This page lists all reports and commentary from August, 2005

Rita Brock reports on Camp Casey

The Rev. Dr. Rita Brock, who has been deeply involved in Faith Voices and other groups working for the end of the war against Iraq, reported recently about her visit to Camp Casey and Cindy Sheehan.

She now tells of her latest visit there for an interfaith rally and prayers for peace. 

And let’s hear the voice of one gay person responding to the Task Force report:

We are the object of Debate? How odd. How embarrassing for all.

Is that possible?

....are we like funding for highways or "entitlements" or lunch programs?

We are somehow Less Than.....is this it?

Raise your hand if you think all people are equal.

Correct me if I'm wrong.....

I feel very differently. There is no force that can stop the Truth.

I am not a big fan of intimidation. Yes, let that "intimidation thing" go away....by all means.

But a "cease-fire" doesn't mean a Whole Lot when all the volleys come from one side.

Peace (without justice) is the hallmark of every abusive relationship. Everyone knows that.

History and the Spirit will show us the way. We will survive and we will thrive.

PS: The recent TTF report does not make me feel Discouraged in general.....I only feel Discouraged for the institution.

"Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them. There is almost no kind of outrage --- torture, imprisonment without trial, assassination, the bombing of civilians ---which does not change its moral color when it is committed by 'our' side. The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them."
- George Orwell

MLP expresses concern about ban on any further actions on ordination

The board of More Light Presbyterians has issued a statement on the final report of the Theological Task Force, saying they appreciate much of the material in the report, but are "dismayed" at the proposal that the next General Assembly take no further action on the issue of ordination. Further, while appreciating the process of discernment, they see the call for more talk as "deeply insulting" to lgbt persons and their families and friends.

Read the full text of the report >>

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The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should enter a “season of discernment,” in which its ordination standards should not change, but local governing bodies should determine whether candidates for ordination have departed from those ordination standards – and whether a departure in a particular case “constitutes a failure to adhere to the essentials of Reformed faith and polity.”   More >>

After four years of work on the most contentious issues facing the church, a task force of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recommended yesterday that the 2.4 million-member denomination keep all its national standards for ordination but give local bodies the option of making individual exceptions for some gay ministers.   More >>

We will bring you an analysis of the report by Gene TeSelle, and a brief statement by our Executive Committee, within a day or two.  We hope.

In June we posted a note from James Atwood, seeking signatures for the petition he was going to present as part of a Fellowship of Reconciliation delegation marking the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  The petition called on the government of Japan to maintain the rejection of war which is part of their constitution.

An interview with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a community-based worker organization. Their members are largely Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state of Florida. They recently won a landmark victory in their national boycott of Taco Bell this March 2005, when amidst growing pressure from students, churches and communities throughout the country, Taco Bell agreed to meet all their demands to improve wages and working conditions for Florida tomato pickers in its supply chain.

David Solnit is a direct action organizer, puppeteer, and the editor of "Globalize Liberation: How to Uproot the System and Build a Better World." He is currently involved in organizing and popularizing people power strategies to end the Iraq war and occupation, and has worked for the past four years as an ally of CIW.

He interviewed CIW workers, and reports their responses to his questions about some of the major elements in their victory, including creating consciousness of their situation, building alliances [in which the PC(USA) was one partner] and networks, framing and telling their story, developing leadership skills among their farm-worker members, and planning campaigns with a series of clear, short-term goals that could be met and celebrated.

Read the rest of the story >>

Thanks both to the Rev. Bill LeMosy and to More Light Presbyterians, we can report that the Presbytery of Des Moines Presbytery an overture to permit the ordination of lgbt Presbyterians, during its meeting this past Saturday, August 20, 2005. With 78 persons eligible to vote, the overture passed with 42 in favor, 34 opposed and 2 abstentions. In 2004, it was Des Moines Presbytery to pass the first ordination overture. This is the second time that the Des Moines Presbytery has passed an ordination overture.

Michael Adee, National Field Organizer for More Light Presbyterians, notes that "The groundswell of ordination overtures being considered and passed continues all across the country. What happened in Des Moines Presbytery this past week illustrates once again that now is the time for change, now is the time for the Presbyterian Church (USA) to remove the anti-gay barriers within its church law and relationship with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and our families. It gives evidence once again that people are ready for change, and for the PCUSA to reclaim its moral voice as a ‘reformed and always reforming’ faith tradition."

