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2/3/2010

More on the Supreme Court decision:
Big money vs. democracy

PC(USA) stated clerk issues statement on Supreme Court’s election finance decision

Parsons: Unlimited spending by corporations ‘challenges democratic ethos’

Presbyterian News Service reports:

LOUISVILLE — Feb. 3, 2010 -- The Rev. Gradye Parsons, General Assembly stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), issued a statement today decrying the Jan. 21 U.S. Supreme Court decision to lift virtually all restrictions on corporate contributions to election campaigns.

“I am concerned about the pressures this decision puts on individual candidates and office holders and on the integrity of the election system as a whole,” Parsons said, noting that the decision undoes decades of federal campaign finance legislation and “historic Presbyterian wisdom about the dangers of corruption by special interests.”

Parsons’ statement outlined recent General Assembly statements on campaign finance and electoral form, concluding that “this decision is likely to reshape the political process in profound ways, and to reduce the voice of citizens, churches and other groups without unlimited money ...”

The full text of Parsons’ statement >>

The Citizens United Decision and How to Fix It

People for the American Way is urging people to call on congressional leaders “to support and pass a constitutional amendment granting Congress the authority to limit corporate influence in elections without delay.” But they suggest other ways, too, in which some limits might be placed against the unfettered use of corporate wealth to control U.S. policies and laws. More >>

Looking toward the 219^th General Assembly

Conservative Presbyterian group proposes a non-geographical synod for conservatives

The conservative PC(USA)-related organization, Presbyterians for Renewal, is putting forward a proposal by which the General Assembly would allow for the creation of non-geographical synods upon the initiative of at least three presbyteries.

For the introduction of the proposal >>

For the proposal itself (13 pages in PDF format) >>

This includes a brief introductory statement (p. 1), a long list of “frequently asked questions” (2 - 9), the proposed amendment to the Form of Government (10 - 11), and an appendix (12 - 13).

Critical reflections on the proposal

Margaret Thomas (a member of the Advisory Committee on the Constitution and former Associate Stated Clerk) has written a statement critiquing the proposal in her usual judicious but incisive manner. Click here for her statement >>

Some observers have described the proposal as a simple “ploy” to allow conservative presbyteries to form their own governing bodies while retaining their property.

Action by Presbytery of the Pacific

A small number of conservative congregations (some of them with large memberships) presented the proposed overture to the Presbytery of the Pacific in its assembly last Saturday, Jan. 30. After a “lively” debate, it was rejected by a substantial margin. One member of the Presbytery has referred to the proposal as “Presbyterian apartheid.” More on the Presbytery of the Pacific action >>

An added perspective --

While we were busy preparing to post the material just above and below this box, the indefatigable John Shuck was doing the same story ... his way >>

Overture suggested to further peacemaking education in colleges, campus ministries, and seminaries

The Rev. Len Bjorkman, a Witherspoon member and long-time leader in the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, has draft an overture which would support more effective peacemaking programming in Presbyterian-related campus ministries, colleges, and seminaries.

Click here for the full text of his draft – and you might consider putting it up for consideration in your own presbytery.

For more information, you can contact Len at LenandJudy@stny.rr.com

ACSWP readies papers for General Assembly

Policy group working on gun violence, HIV/AIDS, public education, others

Presbyterian News Service reports:

LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy feverishly worked last weekend on a half-dozen reports it is preparing for the upcoming 219th General Assembly later this year in Minneapolis.

The committee — which develops policy statements, resolutions and other reports on topics that are referred to it by the General Assembly — is trying to finish work on papers on public education, HIV/AIDS, the theology of compensation in the church, gun violence, human rights and a study on the nature and value of human life. The full PNS report >>

Updates on Haiti

For Haiti, A Modest Proposal

The earthquake devastation in Haiti creates a painful context for news that Goldman Sachs has approved a bonus pool of $20 billion. Two of the nation's leading theologians -- George Hunsinger and Michael Kinnamon -- have issued a "Modest Proposal" for restoring some balance.

