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A prophetic statement on Amendment O
These comments were offered to the Presbytery of San
Diego during its debate on Amendment O, by Francis W. Pritchard,
a retired pastor with broad experience in pastoral counseling, mission
interpretation, and much more. One observer, Doug Nave, calls it
"perhaps the most profound and moving statement I have read since
we began debating Amendment B many years ago." Sadly, San Diego
Presbytery voted to approve "O," but these thoughts may be
helpful to others.
[1-18-01]
Madam Moderator:
I wish to make a motion, and if it is seconded, I ask
for the privilege of speaking to it.
As a substitute to the motion which is on the floor I
move to strike out the recommendation and insert "Take No
Action."
I've been asking myself a number of questions, and I would like to share
those questions with the Presbytery.
What are we doing here? For twenty or thirty years the Presbyterian
Church has been debating a series of issues relating to sexuality. These
debates have occupied the attention of the Church in all levels from
congregation to General Assembly and to the way our Church is presented
to the world through the media of news and opinion. In these debates we
have invested an impressive amount of time, thought, money, and
emotional energy.
I want to know what dividends we have received from this investment of
our resources.
Can we name one soul which has been saved as a result of these debates?
Is there some congregation which has been better equipped to nurture the
faith of its members or to perform its mission as a result of these
debates? Have the ties which bind pastors and people been strengthened
by these debates? Is our Presbytery a more Christly or effective court
because of our participation in these debates? Have the debates created
a more wholesome and mutually supporting relation between the members of
the Presbytery or made the Presbytery a more productive part of the body
of Christ? Has the debate enhanced the moral stature of the General
Assembly?
In what way has the mission of our Church in Malawi been undergirded by
this concentration on our debates?
The government of the United States has been inhibited by a bitter
partisan spirit. Have our debates helped us to speak more effectively to
the spiritual need of our nation? The people of the Middle East and many
other parts of the world are suffering from conflicts in which religious
issues play a major role. Have our debates equipped us to be more
helpful to them?
Our news media and our own experience make it clear that we live in a
world of urgent need. Have our debates enabled us to meet those needs in
the spirit of Christ?
Can we think of one hungry child who has been fed as a result of these
debates? How many homeless people have they enabled us to shelter? How
many young people have been inspired with a deeper love for Christ and
devotion to his service as a result of these debates? How many men and
women existing on the thin edge between life and suicide have had their
hope restored by this activity?
The Prophets of Israel taught us that what God requires of us is to do
justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. Have our debates
on sexuality increased the flow of justice among us? Have they made us
more merciful? Is there someone whom these debates has led to a closer
walk with God?
Has faith been strengthened or hope nourished or love made more
pervasive by these debates? Are we better people because of them?
Paul taught us that "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and
self-control." (Gal 5:22-23) Is there any evidence that our debates
have enhanced the fruit of the Spirit among us?
Is there any reason to believe that action on Proposed Amendment O will
lead to a conclusion of these debates. When the vote has been taken,
will we be able to sing, "Praise God. The Church has arrived at a
consensus on these vexing issues. We can confidently tell ourselves and
the world that the voice of Scripture has been clearly heard. The Spirit
of the Living God has led us to a decision which can be accepted by the
whole Church." I find nothing in the experience of the last twenty
or thirty years to encourage us in that hope.
The more I think about these questions the more I am convinced that our
concentration on this series of debates has brought no valuable return
which is commensurate with the cost. It has not been a good stewardship
of our resources. In faithfulness to our calling we ought not to
continue such a bad investment into an indefinite future.
The way that the Constitution offers us to say that is to take no action
on this Proposed Amendment. Then let us try to clasp hands and turn our
full energies to the great ends for which God called us into the
ministry of Christ's church. If we can do that, we may pray that the
Holy Spirit will guide our pastors and our sessions through the issues
of our time until experience and the searching of the Scriptures will
make us wiser than we are today. |
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
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we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
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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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