We have earlier posted comments from the Witherspoon Society and More Light Presbyterians, responding to the draft first sections of the report on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church.  We apologize for losing track of the letter from the Co-Moderators of the Covenant Network, offering their views of the draft.

The California Supreme Court on Monday became the first in the nation to grant full parenting rights and obligations to gays and lesbians who have children. In three closely watched cases, the justices set rules in an area where changes in family structure and advances in technology have outpaced the evolution of legal principles.

A grassroots group of Presbyterians, concerned about the treatment of prisoners captured and held by the US and our allies since the 9/11 attacks, has established a Yahoo Group to facilitate communication and information sharing. Learn more at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/No2Torture/

In introducing this Yahoo group "No2Torture," the organizers say:

"This Yahoo group is the result of a grassroots groundswell that began at the 2005 Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. Over 50 people came together to begin to organize as advocates for humane treatment of prisoners captured and held by the United States and our allies since the 9/11 attacks. We are motivated by love of God and our country, and by concern for captive and captors alike. To this end, we have decided to work, study and pray together and to take such action as we deem necessary to promote peace, justice and compassion. All who wish to join us are welcome. It is important to note that, while those who initiate this conversation are Presbyterian, motivated by the traditions and statements of our church, including the 2005 General Assembly Statement Against Torture and Abuse, we do not speak for the church."

The Bush Administration has moved as usual to smear a critic – this time the mother of a soldier who died in Iraq. That has worked in the past against such Vietnam veterans as John McCain, Max Cleland, and John Kerry. This time, says Frank Rich, it may not work as well. Even if the media continue to parrot the White House line, the people are catching on.

Read it on TruthOut.com >>   OR in the New York Times

Don’t give Bush an exit strategy

The Senate has included money for the nuclear bunker buster (designed to be used against deeply buried targets and underground bunkers) in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The House version does not include this funding. A conference committee will meet in September to resolve the difference. Senators Domenici (NM), Cochran (MS), McConnell (KY), Bennett (UT), Burns (MT), Craig (ID), Bond (MO), Sen. Hutchison (TX), and Allard (CO) need to hear from their constituents on this issue.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation provides a way to send email.

Learn about nuclear bunker busters at http://www.fcnl.org/nuclear/index.htm.

From the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program Update, 20 August 2005

September Mobilization

Three Days of Actions
for Peace & Justice in D.C.

Saturday, September 24
Massive March, Rally & Anti-war Fair
Gather 11 AM at the Washington Monument

Pueblo Presbytery is sponsoring an "Interfaith Prayers for Peace Service."

Grace Presbytery has invited a Palestinian Christian, a Palestinian Muslim, and an Israeli Jew involved in peacemaking to spend September 8-15 in the presbytery.

Jake Young, pastor and Witherspoon Vice President, is on his way home to South Carolina after visiting Crawford, Texas, and "Camp Casey," with a group from his congregation. He sends this quick report:

When we arrived we were saddened to learn that Cindy Sheehan was preparing to leave because her mother had suffered a stroke. We were concerned for her mother and family. And, obviously, there was much disappointment that the leader of the vigil would have to leave. What would happen now? Will this energy just dissipate? Will the media attention ebb? The answer to the last question is, "Of course!"

But what we saw emerge over the brief time we were there, was a renewed sense of energy and commitment to support our troops by advocating for peace. Just two or three hours after she left, people were no longer saying, "Will Cindy be back? When?" Instead, they began saying, "Cindy does not need to come back. She has been the catalyst. She can't be here holding our hands." And we began to look around and discover others right there at Camp Casey who could speak with the same moral authority as Cindy because they had lost sons and other family members in this immoral war. It was no longer a "cult of Cindy" but the emergence of a sharper focus on the topic that united all these people on a Texas roadside in the first place: peace.

The numbers visiting the Peace House in Crawford and Camp Casey out near the Western White House never diminished. They were actually burgeoning on Friday afternoon as we left following the formal noon Peace Vigil led by approximately 30 clergy. Not only is the energy and commitment alive and well in the peace movement at Crawford, it now embodies a sense of responsibility by all parties. This is not only about one grieving mother from California. It is about all of us who call this empire home.

