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Book Reviews

Pilgrimage of a Presbyterian: Collected Shorter Writings

By John Leith, Charles E. Raynal,ed.
Geneva. 2001. 363 pp. Pb. $29.95. ISBN 0-664-50151-6

— reviewed by Richard A. Ray, Bristol, Tenn.

In 1949, John Leith included these words in a sermon on race relations preached in Nashville:

"It is hard to be a Christian. But after all, it is about time that we should get into our thinking that this business of being Christian is and always will be an arduous and dangerous business. It is not made for cowards and for the weak."

Editorials

How Much Theological Cohesion Do We Need?

Following up last week’s editorial suggesting that forces in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that have devoted themselves in the last quarter-century to either holding on to or taking over control of the denomination need to move toward demobilization, the first question that must be asked is: How much theological cohesion does a Presbyterian body need to hold together?

Book Reviews

More Than Chains and Toil: A Christian Work Ethic of Enslaved Women

By Joan M. Martin.
WJKP. 2000. 190 pp. Pb. $24.95. ISBN 0-664-2580-0

— reviewed by Portia Turner Williamson, Durham, N.C.

What a well-crafted volume, significantly advancing the discussion concerning slavery in America! Joan Martin is a theological ethicist who employs womanist methodology to discover the meaning of work in this context.

"Discovery" is a technique that renders the internal as external. By means of this method, she examines the social, theological and political aspects of blackwomen’s antebellum work.

Editorials

From Warfare to Witness

Demobilization, the reduction in armed forces following a war, is a model that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may find useful.

We’ve been involved in a war about human sexuality for the past 25 years that seems to be over; while discussion will continue, the terms of engagement have changed. It’s fairly inconceivable that the church will entertain a constitutional change of any magnitude in ordination standards in the foreseeable future.

Uncategorized

Kirkpatrick calls for ‘culture of respect’ for and revamping of the church’s Constitution

DECATUR, Ga. — PC(USA) Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick has called for a "culture of respect" for the church's Constitution and the revamping of that document to support "a missionary church in the 21st century."

He made his proposals Friday, April 26, during a one-day conference co-sponsored by the Office of the General Assembly and Columbia Seminary and attended by more than 150 persons.

Book Reviews

Sworn on the Altar of God: A Religious Biography of Thomas Jefferson

By Edwin S. Gaustad.
Eerdmans. 1996. 246 pp. Pb. $18.00 ISBN 0-8028-0156-0

—reviewed by Herbert Meza Jacksonville, Fla.

No one, with the possible exception of James Madison, had a greater influence on the founding of the United States than Thomas Jefferson. Unlike many of the founding fathers, Jefferson’s name has not faded. The Declaration of Independence stands as an enduring witness to Jefferson’s religious, moral and political views.

Voices

John 3:16 and the Prodigal: (The Gospel and the Gospel)

For a very long time John 3:16 has been read as a summary of the gospel, which indeed it is. This well-known verse tells of God, the world, love, the Son, giving, sending, believing, eternal life and salvation. Paul gives an even shorter summary when he says, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself." But John and Paul do not provide the only summaries.

Voices

Ten Things I Have Learned About Christian Educators in 40 years

Ten is a good round number. There are lots of lists of 10. After spending more than 40 years in the field of Christian education in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I would like to share 10 things I have learned about Christian educators.

Who are the educators? They are the DCEs, pastors, certified educators, graduates with majors in Christian education, part-time staff and volunteers. They are the ones who see Christian education as a high calling of service, to equip the saints for ministry, to build up the body of Christ.

Editorials

The Blessing and Curse of Affinity Groups

Following the recent defeat of Amendment A in the presbyteries, a number of groups across the spectrum released statements announcing their official reactions. The statements, given their source, were entirely predictable, each group trying to put the best spin on the outcome.

Uncategorized

Staff cuts announced in Louisville

It was a painful day at the Louisville headquarters of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Monday - faces strained, voices hushed, the eyes of some red-rimmed and welling with tears. The details of a proposed $4.24 million reduction in the mission budget for 2003 - including layoffs for 43 employees and the elimination of 21 vacant positions- were announced April 22, ending weeks of uncertainty about where the axe would fall.

Book Reviews

Grace Keeps You Going: Spiritual Wisdom from Cancer Survivors

By Mac N. and Anne Shaw Turnage
WJKP. 2001. 136 pp. Pb. $12.95. ISBN 0-664-22567-5

— reviewed by William V. Arnold, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Since their own confrontation with cancer in 1973, Mac and Anne Turnage have focused considerable creative faith and energy, to our benefit, on the care of people affected by cancer. Since their first book, More Than You Dare to Ask: The First Year of Living With Cancer, in 1976, they have led countless support groups, formed and led organizations of cancer survivors to provide support and encouragement, and, in the process, modeled pastoral care at its finest.

