Let’s help the PC(USA) move through those doors!
[from the Witherspoon Society, 7-24-08]

Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Issues Analyst, writes:  "The actions of the 2008 General Assembly suggest that the tide has turned in the Presbyterian Church. ..."

He analyzes the significant steps toward making the ordination process more open and fair, looks at the announced plans of the Presbyterian Right to oppose those steps, and suggests ways we might move forward to bring a truly inclusive church closer to reality during the months ahead, as presbyteries will be considering their responses to the proposed amendments to the Book of Order.

A long-time leader in That All May Freely Serve, Stroud opens his thorough analysis with this comment: 

As an observer and advocate for LGBT issues at the 218th General Assembly (GA) meeting in San Jose, CA, June 21-28, 2008, it is my assessment that the 218th GA took decisive positive actions to begin to dismantle the oppressive, long divisive and debilitating homophobia that has plagued the PC(USA) as a denomination for the past thirty years.

Following a helpful explanation of some of the terms that were used in the discussions, he deals with the Assembly’s actions:
•      on the ordination and/or installation of LGBT members,
•      on the Overture from John Knox Presbytery to provide an “authoritative interpretation” on the 217th GA’s AI on G-6.0108, commonly called the “scruple process” for individual candidates for ordination and/or installation,
•      on various overtures to correct the translation problems of the Heidelberg Catechism,
•      and on overtures to amend the Directory for Worship regarding the definition of marriage, and to affirm equal rights for families of same-gender partners and call for an in-depth study on marriage.

The Department of Constitutional Services, part of the Office of the General Assembly, has issued an Advisory Opinion which states what actions of the 218^th GA, dealing with Book of Order provisions G-6.0106b and G-6.0108, are taking effect immediately, and which ones, as constitutional amendments, must be approved by a majority of the presbyteries before they might take effect.

Briefly, the new Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.0106b has gone into effect immediately following the Assembly. That means that earlier AIs, beginning with 1978 and 1979, which state that “[f]or the church to ordain a self-affirming, practicing homosexual person to ministry would be to act in contradiction to its charter and calling in Scripture,” are no longer in effect.

However, the “fidelity and chastity” requirement set forth in G-6.0106b does remain in effect, until it is removed from the Book of Order by the approval of a majority of the presbyteries. That action must be taken within one year from the conclusion of the 218^th General Assembly.

The Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.0108 also takes effect immediately. This allows a candidate for ordination to declare a departure (or “scruple”) from a standard of either belief or practice on grounds of conscience. It is still a matter for the examining body to “give prayerful and careful consideration, on an individual, case-by-case basis,” to any such departure – but the recent GAPJC decision in the case of Bush v. Presbytery of Pittsburgh, which rejected any departure in matters of behavior, is invalidated.

A Special Report on the 2008 General Assembly

This is being sent (in a shorter version, in print) to Witherspoon Society Members and Friends
[7-5-08]

Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Society Issues Analyst, begins his customary wrap-up on the Assembly:

The previous General Assembly, in 2006, was relatively cautious, electing a middle-of-the-road Moderator and adopting the recommendations of the Theological Task Force (specifically its interpretation of G-6.0108) by a close margin.

This Assembly indicates a turning of the tide. It elected a Moderator who was clearly progressive and forward-looking, and most of the moderatorial candidates assumed that the framework of discussion was the pluralism encouraged by the last Assembly's action. It approved a number of measures that move the church ahead, including several changes to the Book of Order, though it is also clear that these will be highly contested in the presbyteries. It elected a new Stated Clerk who decried "fear" inside and outside the church; he represents continuity and a reaffirmation of the Kirkpatrick approach. A strong social witness was also affirmed, including a new "Social Creed for the 21st Century."

