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WCC in Brazil: a meeting of “firsts”, historical perspectives

Once every seven or eight years since the World Council of Churches was founded in 1948, there has been an "assembly" that gathers delegates of member churches, official observers from other churches and agencies, WCC staff, co-opted staff and visitors. The Ninth Assembly of the WCC convened on February 14, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, following four related, pre-assembly conferences of Christian women, youth, Indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities.

Of the nine WCC assemblies convened over 58 years, this was the first to take place in Latin America. It was also the first assembly since September 11, 2001 and the declaration of an official "war on terror." This made it the first assembly since the U.S. carried out its doctrine of pre-emptive war in the invasion of Iraq, despite the opposition of many church leaders. From an internal perspective, Porto Alegre was significant in being the first assembly since the work of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the World Council of Churches. For a variety of reasons, then, expectations were high for decisions and actions that might emerge from the Ninth Assembly. But was the institution of such an "assembly" up to the tasks at hand?

Purpose-Driven and Presbyterian: One new paradigm at work

Editors Note:  In its ongoing effort to support effective local church ministry and mission, the Outlook invites its readers to consider alternative models of church ministry being developed in sister churches around the denomination.  This analysis of the 40 Days of Purpose combines with two other articles, A new Reformation? and Presbyterians and the "40 Days of Purpose", to provide analysis of the purpose-driven church paradigm

Michael Carey has heard the skepticism: the Purpose-Driven church approach is "too Baptist," not Presbyterian enough in its theology, caters too much to those brand-new to church and not enough to those who've been around.

But what Carey, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian in Satellite Beach, Florida, (https://www.trinitypres.net/ ) knows firsthand is this. His congregation has been following the Purpose-Driven model for eight years now, and:

-The average Sunday attendance is 700, out of 830 members -- a typical weekly attendance of close to 85 percent.

-About 500 adults attend Bible study, and 400 are committed to participating in a significant ministry at the church.

-Last year, the people of Trinity gave $2.4 million to support the church (including funds for a building program).

-And a conference in the spring of 2005 for Purpose-driven Presbyterians drew 400 people, who came from 166 congregations in 36 states.

Not every Purpose-Driven Presbyterian church can post numbers like those -- folks seem to agree that something special is going on at Trinity. But pastors from other congregations also trying this approach say they've seen it bring new life, new energy, and a new commitment to ministry at the churches they serve.

MRTI talking to companies re: divestment; overtures planned on issue

The question of whether the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should divest in some companies doing business in Israel has been explosive -- but it does not appear as though specific recommendations proposing divestment in particular companies will be presented to this year's General Assembly.

The PC(USA)'s Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee, at its meeting in New York in early February, made it clear that it is continuing its discussions with a handful of companies that have been identified as possible candidates for consideration for divestiture, and won't be ready to make specific recommendations regarding those firms to the General Assembly in June.

Instead, the committee will ask for more funding to continue its exploration of the issue, and would put off any specific divestment recommendations regarding Israel until the assembly in 2008.

At the same time, however, presbyteries, through overtures, are pushing the divestment question front-and-center for this assembly. Some want the PC(USA) to stick with the 2004 action, which was intended to target companies involved with Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

Overtures for upcoming General Assembly highlight concerns

The overtures keep rolling in -- more than 90 ideas for the 2006 General Assembly to consider, on everything from peace in Africa to disagreements over homosexuality here at home.

Theological Task Force

Overture 81 from Philadelphia presbytery, proposes a direct amendment of the recommendations from the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The task force wants to strike a balance between national standards for the church and some local determination of when departures from those standards, as a matter of conscience, should be tolerated. It suggests that presbyteries and sessions determine when departures from the standards "constitutes a failure to adhere to the essentials of Reformed faith and polity" and are substantial enough that a person could not be ordained or installed.

But some have argued that such language amounts to an end run around the PC(USA)'s constitutional standards, which require that for a person to be ordained, that person practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single.

And Philadelphia presbytery is proposing language that would have local governing bodies determine whether a particular departure "violates a direct provision of the Book of Order," which would bar the person from being ordained. That overture also states that "it shall not be deemed reasonable or responsible" for a governing body not to maintain any Book of Order standard.

What Do Elders Do?

Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of stories entitled: "What is a Presbyterian Elder?"

According to the Book of Order, elders have responsibilities that are rather broadly defined: "Together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, they exercise leadership, government and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a particular church as well as the church at large, including ecumenical relationships. They shall serve faithfully as members of the session" (G-.0302).

U.S. group says religious minorities face heightened discrimination in Iran

(ENI) A U.S. religious freedom watchdog commission says it is "deeply concerned" about what it calls a worsening situation for religious minorities in Iran.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created in 1998 by the U.S. Congress to monitor the status of freedom of thought and of religious practice outside the United States. It provides independent policy recommendations to the U.S. government.

Michael Cromartie, the commission chairman, said the current pattern of rhetoric in Iran is similar to that heard during the early years of the Iranian revolution which, he said, ushered in years of severe human-rights violations against members of non-Islamic religious minorities, particularly the Baha'i community.

New organization formed to urge repeal of divestment

A new Presbyterian affinity group--the Committee to End Divestment Now--has organized around an effort "to correct" what they believe was a mistake made in 2004 by the 216th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

They are seeking repeal of the resolution calling for "a process of phased selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel." That repeal could occur at the 217^th General Assembly this June.

The Committee to End Divestment Now (CEDN) is not a typical Presbyterian affinity group organized along traditional lines, such as conservative/liberal, according to organizers. It also has limited scope and duration. It doesn't plan to continue once General Assembly concludes.

Foreign policy think tank begins initiative on religion

(RNS) With help from a former secretary of state, an influential think tank focusing on foreign relations has launched a new initiative that will study and explain the role religion plays in foreign policy.

