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for visiting with us!
We offer news and views from a progressive perspective.
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| 6/30/09 |
| Network News is on its way!
The Spring 2009 issue of Network News is in
the mail to Witherspoon members and other subscribers, and to
current members of Voices of Sophia as well.
And it’s also right here online, in PDF format –
both in high resolution
(nicer to look at, slower to download) and
normal resolution
(faster to download, especially if you’re using a slow connection).
Click
here to download the software you need to read PDF files.
Some of the features in this issue are:
 | Mitch Trigger’s report on the “Big Tent”
Presbyterian gathering in Atlanta – page 5 |
| Marvin Ellison’s “The freedom to marry – at
the heart of Christianity” – page 7 |
| Paul Capetz’ “John Calvin: His Significance,
Then and Now” – page 9 |
| Gusti Newquist’s feminist statement of faith
– page 13 |
| Gene TeSelle on “taking responsibility for
the future” – reflections on how we deal with the coming crises
in funding Social Security, Medicare, and other retirement
benefits and protections – page 16 |
| Sylvia Carlson’s report on a visit to the
Presbyterian Church in Sudan, and dealing with differing views
on the role of women – page 20 |
| From Homelessness to Hope – a summary of a
study report approved by the 218th General Assembly –
page 23 |
|
| The
Military Coup in Honduras – led by an SOA graduate
This early report on the
coup in Honduras, on Sunday morning, June 28, comes from
School of the Americas Watch.
A military coup has
taken place in Honduras this morning (Sunday, June 28), led by SOA
graduate Romeo Vasquez. In the early hours of the day, members of
the Honduran military surrounded the presidential palace and forced
the democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya, into custody.
He was immediately flown to Costa Rica.
A national vote had
been scheduled to take place today in Honduras to consult the
electorate on a proposal of holding a Constitutional Assembly in
November. General Vasquez had refused to comply with this vote and
was deposed by the president, only to later be reinstated by the
Congress and Supreme Court.
The Honduran state
television was taken off the air. The electricity supply to the
capital Tegucigalpa, as well telephone and cellphone lines were cut.
Government institutions were taken over by the military. While the
traditional political parties, Catholic church and military have not
issued any statements, the people of Honduras are going into the
streets, in spite of the fact that the streets are militarized. From
Costa Rica, President Zelaya has called for a non-violent response
from the people of Honduras, and for international solidarity for
the Honduran democracy.
While the European
Union and several Latin American governments just came out in
support of President Zelaya and spoke out against the coup, a
statement that was just issued by Barack Obama fell short of calling
for the reinstatement of Zelaya as the legitimate president.
Call the State Department and the White House
Demand that they call
for the immediate reinstatement of Honduran President Zelaya.
State Department:
202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339
White House:
Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Click here to send a message to President Barack Obama.
Visit
www.SOAW.org and
www.SOAW.org/presente for
articles and updated information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Campaign for Labor Rights added this information,
and calls for action, later on Sunday
SECRETARY OF STATE
CLINTON DENOUNCES COUP – THE STRUGGLE IS NOT OVER – NEW DEMANDS
We just received a
call from attendees at the emergency protest at the White House that
Secretary of State Clinton has denounced the Honduran coup and
expressed support for Pres. Zelaya.
Here is a short
report, detailing new demands, from Alliance for Global Justice
co-coordinator Chuck Kaufman:
We shouldn't
relax though. The coup has not yet been reversed. The US needs
to do more than issue a statement. They need to cut off all
military aid until Zelaya is safely returned to Honduras.
They need to
support bringing the coup plotters to justice. They need to
replace the US ambassador who obviously knew what was going on.
How fast they do that will indicate whether he told them about
it in advance or not.