Some of the specific events and actions he discusses include:

The Rev. John Shuck comments on Gene TeSelle’s report on the Assembly, focusing on the increasing number of legal cases over property issues, brought by congregations choosing to leave the denomination. He concludes: 

I don't think it is going to work this time. I think the great middle of the church is on to the right wing and their fear-mongering. That is why the right is so desperate and so apocalyptic. Belittling gays as a theological and political weapon is old, tired news. The threat of putting a gun to the denomination's head if we ordain gays is less fearful than it was a few years ago.

This General Assembly has shown that Presbyterians are not afraid this time. People will vote with their conscience. As for those who cannot possibly remain Presbyterian if we ordain gays, well, there is the door. But you are not going to take the denomination down with you on your way out. 

Changing G-6.0106b has an excellent chance to pass in the presbyteries. The new paragraph is far superior theologically to the old. I think people are going to get that.

Read Shuck’s comment in full here >>

by Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Issues Analyst  [6-30-08]

Committee 5 on Church Orders and Ministry reported three issues in their logical order, and the committee's recommendations were followed by the Assembly as a whole.

1. It overwhelmingly approved the overture from Scioto Valley, with many concurrences from other presbyteries, to direct the Stated Clerk to collect or develop "best practices" for the examination of candidates.

2. It approved, by a vote of 53 to 47 percent, the John Knox overture, an AI designed to correct the decision of the General Assembly's Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) that the "fidelity and chastity" sentence in G-6.0106b is binding and cannot be "scrupled."

3. The most heated debate was over the Boston overture to replace the language of G-6.0106b with new language, and to adopt a new AI declaring that past AIs concerning "ordained service of homosexual church members" (starting with the "definitive guidance" of 1978/79 in the two churches and including the AI of 1993) have "no further force or effect."

by Doug King, Witherspoon WebWeaver    [6-30-08]

The 218^th General Assembly took significant steps to make the Presbyterian Church (USA) more open and affirming toward its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. There are, of course, many Presbyterians who are distressed – or maybe outraged is a better word – by this modest step toward justice and (we believe) authentic peace in the denomination.

Presbyterian News Service has posted a report on the responses of the Assembly to the work of Committee 11, on Peacemaking and International Issues. We offer it here, with a couple notes added by your WebWeaver.

SAN JOSE — 28 June 2008 — Commissioners to the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) “stayed the course” of being peacemakers around the world.

The Assembly has voted by 380 to 325 (54% to 46%) to approve item 05-09, originating as the overture from Boston Presbytery, to delete G-6.0106b and substitute a new paragraph.

The Assembly has just voted to approve item 05-12 from the Church Orders committee, to adopt an Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.01068, which affirms the authoritative interpretation of G-6.0108 approved by the 217th General Assembly (2006). "Further, the 218th General Assembly (2008), pursuant to G-13.0112, interprets] the requirements of G-6.0108 [to] apply equally to all ordination standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."  This is the John Knox overture.

Gradye Parsons  elected as Stated Clerk

The Assembly has just elected Gradye Parsons as the new Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) on the first ballot, by a vote of 405 (57%), to 176 (25%) for Winfield "Casey" Jones, 110 (15%) for Ed Koster, and 21 (3%) for William Tarbell.

Process to correct Heidelberg Catechism is started

The Assembly voted 436-280 to initiate the process of amending the Heidelberg Catechism to restore the original German text of the 1562 document. A 1962 PC(USA) translation inserted the term "homosexual perversion" into the answer to question 87 of the catechism. No other church uses the 1962 translation.   More>>

South African confession, dealing with racism, is adopted

The Assembly also voted, by a vote of 536-154, to initiate the process of including the Belhar Confession in the denomination's Book of Confessions. Belhar was written in 1986 by the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in South Africa to address the apartheid situation in that country but it also points to the persistent sin of racism globally.

FOG report referred for study

By a vote of 624-88, the Assembly voted to refer the proposed revision of the church's Form of Government back to the Office of the General Assembly "for a period of study and consultation with churches and presbyteries." The new timeline calls for a revised proposal to be submitted to the stated clerk in October 2009 for distribution to the church by mid-January 2010 for consideration by the 2010 General Assembly.

