MINNEAPOLIS Amid discussion that ranged from amicable to acrimonious on Monday (July 5), the Health Issues Committee of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) worked through its business of HIV testing, violence against pregnant women, coerced abortions, and being an HIV- and AIDS-competent denomination.
MINNEAPOLIS — "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" echoed down the hall from Committee 15 early Monday morning (July 5) at the 219th General Assembly (2010). Presbyterians passing by peaked into the room and a few said, “I wish I was in that group!” The 55 members gathered in the room to consider overtures and reports regarding church growth, Christian education, and the Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program, Inc.
MINNEAPOLIS — “Let us hear about this crazy thing God is doing with the church.” That was the invitation of Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the General Assembly, to the capacity crowd at the 219th General Assembly (2010) breakfast July 4. His invitation was illuminated later by the breakfast’s speaker, Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence; How Christianity is Changing and Why.
After more than two hours of debate, commissioners on the 219th General Assembly Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee decided not to recommend that the Assembly accept the paper “Christians and Jews: People of God.”
MINNEAPOLIS — While other General Assembly participants were retiring to their rooms following Saturday, July 3's late-night Moderator election, Caroline Sherard and Michael East were just getting their second wind.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Bills and Overtures Committee of the 219th General Assembly (2010) on July 4 referred 12 of 14 commissioner resolutions to committees.
MINNEAPOLIS — Four women were honored July 4 for their passion, dedication, and faithfulness at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Women of Faith Awards breakfast at the 219th General Assembly.
MINNEAPOLIS — After discussing the issue in detail and making some amendments, the Middle Governing Bodies Issues Committee of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a recommendation for a new commission to work with middle governing bodies. The full General Assembly will consider the recommendation to create the new commission in plenary session later this week.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues of the 219th General Assembly voted 47-8 today (July 5) to recommend that the General Assembly approve the final report of the Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage.
One of two General Assembly committees focusing on social justice issues considered three economic-related issues on July 5, its first full day of deliberations.[caption id="attachment_21939" align="alignright" width="315"]
Dr. Tom Gillespie speaks to Committee 10 regarding the report “Neither Poverty Nor Riches.”[/caption]
MINNEAPOLIS – Members of the Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions have voted to recommend churchwide adoption of the Belhar Confession to be added to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Book of Confessions.
The lack of any word from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) after eight years of war in Afghanistan was the focus of four overtures to the Peacemaking and International Issues committee of the 219 General Assembly.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Church Orders and Ministry Committee, responsible for considering nearly 20 overtures relating to gay ordination at this General Assembly, has heard plenty of opinions from others, and discussed the issues in small groups. It will begin considering the items individually tomorrow (July 6).
MINNEAPOLIS – Tolerance is basically a synonym for forbearance – and not nearly as strong as the idea of engaging with those whose views differ from ours, said R. Gustav Niebuhr, a religion journalist and now an associate professor of religion and the media at Syracuse University.
MINNEAPOLIS – A church panel wants the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to stop short of selling off its stock and bond holdings in Caterpillar, Inc.
MINNEAPOLIS – They came to the microphone and told stories of faith and life, in 90-second segments – just long enough to give a taste.
MINNEAPOLIS -- “There’s a need for the church to address the environmental catastrophe in the gulf and our Christian response to it,” said Amber Ellington, Theological Student Advisory Delegate (TSAD) from McCormick Theological Seminary.
Six candidates, four rounds of voting, hours of talking, and a few technical glitches made Saturday's election of Cynthia Bolbach as Moderator..
Since 1997, Presbyterians for Earth Care (formerly Presbyterians for Restoring Creation) has given awards annually to publicly recognize individuals and groups, institutions, and churches for their leadership and accomplishments in caring for God’s creation. Individuals receive the William Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award, and congregations or institutions receive the Restoring Creation Award.
The former Palestinian presidential candidate (received 19 percent of the vote when Mahmoud Abbas was elected in 2005), and founder/general secretary of the third Palestinian political party shares his hopes for reconciliation and peacemaking in the Middle East with Outlook editor, Jack Haberer, when they met recently in Dr. Barghouthi's Ramallah office.
MINNEAPOLIS – Ron Shive says his committee’s report on conflict and peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians lives up to its title, “Breaking Down the Walls.”
MINNEAPOLIS – The Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions approved today (July 5) the recommendation of a special committee, calling upon the General Assembly to commission the retranslation of the Heidelberg Catechism.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.—The Form of Government Revision committee began hearing from overture advocates today at the 219th General Assembly meeting here. Criticism of the proposed FoG included “consider the cost,” comparisons to an uncooked, diseased pig and the prospect that the new FoG will be a “litigator’s dream.”
MINNEAPOLIS – The Presbyterian Outlook honored Syngman Rhee with the Ernest Trice Thompson Award at its 219th General Assembly banquet here yesterday (July 3). The presentation came after the attendees heard brief speeches by the six candidates for moderator. The moderatorial election came six hours after the luncheon banquet adjourned.
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Syngman Rhee holds up E.T.Thompson Award. Jack Haberer, Outlook editor, and Laura Mendenhall, Outlook board member, look on.[/caption]
MINNEAPOLIS — “We pray for living waters, for all we left behind and all we need to do today and in the days to come,” prayed the Rev. Alika Galloway of the Kwanzaa Community Church here, as she led commissioners and observers in worship to open the meeting of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) yesterday (July 3).
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