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Services & Ideas |
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Materials for
church officer training [12-7-06]
We recently posted a request from someone seeking training material for the
Vietnamese new church development that he is serving. Receiving no great
flood of suggestions, your WebWeaver sought help from Mardee Rightmyer,
Director of the Resource Center of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
She quickly provided this list of ideas, for which we thank her.
As long as the church is not looking for resources in Vietnamese
(although I believe you can get the Book of Order on-line in
Vietnamese), I would recommend these resources to start with:
The newest one is Making Disciples, Making Leaders: A Manual for Church
Officers by Steve Easom. (Geneva Press) A great manual to help the
leader plan lessons. There is a good bibliography in the back of the book.
I would start with this one and build from there.
Other good books: Christian Doctrine by Shirley Guthrie (WJKPress)
For those of us who grew up in the South, this is our second Bible. A
classic on Reformed theology.
Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers by Joan Gray & Joyce Tucker
(Geneva Press)
Selected to Serve: A Guide for Church Officers by Earl S. Johnson,
Jr (Geneva Press)
Good videos: "So You've Been Elected An Elder" (PDS) and the series
called "The Presbyterians," which has five videos covering The People,
History and Tradition, Polity, Belief and Doctrine, Vision & Mission (PDS)
Also, "Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith" & "Tour of the Creeds"
(same video) by Jack Rogers
"Across the Centuries: The Book of Order Today" and "Across the
Generations: The Book of Confessions." Essential Media Services
There are dozens of other resources but these are a good start. Hope
this helps. Tell them to be sure to see if their presbytery resource
center has these to borrow rather than buy them all.
Mardee
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New website
launched to strengthen progressive Christian voices
[1-7-06]
The Progressive Christian Witness
(www.progressivechristianwitness.org)
is an Internet-based initiative to strengthen progressive Christian voices
in public discussion across America, especially in communities where the
dominant voice is that of the religious right. Progressive voices proclaim
the redemptive heritage of the Christian faith in a manner that is
biblically and theologically responsible, ethically committed, and informed
by current knowledge.
A ministry of Pacific School of Religion (PSR) to be
launched on January 24, 2006, The Progressive Christian Witness (PCW)
presents a growing collection of resources that bring a progressive
Christian perspective to significant issues in American life—for example,
the authority of the Bible, gender and sexuality, government and economics,
environmental stewardship, beginning and end of life ethical issues, and
America’s role in the world. PCW’s Witness pages publish brief,
theologically grounded articles on these topics. Witness articles are
available as PDFs designed to be included in Sunday worship bulletins or
distributed for adult class discussions. Its Explorations pages
provide more extensive essays by Christian scholars and pastors. The
Other Voices page carries briefly annotated links to scores of other
progressive Christian websites. These resources can be used in shaping
sermons, Bible study, media statements, and other forms of public discourse.
Click
here to sign up for our email newsletter; direct questions and comments
to pcw@psr.edu. |
Pastor seeks good "liberal/progressive
Christian music"
[1-4-06]
Presbyterian pastor Dorothy Duquette, who is serving two
small churches in Minnesota, elaborates on her request:
I would love information on updated words for traditional hymn tunes. That
is part of what I am looking for. I appreciate hymns with inclusive language
for God and people. I'm also looking for Lent and Easter hymns that offer
alternative understandings of the saving nature of Jesus' death and
resurrection besides the sacrifice model.
I am not a musician, but I enjoy music very much and it is an important part
of my spiritual life. Besides some new hymns, I am also looking for good
music that I can add to my collection. I am frustrated by a lot of the
Christian music /artists that I have listened to because the theology is
usually conservative. Is there anyone out there who is offering music with a
more liberal Christian perspective?
Thanks so much for your help!
Dorothy
So – who can offer some suggestions?
We invite you to send them to us, so we can share them
with others who no doubt are looking for such music, too.
Click
here to send your response to us, and directly to Rev. Duquette as
well.
| More progressive hymns
[1-9-06] The Rev. Bill LeMosy has shared with us
four hymn texts that he has written, which he hopes might "fit the bill"
for a request by the Rev. Dorothy Duquette for
hymns that are suitable and nourishing for a progressive Presbyterian
congregation.