We are still
asking people to:
Call the State Department and the White House
Demand:
1) Cut off all
military aid to Honduras until Pres. Zelaya and Chancellor Rodas are
safely returned to office;
2) Support any
international movements to bring the coup plotters to justice;
3) Replace the US
ambassador to Honduras
State Department:
202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339
White House:
Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard: 202-456-1414
OTHER IMPORTANT UPDATES AND BACKGROUND
Compiled from a variety
of sources:
| Apparently the
ambassadors of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua were beaten by
hooded soldiers and briefly detained after they tried to defend
Pres. Zelaya. |
| During this
time, the US Ambassador was unavailable for comment, whereabouts
unknown |
| We're not sure
what the current fate is Chancellor Patricial Rodas nor do we
have details regarding Pres. Manuel Zelaya, who was arrested and
flown to Costa Rica. |
| The situation
that precipitated this situation was the call by Pres. Zelaya
for a referendum to change the Honduran constitution. The
military and the Supreme Court refused to honor or cooperate
with the referendum, which has been called for for months and
has wide popular support. |
| Electricity has
been cut off throughout Honduras and television stations have
been shut down. The last we had heard, there has been a
stand-off in the streets between popular masses and the Honduran
military. |
This Alert was
prepared by the Campaign for Labor Rights.
Visit our website at:
http://www.clrlabor.org/wordpress/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For background and analysis:
For a sharp analysis
of the background of the situation in Honduras, see Nikolas
Kozloff’s article,
“Obama's
Real Message to Latin America?” He expresses concern that the
coup may indicate a willingness on the part of the Obama
administration to return to the old “interventionist U.S. foreign
policy in Central America,” by sanctioning, or at least not
opposing, a military coup against a democratically elected
government.
Kozloff is the author
of Revolution! South America and the Rise of the New Left
(Palgrave-Macmillan, 2008). You can follow his blog at
www.senorchichero.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since these earlier
reports were written, it appears that the Obama administration is
speaking and acting to oppose the coup.
Here’s one brief report,
from Sam Youngman, writing in The Hill:
It begins:
Saying the U.S.
does "not want to go back to a dark past," President Obama said
Monday that the military ouster of President Manuel Zelaya was
"not legal."
Meeting with
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in the Oval Office, Obama said
the two men has discussed the coup and "all of us have great
concerns."
The president
said the ouster should not be used as "a means of political
transition," calling it a "terrible precedent" for the region.
"We do not want
to go back to a dark past," he said. "We always want to stand
with democracy."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But
the “ghosts of past U.S. policies” hang over U.S. responses to the
coup, says the
N. Y. Times. |
Christian Century features three pieces
on health-care reform
For the first time in 15 years, Congress and the White House are
having a go at significant health-care reform. Our July 14
issue's
editorial
discusses the controversy over the "public option"--the plan for
a public insurer to compete with private ones. Social ethicist
and single-payer advocate Gary Dorrien
supports
the public option but stresses that it will improve things only
if its details have some teeth. Robert Francis, domestic policy
director for the ELCA,
explains
how he and others balance the demands of representing
denominational policy and participating in the larger debate.
|
| MLP applauds introduction of Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the House
The Presbyterian Equality Project of More Light
Presbyterians applauds the introduction on June 25 of the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect against workplace
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The
measure was introduced by House Representatives Barney Frank, Tammy
Baldwin and Jared Polis.
Find more background and suggestions for action on the MLP
website >> |
| 6/26/09 |
|
Getting Back to
the Business of Being the Church
A news report
on the
recent Big Tent gathering in Atlanta
highlights the remarks given by the Rev. Johnnie Monroe in accepting
the
John Park Lee Award which was presented to him by PHEWA (the
Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association).
We believe Monroe captured the
state of the Presbyterian Church brilliantly in a loving and
prophetic statement of our current reality in the light of God's
call.
We're happy to share with you
the full text of
Monroe's remarks. We invite you to read them and share
your own thoughts in response.
Just send a note,
to be shared here.
A sample of his comments:
Let me tell you what I see; I
see a church that, like corporate companies, is seeking to
balance its budget by calling out justice ministries and
ministries that empower women and ministries with ‘marginalized
people.’ When cuts are made we cut ministries that affect the
‘least of these.’ Is not that the way of the world? ...
