(RNS) —Documents filed with the United Methodist Church’s top court are shedding first light on specifics of long-awaited proposals to avoid schism in the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States. The three plans were published Tuesday (July 17) as part of the docket for the United Methodist Church Judicial Council’s October meeting. The denomination’s Council of Bishops is asking its top court for a decision on whether those plans and related petitions are constitutional. “We are asking for this so that we can gain greater clarity about constitutional issues within the three plans, and in service to and support of the delegations, who will do extremely important work in a very limited amount of time,” Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, president of the Council of Bishops, said in a written statement last week. The Rev. Maidstone Mulenga, director of communications for the Council of Bishops, described the request in an email as “a pre-emptive move by the … [Read more...]
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Book Reviews 4 hours ago
Pro-Choice and Christian: Reconciling Faith, Politics, and Justice
Kira Schlesinger Westminster John Knox Press, 136 pages Reviewed by Judith Fulp-Eickstaedt Have you noticed lately that there are issues we can’t talk about? A colleague recently shared that the pro-life/pro-choice debate is one where he can’t get a real conversation going. Extreme perspectives on both sides have left those who want a measured, informed conversation feeling attacked for whatever they might say or bullied into accepting one of these extremes as “correct.” The result is a culture of silence around reproductive rights, especially in the church. Yet, in a… continue reading... -
Outpost Blog 1 day ago
Say this, not that
Our words matter. It matters that we speak about God’s call when the nominating committee gets to work. A phone call that asks if we feel called to serve on the Christian education committee feels different then someone begging us to sign up because the committee hardly ever meets and they really need new blood. It matters that we talk about giving generous gifts during stewardship season instead of hearing that the bills are piling up. Most people would rather give with joy than do their duty to contribute to mounting… continue reading... -
Outlook Reporting 1 day ago
The 223rd General Assembly: News in brief
ST. LOUIS – Fourteen committees addressed a multitude of issues over the course of the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meeting in St. Louis June 16-23, 2018. The consent agenda alone brought and quickly passed 80 items of business on the floor of the assembly. Hours of discussion and debate ensued as the GA created task forces, made statements, passed budgets and much more. Below is a sampling of some of what they accomplished. For more coverage, analysis and commentary, visit pres-outlook.org/tag/ga223. For all of the business conducted,… continue reading...
Parties in Stamford case had tried to expedite process in order to get a ruling on the merits of the case January 1, 1995 Uncategorized76 views The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission -- in sidestepping the question of exactly how deeply a session should be required to probe into the private life of a gay elder who has acknowledged being in a committed, life-long relationship but has declined to say whether he is sexually active -- has put the question off but has not put it to rest.- Ministering with the Earth January 1, 1998 Book Reviews83 views By Mary Elizabeth MooreChalice. 1998. 226 pp. Pb. $19.99. ISBN 0-8272-2323-4 Ministering with the Earth is a quiltwork, both the on-the-ground activity and Moore's book about so ministering. Moore, professor of theology and Christian education at Claremont School of Theology, is fond of the metaphor, suitably pastoral and feminist.
- Remembered Voice: Reclaiming the Legacy of 'Neo-Orthodoxy' January 1, 1998 Book Reviews89 views By Douglas John HallWJKP. 1998. 145 pp. Pb. $18. ISBN 0-664-25772-0 It was in this order. I first read Tillich's Dynamics of Faith. Riveting. Next came The Courage to Be. Gripping. Then I went back and read the first volume of the Systematic Theology. Things began to make sense. Next came Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality. Positive.
Human rights advocate claims death threat after speaking to General Assembly panel June 18, 2018 Outlook Reporting3 comments ST. LOUIS — Threats are nothing new for Bassem Eid. During his 26 years of investigating human rights abuses, he’s gotten a lot of them.
He says he received another one on June 18, when he stepped outside a meeting room in the St. Louis Convention Center where he’d spoken in favor of a measure condemning both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for indoctrinating and exploiting children in ways that perpetuate violence and hatred.
Eid, 60, is a rare sort of human rights activist — a Palestinian who speaks out as vehemently against Palestinian abuses as he does against those committed by Israelis. ...
Way Forward Commission takes action regarding trust and transparency June 12, 2018 Outlook Reporting2 comments The Way Forward Commission met on June 12 to take administrative action regarding issues of trust and transparency in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – apparently responding to imbalances it has detected in the way things have been operating in the national church.
The action (leading with the affirmation that “God alone is Lord of conscience”) addresses what information can be openly shared after a closed or confidential meeting of a denominational entity, and the ways in which staff and board members can express their views regarding information that’s not restricted “without real or implied threat.”
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Changes announced to proposed per capita increase May 30, 2018 Outlook Reporting1 comment
A request for a sizable increase in General Assembly per capita in 2019 and 2020 is being scaled back — having encountered significant opposition at the grass roots of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for being more than congregations financially can bear.