Kirkpatrick recognized for long service

Late Thursday afternoon the Assembly named the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Emeritus, recognizing his 12 years as stated clerk and 35 years of service to the PC(USA) in a variety of capacities.

Mission statement endorsed

The Assembly unanimously endorsed "An Invitation to Expanding Participation in God's Mission," a broad-based agreement growing out of a mission consultation in Dallas last winter that promises greater cooperation to support Presbyterian mission than has been seen in the PC(USA) in many years. The Assembly urged all Presbyterian governing bodies and mission groups to accept the invitation. And the Assembly voted to rename the General Assembly Council the General Assembly Mission Council to reflect this new emphasis on Presbyterian mission.

Witherspoon Society offers some observations on issues coming to the plenary sessions of the Assembly today (Thursday) and Friday

[6-26-08]

Committee 04, Church Polity

Committee 10, Health Issues

Committee 05, Church Orders and Ministry

Committee 9, Social Justice Issues

Details >>

Peace Evangelist Margaret Howland Receives Surprise Peaceseeker Award
[6-25-08]

Surprise and hope held the day at the June 25th Peace Breakfast of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. Over 300 participants in 218^th General Assembly of the PC(USA) attended the breakfast at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, CA.

One surprise was the substitution of world nonviolence authority Mubarak Awad for the scheduled speaker, Jonathan Kuttab. Awad, who is Executive Director of Nonviolence International and Co-Founder of the Palestinian Center for the Study of Nonviolence, has been described by Palestinians as “the Gandhi of the Middle East” (Jerusalem Post). Awad called for nonviolent action in the face of the Israeli occupation.

Another surprise was the unveiling of the Legacy of Peace Quilt and the news that the Peace Fellowship’s Endowment Campaign has exceeded its halfway point. Campaign Co-Coordinator Gail Brown reported that over $264,000 has been received toward the campaign’s goal of $500,000 in initial pledges and gifts. Additionally, 37 persons have made commitments for long-term planned gifts toward a goal of 64 such commitments for 2008, the Fellowship’s 64^th year.   More >>

As committees finish their work, here are links to reports from Presbyterian News Service to some of the more important news -- with a thumbnail note about the subject.   [6-25-08]

Belhar Confession study receives approval

The Theological Issues and Institutions Committee approved a recommendation to “initiate the process described in G-18.0201b [Book of Order] by appointing a committee to consider amending the confessional documents of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to include the Belhar Confession in The Book of Confessions and to report to the 219th General Assembly (2010).”

The Belhar Confession emerged out of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and speaks to the persistent reality of racism. It calls the church to unity and reconciliation as marks of faithfulness, the unity of God’s people in a prophetic witness of the gospel by confronting the sin of racism and the work of justice in church and society.

Peacemaking actions provide diverse witness

The members of the Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues repeatedly sought and affirmed information and overtures from many different voices regarding the difficult subjects of Israel and Palestine, and the work of the Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) committee during Tuesday’s business, which ran late into the night.

The overtures approved for General Assembly consideration by the committee are complicated and contradictory.

Committee to recommend four ecumenical agreements

The Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations has voted to  recommend that the 218th General Assembly adopt four ecumenical agreements intended to move the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) toward greater unity with other denominations: the Korean Presbyterian Church in America, the Moravian Church in America, the Episcopal Church and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Committee to refer FOGTF report to churches and presbyteries

The committee weighing a revision of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Form of Government voted Tuesday to recommend that the 218th General Assembly refer the proposed revision “for a period of consultation and study with churches and presbyteries.”

Committee rejects new definition of marriage

By a vote of 38-20 on Tuesday the Assembly Committee on Church Polity rejected a proposal from Baltimore Presbytery that would have changed the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) constitutional definition of marriage from a man and a woman to “two people.”

Committee approves new social creed

One hundred years after “A Social Creed of the Churches” joined Christians together to work to ease the human costs of industrialization, General Assembly’s Social Justice Issues Committee passed a new social creed Tuesday to “meet the challenges of sustainability and globalization.”  The vote was 54-19 with one abstention.

