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| Moderator hopes for "breathing
space" during the work of study task force
Says "it would be nice" if judicial cases
and gay ordinations could be suspended
Doug King
[6-14-01]
At a brief news conference at the close of Thursday morning's plenary
session, Moderator Jack Rogers talked with some dozen reporters about
the Assembly's action on Wednesday evening to establish a task force to
carry on a process of discernment aiming to recover the peace, unity and
purity of the church.
began by noting that the debate on a new Christological affirmation,
which had just been suspended for a lunch break, underlined the
importance of the study process. He added that changes made to the
original proposal for a "study commission" will mean that the
process will involve much more "listening to the church as a whole,
and responding to the church as a whole. And I welcome those
modifications."
Another question related to what really is the core issue behind all the
other concerns of the church. Rogers responded that some people feel
that the church has "strayed from its original character, while
others feel the church is really healthy and strong in its
mission." Some people, he added, may be more comfortable in a
homogeneous setting, while others want to be involved in a more diverse
community.
He commented on the significance of the strong vote (91%) in favor of
the motion to establish the task force by saying that there is a
difference between the commissioners and the "advocacy groups"
in the church. The commissioners, he said, represent the "church as
it is," relatively unaffected by the narrowed concerns of the
advocacy groups. "The normal Presbyterian," he said,
"wants to study and think about our issues," and is quite
willing to devote time and effort to do that for the sake of the church.
Rogers was asked about the prospect for continuing litigation in matters
of sexuality and ordination. He responded, "In an ideal world we
would not carry on litigation, and would be patient. But clearly there
is no way to control that, for anyone who has a grievance has a right to
seek redress. ... But it would be nice if we kind of had a breathing
period and could listen to one another."
Then he was asked a question on the other side of the issue: Would he
hope for a similar breathing space on the part of those who want to
ordain? Rogers' answer was a clear Yes, but with a rather mild
acknowledgment that that, too, is outside the power of the General
Assembly and its agencies.
Asked if any of the issues relating to G-6.0106b would become a part of
the task force's work, he said that such was not the intent of the
proposal, and that they could perhaps be included. |
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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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