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Twin Cities approves 01-A |
| Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
approves Amendment A by 197 to 112, with 1 abstention
[1-12-02]
from Doug King
At its stated meeting on Saturday morning, January 12, the Presbytery of
the Twin Cities Area spent about an hour in discussion of Amendment A,
voting by 197 to 112 to approve it.
Moderator-Elect Rev. Brenda Alexander presided over
the debate, opening it with suggestions that all participants should
speak the truth in love, respect one another's right to listen to their
own conscience, maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,
and finally vote in accordance with their own conscience.
Many of the points made in the debate are familiar,
but one elder speaking against the amendment made very clear that the
issue is "debauchery," today as it was in the time of Paul,
and that "we must stand against our culture today as did Jesus and
the early Christians." He concluded: "The wrath of God does
exist ... And God will not be mocked!"
In support of the Amendment A, the Rev. Douglas
Mitchell, Associate Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in
Minneapolis, spoke to concerns that any move toward ordaining gay and
lesbian people would break relationships with sister church around the
world. From his own experience as an urban mission pastor with the
United Church of Christ, prior to his call to Minneapolis, Mitchell said
that the UCC had experienced no such loss of relationships when it began
ordaining gay and lesbian people. This fear, he urged, should not
prevent us from affirming the gifts of so many people who feel genuinely
called to ministry.
Another pastor spoke briefly in favor of the
amendment, and concluded with "a pop quiz" for the group. He
asked two simple questions: "Is Jesus exclusive or inclusive?"
And "Should the Presbyterian Church be exclusive or
inclusive?"
The question was called (by the only woman to speak
during the whole debate!), written ballots were cast, and the result was
clear.
Doug King |
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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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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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