They write:

Even before the recent earthquake alerted us to Haiti’s misery, Goldman Sachs was uncomfortable about the attention its bonus system was attracting. Last September Lloyd Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, acknowledged that "Compensation continues to generate controversy and anger." "In many respects," he added, "much of it is understandable and appropriate." The New York Times reported (October 12, 2009) that Goldman Sachs has considered improving its image by making a sizable charitable donation.

Now Haiti's disaster, on the front of every newspaper, has given Goldman Sachs an unequalled opportunity. A simple act of generosity could bring it front-page publicity, one that would do much to allay the controversy on everyone's lips. By donating just half of their bonuses to Haitian relief, they will outmatch the Haitian GDP, and improve not only their image but their tax liability. Church World Service, an efficient and experienced relief organization, for example, administering the Goldman Sachs billions, could ensure that reconstruction is not just a return to pre-earthquake squalor, but an enduring monument to the bankers' unprecedented liberality. In this simple way Goldman Sachs alone would surpass the $100 million that President Obama has pledged to Haiti, by a monumental factor of 100. The rest of their article >>

1/29/2010

Updates on Haiti

Help Haiti – drop the debt

This call to action comes from "Avaaz"

Avaaz.org is a new global web movement with a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want.

To learn more about the Avaaz on-line advocacy group, click here >>

Shocking: Even as aid flows in to Haiti's desperate communities, money flows out to pay off the country's crushing debt of over $1 billion racked up years ago by lenders and governments.

The call for full cancellation of Haiti's debt is building steam across the world and has won over some leaders while rich lender countries are rumored to resist. Time is short: G7 finance ministers could reach a final decision next week at their summit in Canada.

Let's raise a massive global call for justice, mercy and common sense for the people of Haiti in this hour of tragedy. Avaaz and partners will deliver the call for debt relief directly to the summit. Click here to sign the petition and pass this email to friends.

Click here for more about this action >>

CWS campaign: ‘Tithe Wall Street bonuses for Haiti’

NEW YORK — January 27, 2010 — Global humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) today launched a novel fund-raising campaign for Haiti earthquake relief: calling for Wall Street’s financial industry leaders to tithe their bonuses for the reconstruction of Haiti following the disaster that killed more than 100,000 people and destroyed much of Port au Prince and the country’s fragile infrastructure. More >>

More on the Supreme Court decision:
Big money vs. democracy

The End of Restraint: Alito, Roberts, and judicial modesty

Stuart Taylor Jr., writing in the Feb. 1, 2010, issue of Newsweek, calls the court’s 5 to 4 decision in thee case of Citizens United v. FEC a “blockbuster, precedent-smashing Jan. 21 decision unleashing corporate executives to pour unlimited amounts of stockholders' money—without their consent—into ads supporting or attacking federal candidates. Indeed the 5–4 decision would allow any big company to spend a fortune attacking candidates whom many, or even most, of its stockholders would rather support.”

He then condemns the decision as “a perverse interpretation of the First Amendment, one that will at best increase the already unhealthy political power of big businesses (and big unions, too), and at worst swamp our elections under a new deluge of special-interest cash. More ominously still, Citizens United v. FEC lends credence to liberal claims that all five of the more conservative justices are ‘judicial activists,’ the same imprecation that conservatives have for so long—and often justifiably—hurled at liberal justices.”

The full article >>

High-Court Hypocrisy: Dick Durbin's got a good idea.

Jonathan Alter also writes in the Feb. 1, 2010, issue of Newsweek, says that the court’s action sets “a new standard for judicial hypocrisy – [as it] struck down the laws of 22 states and the federal government” – and this from the court’s conservatives who have regularly condemned their more liberal bench-mates for “judicial activism.”

Alter sees the decision as leaving little room for change, unless Congress follows the lead of Sen. Dick Durbin and enacts a campaign-reform bill that would establish “a public-financing system that rewards candidates who attract small donors.” That might be coupled with legislation like that in Britain, which forbids corporations to get approval from their shareholders for any political contributions. The full article >>

The U. S. as “officially a plutocracy”

Blogger John Shuck has given space for an interesting discussion of the Supreme Court’s action, which he declared makes the U. S. “officially a plutocracy.” The Rev. Bob Campbell, who contributed good comments to this website before here, has been involved in the conversation on the “Shuck and Jive” blog as well.