>> For Advent:
Dreamers, Awake This
Holy Day
>> For Epiphany:
The Magi Came from Far Away
>> The Lordship of Christ:
Come to the Feast
>>
LeMosy hymns
We have also posted previously a number of the hymn
texts written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Here are a few samples:
>>
You Formed Us in Your
Image, Lord -- a hymn for families
>>
Creator God, You Made the Earth
-- celebrating the God of creation
>>
A Voice Was Heard in Ramah
-- for the day after Christmas
There are more from Ms. Gillette. Just do a
little Google search on this site (and others). |
| Seeking hymns
for progressive Presbyterians [1-7-06] We
recently posted a request by a Presbyterian pastor for help in finding
hymns with words that are appropriate for congregations of
liberal/progressive convictions.
Here’s the first response so far, from the Rev. Mitch Trigger, of
Waverly, NY.
When it comes to the first part of your request for music (new lyrics
to familiar hymn tunes), I count on the work of Jane Parker Huber. A few
of her hymns are in the latest Presbyterian hymnal, but she has done
many, many more. Since the 1980's, she has written hymns that are
inclusive in language and that speak to the issues of social justice,
peace and reconciliation. She has two books, "A Singing Faith" and
"Singing in Celebration:Hymns for Special Occasions" that offer a wealth
of hymns to choose from when planning worship, and are available from
Westminster/John Knox Press. Jane's hymns have been commissioned by just
about every major group within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as well
as individual people and congregations.
In that same tradition, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is another talented
writer. "Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship" (Geneva Press,
2000) is another fine addition to your music library. Carolyn writes on
themes of transformation, social justice, and the many issues facing us
today. She is especially timely with many of her offerings as she and
her husband Bruce are the co-pastors of Limestone Presbyterian Church in
Wilmington, Delaware and before that, First Presbyterian Church in
Pitman, New Jersey. When the grandson of church members at Pitman was
killed in Israel in 2003 due to violence between Israelis and
Palestinians, she wrote the moving "A Hymn for Peace." In 2005, she
wrote "God of creation", allowing its free use by churches that support
the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. A list of many of her
hymns can be found at
http://firstpresby.org/hymnlist.htm
The second portion of your request is much more difficult. It seems
almost every contemporary Christian artist, even when speaking of a
loving God, has to include a view of sacrificial atonement. I simply
have not found any contemporary Christian artists that fit the bill - a
lot of that may have to do with simple economics. The "blood on the
cross" songs have a built-in audience willing to spend the money for the
CDs.
Now it's your turn!
Just
send a note with your response to us, and directly to Rev. Duquette as
well.
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PCUSA news
releases stimulate issue-oriented discussion and action in a congregation
[3-11-05]The Rev.
Linda Pflugfelder shares this suggestive idea in a note dated 3/10/05:
I want to comment on a
PCUSA news release I received this morning entitled "Under the Radar"
concerning the numbers of people in the pews who are not aware of 216th
General Assembly’s controversial actions with respect to the
Israel/Palestine conflict.
We have experienced a
wonderful thing happening in our church because of these PCUSA news releases
I receive because I forward them on to those few people in the congregation
that I think will be interested.
When I received one a while
back about the ecumenical letter that went to President Bush concerning the
conflict in the Middle East, I forwarded it to about 8 people I thought
would be interested in it, asking if they wanted to get together and talk
about what we could do to help promote peace. I thought maybe we'd write a
letter. What happened was phenomenal!
We met and they decided to
form a "peacemaking" group in our congregation that would be responsible for
finding ways to educate the congregation about issues of peace and justice.
This group of 8 has met
weekly to plan a four-week Adult Ed class on the Israel/Palestine situation.
They have done research, contacted people who can speak from different
perspectives and found material to lead this discussion with our
congregation. I am only with them as a resource. When this series is done,
they plan to continue to meet together to find other ways to educate the
congregation about peace and justice issues.
This is just one way to get
important issues "on the radar screen." (And it is not left up to the
pastors to get it there.)
Peace,
Rev. Linda Pflugfelder
You can always get
the latest reports from
Presbyterian News Service |
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10-StateContest for Faith-Based Organizations Launched
The "Partners in Transformation" awards program,
launched November 1, is seeking to identify effective models of faith-based
collaboration in ten states. Faith-based organizations (FBOs) and
congregations that are operating an effective social service program with
demonstrable, positive results and doing so in collaboration with some
organization(s) outside the faith community (e.g., schools,
government agency, police, secular nonprofits) are eligible to apply.
