MINNEAPOLIS – Some after-hours brainstorming yielded key changes in a document that may drastically affect the church’s clout and credibility with Israelis, Palestinians and American Jews.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Health Issues Committee of the 219th General Assembly opened this morning (July 6) passing a motion to reconsider the previously approved “Taking a Stand Against Forced and Coerced Abortions.”
MINNEAPOLIS – Once again, a General Assembly committee has passed an overture recommending that controversial language in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) regarding gay ordination be removed.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations passed today (July 6) a recommendation to commend and refer back to its authors for further refinement the “Christians and Jews: People of God” document – addressing the theological understanding of relationships between the two religious groups.
The work of seeding a movement of change in building up all of God’s creation has begun to build into a movement, Rick Ufford-Chase told the annual luncheon of the Presbyterians for Earth Care today (July 6). “I see the signs all around me that what has been on the fringes of respectability has moved to the center of our life as a denomination,” he said.[caption id="attachment_21957" align="alignright" width="288"]
Bob Stivers receives the William Gibson Award at the Presbyterians for Earth Care luncheon. Photo by Erin Dunigan.[/caption]
“It is one thing to say, ‘Let justice roll down like the living waters,’ but it is another to work out the irrigation system,” said Katie Day, quoting from William Sloane Coffin. Day, a parish associate and professor of church and society at Lutheran Theological Seminary, spoke in favor of General Assembly resolution 11-06, “Gun violence, gospel values: mobilizing in response to God’s Call.”[caption id="attachment_21955" align="alignright" width="288"]
Committee 11 Social Justice Issues B: the Exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World votes unanimously to recommend resolution on gun violence to the General Assembly. [/caption]
MINNEAPOLIS — “Authoritative interpretation” was the phrase of the day Monday (July 5) in deliberations by the 219th General Assembly Church Polity Committee, which dispensed with a dozen recommendations before bogging down because of the most troublesome word of the day: trust.
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.
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