Earlier stories are indexed:

a report from Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon's Secretary/Communicator

[6-23-09]

Ever since the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) went to biennial assemblies, our church has been looking for something to fill the void left in the off-years. I admit to being one of those “GA junkies,” the people that attend General Assemblies no matter where they are at or what issues are being discussed. I missed seeing friends, hearing first-hand stories about what was happening around the denomination, and talking to the many wonderful people who serve the PC(USA) through the offices in Louisville.

For the rest of Mitch's report >>

[6-19-09]

We regret that we were not able to be there for what was apparently a very impressive event – or rather a collection of many events, large and small.

But to see a listing of Presbyterian News Service reports from many of them, click here.

Click here for a few of the highlights that might be of special interest to Witherspooners.

[4-16-09]

Mary Jane's childhood experiences helped to shape her lifelong involvement in the African solidarity and civil rights movements. Her dedication to human rights began long before the 1960s. Her father knew A. Philip Randolph from the 1920s, and she recalls him talking of a march on Washington long before the 1963 march. Her mother instilled in her a love, and compassion for all people, regardless of race, nationality, or creed. Mary Jane began her quest for justice with a restaurant sit-in in the late 1940s. Her journey took her to justice efforts around the country including organizing an Ohio delegation to the 1963 March on Washington and engaging in voter registration efforts in Mississippi in 1964.

By 1960 Mary Jane focused her attention to the life and ministry of the Presbyterian Church.

In that year she was ordained a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church.

In 1966 she was appointed a career missionary by the Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations and assigned to Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. During her two and a half years in Nairobi she worked as a community developer and consultant on social work for the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. In 1968, along with 100 other missionaries she was called home because of the crises in our nation around the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy.

In January of 1969, she accepted a post with the Protestant Community Services of Los Angeles where she worked as a community organizer specialist and ombudsman.

In 1971, Mary Jane went to Washington, D.C. as Associate Director of the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church. In 1976, she became the first woman to be named Director of the Washington Office. She retired from her position as Director in 1986, but she never retired from championing human rights and justice. Among her other accomplishments, Mary Jane served for six years as President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, USA. WCRP is a world-wide inter-religious organization dedicated to collaboration among the world's religions on issues concerning peace with justice and the integrity of the environment. She also served on the National Capital Presbytery Administration and Personnel Committee and on their Permanent Judicial Commission.

In 1977, Mary Jane was asked by President Jimmy Carter to serve in his administration as member of the Presidential Advisory Board for Ambassadorial Appointments. She was also frequently called upon for advice by President Ronald Reagan despite their disagreements on many issues. As was recently quoted in the Presbyterian News Service “No one ignored Mary Jane Patterson.”

All her adult life Mary Jane has confronted violence against women. She worked closely with the House of Ruth, a home for battered women. She also developed a program to build economic justice for women, making sure they receive the same wages as men in the common workplace.

Mary Jane was the recipient of numerous awards for her work in civil rights, human rights, and peace and justice issues. However, she was most proud of her award as a Presbyterian Church (USA) Woman of Faith in 1998.

Mary Jane has said many times “The important thing is faithfulness. We have been working on these issues for a long time. The issues change but the struggle continues. God calls us to faithfulness.”

Mary Jane leaves to mourn: One sister-in-law: Dorothy Patterson Gregory (Columbus, OH); Nieces and Nephews: Brenda J.P. (Winston) Arthurs (Columbus, OH); Robert L. (Patricia) Patterson (Springboro, OH), Brian L. (Esther) Neal (Corona, CA), Dale A. (Cheryl) Patterson (Columbus, OH); Eight Great Nieces and Nephews: Shanee' (MyRon) Edmonds (Antioch, TN), DaNielle Arthurs (Antioch, TN), Nia Patterson (Columbus, OH), David Patterson (Annandale, VA) Brandon Patterson (Severn, MD), Bryan Patterson (Colton, CA), Barrington Arthurs (Columbus, OH), Dominic (Tinisha) Neal (San Diego, CA). Eight Great Great Nieces and Nephews: Makayla Arthurs, Teylor Edmonds, Dominque Neal, Violet Neal, Jalen Patterson-Greene, Noah Goodman-Patterson, Camden Edmonds, Sean Neal: Cousins Constance Toles (Columbus, OH), Robert Leach, (Fontana, CA), Robin Leach (Los Angeles, CA) and a host of other relatives and friends.

