Kirkpatrick lists “Top 10 Issues” before next General Assembly

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick's Preliminary Top 10 issues before the 218^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

1. A New Form of Government -- The Special Task Force was created by the 217^th General Assembly to propose a revised polity that would be more flexible, more foundational and more appropriate for a missional Reformed Church in the 21^st century. That Task Force will be bringing a revised Form of Government for adoption by the Assembly and recommendation to the presbyteries.
2. Partnership in World Mission -- The 217^th General Assembly called for a consultation between the GAC World Mission program and a variety of mission initiators in the PC(USA). The fruits of that consultation will be before the Assembly in a call for an "Expanding Partnership in God's Mission" that involves a wide variety of groups working together for the renewal of world mission.

Number of mission workers dropping; Council to consider financial priorities

LOUISVILLE -- In just two short months, the General Assembly Council will be asked to vote upon a proposed budget for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for the next two years. And one difficult decision the council will have to make in April is how much to spend on international missionaries.

            The bottom line is: because the denomination does not have enough money, the number of mission co-workers serving the denomination overseas is dropping at what's been described as a "'precipitous pace."

“Real change” atmosphere as Council deals with mission, finance issues

LOUISVILLE -- Rick Ufford-Chase, a former General Assembly moderator, has said it before. "There is, I believe, a Pentecost wind that is sweeping across the church today."

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) -- with new leadership and a new structure -- is recognizing that "we're in a time that requires collaboration, not centralization and control," Ufford-Chase told the General Assembly Council during the opening session of its meeting Feb. 13. He now leads the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship,

Ufford-Chase was discussing the gathering several weeks ago in Dallas of the Mission Consultation, which brought together more than 60 people representing a diversity of views. In the past, some had mistrusted each other's positions, but signed a covenant to work together in Presbyterian mission.

OGA issues explanation of PJC rulings on ordination standards

In the light of landmark rulings handed down Feb. 12 by the PC(USA)'s General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, the Office of Constitutional Services has published an advisory opinion explaining and summarizing the implications of those rulings.   An advisory opinion does not exercise binding authority, but it does attempt to bring clarity.

The opinion can be found at the Office of Constitutional Services Web site:  https://www.pcusa.org/constitutionalservices/ad-op/note21.htm

GAC budget faces big questions

LOUISVILLE -- When the General Assembly Council meets again in April, it will be asked to consider a budget for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for the next two years.

Here are some hard questions the council must answer.

How many overseas missionaries should the PC(USA) have? And where is the money going to come from to pay for them?

            Here are the painful statistics.

Lisa Larges approved to seek ordination

RICHMOND, CALIF. -- San Francisco Presbytery has cleared a candidate to proceed toward ordination as a minister who has declared a scruple -- an objection based on conscience -- to the denomination's ordination standards involving sexual practice.

The presbytery voted 167 to 151 on Jan. 15 to approve as "ready for examination, with departure" Lisa Larges, a lesbian who works as ministry coordinator for the advocacy group, That All May Freely Serve.

This is the first time a presbytery has approved a candidate who declared a scruple involving sexual practice following the General Assembly's adoption in June 2006 of the report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Presbyterian mission leaders covenant for “new collaborative model”

DALLAS -- Saying, "God is calling us to new patterns of mission," 60 people instrumental in Presbyterian mission met in Texas January 20 and signed a covenant to work together in what they call a "new collaborative model of Presbyterian mission."

Judicial Council considering presbytery resolutions on ordination standards

LOUISVILLE -- When a presbytery passes a resolution stating that it will enforce all mandatory standards for ordination from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) constitution -- granting no exceptions based on conscience -- is that merely an expression of opinion by the presbytery? Sort of a "here we stand" statement that has no practical effect in the individual examination of candidates?

            Or does it have a "chilling" impact that will dissuade candidates who might want to declare a scruple, or an objection based on conscience, from ever making an attempt at winning approval in that presbytery?

            Those are among the questions the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) is pondering as it considers three cases in which it heard oral arguments on Feb. 8 and on which it is expected to rule soon.

