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So what is really evidence?
[1-13-01]
Trina Zelle responds to Deborah Milam Berkley's comments:
If I correctly read D. Berkley's thoughtful response, she is saying that
the only "evidence" she would accept regarding the activity of
the Coalition, el al., is their own acknowledgment that this (a
reactionary agenda) is, indeed, what they are about. The assessment of
folks with an opposing point of view, which is based on their own
observations and conclusions, is not acceptable.
But, limiting an opponent's arguments to ones that I
deem acceptable reveals flawed logic and ignores our human propensity
towards self delusion. The position that a person must explicitly
acknowledge that they are indeed doing what their behavior already
suggests they are doing, means that "self-acknowledgment" is
the only acceptable evidence. If that's the case, what's all the
brouhaha we've been through these past few years?
I would argue that the position "the only thing
that makes it so is saying it," ignores God's gracious gift of
conviction, which forces us to see what we would prefer to ignore. In
other words, limiting what we hear to what we can control, precludes any
real communication. That doesn't mean that everything carries equal
weight or is equally valid, or that we should have no discretion in how
we sift through it all. However, it does challenge us to move beyond the
attitude that we are above criticism -- even criticism that seems to
ignore our own (perceived) good motives.
It's no fun to have our motives scrutinized. But they
need to be. All of ours. And at the end of the day, we will be
known by the fruits of our labors rather than what we claim they are
about.
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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
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a
gift online, using your credit card, through PayPal.
Or send your check, made
out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
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4007 Gibsonia Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
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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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