Earlier stories are indexed:

You can assist workers and institutions in countries where books are in short supply!  Share your books by sending them to Readers' Service, an agency of the PC(USA).  It's a great way to help!   [12-21-05]

a special report by Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Issues Analyst
[11-8-05]

This year's conference of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, with 500 in attendance, was held in the Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis. The location in the South was significant by itself. But there is also some "background." In the repressive style that is all too familiar in the region, 27 of the 80 ministers in the Presbytery of the Mid-South urged the Idlewild session to cancel their sponsorship of the event, and there was a vague threat of legal action. Well, the session rethought it, decided to continue, and were joined by nine other churches in the presbytery and two outside it as co-sponsors.

Each service of worship at Idlewild was an impressive experience, with Melva Costen leading worship several times. Other speakers included writer Kathleen Norris, theologians Eugene Ro gers, Larry Rasmussen, and Amy Plantinga Pauw   -- along with PCUSA Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase, and Theological Task Force members Barbara Wheeler and John Wilkinson.

Tim Hart-Andersen, speaking for the Board of Covenant Network, emphasized that the Board has neither taken a position on the report of the TTF nor endorsed its recommendations. It has, however, noted sadly that "the final recommendations do not address all of our hopes for the church," in particular the full inclusion of its GLBT members.  He noted that the Covenant Network will continue to support overtures from presbyteries to remove G-6.0106b from the Book of Order and will ask commissioners to listen for divine guidance during the deliberations of the General Assembly in June.  The reaction of the assembled body seemed to be one of uncertainty about what had been said and emotional ambivalence in responding to it.

The New Wineskins Initiative, on whose conference we reported in June, 2005, is moving rapidly to place their "vision" for a radically different Presbyterian Church before the 217^th General Assembly.

In a letter to their supporters and those who attended their conference, David Henderson and Dean Weaver, Co-Moderators of the group, call on endorsing congregations and other friends to present one of two proposed overtures to their presbyteries.

They then remind their friends that "From the beginning the NWI has sought to work through existing mechanisms for change available within our denomination. We want to be true to our word, and faithful to pursue change from within in this season. This means overtures."

Acknowledging the support recently expressed by Presbyterian seminaries for the Theological Task Force report, and the calls for new authoritative interpretations, they assert that "the clarion call of the New Wineskins Initiative to radically rethink how we do church and serve Jesus Christ is all the more real. We are convinced that new window-dressings will not fix our present structure."

He has been active in various Presbyterian-related organizations, including Presbyterians for Renewal and The Presbyterian Coalition.

The Presbyterian News Service report >>

In the first presbytery vote on a delete-B overture since the PCUSA's Theological Task Force released its widely-criticized report, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area voted overwhelmingly on September 13 to send a delete-B overture to the 2006 General Assembly. The vote was 103 in favor, 34 opposed (75% in favor) on the delete-B overture, and 101 in favor, 41 opposed on the parallel overture to delete the PCUSA's discriminatory "authoritative interpretation" from the 1970's.

The Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church will hold its next meeting July 18-21, 2005, in Dallas, Texas. The group will have as its main agenda the consideration of initial drafts of portions of its final report.

Mission—as important as ever!

Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase reflects on his recent visit to Congo as a glimpse of the wide and deep involvement of the PC(USA) in mission – with the growing partnerships and urgent challenges to work for "the kingdom of God ‘on earth, as it is in heaven.’ "

A mountaintop experience

In response to the rising number of disciplinary accusations that have been filed in recent years, often by persons who have not been directly affected by the alleged offenses, the overture would amend D-10.0102 so that the accusation(s) must involve some claim of personal harm, or must be brought by a person with standing in the governing body which receives the complaint.  [6-30-05]

A New Church Development pastor raises a good question: Where’s our coverage of the "emerging church" movement? His note:

Your advocacy of a progressive social justice agenda for Presbyterians in today's social/cultural debates is a welcome voice. At the same time, I find myself increasingly yearning for a regular point of view in your pages on the larger dynamic of prophetic evangelism in a church that is largely disengaged from generations who find church boring and irrelevant. I would encourage you to feature some postings on the emerging church and missional church church movements that are gaining energy and creating interest among many of us. The tired old divide between evangelism and social justice continues to undermine the hope we all share for a vital witness in today's world. What do you think?

The author adds: I am Hart Edmonds and along with Cheryl (my wife) we are doing new church development for the PCUSA and Missouri River Valley Presbytery. Our church is called The Oasis. See our web site at www.oasischurchomaha.com

Judicial Commission rules on Williamson case
[4-6-05]

The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission has ruled in a controversial case involving Parker T. Williamson, chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor-in-chief of the Presbyterian Layman.

The ruling sustained only one of Williamson’s five allegations of error by the synod PJC, agreeing that the presbytery’s policy for validating ministries should have included written criteria for determining whether or not to validate specialized ministries. His other charges of error included the synod commission’s consideration of statements made in the Layman in earlier years; what he charged as the commission’s failure to read all the material he provided to it, and (on the other hand) that it had taken into account the Lay Committee’s “Declaration of Conscience,” which had been presented to the commission by a member of Williamson’s staff. These were all dismissed.

Read more in a report by Leslie Scanlon of Presbyterian Outlook.

Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase writes with enthusiasm about the diversity and the dynamic leadership he has found among Presbyterian young adults and college students in his visits this year.

By a convincing (and perhaps surprising) vote of 104 to 20, the Presbytery of Milwaukee last night acted to approve Elizabeth (Eily) Marlow for ordination. Ms. Marlow has long been active in the Presbyterian Church, through the National Network of Presbyterian College Women and various other programs. She is currently serving in the chaplaincy at Presbyterian-related Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. The presbytery action was notable as a strong endorsement of a woman who has been very open and honest in affirming her orientation as a lesbian.