Acknowledgment

The family acknowledges with sincere thanks and appreciation all of your prayers, acts of kindness, and expressions of love and sympathy during this period of our bereavement.

In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in church and culture, to hear voices of people long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God's new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

– From “The Presbyterian Church Statement of Faith” - The Essence of Mary Jane Patterson

Pallbearers

Claude Brame ** Nathaniel Gorman ** Clarence McCollum ** Cline J. Warren ** Paul Washington, Sr. ** John Wingo

Grants support local efforts such as affordable housing, job creation
[4-15-09]

Presbyterian News Service reports that the Presbyterian Hunger Program, in partnership with the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Small Church and Community Ministry Office, recently allocated $92,500 to 18 congregation-based community organizations (CBCOs).

"They are among the hundreds of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations making a difference in their local communities" said the Rev. Phil Tom, associate for small church and community ministry in the Evangelism and Church Growth area of the General Assembly Council.

Grants are also provided to support training for lay leaders, pastors, middle governing bodies' staff and seminarians to develop the skills for congregational-based community organizing.

CBCOs – about 170 of them around the country – are broad-based coalitions of congregations working in partnership with other community organizations to address quality of life issues such as affordable housing, living wage and job creation.

Global economic crisis, strategic planning shape package of expense cuts, use of reserves

Net total of 44 positions are being eliminated

by Jerry L. Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE ― March 27, 2009 — The General Assembly Council (GAC) closed a $9.92 million shortfall in the 2009 General Assembly Mission Budget today (March 27), making budget reductions of $3.99 million and using unspent previous year revenue totaling $5.93 million.

In doing so, the council reduced the mission budget from $110,885,317 ― which it approved last September ― to $106,914,584. The overall 4 percent budget reduction includes a 16 percent decrease in unrestricted spending and a 1 percent increase in restricted expenditures.

The budget cuts announced today include the elimination of 14 incumbent positions and 19 vacant positions at the Presbyterian Center here.

Combined with personnel actions prior to this meeting which impact the 2009 budget, the GAC staff has been reduced by a net total of 44 positions, with 56 positions eliminated and 12 new ones created. The GAC staff now numbers just over 400, not including mission co-workers, conference center staff at Ghost Ranch and Stony Point and other GAC-related entities.

“The decision to eliminate positions was difficult,” said GAC Executive Director Linda Valentine in a press release issued shortly after the GAC adjourned its May 25-27 meeting. “We know it will have a real-life impact on people for whom we care and with whom we have worked side by side. We truly appreciate the work of all our employees. I want to personally thank those who are leaving us for their efforts on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”

Four minister members of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery will be at the center Friday afternoon to counsel with affected employees. Central Presbyterian Church here has scheduled a “Service of Gratitude, Lament and Hope” Monday evening (March 30) at 5:30 in its sanctuary.

Throughout the meeting here and in a budget orientation video released last week, GAC staff leaders have emphasized that that the budget-reduction decisions have been accompanied by an accelerating strategic vision process designed to “reshape” the GAC’s work.

“This process has been going on at least as long as I’ve been at the GAC,” Valentine said earlier this week. She began work as the GAC’s top executive in July 2006.

“This has been a constant process of reshaping our mission and ministry,” Valentine said. “We relentlessly ask: ‘What are we uniquely positioned to do? What do we do best? What does the church most need from us?’”

In addition to across the board cuts of 10 percent in postage and mailing and 15 percent in travel, the cuts reflect this strategic realignment.

A number of service and program areas have been eliminated: Media Services (last fall), National Health Ministries, and a training event for mission personnel in the Middle East and Central Asia. The budget cuts also reduce support for military chaplains by about 5 percent and Mission Program Grants (by suspending the fall cycle of grants).

Other programmatic work has been restructured, including:

 •           the Evangelism area in Evangelism and Church Growth;

•           the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program;

•           the Christian Formation office in Theology Worship and Education;

•           Church Financial Campaign Services (in December 2008);

•           Financial Aid for Studies in the Vocation ministry area;

•           combining youth ministries with collegiate ministries in Evangelism and Church Growth;

•           combining the Educational Ministries office with Curriculum Publishing’s marketing office;

•           combining the Child Advocacy and Social Welfare Organizations offices; and

•           moving the Multicultural Ministries office from Evangelism and Church Growth to Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/PW and renaming it Multicultural Congregational Support. That office and the congregational enhancement offices will be blended into a new Office of Cross-cultural ministries and Congregational Support.