The Council on Foreign Relations, with offices in New York City and Washington, designed the plan to expand on its existing foreign policy and religion lectures and roundtable talks. Workshops are being developed to bring religious figures together with influential foreign policy thinkers.

The effort's advisory committee includes former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

The initiative comes at a time when religion is playing a major role in the decisions of diplomats throughout the world. Tensions rose worldwide after Danish political cartoons lampooned the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, and conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims is having a profound impact on U.S. foreign policy in Iraq.

2006-2008 budget cuts will total $9.15 million

LOUISVILLE -- The General Assembly mission budgets must be reduced by a total of $9.15 million between now and 2008, General Assembly Council (GAC) leaders announced on March 14.

A total of $2.7 million has to come out of the unrestricted 2006 budget, and $3.51 million more from the 2007-2008 mission budget. In addition, the restricted portion of the 2007-2008 budget must be reduced by $2.94 million.

The current mission budget -- unrestricted and restricted -- is $113.9 million. The GAC will vote on the budgets during its April 26-29 meeting.

Staff cuts resulting from the budget reductions will probably be announced on May 1.

This is clearly part of a longer trend in the church and probably most churches," GAC Executive Director John Detterick told the Presbyterian News Service in a March 15 interview. "Presbyterians are funding mission differently -- they are giving to their churches in larger amounts, but are more directly involved both in activity and funding."

The 2006 cuts are based on declining unrestricted giving by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations and presbyteries. Unrestricted receipts in 2005 were $13.9 million -- $2.1 million less than the $16 million budgeted. The 2006 budget, also of $16 million, has been revised to $13.3 million

“Empathetic” listening, prayer needed on divestment, moderator tells GAC

LOUISVILLE -- Rick Ufford-Chase, moderator of the 216^th General Assembly, is challenging the General Assembly Council to do some hard thinking and praying over the next two months about divestment -- warning that to approach the next General Assembly without a clear message about divestment would be a mistake.

Already, Ufford-Chase said, the overtures about divestiture are pouring in -- many in direct response to the action of the 2004 assembly, which voted to have the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pursue a policy of selective, phased divestment in some companies doing business in Israel.  That assembly wanted to take a stand regarding Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people, the building of the security barrier and Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

But the response was strong and largely unanticipated -- the assembly's divestment vote proved hugely controversial.

Some of the overtures say  "divestment was a disaster -- we should rescind it immediately," Ufford said. Others say, "It was exactly the right thing to do."  And some aim for the middle, saying "we understand the intent of divestment," and perhaps in some way we can shift it more towards positive investment in the Middle East, he said.

Charitable corporation idea tabled to April GAC; too late for GA consideration

LOUISVILLE -- A proposal to create a new charitable corporation -- which advocates say could give Presbyterian Disaster Assistance more visibility, flexibility and accountability in responding to disasters and human suffering -- ran smack into a flock of questions and was put off.

That appears to mean the 2006 General Assembly will not be able to take action on this and that a move to create a nonprofit disaster and relief corporation would have to be put off until the next assembly, in 2008.

The council voted to postpone action on creating the corporation until its meeting April 26-29. But that would be too late, according to Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to meet the 120-day advance deadline for presenting items of major business to this year's assembly.

During their discussion Feb. 11, several members of the General Assembly Council said they support the idea of creating the corporation, but had too many questions about how it would be structured and governed to feel comfortable moving so quickly.

"This isn't about trust. It isn't about not wanting to change," said Michael Kruse of Missouri. "It's about wanting to change and to do it well."

Kruse added: "It's a mistake to rush ahead and create possibly more havoc."

But others said that to wait is to mean the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) would not be as effective and compassionate as it could be in responding to the world's great needs.

GAC discussion on hiring ACSWP director opens debate on wider issues

LOUISVILLE -- Often, disagreements in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) get hashed out privately, in the corridors or behind closed doors.

At the General Assembly Council meeting Feb. 11, one blew up in public.

The exact issue being voted on had to do with the procedure the church should follow when it hires a coordinator for the work of the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy.

One underlying issue is how much freedom that committee should have -- a recognition that sometimes, recommending social policy for the denomination on issues such as abortion or the environment or war can be controversial and sometimes unpopular work. As a result, a certain amount of independence for that committee has been written into the denomination's rules.

And there is still lingering tension floating through the denomination over a controversial trip the advisory committee took to the Middle East in the fall of 2004, which included a visit with Hezbollah that drew international headlines and led to the firings of two people from the PC(USA)'s national staff.

None of that was discussed directly at this council meeting.

Muslim-Americans defend free speech despite ‘blasphemous’ cartoons

©Religion News Service

Cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist and misogynist have offended Muslims in the United States as they have Muslims worldwide. But the debate raging among Muslim-Americans on college campuses, the Internet and in Islamic media has its own unique flavor because of this country's constitutional commitment to free speech.

American Muslims are adamant in their support of exercising their First Amendment right to protest the drawings through boycotts and other peaceful means, but many are embarrassed by the torching of European embassies in the Middle East and other forms of violence that have accompanied some demonstrations.

Because the cartoons constitute what he considers hate speech, the issue is not "black and white," said Junaid Ahmad, a student at the College of William and Mary's Marshall-Wythe Law School in Williamsburg, Va., who is active in national Muslim organizations. "This is not just a matter of being for freedom of speech and against freedom of speech," Ahmad said. "The first thing we should realize is that Muslims don't accept the basic framework. The principal issue here is not freedom of speech, but the Islamophobic context in which such a caricaturing of the prophet is taking place. I think that's the issue here."

Nevertheless, Ahmad said he was against laws restricting such speech. "You can't give the state too much power. It's better to fight hate not through laws but education and community organizing and activism."