Church Orders votes 41-11 to recommend deletion of G-6.0106b

By a vote of 41-11 Tuesday evening, the Assembly Committee on Church Orders and Ministry recommended to the 218th General Assembly that it send an amendment to the presbyteries to delete G-6.0106b — which requires “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” for church officers — from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Book of Order.

A number of committee members, knowing the inevitable vote was coming, didn’t return to the committee’s meeting room after the dinner break.

Committee recommends major new ecumenical policy statement

The Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee of the 218th General Assembly has recommended the adoption of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s first major policy statement on ecumenism since the 1983 reunion of the denomination’s northern and southern streams.

If approved by the GA, the policy will guide the ecumenical work of the PC(USA) for the next decade.

Church Orders and Ministry recommends new authoritative interpretation on ‘scrupling’    Proposal would allow ordaining bodies to consider conscientious objection to G-6.0106b

The General Assembly Committee on Church Orders and Ministry has voted to recommend that the 218th General Assembly adopt a supplementary authoritative interpretation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) constitution that applies the historical practice of “scrupling” — the declaration of conscientious objection by candidates for ordination coupled with discernment by the ordaining body whether the declared objection is disqualifying — equally to all ordination standards of the denomination.

The authoritative interpretation, brought to the assembly by John Knox Presbytery, reaffirms the scrupling practice affirmed by the 217th General Assembly when it approved the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church (PUP) and effectively overturns a recent General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission ruling — Bush vs. Presbytery of Pittsburgh — that G-6.0106b, the commonly called “fidelity and chastity” ordination standard, cannot be scrupled.

The committee vote was 43-15.

Committee recommends dialog with Muslims

The General Assembly Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee recommended that the 218th General Assembly approve three overtures aimed at improving relations between the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Muslims.

Mission Coordination and Budgets Committee endorses Dallas covenant

The General Assembly Mission Coordination and Budgets Committee unanimously endorsed a call to mission partnerships Monday (June 23) when it forwarded “An Invitation to Expanding Partnership in God’s Mission” to the floor of the General Assembly.

Committee approves changes to 1962 Heidelberg translation

After nearly seven hours of conversation, occasional confusion and spirited debate, a sharply divided Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions approved Overture 13-06 from Newark Presbytery, voting by a margin of 33 to 26 (with two abstentions) to ask the General Assembly  to make five changes to the 1962 translation of the Heidelberg Catechism which since 1967 has been used in The Book of Confessions.

Witherspoon board member Catherine Snyder describes the amount of U.S. gun violence as 'obscene'  [6-25-08]

An overture to address the tragedy of America’s gun violence will go before the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly.

The Social Justice Issues Committee approved the overture, made by the Presbytery of National Capital, Monday night, June 23.

The Rev. Catherine Snyder, a Presbyterian campus minister at tragedy-stricken Virginia Tech University, told the committee that it’s “obscene the amount of gun violence this nation tolerates.”

After the mass murders at the campus April 16, 2007, Snyder said she heard from many people that it could happen anywhere. “My sisters and brothers, they are right. It could happen anywhere, because we are so crazy about our guns. The madness must stop, and Christians should be at the forefront.”

Church Orders committee votes 41-11 to recommend deletion of G-6.0106b
[6-25-08]

By a vote of 41-11 Tuesday evening, the Assembly Committee on Church Orders and Ministry recommended to the 218th General Assembly that it send an amendment to the presbyteries to delete G-6.0106b — which requires “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” for church officers — from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Book of Order.

A number of committee members, knowing the inevitable vote was coming, didn’t return to the committee’s meeting room after the dinner break. The Rev. Emily McColl, who was on the losing side of the vote, asked committee members to call those who didn’t return for the evening, saying she was “so saddened by their absence that my heart can hardly stand it.”

She also expressed hope that congregations that simply cannot tolerate another debate over ordination standards will be allowed to “graciously leave” the denomination.