In secular society we cut
programs that feed the hungry and guarantee health insurance,
while we spend billions of dollars perpetuating wars that we
never should have been in and, as a result, babies suffer and
people in this wealthy nation go to bed hungry every night. But
I have come to tell us tonight that
God
is not pleased with the direction the denomination is
moving, and we must get Back to the Business of Being the Church
– we must lead the way as light to a dark wine and we must be
salt to a world that has lost its taste for justice and
righteousness.
But we hope you'll take time to read and ponder
the whole thing.
And send us your
thoughts, to be shared here! |
| PC(USA) speaks on energy policy and climate
change Our Presbyterian General Assembly’s
recent study,
The Power
to Change: U.S. Energy Policy and Global Warming, has been
published and is also online.
The church report is timely reading with
today’s news that Obama pushes for passage of global warming
legislation.
Thanks
to the Rev. Bruce Gillette,
Co-Pastor, Limestone Presbyterian Church,
Wilmington, Delaware
Email:
bcgillette@comcast.net
|
| Another take on Robert’s Rules
Sue Spencer wrote last October about a
helpful variation on
Robert's Rules, which offers a less highly regulated approach to
getting business done in a group.
She has recently discovered a haiku written by a
Youth Advisory Delegate at the 2008 General Assembly, which she
appreciated as making just her point:
Robert and his rules
They make sense some of the time
But tonight they don't.
Thanks to
Covenant Network for reporting this, and to Sue Spencer for
sharing it with us. |
| 6/25/09 |
| Confronting the health care crisis in a new era
We have posted numerous items on the health care
crisis over the past few years -- first a long analysis of
"Medicaid and the 2006 Budget,"
published by the Presbyterian Washington Office in 2005. A
newer page carries a variety of
good material from 2006 up to earlier in 2009.
But it's clear that the situation has shifted from
hand-wringing to proposals for action. Here are some that we
think you may find helpful.
| The
Rev. Bruce Gillette points us toward very helpful resources
for preachers --
especially since the Lectionary gospel lesson for June 28th is
Mark 5:25-34,
the story of Jesus healing two women. |
|
Gillette also
encourages people to call their local
Walgreens for their refusal (in Delaware and some other
states) to serve the poor and sick on Medicaid.
|
|
Republicans support public health insurance, too!
Well, not all of them, but still ...!
The Rev. Ralph Clingan offers this
thought on the surprising support for public health insurance,
even among Republicans. |
|
PHEWA award recipient
Johnnie Monroe
urges
church to 'stand up and cry out'
The Rev. Johnnie
Monroe was presented with the prestigious John Park Lee
Award by the
Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA)
as part of its conference at the
Big Tent event, a first-ever gathering of 10 national
conferences under a single banner, with joint worship, group
meals and a plethora of workshops open to all.
A veteran pastor, social justice advocate, community leader,
teacher and mentor, Monroe took the
opportunity to speak about what he said was the
denomination's proud past and disappointing present,
focusing on recent staff cuts in the areas of justice, peace
and racial ethnic ministries.
"The Presbyterian Church stood for truth and light and
justice. They reminded us that we were the salt of the earth
and the light of the world. Those were the days when we were
proud to be Presbyterians," Monroe said, adding that
Presbyterians have a long history of social consciousness
and evangelism.
"But something has happened to this Bible-believing,
justice-seeking denomination in recent years," Monroe
continued. "Instead of making the world look like us, we
have begun to look like the world. What I see is a church
that is looking more like a corporation than Jesus Christ.
We balance the budget on the backs of those who can least
afford it."
In March, the General Assembly Council reduced the national
staff by 43 - eliminating 55 positions and adding 12 new
ones - as part of balancing a $10 million budget shortfall.
One of the eliminated positions was that of associate for
Social Welfare Organizations, held by the Rev. Nancy Troy.
Troy is also the executive director of PHEWA, an umbrella
group of 10 membership-based networks doing various social
ministries on behalf of the denomination.
