The Presbyterian Outlook

News and Articles from the The Presbyterian Outlook

Top Search/Contact Area

The 223rd GA – July 30, 2018

by

General Assembly: 538 commissioners from 170 presbyteries gathered for a week in the heat of St. Louis to work in 14 committees, worship, pray, march, discuss and debate. They voted on issues ranging from climate change to mental health, heard about mission around the globe, created task forces and restructured the denomination. The depth and breadth of their work is too big to be contained in these pages, nonetheless this issue gives you a sense of the scope of the decisions made by the 223rd General Assembly.  Visit pres-outlook.org/223GA for more stories and videos. Click here to read the issue in the Uberflip reader. Voices and votes of the 223rd General Assembly How big of a voice does the PC(USA) have?  Commissioners grappled with this and related questions as they made decisions about issues facing the church. Hands and Feet The new initiative inspired Presbyterians to learn and serve in St. Louis. GA impacts the PC(USA)The assembly voted against fossil fuel … [Read more...]

Tagged With: GA223

Having my say about fossil fuel divestment and shareholder engagement

by

Guest commentary by Pam McVety   Editor’s note: For the next several Fridays, we will publish commentary expressing opinions on and responses to the actions of the 223rd General Assembly.    “The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) believes that church investment, as well as personal investment, are more than practical questions. We believe that the Lordship of Jesus Christ is at the heart of all that we do and therefore, directs all aspects of our lives, including how we earn, use and invest our money.” (183rd General Assembly, United Presbyterian Church USA, 1971) As a scientist and grandmother, I am stunned and saddened that the 223rd General Assembly voted to support Mission Responsibility Through Investment’s (MRTI) report calling for more shareholder engagement with fossil fuel companies instead of supporting categorical divestment. Every day for the past 20 years, I have read articles about the worsening effects of climate change and observed that what is happening … [Read more...]

Tagged With: fossil fuels • GA223

Pro-Choice and Christian: Reconciling Faith, Politics, and Justice

by

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...]

The 223rd General Assembly: News in brief

by

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...]

Tagged With: GA223

Living sermons: Ruling elders’ stories of discipleship and faithful living outside church walls

by

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...]

Life, love, parenting … and social media

by

I was married for about five days the first time my body gave me an inkling that something might be up with my reproductive system. Four months later, after extensive testing, I listened to my doctor talk to me about my diagnosis. These were the words that stuck with me: “It will be difficult for you to have children.” Five years later, our daughter was born. She was born during the rise of social media. My mom was in town the first time we planned to take our baby to church, and she was horrified that we would expose her to all those people and all those germs. It was important to us to go because of how we see our daughter: as a gift. Not knowing if a baby would ever come changed how we think and pray about parenting. When we first learned I was expecting, we told no one; there was too much risk. My husband I wondered about if this pregnancy made it to birth, how would we parent? Breastfeeding? Day care? Formula? Stay at home? I have said she is a gift from God (I hesitate to … [Read more...]

Tagged With: family life • parenting

CONTACT US: