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Voices of Sophia
gathers at the border
[3-19-01]
The speeches from the VOS Gathering
2001 will be on their website
shortly. [added on 5-2-01]
Press release from Voices of Sophia
March 2001, Tucson, Arizona - 3/18/01 - The annual Voices of Sophia
Gathering held from March 1-4 was a great success, drawing record
attendance especially from young people. Focusing on the theme,
"Wisdom on the Border," participants explored the challenge of
transforming our land from one of frontiers and borders that lead to
oppression to one in which justice prevails.
Young adults made up almost a quarter of participants,
including some current members and alumnae of the National Network of
Presbyterian College Women. In addition, a group of students from
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary were in attendance. They
will participate in the planning of the 2002 Gathering in Louisville,
Kentucky. Theological students from McCormick Theological Seminary and
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York were both
participants and leaders in the Tucson Gathering.
Borderlinks, a not-for-profit organization committed
to encouraging a shared analysis of the implications of the global
economy through travel seminars focusing on the issues of Mexican border
communities, guided participants of the Voices of Sophia Gathering on a
tour of our border with Mexico. Participants were stirred by the growing
militarization of the U.S.-Mexican border and the economic injustices
motivating so many to attempt border crossings made more dangerous by
U.S. immigration policies. The Gathering offered ways for the
participants to understand their experience through a faith perspective
which leads to action.
The Rev. Barbara Dua, former Associate Director of the
Women's Ministries Program Area, and the Rev. Rebecca Reyes illuminated
aspects of the recent backlash on women in the church. The presenters
particularly highlighted such effects on women of color, which rippled
through this large gathering of women and men.
Participants recognized the importance of spreading
the good news of Voices' message to the rest of the church, in effect
stating that it is time that Voices members become more evangelical.
"To evangelize is to spread the good news, and we have great news
about Jesus' call to free all people from systems of injustice,"
stated one participant. The organization's membership has increased by
25 percent during the past year.
The Gathering attracted the attention of the local
press and a story
featuring the Gathering appeared on the front page of the Arizona
Daily. Quipped one conference leader, "What a way to start the
day: seeing the word 'feminist' on the front page of the paper this
morning!"
Voices of Sophia is a community of women and men in
the larger community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) being reformed
by God through the Spirit of the living Christ, and working toward the
transformation of the church into a discipleship of equals. For more
information on Voices of Sophia visit www.voicesofsophia.org.
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| At the Voices
of Sophia gathering in Tucson, Arizona, on March 1 - 4, 2001, one of the
prayers was offered by Meredith White-Zeager, who will be serving as
Witherspoon's Wareham Intern during the coming General Assembly.
It's a prayer for wisdom, of wisdom,
and we're glad to share it here. |
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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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