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The Presbyterian Outlook

Creating and curating trustworthy resources for the church, the Presbyterian Outlook connects disciples of Jesus Christ through compelling and committed conversation for the proclamation of the Gospel.

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“What was he thinking?”

“If you want to completely shatter the denomination, then vote for this substitute motion. But if you want to give (the issue) the time it needs for us to learn from each other, listen to each other, then, please God, vote no.” Truly these words of a former moderator of our General Assembly, Marj Carpenter, were as influential as they were powerful in the opening moments of our denomination’s discussion of Item No. 408, regarding the definition of marriage. Influential enough that I voted against my own motion.

Why Recommendation 5 is faithful

As part of the General Assembly’s deliberations on the John Knox Overture, we presented the following reflections, at the invitation of the Church Orders Committee, explaining why we, as former members of the Theological Task Force, continue to believe that the procedures outlined in Recommendation 5 are faithful expressions of our calling as a Reformed church body. We share them here with readers of The Presbyterian Outlook.

An open letter to my conservative-evangelical friends

As editor of a magazine that speaks to the whole church, I feel compelled to speak to friends of various convictions — while allowing all others to overhear the conversation. This week I begin with the group that has most nurtured my faith: conservative-evangelicals. Next week, I’ll write to those who have broadened my vision: liberal-progressives. Then I’ll address those who have grounded my churchmanship, centrist-ecclesiasts.

Shall the “Fundamentalists” win?

Almost three quarters of a century ago, more than 1,000 Presbyterian ministers got so angry at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church that they signed a document called the “Auburn Affirmation” and circulated it throughout the church. The main issue at hand was the question, “Can the General Assembly amend the Constitution without the vote of the presbyteries?” Several times over the decades before, the GA had passed statements of summaries of doctrine that they wanted to be required of every candidate for ordination. These are summed up in what were called the “Fundamentals.”

New ways forward explored at Church Unbound Conference

“We on the board believe that the church is changing. We don’t know exactly where it’s going, but the Outlook Foundation wants to be supportive of the church as it goes through these changes.” With those words, board chair Stacy Johnson welcomed 250 conferees to the Church Unbound Conference held on July 1-5 in Montreat, N.C. It was the first ever event of its kind.

Some words

At the beginning of General Assembly week Jack Haberer asked me to write “some words” about the General Assembly. By mid-week it was clear where this assembly was going and so I offered to Jack:

Discernment as committee assignment: GA groups struggle to try it out

SAN JOSE – The General Assembly’s effort at practicing communal discernment proved a lesson in ambiguity.

Dying — and rising again

As a veteran of a dozen General Assemblies, I found myself fascinated by much of what happened in San Jose. There was a spirit and a Spirit about this bi-annual family gathering that felt distinctly different to me. It was not the most energetic assembly I have attended — much of the floor debate was sluggish. It was not the most adversarial gathering, either. On most issues these commissioners made careful, conciliatory, and centrist decisions. But it was truly Presbyterian, because what the body did as a whole was wiser and stronger than any individual agenda.

Kirkpatrick retires after guiding PC(USA) for 12 years

NEW YORK — Despite dwindling membership numbers and continuing controversies over the issue of sexuality within the church, the outgoing “stated clerk” (chief ecclesiastical executive) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) believes his 2.2-million-strong denomination will remain a prominent voice within the United States if it is sensitive to “faithfulness to the Gospel” and the changing character the U.S. religious scene.

Women of Faith Award winner Thea Jackson dies

Theodora Grace Jackson, 84, a recipient of this year’s Women of Faith Award at the recent 218th General Assembly, died July 27 in Brewster, N.Y. A memorial service was held July 30 at First Church of Katonah, N.Y.

U.S. commission urges Bush to speak out on religion in China

NEW YORK — (ENI) An independent U.S. commission that has government backing on July 30 urged President George W. Bush to speak out publicly on religious freedom and human rights when he attends the forthcoming summer Beijing Olympic Games.

“Blue plaque” puts C.S. Lewis on British heritage map

LONDON — (ENI) The opening of a 2008 two-city conference in Oxford and Cambridge run by the C.S. Lewis Foundation has been marked by the unveiling of a "blue plaque" at the restored former home of the author and broadcaster in the Oxford suburb of Headingly.

African archbishop to accuse Rowan Williams of “betrayal”

CANTERBURY — (ENI) The Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Orombi, will accuse the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, of "betrayal" in a comment piece to be published in Britain's The Times newspaper.

Gay U.S. bishop says Church will regret excluding homosexuals

CANTERBURY — (ENI) V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay U.S. bishop whose consecration in 2003 polarized the worldwide Anglican Communion, says he believes that one day the Church will regret its rejection of homosexuals the way that it now regrets its support in the past for slavery.

Church leaders lift up Knoxville faith community in wake of shootings

LOUISVILLE — Four top leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have sent a letter to all of the denomination’s congregations asking them to pray for those affected by the shootings in a Knoxville, Tenn., church on July 27.

Kenyan Anglican leader rejects call to stop ‘intervention’ in U.S.

NAIROBI — (ENI) Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya has said churches in Africa and the global South will not stop setting up parallel church structures in the United States, despite a call at a gathering of Anglican bishops from all over the world for a halt to such "cross border interventions."

Gay activists at Lambeth delighted Nigerian given U.K. asylum

CANTERBURY — (ENI) A group of gay activists in Canterbury, England during the 2008 Lambeth Conference have welcomed the granting of asylum by the British government to Nigerian gay rights campaigner Davis Mac Iyalla.

Anglican head asks bishops to reach out and bridge divide

CANTERBURY — (ENI) The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has appealed to the opposing parties in a dispute over homosexuality that has torn apart the Anglican Communion to listen to each other and to take a "generous initiative" to reach out to the other side.

Presbyterian church shelters children fleeing Tennessee gunman

LOUISVILLE — Second Church in Knoxville, Tenn., became a temporary refuge Sunday (July 27) for children fleeing a Unitarian church where a gunman opened fire killing two adults and leaving seven others injured.

PC(USA)’s World Mission adds staff to help grass-roots Presbyterians engage in mission

LOUISVILLE — (PNS) The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s World Mission ministry area has named two new staff members whose primary duties are to help grassroots Presbyterians engage directly in international mission.

“Frozen River”

Right now, there’s a lot of attention directed toward the southern border of the United States. The reality of illegal immigrants is a social problem at many different levels, for everyone involved.

“The Oprah Assembly”

I think the 218th General Assembly which met in California should be called “The Oprah Assembly.” It was so postmodern. So open. So culturally attuned. So worldly. So tolerant. Just so “Oprah.”

Guest viewpoint: The Great Disappointment

June was a month of excitement for me. I was excited about the new call I received, I was excited about returning to California, for I had been in Iowa for the last seventeen years, and I was excited because the timing of my move coincided with the General Assembly in San Jose.

Construction firm for new Louisville arena leases Presbyterian Center space

30-month agreement nets $150,000 annually for PC(USA) mission

Sabbath-keeping key to experiencing God’s love, Yaconelli tells Cascades conferees

BEND, ORE. — Mark Yaconelli has a hard-won reputation helping youth pastors and leaders to find new ways to disciple young people. But late last week before a crowd of about 90 people attending Cascades Presbytery’s annual summer conference, Yaconelli’s focus was on a far older concept — Sabbath-making and Sabbath-taking.

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