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Covenant Network gathers
Leaders agree to support 2-year study period, seek dialogue
with Coalition
by Doug King
November, 1999
This year's Covenant Network
Conference drew some 450 people to Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta on
November 4 - 6. In a sanctuary enlivened and solemnized by around 150 stoles
from the "Shower of Stoles" project, the group shared in times of worship, and heard presentations from
theologian Douglas John Hall and Auburn Seminary president Barbara Wheeler.
Participants offered varied reactions to the Network's
support of another two years of "sabbatical," which means two more years with no change in the current strictures of
G-6.0106b. Even more questions were raised about the notion of dialogue with the
conservative groups involved in the Presbyterian Coalition. The Network
leadership reaffirmed its "commitment
to a fully inclusive church ... [and] the removal of G-6.0106b from the Book of
Order ..."
There were significant shifts in the style of the gathering from the Denver
meeting in November 1998. The presence of the stoles was one concrete image of
the increased inclusion of gay and lesbian activists, including some roles in
worship leadership. Some who were disturbed by what they perceived as the "patriarchal"
style and language in last year's
worship, expressed appreciation for this year's
worship. Conference planners had clearly made an effort to respond to concerns
expressed last year, by allowing time and space for more conversation around
dinner tables and in reflection groups.
The two presentations by Dr.
Hall, Emeritus Professor of Christian Theology
at McGill University in Montreal, showed the possibilities for rethinking our
Reformed tradition in light of new realities in our society and culture and the
end of the millennium. Speaking on "Confessing
Christ in a Post-Christian Context,"
Hall pointed to the important shift in our culture from the sense of guilt that
is so familiar to so many of us, to the deep feelings of despair and
hopelessness that are so dominant for many younger people today. He urged that
we shift our theological thinking --
and preaching and teaching -- to offer
hope in the face of this climate of despair.
This understanding of salvation as hope and meaning, rather than as a
judicial "atonement" for guilt, leads to us to understand sexuality, he said, not as a matter of
guilt but as a way of building meaning. We build meaning not as abstract
concepts but in relationships; these relationships may be problematic in many
ways, but they always elicit compassion as we share in the pains and ambiguities
of life together. And this compassion is the very heart of the meaning of the
Cross -- not as a sacrifice to a
righteous God, and as the decisive statement of One who is with us
unconditionally.
Barbara Wheeler spoke on "True
Confession: A Presbyterian Dissenter Thinks about the Church." She urged the group to do two things: First, we must "Tell
the truth" about our differences with
the present policy of our church to bar gay and lesbian people from full
participation in the church; that means taking part in the Unity and Diversity
conferences that are planned, and speaking up on the issues that concern us. And
second, we must "Stay put."
"Separation from the Body of Christ," she said, "should be almost
unthinkable." Rather, we must stay and
work to change the position of our church, to try to begin to undo the harm we
have done to gay and lesbian teenagers and many others. It seems clear that for
Dr. Wheeler, there is a tension between these two imperatives, but her
conclusion is that we must stay involved in the conversation for the foreseeable
future.
For their own
report on this conference,
and the texts of the talks by Hall,
Wheeler and others,
click here to
visit the Covenant Network web site.
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog
for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship and activism,
Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the voices of
feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy, students,
exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers and
devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God in
whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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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!
You can post your own news and views, or initiate
a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical reflections on
everything between summit to shore, including kayaking, climbing,
religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture,
travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New York City and the
Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive New York City
Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the Witherspoon
board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian Church in
Flushing, NY. |
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John
Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently serving as
pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., blogs
about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized and
disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and lightening
up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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Plan now 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 |
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