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Witherspoon supports people accused |
| When one suffers ....
If one member [of the body] suffers, all suffer
together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with
it. (1 Cor 12:26)
[4-29-02]
As the Executive Committee of the Witherspoon Society
met on April 21-23, we were keenly aware of the accusations
that have been leveled against a number of our friends and
colleagues in ministry. They have been accused variously of
"renouncing the jurisdiction of the church," of violating
chapter G-6.0106b of the Book of Order, and of other offenses - all
focusing on purported same-sex relationships.
As leaders of the Witherspoon Society, we declare that
we stand firmly with those who have been accused, even as we acknowledge
that we can never claim to be truly in their shoes, or to know the pain
they are enduring.
At the same time, we affirm the processes and
standards that are put in place by our Presbyterian constitution.
Following the due process of our constitution, it appears likely that
most, if not all, of the complaints will not be sustained by
investigating committees, and without probable cause no charges can be
filed. We regret the way in which the spirit behind the judicial process
has apparently been violated, since it is designed to protect accused
individuals during a process that presumes innocence until proven
otherwise. (D-10.0103).
We pledge that we will, insofar as we are able,
provide practical and material support to any of the victims of these
accusations as they defend themselves.
Meanwhile, we offer our prayers for all those who have
been accused - and for those who likely will be subjected to further
accusations in the future. We pray too for all the other persons who are
and will be involved in these cases: friends, family and loved ones of
those accused, as well as their congregations, the church leaders who
may be investigating and hearing their cases, and those who have been
moved for whatever reasons to make the accusations.
We encourage our Witherspoon members and all who love
our church to join in these prayers, and to pray for the healing of our
divided church. And we hope for the day when we can all rejoice
together.
Jane Hanna, President
The Witherspoon Society
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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
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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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