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Task Force posts portions of report; Focus on theological convictions

DALLAS -- The Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has begun unveiling draft sections of its report -- without yet addressing some of the most controversial issues before it, but by emphasizing the theological convictions underlying its work and by stressing how much its 20 diverse members have learned from one another.

The task force will vote on its final report Aug. 24 and 25 in Chicago. The task force members have been exchanging sections of the draft report privately among themselves for months, revising as they go along, and have had hours of closed door discussions, including at this meeting, which began July 18.

The draft sections of the report are being posted on the PC(USA)'s website as soon as they are handed out to journalists. And so far, the task force members' public comments have been mostly along the lines of suggesting small editorial changes rather than any major revisions.

Task Force members reflect on the pain, power in the process

DALLAS -- What exactly the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will recommend remains to be seen.

But its 20 members do say in draft section of their report, released July 19, that they were intentionally selected to serve on the task force because of their diverse views and have found their faith strengthened by honest, ongoing, heartfelt discussions with those with whom they disagree.

 "Repeatedly, we found ourselves moved and impressed by the depth and the truth of statements" made by those from very different backgrounds, the draft report states, and "more surprisingly, our faith was enriched and strengthened by the contributions of those whose views on contested issues we do not share."

Retired missionary-surgeon Paul S. Crane, 86, dies

Paul Shields Crane, 86, prominent retired missionary-surgeon, died June 12 at his home in Black Mountain, N.C. of congestive heart failure. He was also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

A renaissance man, Crane was a respected linguist who translated for U.S. presidents on three occasions, helped develop a medical treatment for a debilitating parasite, assisted in establishing universities in Korea and served as both a teacher and a surgeon in Korea for more than 20 years.

The Presbyterian elder: Part II Scriptural Background

The position of elder is the oldest New Testament office next to that of apostle. The apostles were men (and women?) who..

PC(USA) divestment stance: presbyteries, churches react

You know the old saying: sometimes the journey is at least as interesting as the destination.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) set sail last summer -- with little warning and a not-very-clear itinerary -- towards the idea of possibly divesting in some companies doing business in Israel, as a way of expressing concern about Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people.

Already, it's been a bumpy, exciting ride, and there's still a long way to go.

Who knows what decisions involving divestiture the 2006 General Assembly might be asked to consider, or what the mood of the church will be, with a bucket of other sizzling issues on the table as well?

And who has a clue what twists and turns politics in the Middle East may take before then?

Austin Colloquium examines divestment

Presbyterian and Jewish congregants gathered in Shelton Chapel at Austin Seminary on March 30 in an effort to further open the lines of communication between the two communities. The gathering was the President's Colloquium, "A Difficult Friendship: Divestment, Dialogue, and Hope."

Two speakers addressed the challenges and opportunities facing Presbyterians and Jews in the wake of the divestiture vote last summer at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly: the Reverend Joseph D. Small III, associate director for the PC(USA) Congregational Ministries Division and coordinator for the Office of Theology and Worship/Spiritual Formation, and Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, director of Interfaith Affairs for the Anti-Defamation League.

According to the PC(USA) website, "The 216th General Assembly approved several measures opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestine ... including a call for the corporate witness office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to begin gathering data to support a selective divestment of holdings in multinational corporations doing business in Israel/Palestine."