Human rights advocates given maximum federal prison sentences of six months for direct action opposing the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC)

News release from SOA Watch, January 25th, 2010

On Monday, January 25, 2010, U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth sentenced three human rights advocates to six months in federal prison for carrying a protest against the School of the Americas onto the Fort Benning military base in Georgia. This school, re-named the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, is a controversial U.S. Army training school for Latin American soldiers. More >>

You're lonely, I'm lonely

Christian Century offers a provocative article by L. Gregory Jones, dean of Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina, reflecting on a recent study showing that “loneliness is contagious and that it spreads through social networks. A lonely person can affect people as many as three degrees of separation away. If someone directly connected to me is seriously lonely, for example, I am 52 percent more likely to be lonely. A second degree of separation leads to a 25 percent increase; a third degree, 15 percent. I may be affected by the emotional reactions of my co-worker's spouse's brother.”

Further, Americans may be especially vulnerable to loneliness, “in a country where we subscribe to a myth of individualism and underplay the significance of family, friendship and community.”

Loneliness may not seem to be a matter for those focusing on social issues and questions of justice, but it clearly affects the delicate fabric of our society and reflects our culture in ways that can be deeply damaging to people’s well-being. So for congregations to work at community-building may be more important than we have sometimes thought.

The full article >>

For posts from earlier in January, 2010
December, 2009
November, 2009
October, 2009
September, 2009
August, 2009
July, 2009
June, 2009
May, 2009
April, 2009
March, 2009
February, 2009
January, 2009

For links to earlier archive pages, click here.

Big money and democracy -- a fair contest?
[1-25-10]

The recent Supreme Court decision, going beyond any past actions to treat corporations and other organizations as "persons" with the constitutional rights guaranteed to persons, continues to generate concern and expressions of strong opinions.

Here are four that have been written to us by visitors to this site, or suggested from other sources.

We welcome your opinions, analyses,
and pointers to other good sources.
Please send us a note,
to be shared here.

Haitian hospital approved for $200,000 from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance [1-25-10]

Hôspital Sainte Croix (Holy Cross Hospital) and an affiliated nursing school in Léogâne, Haiti, have been approved to receive a $200,000 grant from Louisville-based Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). More >>

Lenten study with a Peace focus
[1-25-10]

Christian Peace Witness is ready to bring:

Tony Campolo,
Sr. Dianna Ortiz,
Rev. Lennox Yearwood,
Kathy Kelly,
Joshua Casteel,
Liz McAlister,
Noah Baker Merrill & Ken Butigan
to YOUR CHURCH for Lent!

Just click here to learn more.

Along with a dvd featuring profound inspiration from these faith leaders, our Lenten study includes:

	biblical reflections on lectionary passages for each Sunday in Lent - plus Easter (good preaching resource!);
	prayers and litanies for worship; and
	seven complete study lessons which can be used as a series or individually.

CLICK HERE to download a sample of the study text and watch a sneak preview (via youtube) for the first two sessions.

Farmworker Freedom March on April 16-18, 2010
[1-25-10]

from The Rev. Noelle Damico, Campaign for Fair Food, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Dear Friends:

Announcing the day of God’s favor, the gospel of Luke tells us Jesus inaugurated his ministry by reading from the scroll of Isaiah, proclaiming release to the captives. As followers of Jesus we continue to proclaim this good news.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers will be holding a “Farmworker Freedom March” from Tampa to Lakeland, Florida, April 16-18, 2010, calling for freedom from forced labor; freedom from abuse; freedom from poverty and degradation. In lead-up to the Freedom March, a Mobile “Modern-Day Slavery Museum” will tour Florida.

