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| Kellam-Scott questions report of survey
results on same-sex unions
[3-8-01]
Barbara Kellam-Scott, moderator of Semper
Reformanda, has raised some questions about the recent report
by the Presbyterian News Service about a Presbyterian Panel survey
which is interpreted as indicating that "most Presbyterians oppose
same-sex unions," even though the current voting on Amendment O
might suggest a different conclusion.
[Attorney Doug Nave offers a
more positive assessment of the implications of the survey.]
Her concerns include the use of such a study on an
issue currently before our presbyteries, as they vote on Amendment O to
ban all blessing of relationships deemed to be forbidden by
"Scripture and our Confessions."
She continued in one note:
"I am very concerned about this politicization
of our GA research function. I have long had similar concerns about
PNS. I think it was ill-advised to ask these questions under these
conditions and downright irresponsible to report them in such partisan
fashion just at the watershed moment in the ratification vote. I will
be very surprised if we don't hear the word "referendum"
used to characterize the Panel survey, especially if O fails and GA213
sends to the presbyteries an amendment to strike G-6.0106b. We who
support those actions need to do some strenuous education work to make
clear how the Panel questions differ from the amendments and from b,
how impossible it is to correlate Panel findings to presbytery and GA
voting -- for instance, to remind Presbyterians that our voting
processes are supposedly matters of discernment in which we ask for
the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit -- how the wording of questions
influences findings, and exactly what terms like "statistically
valid" mean. I wish we had the help of Research Services and PNS
in those educational efforts, but somebody has to do it."
Kellam-Scott also questions the timing of the PNS
story, since the News Service had had the findings from Research
Services since last November, and chose to report on them only in early
March, as the voting in presbyteries appeared to be running against
Amendment O. Further, she is concerned that the News Service story
attributes to the findings greater statistical validity than they may
warrant.
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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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