Interim Executive Presbyter Anne Fisher commented that she was very pleased with the tone and demeanor shown during the discussion of the action. She added that members showed a real respect for one another, and a willingness to listen seriously to differing views on a controversial question.

The Rev. David Oliver-Holder commented that her statement of faith was "outstanding." He added that after a couple very busy weeks, "yesterday, as I was reading her statement of faith in preparation for the meeting, I was amazed to find, by the second paragraph, how calm I had suddenly become. Peace in the presence of Truth. I also respond well to good theology, and hers is very good."

The Layman, in the person of Editor in Chief Parker Williamson, has accused Dr. Mark Achtemeier, one of the leading evangelical members of the Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church, of a "departure from the Biblical tradition" in his classroom teaching at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Williamson writes that Achtemeier "told a seminary class on Jan. 27 that his position on homosexuality represents a 'departure from the Biblical tradition.' "

Achtemeier has responded in a letter to PresbyWeb that this charge (and much else in Williamson's article) is "categorically false." He has demanded an apology and a retraction from the Layman.

Mr. Williamson has responded that he will do no such thing.

The exchange has generated some interesting comments posted on PresbyWeb, including:

Committee upholds process for staff firings

The General Assembly Council (GAC) Personnel Subcommittee has found that Executive Director John Detterick acted properly when he terminated two high-level PC(USA) employees in November.

Why Presbyteries Should Vote Against
Proposed Constitutional Amendment 04-E.9

by Lynne Reade

[1-31-05]

Proposed Constitutional Amendment 04-E.9. is one of a series of proposals for changes in our Rules of Discipline that grew out of the tragedy of sexual abuse of missionary children in the Congo.

The other proposals are reasonable, but 04-E.9. is seriously flawed. It has nothing to do with actual litigation in the Congo abuses. The proposed changes would allow Prosecuting Committees to appeal the results of any church disciplinary trials they do not like.

That means that an accused person would be placed in jeopardy a second time, even though a Presbytery Judicial Commission or a Session has decided that the accused was "Not Guilty." This is completely contrary to the concept of disciplinary justice in the United States - not only under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States but also under our own Principles of Church Discipline.

The Fifth Amendment is not directly applicable in our church courts, but it is still instructive in consideration of basic rights of accused persons:

". . . nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; . . ."

Our own Book of Order says in the Preamble of the Principles of Church Discipline at D-1.0102:

". . . In all respects, members are to be accorded procedural safeguards and due process, and it is the intention of these rules so to provide. . ."

Unlike civil cases, secular criminal cases and church disciplinary cases pit the full resources of a governing body against an individual who is charged with committing an offense. That is why there are constitutional protections for the accused such as presumption of innocence, a standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, prohibition against double jeopardy, and others.

I have served on Permanent Judicial Commissions at all levels of our church and have served as Counsel in a number of Disciplinary Cases, including one time on a Prosecuting Committee in a case involving sexual misconduct where a lot went wrong. So I know first-hand that there are problems with our disciplinary system, but Proposed Amendment 04-E.9 is not the answer.

In the future, we may be able to work out a way for a Prosecuting Committee to challenge seriously incorrect rulings of a PJC before or during trial - something comparable to what is done in secular courts by way of writs. I would like to see that.

Presbyterian News Service has provided three reports from the meeting of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association.

Pennsylvania pastor, Detroit elder take PHEWA honors

A pastor adept at keeping churches alive while steel towns die in the Monongahela River valley near Pittsburgh (The Rev. Bill Thomas), and Daniel Stoepker, a Detroit elder who continues to fight for better HIV/AIDS care, treatment and research despite the ravages of the disease in his own body were honored Jan. 15 by the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) with its two top awards.

Domestic violence simulation reveals problems victims face

Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network (PADVN) put on a simulation game, "In Her Shoes," in which women participants got a taste of the world of battered women -- victims of domestic violence -- and the bewildering maze they must navigate to access the resources they need in order to survive.

Unconventional art works attract attention

As special art display featured works of art created by members of VSA arts of New Mexico, a Tucson group dedicated to providing creative learning and employment opportunities for people with disabilities or limited access to the arts.

Press release from National Capital Presbytery, January 6, 2004

Gene TeSelle adds more thoughts on the relevance of this 100-year-old statement for our own time.   [11-18-04]

The 216th General Assembly called for conversations and studies to commemorate the centennial of the 1908 Social Creed of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. That statement called for reforms such as an end to child labor, the six-day week, occupational safety, a living wage, and other steps aimed at moving American society closer to what a "Christ-like God" was believed to want for all Americans.

Beyond celebrating the past, the action calls for looking forward with "a survey of key Christian principles to guide 21st century Presbyterians and others in addressing major and likely future concerns, such as the lack of health insurance for 44 million Americans, the outsourcing of jobs to countries without human rights or environmental safeguards, and the impact of growing economic inequality on our democracy ..."

This is obviously a project close to the heart of Witherspoon's values. As a first step toward supporting the study, Gene TeSelle offers a background paper on the Social Creed, and Chris Iosso explores some of the details of the 1908 statement, and what such a new statement might mean for us today.

We're happy to present:

The 2004 General Assembly
A Special Report to Witherspoon Society Members
by 
Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Issues Analyst,
 and 
Doug King, Network News editor and WebWeaver

Earlier stories are indexed:

Voices of Sophia blog

Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:

Witherspoon’s Facebook page

Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’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!

John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive

Got more blogs to recommend?

Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch Seminar!

GHOST RANCH SEMINAR

July 26-August 1, 2010

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