J. Herbert Nelson, stated clerk of the PC(USA), issued an announcement May 30 that he will recommend a reduction in the proposed per capita increase. Nelson said he will request a 10 percent increase in both 2019 and 2020 – from $7.73 per member in 2018 to $8.50 in 2019 and $9.35 in 2020.
The request already submitted to the...
United Methodist court filings detail proposals for averting schism on sexuality
Pro-Choice and Christian: Reconciling Faith, Politics, and Justice
Kira Schlesinger Westminster John Knox Press, 136 pages Reviewed by Judith Fulp-Eickstaedt Have you noticed lately that there are issues we can’t talk about? A colleague recently shared that the pro-life/pro-choice debate is one where he can’t get a real conversation going. Extreme perspectives on both sides have left those who want a measured, informed conversation feeling attacked for whatever they might say or bullied into accepting one of these extremes as “correct.” The result is a culture of silence around reproductive rights, especially in the church. Yet, in a conversation with a parishioner, I was reminded of the need for guidance and support around these issues. This young woman struggled with the fear of passing a devastating genetic mutation to her child. “As I weighed the awful possibilities,” she said, “I was not even aware that being pro-choice was part of the Christian conversation.” My parishioner’s story speaks to the overwhelming nature of the decisions … [Read more...]
Say this, not that
Our words matter. It matters that we speak about God’s call when the nominating committee gets to work. A phone call that asks if we feel called to serve on the Christian education committee feels different then someone begging us to sign up because the committee hardly ever meets and they really need new blood. It matters that we talk about giving generous gifts during stewardship season instead of hearing that the bills are piling up. Most people would rather give with joy than do their duty to contribute to mounting costs. It matters that we pastors call that one precious weekday a Sabbath day instead of a day off. That name helps people better understand why we aren’t in the office and it reshapes how we approach the day from our homes. What we say shapes our reality. Since we are in the business of helping people form and mold their faith, our language has the power to build stronger faith muscles. The words we speak can help people realize that their values are truly … [Read more...]
The 223rd General Assembly: News in brief
ST. LOUIS – Fourteen committees addressed a multitude of issues over the course of the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meeting in St. Louis June 16-23, 2018. The consent agenda alone brought and quickly passed 80 items of business on the floor of the assembly. Hours of discussion and debate ensued as the GA created task forces, made statements, passed budgets and much more. Below is a sampling of some of what they accomplished. For more coverage, analysis and commentary, visit pres-outlook.org/tag/ga223. For all of the business conducted, go to pc-biz.org. Small churches. An item of business concerning small churches in the PC(USA) called for establishing a new department within the Presbyterian Mission Agency with a multi-million dollar financial implication. The committee amended the resolution to instead require a report to the next General Assembly that would report on the existing and new programs designed to help smaller churches. The alternative … [Read more...]
Living sermons: Ruling elders’ stories of discipleship and faithful living outside church walls
Afriyie Maxine Huie dances. Ashley Armistead runs. Carvel Bennett teaches. This is how they spend much for their time. The wonder of movement and music together brings Huie joy. When life is stressful, Armistead puts on her running shoes. The physical activity helps clear the clutter of senseless noise so she can hear the work of the Holy Spirit. And Carvel Bennett loves to learn and to ask questions. As it turns out, these are the very things that God uses within them to help them reach out to others. So instead of using words, they use these talents and gifts to preach their sermons to those they know day in and day out. These are their stories. The courage to dance Most Sunday mornings, Afriyie Maxine Huie begins her worship of God by dancing into the sanctuary at First Afrikan Presbyterian Church in Lithonia, Georgia, outside of Atlanta. She is the co-chair of the church’s worship dance team, Tamba Issa. She has been a member for 16 years, and is a ruling … [Read more...]
Celebrating 200 years of the Presbyterian Outlook at GA
Each year, the Presbyterian Outlook hosts a luncheon on the first Saturday of General Assembly. The gathering gives participants an opportunity to hear from each of the candidates standing for moderator and listen to some thoughts from the editor on the critical issues facing the church. This year, the luncheon was held in St. Louis on June 16, 2018, and celebrated the Outlook’s 200-year anniversary. Here are the remarks from the event. Jill Duffield, Outlook editor and publisher Researching one’s ancestry seems to be in vogue right now. The ability to swab our cheek, put it in the mail and – “presto!” – discover the journey our DNA has taken that leads to us seems irresistible. We long to know to whom we are connected, what hardships and triumphs they experienced, what kind of people are “our” people. I have not sent my DNA to ancestry.com or 23andMe or any of those services. My sister, however, has done them all. She has also researched parts of our family … [Read more...]
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