Voices

The Five-fold Path to Recovering Unity in the PC(USA)

Many people today are wondering what the future holds for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Our differences seem to be getting bigger rather than smaller. Our denomination is one that is seeking unity. But, so far, real unity has eluded us. Trying to achieve unity is like chasing the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:14). The harder we try to attain it, the more it slips through our fingers. What is it that will bring us together?

Editorials

The Letter and the Spirit of the Law

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has just completed a 25-year theological-legal debate over ordination standards with a resounding reaffirmation of the “fidelity-chastity” requirement for ordination of ministers and church officers. Presbyteries have voted to disapprove an amendment that would have undone the legislative work of the whole church in recent years.

Voices

Bring Traditional Commitments Back to Center Stage

Two deleterious movements began after the celebratory march down Peachtree Avenue in Atlanta following the reunion vote in 1983. Groups began to move in different directions and factionalism took on new life. Second, the predecessor denominations’ commitment to racial integration and interest in economic justice were moved off center stage and replaced by issues associated with human sexuality.

Voices

Help for the Task Force

The views expressed in this article are my own, not those of the Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity on which I serve. In successive editorials, Outlook editor Robert Bullock voices high hopes for the task force. His expression of confidence in the task force and his offer of prayers are most welcome.

Voices

Overtures Would Improve Amendment Process

An eagerness for peace lies at the heart of five overtures to the 214th General Assembly meeting this summer, each having to do with the denomination’s process for amending the Book of Order.

Olympia Presbytery sounds the concern plainly. As a rationale for proposing that the General Assembly vote on amendments to the Book of Order only every fifth year, Olympia writes, "The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been in a constant battle over divisive constitutional issues for years and years and years."

Book Reviews

Open Secrets: A Spiritual Journey Through a Country Church

By Richard Lischer.
Doubleday. 2001. 243 pp. Pb. $$23.95. ISBN 0-385-50217-6

— reviewed by Agnes Norfleet, Decatur, Ga.

Richard Lischer is a Lutheran pastor who teaches preaching at Duke Divinity School. Open Secrets: A Spiritual Journey Through a Country Church is a wonderfully engaging memoir of his first experience as a parish pastor. It reads like a novel with character development, plot, intrigue, pathos, humor, conflict and sometimes even resolution. And yet it is more than a good story.

Editorials

‘Comfort, O Comfort My People’


"Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORDís hand double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:1-2).

We Presbyterians have been in bondage for a long time. We have allowed ourselves to become trapped in a never-ending cycle of violence. We have absolutized our theological positions in such a way as to deny the rule of the living God.

Uncategorized

The church’s ‘judicial season’ begins quickly

It's pretty clear by now that what some are calling a "judicial season" in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has taken off faster than a toddler chasing the ice cream truck.

A flock of accusations has been made. Many of them are by Virginia lawyer Paul Rolf Jensen, who has made allegations to several presbyteries against ministers and elders he does not know, but who he sees as trying to defy openly parts of the PC(USA) Constitution.

Uncategorized

Distance learning and extension campuses are quickly gaining interest among seminaries

When Katherine Amos suggested a few years ago that the Association of Theological Schools hold a seminar on distance education, the group agreed — and at first limited enrollment to 28 people, thinking that's about as much interest there would be from seminary folks for ideas such as establishing extension campuses or offering on-line courses. But the applications poured in and they finally cut off registration at 150 when they ran out of room.

Voices

Holmes Sweet Holmes

Teaching at a theological seminary has its fun moments, but it is mostly the serious business of trying to provide survival skills for the leadership of the church.  Presbyterians especially obey Our Lord's command to worship God with the mind (Mk 12:30; Mt 22:37; Lk 10:27).  Obviously we need first-rate institutions to nurture first-rate ministry.  I am truly grateful for my quarter century on a seminary faculty and the importance of the subjects I teach.

Editorials

Discerning the Spirits

As Presbyterians seek to make sense of the church — the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — into which they have been called by the Lord Jesus to serve God and our fellow humans, the need to discern the spirits is more important than ever. And with the rising significance of this activity is the reality of its increasing difficulty — for all the reasons enumerated in recent offerings in this space — distraction, ignorance, indifference, self-seeking.

Editorials

Resurrection Life

God's raising Jesus from the dead on the third day is the central message of the Christian movement in every time and place. If the church ceases to preach Christ crucified ó and raised from the dead by God — it ceases to be the church.

We are in grave danger of ceasing to be the church. Jesus' resurrection from the dead — the good, glad tidings of God's triumph of life over the devil, sin and death — is far too infrequently preached in today's mainline church, including the Presbyterian, and with far too little conviction.

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