The
rest of the story >>
[Well, there's more to the
story, needless to say. And we hope to bring you more
of it soon. Doug King, your WebWeaver]
|
| 6/24/09 |
| Witherspoon endorses letter to
support Gun Show Background Check Act of 2009
The Board of the Witherspoon Society has acted to sign on to
a letter from the
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, urging members of Congress to
support the "Gun Show Background Check Act of 2009." The Rev.
Catherine Snyder, who is a member of our board, is a pastor in
Blacksburg, VA, and has been deeply involved in pastoral care with
students and others at Virginia Tech since the shootings in 2007.
She urged the group strongly to sign the letter, and the rest of the
group is glad to do just that.
Snyder reminds us that the Presbyterian Church
General Assembly, in 2008, adopted a resolution calling for just
this kind of action to move toward at least some progress in
limiting the availability of guns.
Click here for the report of the Assembly's action.
We encourage others to urge their faith-based
groups to join in on this
important letter to
Congress. |
Archives for items from
earlier in June
all of May, 2009
April, 2009
March, 2009
February
January
December, 2008
November
October
September, 2008
August, 2008
July, 2008
June,
2008
May, 2008
April,
2008
March, 2008
February,
2008
January, 2008 Check earlier months through the
general
archive page. For an index of all our
reports on
the Witherspoon Conference
The 2006 General Assembly
Some of our more important recent reports are still listed
below. |
Congress to Vote on
Amendment to Force the SOA/ WHINSEC to Release the Names of
Graduates and Instructors.
[6-23-09]
[From SOA Watch]
SOA Watch has received confirmation that Congress
will vote on an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act that
would require that the School of the Americas/ WHINSEC to release
the names, ranks, country of origin, courses and dates attended of
students and instructors at the institute.
The amendment will be offered by Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA),
Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA), Representative Sanford Bishop
(D-GA) and Representative John Lewis (D-GA) and we expect the
vote to happen on Wednesday, June 24.
More >> |
|
“Big Tent” Was
More Than Just Words
[6-23-09] Mitch Trigger,
Witherspoon's Secretary/Communicator, was an active participant in
the "Big Tent" Presbyterian gathering in Atlanta. He offers an
appreciative look at the variety of events and people that made it a
good thing. |
The
Presbyterian Church (USA) is shrinking. John Shuck
offered these reflections on his blog, Shuck & Jive
We are whittling down our denomination to the
size of
Gideon's army. The Presbyterian News Service
published a story today about our latest loss which is
the largest since reunion in 1983.
LOUISVILLE —
Membership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) fell by
69,381 in 2008, the Office of the General Assembly (OGA)
has announced in its
annual statistical report, continuing a trend that
began in the mid-1960s.
Total membership of
the denomination is now 2,140,165.
Where did they go?
Almost 104,000 people joined the PC(USA)
last year, but that good news was more than offset by
the 34,101 Presbyterians who died, the 34,340 who were
members of the 25 congregations that left the PC(USA)
for other denominations, and the staggering 104,428 who
were removed from the rolls by their sessions without
apparently joining any other church.
Our stated clerk, Gradye Parsons said,
“Presbyterians can be evangelists!”
I tried that word "evangelist" on my folks the other day,
but they didn't like it much. It reminds people of a sweaty
tent-meeting filled with loud, insistent Bible-thumpers.
When I tried to suggest that evangelism means "good news"
they didn't buy it. Too much baggage. On the other hand,
they are good about inviting people to our congregation.
Just don't call them evangelists.
I have no clear idea why our denomination is losing members.
I suppose if you don't want to go to church, one excuse is
as good as another. Baggage is a big issue. Creeds, boring
hymns, bashing gays, superstitions, and the general nausea
caused by Christian "evangelism" have got to be turn offs.
It can't be working in our favor when the true believers
actively prevent congregations from welcoming members. I
am surprised that anyone shows up at all.
