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Eating, praying, loving with Elizabeth Gilbert

Something was different. It might have been that this service was happening on a Friday night instead of a Sunday morning, but that was not quite it. The church was uncharacteristically packed, but that was not it, either. That about 99 percent of its occupants were women might have been part of what seemed so unusual in that sanctuary. But more than anything what was palpably, noticeably different in this northeastern mainline United Church of Christ cathedral was the sense of anticipation, of expectancy and maybe even downright excitement at what was about to transpire.

Debriefing

So I showed them things.

Not much that was spectacular, in fact,

more the usual, ordinary stuff

like wild flowers, birds and seeds,

Psalm 23 and Jesus

The Psalms contain a collection of metaphors for God that focuses on protection. These include: shield, high tower, fortress, high place, refuge, rock, and stronghold. These images use "homeland security" language. But in the Psalms there is also a minority point of view that describes God as "the good shepherd" (Psalm 23), the good woman (Psalm 131:1-2), and the good father (Psalm 68:5-6).

Whatever Happened to Delight?

This book is certain both to challenge and to enrich our preaching. J. Barrie Shepherd is both a poet and a preacher and so it is not surprising that his writing is more intuitive than analytic and more metaphorical than argumentative.

New tools for Communications

In the "flat" world of Internet-centric communications, churches are a major beneficiary.

Powerful tools once reserved for well-heeled organizations are available at little or no cost to everyone, including churches struggling to control costs. All it takes is the imagination to see possibilities, the humility to try new ways, and the will to overcome resistance from those who distrust technology or fight any change.

Guest Viewpoint: Issues for the church concerning the overture of Pittsburgh Presbytery on amending the Heidelberg Catechism

Part I of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Constitution, the Book of Confessions, is of particular interest to me. So I noted with attentiveness Pittsburgh Presbytery's overture to the 218^th General Assembly to amend Part I of the Constitution of the PC(USA), the Book of Confessions, to, in the words of the overture, "restore The Heidelberg Catechism to an authentic and reliable English version of the historic document by replacing the 1962 translation, The Heidelberg Catechism, 1563-1963, 400^th Anniversary Edition. Copyright 1962. United Church Press, with a translation that more faithfully renders the original text." In its rationale, the overture gives five examples of mistranslations of the original Heidelberg Catechism in the current PC(USA) Constitution. While each of these examples is interesting, many PC(USA) readers will be most interested in the fifth and last example, which concerns Q & A 87 in the Heidelberg Catechism having to do with "homosexual perversion."

Gray speaks to “impact” of court decisions, kairos moment

LOUISVILLE -- Joan Gray, https://www.pcusa.org/gamoderator/bio.htm moderator of the 217^th General Assembly, offered a word to a troubled church in the light of the recent decisions of the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) https://www.pcusa.org/gapjc/.

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.):

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.
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.

The confession of Martha and the anger of Jesus

Reflecting on this passage in its entirety is beyond the scope of this brief article. Two high points will be our focus. The first is the Christological confession of Martha and the second is the surprising anger of Jesus and its aftermath.

From E.T. to J.P.

No, not the E.T. or the J.P. that first come to mind. That's E.T. as in Thompson, and J.P. as in Price.

'Tis no small thing to try to fill the shoes of E.T. Thompson. Ernest Trice Thompson and his partner, Aubrey Brown, took over the Presbyterians of the South newspaper and turned it into The Presbyterian Outlook in April 1954. In the years that followed Thompson collected articles, edited them, wrote editorials, and wrote Sunday School lessons -- and did all that every week.

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."

That covenant calls for doing mission together in trust and humility, with the participants pledging to encourage one another and to "celebrate and encourage diverse approaches and structures for mission while maintaining the unity of our participation in God's mission."

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.).

Of mites and miters

In semi-retirement I turned down an opportunity to serve on the candidates committee, as we used to call it, thinking that if I accepted the assignment I'd feel like I hadn't retired from anything. I'm sure those who do serve the committees on preparation for ministry are much appreciated for the work they do on behalf of new "recruits." Here are some "post-game" reflections for the benefit of those who're soon to become "rookies" and are wondering and wavering about whether or not to enter the field.

John 3:1-15: Jesus and Nicodemus

The discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus focuses on the Trinity.

After an introduction, in the dialogue between the two of them, Nicodemus makes three speeches to which Jesus gives three replies. Furthermore, Jesus introduces each reply with the phrase, "Amen, Amen I say to you." Whenever this phrase appears something of supreme importance is being said. In the Gospel of John, only in this text do three occurrences of this rare affirmation appear. What is their significance?

Use latest Technologies

Churches should be aggressive in using latest technologies, both to maximize return on investment and to communicate effectively.

An e-mail newsletter is central. The days of the printed and mailed newsletter are over. They cost too much and are read too little, especially among young and middle-aged adults. You can offer a mailed newsletter to those who prefer it, but not many will prefer it. (One large church estimates that a regular postal newsletter costs $2,100 to prepare and send, not counting staff time; an e-mail newsletter costs $15.)

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.

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