The overture approved by the committee came from Boston Presbytery.  The proposed new G-6.0106b states:

“Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the church. Each governing body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate’s sincere efforts to adhere to these standards.” 

Proposal would allow ordaining bodies to consider conscientious objection to G-6.0106b   [6-24-08]

From Presbyterian News Service

Seminary faculty letter calling for better translation will help you in the debate   [6-24-08]

As you may know, the debate over restoring the Heidelberg Catechism to its original text was intense yesterday.  The good news is that it successfully got out of committee (33 to 26) and will be voted on by the full GA as soon as Wednesday. 

Very helpful material is found in the letter from the 32 seminary faculty calling for a better translation of the Heidelberg Catechism. 

Click here for the text, where you'll also find a link to a PDF version to print and share with others.

On Saturday morning (long, long ago!), June 21, the Witherspoon Society presented a time of orientation for commissioners and others – offering some practical hints for working effectively in the Assembly, and some perspectives on a few of the issues that, from our justice-oriented focus, seem most important.

One of those issues, of course, is the question of whether our church will truly welcome lgbt members into its life and leadership. Witherspoon Co-Moderator Jake Young presented this perspective:

Presbyterian News Service:

A moderator committed to communication and “transparency”

Presbyterian News Service describes Bruce Reyes-Chow as “an energetic new church development pastor in San Francisco and leader in the ‘emergent church’ movement,” saying that he “won an easy majority on the second ballot with 390 votes or 55 percent.”

A second report, based on the new Moderator’s post-election press conference, notes that his enthusiasm for blogging and constant communication over the Internet reflects a commitment to openness and transparency. Reyes-Chow spoke of his excitement for using what he called “my spiritual practice of blogging” as a way of developing much-needed communication among people under 40 in the church.
 

A blogger praises the blogger-moderator

John Shuck writes:

This was an internet election and the candidate who knew the internet best and blogged most won. That in no way takes anything way from his message and his personality or that blogging was somehow an unfair advantage. No, he is the man for the job because he has the pulse of what is happening in church today. The medium is a big part of his message.

The Witherspoon Society’s Awards Luncheon, following the Sunday morning service of worship, honored outgoing Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick with the Andrew Murray Award, and presented the Whole Gospel Congregation Award to First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto.

Bruce Reyes-Chow has just been elected Moderator of the 218th General Assembly

The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow has been elected on the second ballot, by a vote of 390 (or 55%) to 255 (36%) for Rev. Bill Teng, 52 (7%) for Carl Mazza, and 7 (1%) for Roger Shoemaker.     [6-21-08]

EYES WIDE OPEN
– Iraq War Boots Exhibit –
San Jose Circle of Palms, Sunday, June 22

[6-21-08]

On Sunday 22, in conjunction with the meeting of the 218^th General Assembly of the PC(USA), the Presbytery of San Jose Peace & Justice Task Force, the Council of Churches of Santa Clara County and members of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship are sponsoring. Eyes Wide Open, the widely acclaimed exhibition on the human cost of war. The exhibit is within walking distance of the General Assembly meeting location.  Details >>

Revised events listed for the Assembly
[6-20-08]

PPF has announced that Palestinian nonviolence expert Mubarak Awad will be addressing the Peace Breakfast on Wednesday, June 25, replacing Jonathan Kuttab who is unable to come.  Details >>

PPF also announces a number of conversations to be held in the PPF Exhibit Area Booth (# 301):

An interview with Clifton Kirkpatrick
[6-19-08]

At church gatherings Clifton Kirkpatrick towers over the crowd. It’s not just his six-foot-plus height. As General Assembly stated clerk for the past 12 years, he has been the most visible leader of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). If Presbyterians had anything akin to a pope, he would be it. So his decision not to seek another term marks a major transition for the denomination.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Eva Stimson, editor of Presbyterians Today, in his Louisville office earlier this year, Kirkpatrick reflected on his learnings, accomplishments and hopes for the future.