More >>
|
| More
reflections on hate killings – and the guns that come in so handy
for doing them
[6-19-09] In the aftermath of the killing
of security guard Stephen T. Johns at the U. S. Holocaust Memorial
Museum in Washington, DC, on June 10, many people and organizations
have spoken out about the wider issues of the hatred that seems to
be such a strong undercurrent in U.S. society, and about the
reliance on guns as a primary means to expressing that hatred.
Click
here for some of the pieces we have found most helpful for more
long-term thinking and action about hatred and guns.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A
glimmer of hope in an alternative!
We have
reported recently on a church in Louisville that is holding a
“bring your guns” rally on June 27. But now an interfaith coalition
of peace activists is planning an alternative activity at the same
time as the controversial gun celebration. The sponsoring groups
include Catholic, Quaker, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Buddhist, Muslim
and non-sectarian groups. The theme is "Bring Your Peaceful Heart
... Leave Your Gun at Home."
Peter Smith, religion
reporter for the Louisville Courier Journal, reports this in
his blog,
“Faith and Works”
See more of our
reports and comments on the recent
killings, and on gun control issues >> |
Blog about gun violence
[6-8-09]
Participate in Presbyterian Bloggers Unite on July 1. The focus
will be gun violence as bloggers are invited to reflect on ways that
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) communities address issues of gun
violence and to offer ways to mobilize efforts.
Presbyterian Bloggers Unite invites Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
bloggers to post their thoughts and musings on the same topic once a
month. Learn
more and sign up to participate.A
further thought from Witherspoon:
After recent events, this is the time to connect
abortion rights, women's health and gun violence. |
Torture Is A Moral Issue:
Panel & Conference for People of Faith
June 26-27
Palo Alto, California From Carol Wickersham, of Presbyterian-related
No2Torture
[5-27-09] Dear Friends, Please help spread the word about the Torture Is a
Moral Issue panel and conference on June 26-27. Speakers and
workshops will equip participants for effective action. Perspectives
will be offered by former interrogators and intelligence officers,
psychologists, ethicists, legal experts. I will offer some religious
perspectives.
|
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] |
 John Calvin: after 500 years, what does he say to
us?
[4-16-09]In this year, just 500 years since the
birth of John Calvin, one of the major founders of what we now know
as the Reformed tradition, it seems appropriate to consider what he
and his teachings might mean for us in the very different world of
the 21st century. Two essays in our recent newsletter, Network News,
offer just such reflections. The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, who
retired last year as Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) and is now serving
as President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, highlights
some of Calvin's most important visions and actions for our troubled
time.
More
>> And Dr. Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon's Issues
Analyst, looks at some of Calvin's distinctive roles in his own
time, and ponders the positives and the negatives of his work.
More >> |
Announcing ...
GHOST RANCH PEACE & JUSTICE
WEEK
July 27 - August 2, 2009
[2-3-09] Now
is the time to make reservations to be a part of the 2009 Peace &
Justice Week at Ghost Ranch, July 27-August 2. There are eight
seminars to choose among, including the
Witherspoon-sponsored class
“New Eyes for Peace & Justice from the World Church” led by Clifton
Kirkpatrick. Other
seminar opportunities include “Organizing Alternatives to Military
Service” planned by Rick Ufford-Chase, “Faith in Action & Stone
Building” led by brothers David William Abazs and Andrew Kang
Bartlett. Mark Koenig and Joel Hanisek will be guiding “Chariots &
Horses: Weapons of Mass Destruction, Weapons of No Discrimination”
and Jean Richardson is providing opportunity for renewal in “Moving
to Wholeness.” Three
other classes are designed to provide ways to respond to some of
today’s challenges. Greg Garrett offers “Speaking Out for Peace &
Justice: Writing, Preaching & Speaking that Make a Difference.” Amy
Franklin and Kay Pranis will lead “Fundamentals of Peacemaking:
Exploring Connectedness” and “Climate of Fear, Climate of Hope” will
be led by Kolya Braun-Greiner and Pamela Sparr. You
can read descriptions of all these classes at
www.ghostranch.org
and of the camp culture alternative for lower cost housing and food
option. The Rev. Corey A. Nelson will serve as Worship/Music Leader
for the week as well as working with the children/youth program. The
Rev. Nancy Copeland-Payton will be available all week for one-on-one
sessions of spiritual discernment. There will also be an opportunity
to attend the commemoration at Los Alamos of the bombings of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Family members seeking other kinds of classes can
choose from among a wide variety in the Creative Arts Festival
lineup, plus several other opportunities including Casa del Sol
Retreat Center or just rest & relax.