A mandatory one-week furlough for all GAC staff, May 18-22 ― announced earlier ― is expected to save in excess of $420,000.

“Some of the changes to our budget were made to improve our flexibility, effectiveness and responsiveness, while others are purely cost-cutting measures,” said Joey Bailey, treasurer and chief financial officer, in the press release. “Overall, I think the new budget reflects our commitment to being responsible stewards of the funds that are entrusted to us, being accountable to the church, and to our constituents.”

Valentine acknowledged that the GAC faces a “similar projected shortfall next year.” The council will take up that task at its September meeting. But in her closing remarks to the council, she remained upbeat.

“The cup is more than half-full,” she said Friday morning. “It is overflowing with the mission and ministry of Presbyterians all over the world. Soon we’ll be moving from Lent to Easter,” she said, “and there’s an incredible amount of good news to tell.”

Eliminated positions

The 14 incumbent staff positions eliminated March 27:

•          Communication and Funds Development: art director, Presbyterians Today

•          Compassion, Peace and Justice: associate, Social Welfare Organizations

•          Compassion, Peace and Justice: administrative assistant, Director’s Office

•          Compassion, Peace and Justice: associate, network support (part-time), Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

•          Compassion, Peace and Justice: administrative assistant, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

•          Compassion, Peace and Justice: administrative assistant, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

•          Compassion, Peace and Justice: associate, National Health Ministries

•          Compassion, Peace and Justice: associate for program resource development (term), National Health Ministries

•          Evangelism and Church Growth: associate, collegiate ministries

•          Evangelism and Church Growth: program assistant, collegiate ministries

•          Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: administrative assistant

•          Shared Services: maintenance engineer, Building Services

•          Theology Worship and Education: administrative assistant, Theology and Worship

•          Theology Worship and Education: associate, Christian Education, Middle Governing Bodies

Here is a complete list of previously eliminated incumbent and vacant positions as well as vacant positions eliminated March 27:

Staffing Changes by Title

Incumbent positions that have been eliminated March 27, 2009:

1.         Evangelism & Church Growth: Associate, Collegiate Ministries

2.         Evangelism & Church Growth: Program Assistant, Collegiate Ministries

3.         Compassion, Peace & Justice: Associate, Social Welfare Organizations

4.         Theology Worship & Education: Administrative Assistant, Theology & Worship

5.         Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Administrative Assistant

6.         Shared Services: Maintenance Engineer, Building Services

7.         Compassion, Peace & Justice: Senior Administrative Assistant, Director’s Office

8.         Compassion, Peace & Justice: Associate, Network Support (part-time), Peacemaking Program (effective 4/3/09)

9.         Compassion, Peace & Justice: Administrative Assistant, Peacemaking Program

10.       Compassion, Peace & Justice: Administrative Assistant, Peacemaking Program

11.       Compassion, Peace & Justice: Associate, National Health Ministries

12.       Compassion, Peace & Justice: Associate for Program Resource Development (term), National Health Ministries

13.       Theology Worship & Education: Associate, Christian Education, Middle Governing Bodies

14.       Communications & Funds Development: Art Director, Mission Interpretation, Presbyterians Today

Incumbent positions previously eliminated:

1.         Communications & Funds Development: Coordinator, Media Services, Creative Services (October 2008)

2.         Communications & Funds Development: Media/Production Specialist, Creative Services (October 2008)

3.         Communications & Funds Development: Media Specialist, Creative Services (October 2008)

4.         Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Associate, National Network of Presbyterian College Women (November 2008)

5.         Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Associate, Racial Ethnic Young Women Together (November 2008)

6.         Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Associate, Women’s Advocacy (November 2008)