Dr. Jack Rogers, Professor of Theology Emeritus at San Francisco Theological Seminary, and former Moderator of the PC(USA), has just posted his reflections on the overtures proposing a correction to the Heidelberg Catechism.

30 seminary faculty support ‘corrected’ translation of German confession    [6-19-08]

Presbyterian News Service reports that thirty-two history and theology faculty members from the 10 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminaries have signed a petition calling for a better translation of the 1563 Heidelberg Catechism.

Their petition supports three overtures to the upcoming 218th General Assembly, June 21-28 in San Jose, CA, that call for a return to a more traditional translation of the catechism that is used by most other Reformed churches, including such conservative denominations as the Christian Reformed Church.

Three challenge committee nominee Gradye Parsons for top post

by Jerry L. Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service
[6-17-08]

LOUISVILLE — June 17, 2008 — Three challengers have stepped forward to stand for stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly against the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee’s choice, the Rev. Grayde Parsons.

One of the four will succeed the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick — who declined to seek a fourth four-year term. The election will take place Friday, June 27 during the upcoming 218th PC(USA) General Assembly in San Jose, CA. Nominations for stated clerk will formally be made on the second day of the Assembly, Sunday, June 22.

The candidates standing against Parsons — who as Director of Operations for the Office of the General Assembly has for the past eight years served as one of Kirkpatrick’s top deputies — are the Rev. Edward H. Koster, stated clerk of Detroit Presbytery; the Rev. Winfield “Casey” Jones, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Pearland, TX; and the Rev. William P. Tarbell, pastor of Saluda (SC) Presbyterian Church.

Groups seek wider embrace of ‘Dallas Covenant’
[6-14-08]

From Presbyterian News Service  — Commissioners to the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), June 21-28 in San Jose, CA, will be asked to commend to all Presbyterians a groundbreaking invitation to cooperate and collaborate more effectively as global outreach efforts grow and proliferate.

The proposal — “An Invitation to Expanding Partnership in God’s Mission” — came out of an unprecedented worldwide mission consultation held in Dallas in January of this year that brought together 64 diverse mission leaders representing denominational and other mission organizations related to the PC(USA). 

The Rev. Ray Bagnuolo, who describes himself as a gay Presbyterian minister of Word and Sacrament, is currently serving as interim pastor of Palisades (NY) Presbyterian Church.

Over the past few months he has posted six carefully considered and documented papers dealing with the ongoing debate about ordination of lgbt Presbyterians.

Update on GA registration and ticket sales
[6-6-08]

Advance registration and ticket sales is now closed. On site registration and ticket sales will open at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20, in the second floor concourse of the San Jose Convention Center and will be open daily throughout the assembly. Remaining tickets to many of the assembly events can be purchased then. It is not possible to reserve tickets for purchase on site.

Presbyterians are among those battling a worldwide resurgence of slavery

John Sniffen writes: 

The United Nations estimates that 27 million-plus men, women and children are held in modern-day slavery all over the world. By comparison, researchers estimate that 15 million Africans were forcibly taken to the Americas from the 16th to the 19th centuries. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the U.S. ban on the trans-Atlantic slave trade. But, sadly, today even more people endure the horrors of slavery. 

The full cover story >>

The June/July issue also includes two items that are not available online --

Observations on the legalization of same-sex marriage in California     [6-2-08]

Many progressive Presbyterians are heartened by the action of the California Supreme Court on May, legalizing same-sex marriages. An article in The Nation puts this action in the wider context of U.S. politics and culture, while also pointing out that for Californians, it’s not such a big change, after all.

Richard Kim writes: 

The California gay marriage debate illustrates important national trends . . . Growing numbers of Americans favor gay rights, including some form of partnership recognition for same-sex couples, especially when framed as economic and legal rights. This is particularly true of young voters . . . [b]ut this trend also holds true for voters of all ages . . .

Read the full article >>

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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!

Voices of Sophia blog

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

John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive

Got more blogs to recommend?