Note: Send your registration in now, to get
your housing choice. Also, the registration fee is $250 until
May 15, when it goes to $350. It pays to sign on early.
For details on each of the seminars >>
|
New Eyes for Peace and Justice From the World Church
Years ago Robert McAfee Brown reminded us
of the important "gift of new eyes" that we receive from
the world church to help us see that Christian
faithfulness in witness for peace and justice in North
America. That has never been more true than today! This
course will explore several recent global, ecumenical
developments that have the potential for reshaping our
witness for justice in the 21st century.
Each day we will focus on a different
development and what it might mean for our work for
justice and peace and will use our final session to pull
the threads between these movements together. These
developments include:
|
The Accra Confession (WARC's call for
Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the
Earth); |
|
Decade to Overcome Violence (WCC-sponsored
movement of Christian communities around the world
seeking alternatives to violence that lead to
justice); |
|
Calvin Jubilee (2009 is Calvin's
500th birthday and churches around the world are
exploring what it means to have a Calvinist
revolution in the 21st century); |
|
A Common Word Between Us and You (the
dramatic call from 138 Muslim scholars and leaders
to find common ground around our common calling to
love God and neighbor). |
The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick,
of Louisville, KY, serves as President of the
World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). He has
completed forty years of service as an ordained minister
in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For the last twelve
years he has served as Stated Clerk of the General
Assembly Council, and at the conclusion of his term of
service in 2008, was elected by the General Assembly as
Stated Clerk Emeritus. He is a graduate of Davidson
College, and he received his theological education at
Yale University Divinity School and his doctor of
ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. On
January 1, 2009, Rev. Kirkpatrick became a Visiting
Professor of Global Ministries and Ecumenical Studies at
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. |
|
| Do you want to go
back in time??
Just wander through earlier headlines and
links: For items from
|
earlier in June, 2009 |
| all of May, 2009 |
| April, 2009 |
| March, 2009
|
|
February, 2009 |
|
January, 2009 |
|
December, 2008 |
|
November |
|
October |
|
September |
|
August
|
| July |
| June |
| May |
|
April |
| March |
|
February |
|
January, 2008 |
| December, 2007
|
| November, 2007 |
| October, 2007 |
| September, 2007 |
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. |
This page was last edited on
06/30/09
|
| 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!
Just send a note! | | |
|
Some blogs worth
visiting |
|
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.
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.
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 member of
the Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North
Presbyterian Church in Flushing, NY.
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.
Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note,
and we'll see what we can do! |
| |
|
Plan now for ...
GHOST RANCH PEACE & JUSTICE
WEEK
July 27 - August 2, 2009
Now's the time to make reservations to be a part of
the 2009 Peace & Justice Week at Ghost Ranch, July 27-August 2.
There are eight seminars to choose among, including the
Witherspoon-sponsored class “New Eyes for Peace & Justice from the
World Church” led by Clifton Kirkpatrick.
More
information >> |
| |
|
If you like what you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep this website going ... and growing!
Please consider making a special contribution --
large or small -- to help us continue and improve this service.
Click
here to send a gift online, using your credit card, through
PayPal.
Or send your check, made out to
"Witherspoon Society" and marked "web site," to our Witherspoon
Bookkeeper:
Susan Robertson
9650 Clover Circle
Eden Prairie, MN 55347 |
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Check out our report from the
Conference
on
Terror, Torture,
and Security |
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