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Archives for October 2009

Swedish church’s decision on same-sex marriage watched abroad

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"The debate on marriage and weddings will be held on Wednesday, 21 October, and a decision on the issue will be made on the morning of Thursday, 22 October," the Church of Sweden said in a statement sent to Ecumenical News International in advance of the October 20-23 meeting.Members of the synod, or main governing body, are to decide whether the church should retain its right to conduct marriage services and about church weddings for same-sex couples, the church has stated."It is a question of being human. One of the Bible quotations central to the Lutheran tradition is, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'," Archbishop Anders Wejryd said in September on Swedish public service television's Rapport news program. "This means that as Christians, we have a responsibility to think independently on the basis of what we believe is good for love, fidelity, and equality, at all times."The church said in September that the general synod's doctrinal commission, which includes the church's 14 … [Read more...]

“New York, I Love You”

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Those of us who are also enamored with its majestic skyline, expansive diversity, frenetic pace, close-quartered anonymity, explosive economy, buoyant culture, vibrant nightlife, aggressive traffic, and constant cacophony will enjoy the multi-faceted urban scenery.            This is one of those “ensemble” movies that employs many well-known actors, providing us with a long procession of “slice of life” vignettes, sometimes revisiting, occasionally interacting, but not really intended to come together neatly at the end.  Really, it’s just people being people. A retailer and a wholesaler bargaining about a ring; a man and woman meeting outside a restaurant, smoking, and striking up a conversation that may or may not lead to further encounter; an old artist asks a young woman minding a store to model for him, and she, at once repulsed and flattered, struggles between her ambition and her inhibition; two guys hop in the same cab at the same time and both try to badger the driver into … [Read more...]

S. Africa’s Zuma meets Tutu as new bishop urges “delivery”

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Before South Africa held national elections in April, Tutu said he could not pretend to look forward to Zuma's presidency due to allegations of corruption that had been leveled at the then president-in-waiting and also a questioning about Zuma's attitude to the dignity of women.Some of Zuma's former critics have subsequently said he has shown leadership in reaching out to former foes in South Africa where racial and class politics often simmer."The archbishop is like a father to me. In my culture, the father has the right to say anything he wants to. He has the right to chase me away from his house. I have no right to comment, that's why I never comment on the archbishop's statements," explained Zuma, who has said he believes strongly in tribal traditions.Zuma drew laughter at the October 17 meeting held at Bishopscourt, the home of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, when he said it was not in the character of Tutu to remain silent if he thought something was wrong. Tutu is a former … [Read more...]

Watching our Ps & Rs

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As P&R believers we put money in the offering plate not simply to respond to heart-rending appeals for charity. We give as stewards. We affirm with the Scriptures that we as individuals give not from our own wealth but from God’s. That is to say, we do not claim to own anything, whether the Porsche or Kia we drive, whether the mansion or tent we inhabit, whether the stock portfolio or the barely-scraped-together coins we spend. It’s all God’s property. We manage that property according to God’s design — providing for the needs of our families and neighbors, for congregational ministries and mission outreaches, for necessities and luxuries.Specifically, we fund the ministry of the local church (the “storehouse” — Mal. 3:10) in amounts proportional to the resources God has entrusted into our stewardship care. The tithe, the first tenth of our income/equity, provides a benchmark for that support. Many among us give beyond the 10 percent figure.That’s the way P&R believers handle their … [Read more...]

GAMC: Employee issues, committee roles considered by GAMC

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A review team is midstream in its work of trying to evaluate that, due to report back to the General Assembly in 2010, and in the process of consulting with the committees and with others affected by their work.Some of those being consulted include the General Assembly Mission Council and the council’s Staff Leadership Team, meaning Executive Director Linda Valentine and her top assistants. They’re helping to evaluate the work and role of the Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns, the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns, and the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy.The review team has been meeting with each of those committees, and hopes to complete a draft report by November, according to its chair, Doug Megill, a physician from Pennsylvania and a General Assembly Mission Council member.During the September meeting of the General Assembly Mission Council, the council’s Executive Committee received a summary of comments from council members and the Staff Leadership … [Read more...]

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