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Semper Reformanda
(Always Being Reformed) |
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The new S.R. News
Update, for May 2001, is now available.
and earlier issues:
The March 2001 Update
October 2000 Update |
| Barbara Kellam-Scott, the Moderator of
Semper Reformanda, has sent an open
letter to Mr. John Detterick, Executive Director of the General
Assembly Council, as the GAC meeting continues in Louisville. |
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Semper Reformanda
(Always Being Reformed)
[published here on 12-14-00]
Dear Members and Colleagues:
The inclusion of Semper Reformanda News and Views in this issue of the
Witherspoon Network News marks the beginning of a new era of
collaboration between two organizations that share many of the same
faith commitments and aspirations for justice. It is our hope that the
cause of reform in the church and justice in society will be
strengthened through our mutual cooperation.
Looking beyond the national election, important as
that is for all of us, we know that the work of seeking justice will
continue to be our calling in the church and society. We know that this
is a moment in time -- perhaps a Kairos moment -- when creative
vision and imaginative initiatives are needed in relation to decisions
that are being made in the church and in our national life. We believe
that God is at work doing new things through people who are open to the
reforming work of God's spirit.
Positive change often has its beginning in ways that
seem to go against the trends. What are some of the signs of the times?
 | Growing leadership by creative women at every level
in church and society; |
| Emergence of leadership by racial and ethnic groups
within the churches and new patterns of partnership; |
| Urban church ministries of social and economic
self-development in many cities across the nation; |
| Renewed focus on doing serious theology that
generates commitment for justice; |
| Continuing struggle for inclusion of all persons in
church and society regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender,
or socioeconomic status; |
| Birth of a new and more inclusive ecumenical
movement at the national level growing out of the coming demise of
the National Council of Churches; |
| The call for a new Auburn Affirmation coming from
David Bos, pastor at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Rochester.
(The historic affirmation of 1923 upheld that Presbyterian unity is
in commitment to Christ, not in commitment to the details of the
Confessions or the Constitution).
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We believe that a movement is growing from faith-based
commitment and theologically informed effort to create a new center of
consensus in our Presbyterian Church that will enable the church to move
forward in ways that are both faithful and progressive.
We invite you to affirm this moment in time as an
opportunity and a challenge for reform, as a time for a new affirmation
that will strengthen our unity in Christ and move the church ahead in a
progressive direction.
Yours faithfully in Christ.
Barbara Kellam-Scott, Moderator
Nile Harper. Vice Moderator
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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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