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| WCC Asia consultation urges churches to
find alternatives to globalization
[8-22-01]
FIJI - Episcopal News Service - August 17, 2001 -
Representatives from 29 countries gathered in mid-August at an
international consultation in Fiji organized by the World Council of
Churches and the Pacific Conference of Churches to wrestle with the
effects of globalization.
It ended with a call for churches to be more prophetic
in their opposition to the distortions of economic globalization, urging
them to search for viable alternatives that won't increase suffering and
poverty, exploit workers or destroy the environment.
Churches of the Pacific offered some viable
alternatives in a presentation called "Island of Hope," a
metaphor for the wholeness of life in which generosity, reciprocity and
sharing of communal resources are central. They described land, sea and
people as being integral parts of one's identity and called for a vision
of solidarity in defense of creation. Participants from Africa and Asia
offered similar metaphors from their cultures.
"The specific role of the church is to provide
insights into ethics and values of life," said Dr. Agnes Abuom of
Kenya, one of the WCC presidents. "We must create places of
sharing, spaces where God's people, with their diverse gifts, resources
and experiences, can come to give and receive -- a place where they
begin a journey together, a journey of affirming an alternative global
family. Economic globalization has separated people and fragmented
communities. The people of God are called to walk together," she
said.
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
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confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
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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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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
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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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