0106 of the Book of Order. The Assembly's action would
return to our traditional Presbyterian polity of allowing sessions and
presbyteries to determine who should be ordained. This does not open the
door to immorality or ignoring Scripture. Governing bodies are to be
guided by "scriptural and constitutional standards, under the
authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ." We are asked to trust the
elders and ministers in our governing bodies to uphold the highest
standards of morality for those called to church office. The Assembly's
action would neither require nor prohibit the ordination of gay and
lesbian persons. Candidates for church office would be considered as
individuals. The actions of governing bodies would still be subject to
judicial review.
Commissioners voting against the change believed that
there is a clear word of Scripture that all homosexual practice is sin.
Those voting for change were equally sincere in believing that
Scripture, interpreted through the lens of Christ's life and ministry,
does not permit us to exclude a category of baptized Presbyterians from
full rights of membership. The Assembly majority believed that we can
not, by legislation, resolve the differences among Presbyterians in
their understandings of sexual morality in Scripture and the
confessions. We do not yet understand each other well. It is unfair to
impugn the motives of opponents on matters of such moment.
 | I believe it is easier to understand the Assembly's
action on G-6.0106 when we look at all the Assembly did. One very
hopeful action, taken by a 91% vote of the Assembly, was the
establishment of a task force to seek the peace, unity and purity of
the church. I am asked, along with former Moderators Syngman Rhee
and Freda Gardner, to appoint a task force of seventeen members
reflecting the theological and cultural diversity of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). who will lead the church in a time of
spiritual discernment regarding our future. The Task Force is
charged to confer widely with congregations and presbyteries and
invite all of us to unite in a sustained period of prayer and
reflection on Scripture and our confessions. This endeavor offers an
unparalleled opportunity for the whole church to be heard and to
have a role in moving the church faithfully into the new millennium.
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 | Our 213th General Assembly, daily,
worshiped and responded to biblical preaching. We confessed our
faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Sovereign frequently and with
clarity. In each of the plenary sessions that I moderated, we took
time from business to stand and affirm our faith in Christ using
words from one of our confessions. The Assembly chose this way of
affirming our common commitment to Christ as Savior rather than
creating new legislation.
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 | The Assembly dealt with over 750 items of business
covering a wide range of issues. We adopted a strategy to revitalize
ministry on college campuses, confronted the issue of domestic
violence, and acted on global matters, reflecting our commitment to
165 partner churches in over 80 countries, where 346 of our mission
personnel are working.
|
 | Commissioners attended a workshop on anti-racism
training before the business of the Assembly began. For the first
time in our history, the General Assembly acknowledged the church's
"common complicity in the institution of slavery and its
oppressive inequities that linger to this day." The Assembly
acted to extend the PC(USA)'s emphasis on children by declaring the
first decade of the 21st century the "Decade of the
Child." |
The commissioners to this Assembly were serious,
thoughtful, and responsible. From day one they listened patiently to one
another and voted decisively. Many people indicated that the Holy Spirit
had been at work changing their minds on particular issues during the
Assembly. Considering all that was done, what this Assembly accomplished
validates the health and strength of the church despite our differences.
Reports of disbelief or disrepair are not validated by a fair and
comprehensive look at what this Assembly actually said and did.
I ask that pastors and sessions communicate this
pastoral letter to members of their congregations and make available to
them information about the Assembly by commissioners and observers who
saw the whole picture. Further information is available on the
denominational website: www.pcusa.org
Personally, my wife, Sharon, and I were encouraged and
sustained by the countless numbers of people who said they were praying
for us and would continue to do so throughout the year. We long for the
church to move beyond contentious issues and to focus on evangelism,
family life, making good on our promise to increase racial and ethnic
diversity, and encouraging the full inclusion of persons with
disabilities.
I look forward to meeting with many of you in the
coming year. I believe we can move beyond our current deadlock over
sexuality. I ask you to help us all to move forward in the multiple
ministries to which God has called us. The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with
you all.
Jack Rogers
Moderator of the 213th General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Your thoughts and comments are
welcome.
Please send a note that we might
share here!
You can jump to the text of this letter
as posted on the PC(USA)
web site.
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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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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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