Three moderators announce 21-member
theological task force
Gary Demarest, Jenny Stoner to serve as
co-moderators
by Jerry L. Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service
[posted here 10-5-01]
Click
here for a report on the March, 2002 meeting of the Task
Force.
LOUISVILLE - October 4, 2001 - General Assembly
moderator Jack Rogers and his two immediate predecessors - Syngman Rhee
and Freda Gardner - have appointed a 21-member task force that will try
to help the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) out of its current theological
malaise.
The names were announced Oct. 4 in a letter to the
church from the three moderators.
The task force was authorized by this year's Assembly
by a vote of 467-41, more than 90 percent, "to lead the PC(USA) in
spiritual discernment of our Christian identity in and for the 21st
century …… seeking the peace, unity and purity of the church.
The group, which will make annual progress reports and
a final report to the 2005 Assembly, will address "but not be
limited to issues of Christology, Biblical authority and interpretation,
ordination standards, and power.""
The complete text of the letter and the
21 appointees:
Letter to the Church
from the Three Moderators
October 4, 2001
Beloved in Christ:
We were gathered in Louisville on September 11 to
finalize the appointments to the Theological Task Force mandated by the
213th General Assembly.
When we learned of the tragic events in New York,
Washington, and Pennsylvania we, like you, were shocked and saddened.
Everything changed in that moment and our attention was redirected. With
others, we led a service of Scripture, hymns, and prayers in the
Presbyterian Center Chapel which was filled with staff and volunteers.
We watched national staff immediately mobilize to provide resources to
Presbyterians in the most affected areas, to all our congregations, as
well as our personnel here and around the world. With you, we celebrate
the committed, competent, and compassionate ministry of our national
staff.
We have been slowed down, given these recent events,
in finalizing the task force. Now we are ready to announce the names of
the Task Force members chosen to help the church reflect on
"matters that unite and divide us" as we move from this time
of turmoil into the future to which God calls us in the 21st century.
We are grateful for a wonderful gift to the church. We
received over 500 nominations of persons for a 17 member Task force
"to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in spiritual discernment
of our Christian identity." We give thanks for all of those who
made nominations and those who were willing to be available for service.
It is clear to us that a great host of people have been in prayer for
the well being of the church and are prepared to "promote the
peace, unity, and purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)." We,
also, were often in prayer as we tried to be faithful to the request of
the church.
We three moderators of the church met together for a
total of eight days and many thought-filled nights in addition to
reading all of the over 500 letters of nomination and accompanying
papers.
We first met to reflect on the mandate from the
Assembly to clarify in our minds the task, and to develop criteria to
guide us in selecting the members. Then, in a second meeting of three
days we began the difficult process of selecting 17 persons.
Ours was an embarrassment of riches. We could have
selected multiple task forces of 17 members, each composed of persons of
significant competence. Finally, in order to represent adequately the
strengths and diversity needed on the Task Force we have chosen 21
people.
Gary Demarest and Jean S. Stoner have agreed to serve
as co-moderators.
We believe that the task force members we have chosen
represent the heart of this great church. They were chosen as people who
can "develop a process which includes conferring with synods,
presbyteries, and congregations seeking the peace, unity, and purity of
the church."
The Task Force will assist congregations and governing
bodies in a process of discernment that "shall include but not be
limited to issues of Christology, biblical authority and interpretation,
ordination standards, and power."
In this process, the Task Force will assist
congregations and governing bodies throughout the church to
"reflect on and discuss matters that unite and divide us."
They then may recommend ways by which we can live more faithfully
together in the 21st century.
The Task Force will have its first meeting December
6-8, 2001. We three moderators will convene and charge them. They will
then develop their own processes and focus on the task before them.
The Task Force will make an interim report to the
214th General Assembly in 2002 and to each subsequent Assembly prior to
their final report to the 217th General Assembly in 2005.
We ask you to remain in prayer for these people who
have been willing to give themselves in service on behalf of us all.
