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 219th
General Assembly
2010
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for our index page on GA 2010 |
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Committee 8: Ecumenical and
Interfaith Relations
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An introductory look at some issues coming to this committee
[6-10-10]
Click on
any Item number to jump to the full text on the PC-BIZ website.
Item 08-01, from the Synod of the Northeast, lifts up for attention
and further study the Covenant of the Lund Principle and Codicil, which were
mentioned in the 2008 Assembly, and which are summarized in the words, “… we
recommit ourselves to the historic Lund principle that Christians should
take united action whenever they find this possible.” This would invite our
church to serious reflection on ways in which we might deepen our
relationships and cooperation with other churches, affirming our unity in
Christ both by word and by deed.
Item 08-02, from the Presbytery of Yukon, calls for an amendment of
the action of the 2008 General Assembly, which encouraged the creation of
better relations with the Muslim community by celebrating diversity of
faiths, and joining in acts of prayer and dialogue with Muslims. Given that
call to dialogue and understanding, it would be unfortunate to give in to
this demand for an attitude of fear toward followers of other faiths.
Items 08-03, -04, and -09: reports on Christians, Jews, and Muslims
Item 08-03 calls for the approval of the paper on “Christians and
Jews: People of God.” Item 08-04 would approve the report “Toward an
Understanding of Christian-Muslim Relations” and commend it to the
church for study and guidance. Both papers represent much work by the
respective committees, and do contain many helpful perspectives.
Nevertheless, we believe such action would be seriously premature, as is
indicated by Item 08-09, based on an overture from the Presbytery of San
Francisco.
Item 08-09 would refer both reports for rewriting, to be based on
“broader consultation to include the National Middle East Presbyterian
Caucus, PC(USA) partner churches and agencies in the Middle East, relevant
mission networks of the PC(USA), the Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic
Concerns, and the Advisory Committee for Social Witness Policy.” A memo from
the Israel Palestine Mission Network, which is attached to the rationale of
this overture, provides helpful background. It raises concerns about both
the process of writing these documents and such matters as: the relationship
between theology and justice, how Biblical metaphors related to the “root of
the olive tree” and “the dividing wall of hostility” can be used in the
current situation in Israel-Palestine, how Biblical scholar Walter
Brueggemann has altered his opinion about the promise of the land, or the
nature of the Palestinian Christian use of “cruciform” interpretations.
The General Assembly Mission Council has responded to questions raised about
the process. There has been further correspondence from the National Middle
East Presbyterian Caucus, which raises issues about the process that have
not been fully dealt with. Certainly such important statements should not be
approved and sent to the Church for study until these significant matters
have been resolved. It seems very unlikely that they can be resolved between
now and the General Assembly, for the concerns relate to having thorough
consultation especially with our partners in the Middle East who have a
great stake in the content of both studies, as well as PC(USA) members here
in the U.S. Therefore, we join in recommending that the studies be referred
for further consultation and rewriting. All these matters are too important,
and with lasting influence, to have them approved or recommended prior to
the recommended consultations.
As Committee 8 considers these and other complex issues, a basic
consideration should always be our understanding of how wide is the circle
of God’s love. If the Creator’s love is restricted to some groups and
excludes others, then an attitude of anxiety and fear is fostered. But that
is not what we have learned from Jesus.
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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?
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send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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