The contest, sponsored by FASTEN (Faith & Service
Technical Education Network) and the Points of Light Foundation, will award
state winners $5000 each for their effective program and publicize that
program in a briefing report to be disseminated to hundreds of private
charitable foundations. FBOs working in Alaska, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida,
Idaho, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas that have annual
operating budgets under $5 million are eligible to apply. Visit
www.FASTENnetwork.org for details and a contest application.
While on the Web site, check out the hundreds of free resources FASTEN has
available for churches and faith-based nonprofits engaged in community
ministry: "how to" tool kits, program manuals, fundraising information, and
more. Contest applications are due by April 1, 2005. |
Information available from IRS for 510(c)(3)
organizations
[12-11-03]
From the Presbyterian Washington Office
IRS Publishes Two
Brochures to Aid Nonprofit Organizations and Seeks Public Comment on Returns
On Nov. 17 the IRS released two new
brochures aimed at helping charities. The first, Applying for 501(c)(3)
Tax-Exempt Status, answers questions such as why to apply for 501(c)(3)
status, who is eligible, what are the responsibilities, and how to apply.
The second brochure, Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt
Organizations, directs nonprofits on why to keep good financial records,
what to keep records on, how long the records should be kept, what federal
tax reports and returns need to be filed, and what disclosures an
organization must make. Additionally, both brochures provide a wealth of
information about how to reach the IRS when assistance is needed, the other
IRS publications that aid exempt organizations, and the forms required for
exempt organizations.
These comprehensive aids can be found on
the IRS web site at
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=117894,00.html
The Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) is seeking comments on an existing final regulation, Public
Inspection of Exempt Organization Returns.
The Internal Revenue Code section 6104(b)
authorizes the IRS to make available to the public the returns required to
be filed by exempt organizations. As part of the Department of Treasury's
continuing effort to reduce the paperwork and respondent burden it is
inviting the general public to take this opportunity to comment. The
comments submitted will be included in the request for the Office of
Management and Budget's approval.
The IRS are asking for the comments to
address only five different issues, which include: (a) Whether the
collection of information has practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the
agency's estimates of the paperwork burden on taxpayers; (c) Ways to enhance
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) Ways to
minimize the burden of collection of information on respondents; and (e)
Estimates of capital or start-up costs of operation, maintenance, and
purchase of services to provide information. Comments are due Jan. 20, 2004.
Click here to view the request for comments.
Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Director, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (USA)
110 Maryland Avenue, NE, #104,
Washington, DC 20002.
202-543-1126, fax 202-543-7755.
Email
eivory@ctr.pcusa.org |
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Pastor offers help designing bulletins,
newsletters [9-24-03]
At this time in history, it is crucial that
our churches be spiritual communities where people work for justice and
peace.
But many of our pastors are already burned
out, overwhelmed and overloaded. Like hamsters in a wheel, they're just
trying to get to next Sunday, then beginning again. This is a situation that
the Church cannot afford. We need leaders who have enough time and energy to
envision the future--and make it happen.
As a pastor with significant desktop
publishing experience, I can offer a service to pastors and churches who
would like to outsource all or some of their bulletins, newsletters, and
other communication materials. I have recently created Eschaton Writing &
Design, a ministry whose mission is to free pastors to be transformational
leaders.
Instead of hiring additional staff that
they do not need and cannot afford, churches can outsource some of the
weekly workload.
Imagine what a difference it would make to
the quality of their pastor's leadership if he or she worked a 40-50 hour
work week, rather than 60-70.
Imagine if their pastor had a day off to
"get things done"--and a Sabbath for spiritual, emotional, and physical
renewal.
Imagine if vacation and study leave didn't
mean extra work before leaving town.
Imagine...
Those interested in working with Eschaton
can reach me at (989) 598-5999, or via email at
eschatonhc@msn.com
--Heather Christensen
Member, Maumee Valley Presbytery
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice 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 "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
Darcy Hawk
4007 Gibsonia Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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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!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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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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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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