Gordon Shull, who taught US foreign policy throughout the cold war, and paid close attention to the Hiroshima issue, sent a comment a few days ago, in response to a note from Earl Tilford in support of the use of the bombs.

Dr. Shull sets forth his understanding of the circumstances surrounding the use of the atomic bombs over Japan, which lead him to view that action as unnecessary, or at the least rather unplanned.

A thoughtful and informed Jew praises Presbyterian commitment to dialogue, and laments present policies of divestment.

Eric Geller refers to the PC(USA) study paper approved in 1987, called, "A Theological Understanding of the Relationship Between Christians and Jews."  He is apparently responding to the latest Presbyterian steps toward divestment. 

The 90-year-old founder of the French-based Taizé Christian ecumenical community has been stabbed to death at a prayer service.

Police detained a woman after the assault on Swiss-born Roger Schutz, who was known as Brother Roger.  Around 2,500 young people were at the Reconciliation church in Burgundy at the time of the attack.   The BBC reports >>

If you've been involved in the Taizé Community
and have reflections to share here,
please send a note.

If you’re following the many reports of one mother’s act of conscience on behalf of her son, killed in Iraq, here’s one great collection of articles and photos, including Ms. Sheehan’s own comments.

And William Pitt reports on the creation of the "Arlington West cemetery" by the activists who are accompanying Cindy Sheehan in Crawford, TX – and the harassment of the group, expanding finally to the deliberate desecration of the grave markers by one Larry Northern of Waco, Texas.   More >>

Join a vigil tonight!

Tonight, Wednesday August 17, vigils are being held across the nation in support of Cindy Sheehan's witness for peace.  More >>

Also ...

An interfaith prayer service will be held at the Camp Casey Memorial in Crawford, TX, Friday August 19, 2005, at Noon - U.S. Central Daylight Time.

A suggested prayer for use in the vigils is offered by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, of the Shalom Center in Philadelphia

Cindy Sheehan’s vigil is of course being attacked from the Right.  More >>
 

The Presbyterian Church’s Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) committee , meeting last week in Seattle, chose five multinational corporations — Caterpillar, Citigroup, ITT Industries, Motorola and United Technologies — for "progressive engagement" about business practices believed to contribute to violence in Israel and Palestine.

After several hours of discussion on Aug. 5, the MRTI committee unanimously selected the five companies and agreed to begin discussions with them about their involvement in the conflict.

See the Presbyterian News Service report >>

More on this story, including critical responses and criticism of those responses

More on the vigil of Cindy Sheehan

War Mothers, Bush Are Worlds Apart

They were just a few miles away from each other Thursday, standing under a hot midday sun to express their concern about US troops dying in Iraq. But President Bush and the grieving mother outside his ranch were worlds apart on how best to honor the dead.

Bush said the United States must finish the job of bringing a stable democracy to Iraq. Cindy Sheehan and a growing group of war protesters who have joined her say the soldiers should come home immediately.

Read a short report on emagazine >>

Thomas Oliphant reported recently in the Boston Globe about the wide disparity between two different ways to visiting the war-torn land of Colombia. US legislators who serve as cheerleaders for the US war, and get the Administration’s well-designed tour see all the "progress" that is being made in pacification, development, and the "war on drugs." Rep. Jim McGovern takes his own style of tour, visiting with human rights workers, NGOs, and church leaders.

"According to McGovern ... the fruits of American policy through two administrations over the last half-decade have been death, drugs, and oppression. ‘The fact is there is no light at the end of the tunnel as long as we are merely feeding the status quo,’ he said last week."

Read the full article >>

We’ve reported earlier on the conference on spiritual activism that was held in July in Berkeley, CA, as a kick-off for a Network of Spiritual Progressives. More than 1200 people came together for four days for a first-time, remarkable gathering. Jews and Christians, Muslims and Hindus, theological liberals and evangelicals, and lots more – all were drawn by an invitation to shape a positive progressive response to the conservatives’ success in making faith and values something on which they seem to claim a monopoly.