This is a holy moment, an opportunity for us together, as the body of
Christ, to seek the well being of the body and all of its members. Let
us join together in supporting this effort that holds great promise for
us all.
In Christ's love,
Jack Rogers, Moderator, 213th General Assembly
Syngman Rhee, Moderator, 212th General Assembly
Freda Gardner, Moderator, 211th General Assembly
The Theological Task
Force Membership
Dr. Elizabeth R. Achtemeier is retired adjunct
professor of Bible and Homiletics at Union Theological Seminary in
Virginia. [Presbytery of the James]
Elder Scott D. Anderson is Executive Director
of the California Council of Churches. [Presbytery of Sacramento]
Dr. Barbara Everitt Bryant is currently
Research Scientist, University of Michigan Business School, and from
1989-1993 was Director of the U.S. Bureau of the Census. [Presbytery of
Detroit]
Dr. Milton J Coalter is Professor of
Bibliography and Research and directs library and information technology
services at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. [Presbytery of
Mid-Kentucky]
The Reverend Victoria G. Curtiss is Co-Pastor
of Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames, Iowa. [Presbytery of North
Central Iowa]
Dr. Gary W. Demarest is the Interim Pastor of
the Glenkirk Presyterian Church, Glendora, California. [Presbytery of
Santa Barbara]
Dr. Frances Taylor Gench is Professor of New
Testament at Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of
Christian Education. [Presbytery of Baltimore]
Dr. Jack Haberer is Pastor/Head of Staff for
Clear Lake Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. [Presbytery of New
Covenant]
Dr. William Stacy Johnson is the Arthur M.
Adams Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton
Theological Seminary. [Presbytery of the Pines]
Elder Mary Ellen Lawson is the Stated Clerk and
Associate for Administration in Redstone Presbytery [Presbytery of
Redstone]
Dr. Jong Hyeong Lee is Pastor/Head of Staff of
Hanmee Presbyterian Church, Itasca, Illinois and former professor of
church history at Presbyterian Theological Seminary Seoul Korea.
[Presbytery of Midwest Hanmi]
Dr. John B. (Mike) Loudon is the Pastor/Head of
Staff at the First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, Florida. [Presbytery
of Tampa Bay]
Mrs. Sue Mallory is the Executive Director of
Leadership Training Network and the founding Director of the office of
Lay Ministries at Brentwood Presbyterian Church. [Presbytery of the
Pacific].
Elder Joan Kelley Merritt is a former high
school science teacher, a charter member of Newport Presbyterian Church,
and the Moderator-elect of the Presbytery of Seattle. [Presbytery of
Seattle]
Dr. Lonnie J. Oliver is Pastor/Head of Staff of
New Life Presbyterian Church and adjunct professor of Evangelism and
Missiology at Johnson C. Smith Seminary/Interdenomational Theological
Center. [Presbytery of Greater Atlanta]
The Reverend Martha D. Sadongei is an enrolled
member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma, and part-time stated supply
serving Central Presbyterian Church, Phoenix. [Presbytery of Grand
Canyon]
Elder Sarah Grace Sanderson, a student at
McCormick Theological Seminary, is a candidate for ministry under care
in the Presbytery of Muskingum Valley. [Presbytery of Muskingum Valley]
Elder Jean S. (Jenny) Stoner is a retired
Interim Coordinator of the Office of Global Education and International
Leadership Development , Worldwide Ministries Division, PCUSA
[Presbytery of Northern New England]
The Reverend José Luis Torres-Milán is
Pastor/Head of Staff of Tercera Iglesia Presbiteriana (Third
Presbyterian Church) in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. [Presbyterio del
Noroeste]
Elder Barbara G. Wheeler is President of Auburn
Theological Seminary and Director of Auburn's Center for the Study of
Theological Education. [Presbytery of Albany]
Dr. John Wilkinson serves as Pastor of the
Third Presbyterian Church of Rochester, New York. [Presbytery of Genesee
Valley]