Presbyterians from across Florida and across the nation are invited to participate in the Freedom March and to prepare for this peaceful witness through prayer, education and advocacy. Resources will be available soon on www.pcusa.org/fairfood . For now, please save the date and pray for this witness.

Further information on the march and museum is available at www.ciw-online.org .

You'll also find more about these plans, and past events and actions, on our Fair Food page.

Martha Juillerat and Tammy Lindahl invite you:

Send a message of peace to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver
[1-22-10]

We have received an interesting note from Martha Juillerat, who for some years played a vital role in carrying on the Shower of Stoles Project, beginning in the PC(USA) and expanding to gather and display stoles from many denominations that told powerful stories of men and women who believe they are called to ordained ministry, but have been excluded because of their sexual orientation – or who are serving in ministry in spite of that barrier.

Martha and her spouse Tammy now live as a happily married couple in Vancouver, where they own and operate a thrift shop that benefits the Richmond Women's Resource Centre and Alzheimer Society of B.C.

More about the Peace Project, and a request for your message of peace >>

The religious case for moving your money where your heart is
[1-12-10]

A week ago we posted a bit of Ariana Huffington’s call for people who are concerned about the power and apparent irresponsibility of the nation’s super-sized banks to show their resistance by moving their own money to smaller, more local or regional banks.

Now the Rev. Paul Raushenbush, who is the Religion Editor for the Huffington Post and the Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel at Princeton University, offers an explicitly religious/theological/ethical perspective on the same proposal. He concludes:

It may be time for us as individuals and as churches, synagogues and mosques to move our money to smaller banks that are connected and responsible to our local communities.

I encourage you in your congregation to consider the following question regarding where you keep your money:

How does my religious tradition view money? What purpose does money serve in the ideal society envisioned by my tradition? Does it matter how our money is made? What is the best way to make my money serve the ethical mandates of my tradition? Does my bank reflect the values that I hold regarding money?

Each of us has many ways to live out our religious convictions. One of those ways is to be conscious and have a conscience about how we make, spend and where we save our money. If you are interested in learning more go to moveyourmoney.info

His full essay >>

Ecumenical Advocacy Days Conference
March 19 - 22

The 2010 Advocacy Days conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City, VA, just outside of Washington, DC. The theme is, "A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples."

Visit the conference website to learn more and to register.

Voices/Witherspoon Board has approved a new Mission Statement.
[12-3-09]

We invite you to take a look at it, think about it, and share your comments.

Another request: As you reflect on this mission statement, it might suggest new ideas for a new name for our merged organization. Or even an idea for a new logo, for which we have so far received no suggestions! Click here for more about this gigantic contest – and join in!

Plans are already in place 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

If it seems there are many critical issues confronting us, it is because there are. How do we respond to the biblical call for justice in a world facing deepening global inequality, environmental challenges, and the escalation of violence in human relationships? We are fortunate to have three eminently qualified people prepared to address these questions. We will use A Social Creed for the 21^st Century to discern a moral, ethical and spiritual response to the many challenges humankind must meet. In presentations and discussions we will search for the prophetic spirit to guide our efforts toward a more just and humane world. [9-25-09]

More information on the seminar leaders >>

Announcing a Holy Union:
Voices of Sophia and the Witherspoon Society Merge

Witherspoon co-moderator Jake Young announces the merger of Voices of Sophia with the Witherspoon Society ... and Sylvia Thorson-Smith tells more of how that is coming about, and what it may mean for members of both groups. [4-20-09]

Do you want to go back in time??

Just wander through earlier headlines and links:
For items from
earlier in January, 2010
December, 2009
November, 2009
October, 2009
September, 2009
August, 2009
July, 2009
June, 2009
May, 2009
April, 2009
March, 2009
February, 2009
January, 2009

And go to the Archive index page for items from 1999 through the latest month.

Can't find what you want?
Click here to run a Google search.

We want your suggestions to make this web site more useful and interesting to you! Please send a note here with your comments, suggestions, questions, ideas for topics to be dealt with here ... and anything else you'd care to share!

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This page was last edited on 02/03/10