7.         Shared Services: Database & Programming Manager, Information Technology (March 6, 2009)

8.         Shared Services: Systems Developer, Information Technology (March 6, 2009)

9.         Shared Services: Systems Developer, Information Technology (March 6, 2009)

10.       Shared Services: Database Administrator, Information Technology (March 6, 2009)

11.       Shared Services: Network Analyst, Information Technology (March 6, 2009)

12.       Shared Services: Desktop Support Analyst, Information Technology (March 6, 2009)

13.       Shared Services: Supervisor, Computer Operations, Information Technology (March 6, 2009)

14.       Shared Services: Network Analyst, Information Technology (March 6, 2009)

Vacant positions that have been eliminated March 27, 2009: 

1.         Evangelism & Church Growth: Field Staff, Multicultural Ministries (when term ends 5/31/09)

2.         Evangelism & Church Growth: Field Staff, Multicultural Ministries (when term ends 5/31/09)

3.         Evangelism & Church Growth: Field Staff, Multicultural Ministries (when term ends 5/31/09)

4.         Theology Worship & Education: Administrative Assistant, Educational Ministries

5.         Theology Worship & Education: Associate for Curriculum Development, Adult

6.         Theology Worship & Education: Editorial Assistant (budgeted for half a year)

7.         Theology Worship & Education: Designer (budgeted for half a year)

8.         Theology Worship & Education: Formatter (budgeted for three-fourths of a year)

9.         Theology Worship & Education: Copyeditor (budgeted for half a year)

10.       Theology Worship & Education: Designer

11.       World Mission: Administrative Assistant, Education, Training, & Events

12.       Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Administrative Assistant

13.       Shared Services: Senior Accountant, Financial Services

14.       Shared Services: HR Generalist, Human Resources

15.       Shared Services: Senior Customer Service Representative, Distribution Center

16.       Shared Services: Fulfillment Clerk, Distribution Center

17.       Shared Services: Mail Clerk, Mail/Print Center

18.       Office of Vocation: Program Assistant, Undergraduate Grants

19.       Compassion, Peace & Justice: Administrative Assistant (part-time), Hunger Program

Vacant positions that have been previously eliminated: 

1.         Communications & Funds Development: Administrative Assistant, Creative Services (October 2008)

2.         Communications & Funds Development: Associate, Creative Services (October 2008)

3.         Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Associate, Racial Justice & Advocacy (November 20008)

4.         Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Business Manager (November 20008)

5.         Communications & Funds Development: Coordinator, Church Financial Campaign Service (December 2008)

   6. Communications & Funds Development: Assistant for Administration, CFCS (December 2008)

   7. Communications & Funds Development: Campaign Consultant, CFCS (December 2008)

   8. Communications & Funds Development: Campaign Consultant, CFCS (December 2008)

   9. Communications & Funds Development: Campaign Consultant, CFCS (December 2008)

New positions created March 27, 2009:

   1. Evangelism & Church Growth: Associate, Personal Evangelism

   2. Evangelism & Church Growth: Associate, Church Evangelism

   3. Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Coordinator, Congregational Support & Cross-cultural Ministries

   4. Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Executive Assistant, Director's office

   5. Compassion, Peace & Justice: Program Associate, Interpretation, Director's Office

New positions previously created:

   1. Communications & Funds Development: Producer, Creative Services (October 2008)

   2. Communications & Funds Development: Production Assistant, Creative Services (October 2008)

   3. Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Coordinator, Racial Ethnic & Women's Leadership Development/RESC (November 2008)

   4. Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Associate, Women's Leadership Development (November 2008)

   5. Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Associate, Gender and Racial Justice (November 2008)

   6. Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: Ministry Specialist, Women's Leadership & NNPCW and REYWT (Lydia Kim to fill position on April 6, 2009.)

   7. Executive Director’s Office: Associate, Advocacy Committee Support (November 2008)         

Replacement also named for Civil Unions and Marriage Special Committee

[3-14-09] 

by Sharon Youngs, OGA Communications Coordinator (March 11,, 2009
To read this note on the PC(USA) website >>

LOUISVILLE - The individuals who will serve on the Special Committee to Consider Amending the Confessional Documents of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to Include the Belhar Confession in The Book of Confessions have been announced.

The 218th General Assembly (2008) of the PC(USA) took action to initiate the process to consider including the Belhar Confession in the church's confessional documents by appointing a committee to study the possible addition.

This special committee, the Assembly noted, is "separate from any committee assigned to the Heidelberg Catechism," already in The Book of Confessions. That catechism is being studied by another committee of 15, which is focusing on correcting translations problems within the confessional document.

