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Amendment A -- a comment on the
voting |
Doug Nave comments on the voting on
Amendment A
Doug Nave is an attorney, a member of Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church in New York, and served as Overture Advocate for
Overture 01-08, from the Presbytery of New York City, which formed the
basis of Amendment 01-A.
[2-12-02]
Friends --
As you know, the presbyteries currently are voting
whether or not to ratify Amendment 01-A, which would rescind our
exclusionary rules regarding ordained service by gay and lesbian
persons. The last General Assembly voted in favor of that measure by a
margin of 60% to 39%. However, the votes in the presbyteries so far have
largely reversed those percentages.
Unofficial tallies indicate that 35 presbyteries have
voted for, and 78 presbyteries have voted against, 01-A. The vote of
individual ministers and elders (not counting voice votes) is 7078 in
favor, 9320 opposed, and 72 abstaining. The results in percentages are
as follows:
Vote by presbyteries: 31% in favor, 69% opposed Vote
by individuals: 43% in favor, 57% opposed
As I noted in my previous update, a good part of the
voting this year appears to be motivated by fear of schism and a desire
to wait for the Theological Task Force report in 2005. We had hoped that
it might be possible to resolve this divisive debate before then, by
setting aside our differences, honoring the discernment of local
governing bodies, and showing mutual forbearance in what is plainly a
matter of conscience. It now appears that the way forward is not so
direct, but will require continued dialogue, helping everyone in our
fellowship to discern more clearly the gifts for service that our gay
and lesbian members bring to the church, and to appreciate more fully
the unfathomable grace that lies at the heart of our faith. Harry
Emerson Fosdick used to open his pastoral prayers by invoking a God
"too high above us to understand and too deep within us to
escape" - and the same is true for the grace that ultimately will
move our church.
Many thanks for all of your continued good work -
Doug
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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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Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE ALL IN
THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
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