The main themes of the conference were clear, and were consistently asserted through the whole event: (1) America is in a crisis – the Right is right about that, and the Left has largely (and disastrously) ignored it. But the Right misunderstands the nature and roots of the crisis. (2) The real nature of the crisis is alienation: people are lonely – isolated from one another and from the natural human capacity to live in relationships, in community.

More >>

A couple more helpful items:

Questions and Answers on the Network of Spiritual Progressives >>

Another look at the Christian right

For another incisive statement of the challenge of right-wing Christianity in the US, you might look at "The Christian Paradox: How a faithful nation gets Jesus wrong," by William McKibben, published in the August 2005 issue of Harper’s Magazine. You’ll find a substantial excerpt on the Harper’s website.

More on Ms. Sheehan’s witness to the real costs of this war:

Rage Against the Killing of the Light

Mid-August 2005 may be remembered as a moment in US history when the president could no longer get away with the media trick of solemnly patting death on its head. Unreality is a hallmark of media coverage for war. Yet - most of all - war is about death and suffering. War makers thrive on abstractions. Their media successes depend on evasion.

President Bush has tried to keep the loved ones of America's war dead at middle distance, bathed in soft fuzzy light: close enough to exploit for media purposes, distant enough to insulate the commander in chief's persona from the intrusion of wartime mourning in America.

What's going on this week, outside the perimeter of the ranch-style White House in Crawford, is some reclamation of reality in public life. Cindy Sheehan has disrupted the media-scripted shadow play of falsity.

The full article >>

Maureen Dowd asks, "Why No Tea and Sympathy?"

She notes: "It's amazing that the White House does not have the elementary shrewdness to have Mr. Bush simply walk down the driveway and hear the woman out, or invite her in for a cup of tea. But W., who has spent nearly 20 percent of his presidency at his ranch, is burrowed into his five-week vacation and two-hour daily workouts. He may be in great shape, but Iraq sure isn't."

We have previously noted the efforts by parents and others to stop schools from providing personal information on their students to military recruiters. The LA Times reports on the growth of these efforts in the Los Angeles area.

Currently, the Army is having the most difficult time meeting its recruitment goals, falling more than 7,800 soldiers short of the nearly 55,000 enlistees it needed between Oct. 1 and June 30. The Army National Guard and reserves also fell short of their targets, as did the Navy reserves, and the Air National Guard.

It’s not too late to affirm the complementary relationship between religion and science, rather than a pseudo-scientific version of biblical literalism.

In February we posted a letter being circulated with the goal of gaining 10,000 signatures of clergy. Michael Zimmerman of the College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, who initiated the letter, has received nearly 6,000 signatures so far and is now making a further appeal for support.

We encourage you to take a look at the letter, and consider adding your name to the list.

Read the letter here >>

We're still trying to catch up with the conference in Berkeley of spiritual progressives.

Rabbi Michael Lerner offered the basic vision that brought the conference into being: a vision that would response to the real spiritual crisis in America by offering an alternative to a market-driven society which makes humans into tools for maximizing profit, and by calling forth basic human gifts of trust and relationships.

Jim Wallis offers, in an op-ed piece in the August 4th  New York Times, a brief response to the current talk about the need for progressives to do a better job of "framing" the issues, an idea articulated most clearly by George Lakoff. He says that language is indeed important, but that "the message remains more important than the messaging."

Also on TruthOut

Ken Smith,  president of the Witherspoon Society, recently attended the Churchwide Transformation and Multicultural Connection, along with over 1100 others, in New York City.  He reports on the conference as part of a movement toward becoming a multicultural church -- partly in response to "our denominational commitment to increase our racial/ethnic membership and given urgency by the demographic shifts in our communities."  But it also, he says, grows out of a mandate "as old as our faith and deeply rooted in it; 'for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples' (Isaiah 56:7b) being just one of many examples."

The Administration’s strong-arming carried the day in the House of Representatives by a one-vote margin, against those who are working for peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas. As Witness for Peace comments, today "more people than ever are questioning the model of ‘free trade’ and looking for more positive alternatives."

Here are brief reflections from two groups that have been deeply engaged in this issue:

Witness for Peace urges continued work with members of Congress as they return to their districts in August – "thank those who voted right and let those who voted wrong know that you're still paying attention. This next step in holding members accountable for their votes is a key part in making progress for trade justice."

A news announcement from More Light Presbyterians