The PC(USA)'s Book of Order (G-18.0201b) provides the details of how such amendments to the church's confessional documents are to be considered, including a description of the formation of the committee itself.

The provision states, "Amendments to the confessional documents of this church may be made only in the following manner: (1) the approval of the proposed amendment by the General Assembly and its recommendation to the presbyteries; (2) the approval in writing of two thirds of the presbyteries; and (3) the approval and enactment by the next ensuing General Assembly.

G-18.0201b further states that, prior to any such amendment being sent to presbyteries, the assembly "shall appoint a committee of elders and ministers, numbering not less than fifteen, to consider the proposal, of whom not more than two shall be from one synod. The committee shall consult with the committee or governing body ... in which the amendment originated, and report its recommendations to the next ensuring General Assembly."

The next assembly will convene in Minneapolis in June 2010.

The 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) directed the Moderators of the 216th, 217th, and 218th General Assemblies to name the committee to consider including the Belhar Confession, in consultation with the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, the Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, and the Office of Theology and Worship."

Named to the special committee are the Revs. J. C. Austin (New York City Presbytery), Jennifer Ayres (Chicago Presbytery), Katie G. Cannon (Philadelphia Presbytery), Aurelio A. Garcia (Presbiterio de San Juan), Jin. S. Kim (Twin Cities Presbytery), Mark Lomax (Greater Atlanta Presbytery), David P. Moessner (John Knox Presbytery), Paul Parsons (Heartland Presbytery), George W. Stroup, III (Cherokee Presbytery), Jerry Tankersley (Los Ranchos Presbytery), Eugene G. Turner (Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery); and elders Jane Dempsey Douglass (San Gabriel Presbytery), Leslie McClure (Middle Tennessee Presbytery), Judith Pingel (Sierra Blanca Presbytery), and Y. Dianna Wright (Salem Presbytery).

Pingel will serve as chairperson of the group.

Staffing the committee will be the Rev. Joseph D. Small, director of Theology Worship and Education (General Assembly Council) and the Rev. Fairfax F. Fair, pastor of Highland Presbyterian Church, Louisville, Ky., on behalf of the Office of the General Assembly.

Presbyterian News Service has provided brief bio information on the committee members:

The Rev. J.C. Austin has served as associate pastor at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City since 2000. An Atlanta native who attended Princeton Theological Seminary, Austin spent the 1998-99 academic year as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, studying the public roles of the churches in the apartheid struggle and the reconciliation process. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Cape Town, where he is continuing that study.

The Rev. Jennifer Ryan Ayres is assistant professor of Christian ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, where she also teaches courses on faith and politics, Christian social witness and globalization. She's a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a degree in political science and of Union Theological Seminary-Presbyterian School of Christian Education. She earned her Ph.D. from Emory University, where her dissertation was on the practical theology of Reformed Christian social witness. She also studied human rights.

The Rev. Katie G. Cannon is professor of Christian ethics at Union Theological Seminary-Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA. She has also taught at Temple University in Philadelphia, Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA, and New York Theological Seminary. She is the author or editor of six books, including Teaching Preaching: Isaac R. Clark and Black Sacred Rhetoric, Womanism and the Soul of the Black Community and Black Womanist Ethics. Her current work is on a book about the Transatlantic slave trade.

Elder Jane Dempsey Douglass is a retired professor of the history of Christianity and historical theology. Holding a Ph.D. in history of religion from Harvard, she has taught at Claremont School of Theology, Claremont Graduate University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She made several trips to South Africa as president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. She has served as president of the American Society of Church History and was vice-chair of the committee that developed the PC(USA)'s Brief Statement of Faith.

The Rev. Aurelio A. Garcia has been professor of humanities at the University of Puerto Rico since 1999. He has also taught at the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico. A native of Arecibo, PR, he earned his Ph.D. in history of Christian doctrine at Princeton Theological Seminary. He has also studied at Temple University, Cornell University and the University of Chile in Santiago. Fluent in Spanish and English, he has served several pastorates in San Juan Presbytery. He is a specialist in Reformation history, particularly the Swiss theologian Heinrich Bullinger.