            Each of those cases involves resolutions which presbyteries -- in this case, Washington, Olympia, and Pittsburgh -- adopted in the wake of the 2006 General Assembly.

GAPCJ hears standards-scruples cases

LOUISVILLE -- When a presbytery passes a resolution stating that it will enforce all mandatory standards for ordination from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) constitution -- granting no exceptions based on conscience -- is that merely an expression of opinion by the presbytery? Sort of a "here we stand" statement that has no practical effect in the individual examination of candidates?

         Or does it have a "chilling" impact that will dissuade candidates who might want to declare a scruple, or an objection based on conscience, from ever making an attempt at winning approval in that presbytery?

         Those are among the questions the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) is pondering as it considers three cases in which it heard oral arguments on Feb. 8 and on which it is expected to rule soon.

Stan Hall, Austin Seminary professor, dies at 58

AUSTIN -- Stanley Robertson Hall, 58, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary's Jean Brown Associate Professor of Liturgics and Homiletics, died February 3. He was at home when he died, having just begun his morning routines. His wife, the Reverend Gail Snodgrass, was with him.

The Service in Witness to the Resurrection will be held at Genesis Church in Austin, Texas, February 15 at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Austin Memorial Cemetery.

Interfaith domestic violence coalition plans Capitol Hill briefing Feb. 13 on 2009 agenda

Washington, DC -- Religious leaders are often the first point of contact for domestic violence victims seeking a safe and secure place to disclose their abuse. Recognizing religious communities' integral role in supporting, counseling and advocating for victims of abuse, Jewish Women International (JWI) has launched a national Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition to amplify the faith community's voice in national policy and legislative initiatives.

PC(USA) Middle East caucus issues statement on Gaza

LOUISVILLE -- Responding to the recent crisis in Gaza, the
National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus (NMEPC) has
issued a statement calling for an end to Israel's
occupation of Palestine and its "siege" of Gaza residents.

The group's statement urged the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) "to take active measures to address American
implication in and support of Israel's occupation of
Palestine."

The statement comes after tens of thousands of Gazans
overran the border into Egypt last month when Palestinian
militants blasted through concrete and metal walls at the
Rafah border crossing. Egyptian shops were drained of basic
goods that were in short supply on the Gaza Strip under an
Israeli blockade aimed at pressuring Palestinian militants
to halt rocket attacks.

Lewis Wilkins dies at age 71

LOUISVILLE -- Lewis Langley Wilkins, a former middle governing body executive, pastor and scholar who was heavily involved in the movement that led to Presbyterian
reunion, died Jan. 31 of pancreatic cancer. He was 71.

Wilkins was born in Kerrville, Texas, where he graduated from
Presbyterian-related Schreiner University. He later earned degrees from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas.

Wilkins also engaged in doctoral study in Old Testament at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany. He completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in church administration at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.

College Writing Contest 2009

College Writing ContestATTENTIONSeniors of PC(USA)-related colleges and universities. Or their parents, school administrators. The Outlook's 2009 Church-College Partnership Award competition is underway!Graduating..

UPDATE: memorial service TRIBUTE: Jack Stotts

A memorial service for Jack Stotts, Presbyterian pastor, seminary president, and denominational leader, has been set for 3 p.m., Sunday, February 10 at the family's home church in Austin, Central Church. It is located at 200 E. Eight Street in Austin.

Presbyterian Foundation receives $1 million gift to support Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) Camp and Conference Ministries

JEFFERSONVILLE, IND.  -- The Presbyterian Foundation announced January 25 its receipt of a $1 million charitable gift from the Mark D. Hostetter and Alexander N. Habib Foundation. The gift establishes a permanent endowment fund to provide funding support for the camp and conference ministries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  

Overtures, personnel changes, mission priorities: 2008 rush to San Jose is on

Think of it as that moment when the toboggan is perched at the top of the hill. One quick shove, and things in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) could quickly pick up speed  -- maybe hitting some big bumps along the way. The big tree at the bottom: the General Assembly, due to meet in California for a week in June.

Between now and then, though, there's a lot of snow to navigate. Here's a quick look at the terrain.