Fifth Sunday after Pentecost — July 10, 2022
God’s Plumb Line: A Looking into the Lectionary reflection from Rev. Dr. Baron Mullis.
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Don’t look away — Weekly Christian ed lesson
A Christian ed lesson for children.
General Assembly 225 planning team releases online plenary schedule
Final 14 sessions over five days will consider committee reports and other GA business
The Committee on General Assembly Ministry Coordination says “words matter”
Among other business, the committee voted to bestow awards, change the nomenclature of “AIDS” to “HIV” in PC(USA) publications and work towards a more inclusive understanding of family.
Moving Forward/Vision 2020 Committee recommends more equitable sharing of unrestricted funds between PMA and OGA
The committee also recommended moving Mission Engagement/Support from PMA to ASG.
Financial Resources Committee recommends PC(USA) explore different funding models
With a shrinking denomination, the committee recognized that the per capital funding model is no longer sustainable. But, they discussed, how will we move forward?
Financial Resources Committee does not support creating a commission with the power to unify two top church agencies; votes for a task force instead
The committee did approve the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s work plan for 2023 and 2024, with a Matthew 25 focus.
General Assembly Ministry Coordination Committee recommends ‘Plan Omega’ for GA 226
Assembly to receive proposal opposite from this year’s assembly – online committee meetings with in-person plenaries.
Assembly Committee approves five Moving Forward implementation steps
Vision 2020 Guiding Statement implementation moves also okayed
General Assembly Entity Policies and Procedures Committee considers the Organization for Mission and finishes their work
Complicated discussions lead to consensus on structural review and an earlier-than-anticipated completion of committee business
Seeking the perfect match
"In this summer books issue, we’ve curated book reviews and recommendations that we hope meet the needs of your soul. Picking a book from these pages might still be like going on a date. But we hope it’s more like a match set up by a good friend. Happy reading!"
Financial Resources Committee considers future of PC(USA) Special Offerings, affirms work of Presbyterian Foundation
The committee did not find a way to increase funding for the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico.
General Assembly Entity Policies and Procedures Committee begins by recommending entity leadership and working out agency relationships
The committee voted to re-elect the Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett as president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency and did not pass a commissioner resolution that would have provided more oversite to the Board of Pensions.
Committee votes to approve formation of Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity
On its first day of meeting, the General Assembly Ministry Coordination Committee focused on LGBTIA+ inclusion in the denomination.
Guiding Statement from Vision 2020 team approved by committee
The document calls PC(USA) to be prayerful, courageous, united, serving and alive.
Outlook General Assembly spotlight: An interview with the stated clerk
Presbyterian Outlook Editor Teri McDowell Ott got a chance to sit down with PC(USA) Stated Clerk J. Herbert Nelson to discuss his MLK address, the reaction to his description of the continued occupation in Israel/Palestine as “21st-century slavery,” and how he understands the church today.
How St. Augustine’s hermeneutic of love brought me to the PC(USA)
PC(USA) pastor Aaron Neff chooses to be Presbyterian because he believes in Scripture and, above all else, love. While no denomination is perfect, he has faith in this one, despite any mistakes we make.
What we’re reading
The Outlook staff shares some of their summer reads.
Standing Rules Committee completes its work
On its last day of meeting, the Standing Rules Committee discussed the cost of translating all GA material and a complete revision of the Standing Rules, among other things.
International Engagement Committee prayerfully listened and engaged numerous global issues
The topics discussed and voted on by the committee include, among other things: Israel/Palestine, the Doctrine of Discovery, the use of sanctions, humanitarian efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Russian-Ukrainian war.
God’s playground
“When I look at your mountains, at what your fingers have made — The rocks that the sea moves about from place to place — What are human beings that you have given this to us? What are human beings that we can play on this holy ground?”
Unbroken and Unbowed: A History of Black Protest in America
"This book is for anyone seeking a broad understanding of the historic roots to an on-going American struggle. It would make for fruitful discussion in a small group or Sunday School class but is probably best utilized as a reference for those seeking a comprehensive overview."
Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee approves development of template for interchurch partnerships
Global Covenant Agreements (GCAs) will enhance the creation of partnerships.
Standing Rules Committee continues to think about inclusion
On its second day of meeting, the committee suggested that "all gender identities" be included when appointing moderators and approved a resolution that would allow GA to meet electronically, among other business.
Immigration Committee asks General Assembly to declare Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) a “sanctuary and accompaniment church”
Committee members pray for migrants found dead this week in a truck in San Antonio and bring “holy anger” to their work.
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