The Rev. Jin S. Kim is the founding pastor of Church of All Nations in Minneapolis. He holds degrees from Georgia Tech, Princeton Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. In demand as a speaker, Kim preached at the 2004 and 2008 General Assemblies. He is moderator-elect of Twin Cities Area Presbytery and is a PC(USA) delegate to the National Council of Churches General Assembly. Locally, he serves on numerous boards, including the Cross Cultural Alliance of Minstries and the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.

The Rev. Mark Lomax is founding pastor of First African Presbyterian Church in Lithonia, GA, where he has served for fifteen years. A graduate of United Theological Seminary, he is assistant professor of homiletics at Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, which includes PC(USA)-related Johnson C. Smith Seminary. He is currently the interim dean at Johnson C. Smith Seminary.

Elder Leslie McClure is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville and is a master's degree candidate in Latin American Studies at Vanderbilt University. A native of Louisville, KY, McClure is a singer/songwriter/recording artist who frequently raises money for various mission and hunger projects around the world through concerts and CD sales. She has traveled extensively in Latin and South America and has been an active member at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church in Louisville and Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville.

The Rev. David Moesssner is professor of Biblical theology at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Iowa, where his greatest joy is preparing students for ordained ministry. He has also taught at University of Pretoria in South Africa, Yale Divinity School, Columbia Theological Seminary and Eberhard-Karis University in Tubingen, Germany. He has lectured in 10 different countries, including Corinth, where he helped celebrate 1,950 years of Paul's founding of the church there. He's a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University.

The Rev. Paul Parsons has served as a pastor for 34 years - three with the United Methodist Church and 31 with the PC(USA). A native of Maryland, he graduated from Johns Hopkins University and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has served congregations in Richland, WA; San Jose, CA; Montrose, CO; and Kansas City, MO. He recently accepted a call to serve as associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, CO. An avid mountain climber, he has scaled 110 summits..

Elder Judith Pingel is chair of the special committee. She's a public school teacher and trained mediator. She is currently moderator of Sierra Blanca Presbytery Council and has also served as a member and chair of the PC(USA)'s Advocacy Committee on Racial Ethnic Concerns. She describes herself as a faithful servant.

The Rev. George W. Stroup III is professor of theology at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. A native of Tulsa, OK, he graduated from Rice University, Yale University Divinity School and Vanderbilt University. Prior to joining the Columbia faculty in 1986, he taught at The University of the South, Princeton Theological Seminary and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has written and edited numerous books. Stroup served on the PC(USA)'s Council on Theology and Culture and on the Brief Statement of Faith committee.

The Rev. Jerry Tankersley is a recently retired pastor who has served pastorates in Southern California and served at all levels of the PC(USA). He has just completed service on the General Assembly Nominating Committee and was co-moderator of the 2007 National Pastors Sabbath. A native of Amarillo, TX, he graduated from Westmont College in California and holds graduate degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary and the School of Theology at Claremont, CA. He also teaches law at the California State University-Los Angeles.

The Rev. Eugene Turner is a retired minister living in Fayetteville, NY. A graduate of PC(USA)-related Knoxville College in Tennessee and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, he did graduate work at Harvard. After serving pastorates in Patterson, NJ, and Philadelphia, Turner entered executive service, serving in Philadelphia Presbytery and then as a synod executive in San Francisco and Syracuse, NY. On General Assembly staff he served as associate stated clerk as ecumenical officer where he represented the church at the NCC, WCC and WARC.

The Rev. Y. Dianna Wright is African American Ministry Advocate for Salem Presbytery, based in Clemmons, NC. A graduate of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union-PSCE) in Richmond, VA, and Columbia Theological Seminary, she has been an education consultant and curriculum and devotional writer for many years, writing Christian education curriculum, devotions for These Days and Presbyterian youth resources. She is the founder of the Kuumba Center for Christian Education and Spiritual Growth in Florence, SC.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Earl B. Arnold named to committee on marriage and civil unions

The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008), also named a replacement to another special committee at work in response to an action by last summer's assembly: the Rev. Earl B. Arnold (Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery) will fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the Rev. Steve Hancock (Arkansas Presbytery) on the General Assembly Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage.

Early registration deadline for the YAM Jam Conference is this Wednesday, February 25.

News Release   [Posted here 2-23-09]

Austin Texas - the “Live Music Capital of the World” – is the location for YAM-Jam – a gathering of Presbyterian young adults and young adult leaders throughout the PCUSA that will take place on and around the campus of Austin Theological Seminary from May 27-30. Bruce Reyes-Chow (Moderator), Carol Howard-Merritt (author of Tribal Church, and Ted Wardlaw (President of Austin Seminary) are scheduled to keynote this first time event. Hosted by PACHEM (Presbyterian Association for Collegiate and Higher Education Ministries) and sponsored through the Office of Collegiate Ministries YAM-Jam is an event for people seeking creative ways to be in ministry with young adults and college students in the PCUSA.

The classic problem facing young adult ministry in the PCUSA is feeling isolated from the rest of the denomination. As our church adjusts to issues of culture and structural changes, YAM-Jam is a way to bring those who care about young adults together to share, learn, worship, and play. To make this happen, the gathering will follow the flow of a Jam Session. According to Wikipedia – “a jam session is a musical session where musicians gather and play (or "jam") without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements. Jam sessions are often used to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or suggested by one participant, or may be wholly improvisational. Jam sessions can range from very loose gatherings of amateurs to sophisticated improvised recording sessions intended to be edited and released to the public.”

“Yam-Jam will begin like a traditional conference,” said Rev. Tommy Brown of the PACHEM Board, “but we hope it will quickly become a true Jam Session of ideas, creativity, and connections for college and young adult ministries in the PCUSA.” Brown continued, “It is going to be exciting to see what emerges from YAM-Jam – it is really going to be left up to the Holy Spirit and the passion, energy, and creativity of everyone there.”

Commentary by Gene TeSelle   [2-19-09]

The head of the Presbyterian Foundation recently commented on the economic downturn. We must applaud his saying something publicly about it. But much of his language is that of the corporate world, from which he came, and his own salary is in the neighborhood of $600,000, ten times that of most ministers and most GA staffers.

Topics of study to include Heidelberg Catechism and Israel Palestine

by Sharon Youngs, Communications Coordinator, Office of the General Assembly

LOUISVILLE — February 6, 2009 — The membership of two General Assembly special committees have been released, bringing the total of special committees named by the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to three this week.

Reyes-Chow earlier named his appointees to the Assembly’s Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Unions and Christian Marriage.

All three special committees were formed out of actions of the 218th General Assembly (2008), which met last summer in San Jose, Calif.

Heidelberg Catechism

The Special Committee on Correcting Translation Problems of the Heidelberg Catechism will consider proposed changes to the catechism made by last year’s assembly. According to the assembly action, the proposed changes revolve around correcting “translation problems in five responses of the Heidelberg Catechism as found in The Book of Confessions and to add the original Scripture texts of the German Heidelberg Catechism.”

The Book of Order (G-18.0200) calls for a special committee of no less than fifteen individuals to be formed when a General Assembly proposes any changes to part of the PC(USA) Constitution. The Heidelberg Catechism is in The Book of Confessions, part of the Constitution.

The special committee will consider the proposed changes to the catechism; consult with Newark Presbytery, which sent the original overture to last year’s assembly; and report back to the 219th General Assembly (2010) in Minneapolis.

Minister members of the special committee chosen by Reyes-Chow are the Revs. Heidi Husted Armstrong (Olympia Presbytery), Warner M. Bailey (Grace Presbytery), Shelly Barrick Parsons (West Virginia Presbytery), James R. Edwards (Inland Northwest Presbytery), Christopher Elwood (Mid-Kentucky Presbytery), Gary Neal Hansen (John Knox Presbytery), Neal D. Presa (Elizabeth Presbytery), Lorna A. Shoemaker (Redwoods Presbytery), David L. Stubbs (Lake Michigan Presbytery), and Floretta L. Watkins (Charlotte Presbytery)

Elders chosen for the panel are Dawn DeVries (James Presbytery), Sylvia Dooling (Plains and Peaks Presbytery), Susan N. Haskell (Sheppards and Lapsley Presbytery), Patrick Hunt (San Francisco Presbytery), and David Mulford (South Louisiana Presbytery).

The committee membership covers a spectrum of ages. Of the fifteen, three are between the ages of 26-35, two are between 36 and 45, four are between 46-55, six are between 56-65, and one is over 65 years old.

Presa will chair the committee. The Revs. Charles Wiley, coordinator in Theology Worship and Education (General Assembly Council), and Tom Hay, director of operations for the Office of the General Assembly, will staff the group.

The committee will begin its work at the end of March.

The 218th General Assembly (2008) also asked the Moderators of the 218th, 217th, and 216th General Assemblies (2008), (2006), and (2004) to “select a nine-member committee from a broad spectrum of viewpoints from PC(USA) members to prepare a comprehensive study, with recommendations, that is focused on Israel/Palestine within the complex context of the Middle East.

The Assembly said the study “should include an evaluation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s mission and relationships, including an assessment of the future for the Christian presence and witness in the Middle East; an overview of the complex interactions among religions, cultures, and peoples that characterize the region; an analysis of U.S. policies that impact the area; and steps to be taken with our partners in the Middle East and the United States to foster justice, improve interfaith relations, and nurture the building of peace toward a secure and viable future for all.”

This Special Committee to Prepare a Comprehensive Study Focused on Israel Palestine is also to report back to the 219th General Assembly (2010).

Elder Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of the 216th General Assembly (2004), and the Rev. Joan Gray, Moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2006), joined Reyes-Chow in naming the special committee’s members.

Minister members are the Revs. Susan R. Andrews (Hudson River Presbytery), John Huffman (Los Ranchos Presbytery), Rebecca Reyes (New Hope Presbytery), Marthame Sanders (Greater Atlanta Presbytery), Ronald L. Shive (Salem Presbytery), and John W. Wimberly, Jr. (National Capital Presbytery).

Elders serving on the panel are Frederic W. Bush (Los Ranchos Presbytery), Nahida H. Gordon (Muskingum Valley Presbytery), and Lucy Janjigian (Palisades Presbytery).

Staffing the committee will be the Rev. Christian Iosso, coordinator of the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy; the Rev. Victor Makari, coordinator for the Middle East, Asia Minor and the Jinishian Memorial Program for the General Assembly Council; Elder Doug Dicks, a PC(USA) mission co-worker in Israel Palestine; and the Rev. Kerry Clements, director of Communication, Development, and Technology for the Office of the General Assembly.

Fledgling “Global Oikonomics Project” aims at ‘well-being of all’    [1-28-09]

As the world struggles with the current economic crisis, the Presbyterian Church, through its Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP), is beginning to add a moral and ethical dimension – a concern for justice – to the concern for economic recovery.

“There needs to be a moral, justice-seeking dimension to this work and above all an acute sense of its likely impact on the poor,” retired San Francisco Theological Seminary dean Lewis Mudge told his fellow members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) at their recent meeting in Berkeley, CA.

and the Word became flesh

Presbyterian Health, Education & Welfare Association
Social Justice Biennial Conference
in the Big Tent

June 11 - 13, 2009
Atlanta, GA

[1-16-09]

Isaiah 54:2 says, "Enlarge the site of your tent…" Is our Tent large enough for those with no tent or those who stand outside, waiting for hospitality to be offered? Our participants will connect with those working at the grass- roots of our denomination in justice ministries. Listen, learn and share how congregations can be in ministry with persons and families affected by disabilities, mental illness, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, substance abuse, immigration, child welfare, health disparities… These are ministry, justice, and biblical imperatives! Atlanta, with its deep history of involvement in civil rights, is the perfect landscape to engage in this discussion.

The Big Tent is a celebration of the Presbyterian Church (USA) as 10 conferences of the Church come together in Atlanta. There are some common meal, worship and workshop times, as well as separate conference schedules.

Engage the Church in more diverse ways than ever before.

JUNE 11 – 13, 2009 • Atlanta, GA

Click here for the conference brochure, in PDF format

To register >>

Hunter says focus is on strengthening ties to congregations

Presbyterian News service reports that the Rev. Rhashell Hunter, director of the General Assembly Council’s Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women has announced a redesign of the office to focus on racial ethnic and women’s leadership development.

Five new positions have been created as a result of the redesign, and five existing positions have been eliminated.  More >>

Earlier stories are indexed:

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!

John Shuck’s new "Religion for Life" website

Long-time and stimulating blogger John Shuck, a Presbyterian minister currently serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., writes about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and lightening up.

Click here for his blog posts.

John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

Voices of Sophia blog

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

Got more blogs to recommend?