The ultimate result of the Presbyterian Church opening itself to its Lord and the work of the Holy Spirit in the matter of building community will be what a recent General Assembly paper called "Building Community Among Strangers."
The paper eventually approved by the General Assembly in 1999 had a long and conflicted history, but what was produced was finally affirmed by most.
By Renita J. Weems
Warner. 2002. 194 pp. $12.95.
ISBN 0-446-53066-2
— Review by Lillian McCulloch Taylor
In Showing Mary, Vanderbilt biblical scholar Renita Weems has claimed Mary, the mother of Jesus, for Protestants — and especially for women. Weems views Mary not as a pious, passive woman, but as a strong, vibrant individual. Following the biblical text closely, Weems lays out her portrait of the mother of the divine son.
Baltimore Presbytery met on Thursday, Nov. 21, and, after considerable discussion, did not adopt any of several proposals put before it regarding enforcement of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Constitution.
Many evangelicals in the church have been watching Baltimore Presbytery closely to see how it would deal with Don Stroud, a gay minister who's declared publicly that he cannot in conscience comply with the part of the Constitution that restricts ordination to those who practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single.
CHICAGO — When Ron Lundeen got a call at his home in Arizona on his 59th birthday, asking him if he knew of someone, anyone, who might be a good match for leading a $40 million fund-raising effort for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Lundeen kept repeating that he couldn't think of a soul. Then he hung up the phone and couldn't think of anything else.
During the last several months, I have received numerous communications asking where I stand in relation to controversial actions being taken by two members of the church I serve. This statement is intended to bring clarification.
I am in an awkward position as the pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, Calif., and the moderator of its session.
The year 2002 marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of The Presbyterian Presence: The Twentieth Century Experience. The seven volumes, plus study guide, were published by Westminster John Knox Press between 1990 and 1992.
The original initiative from the Lilly Endowment was to commission a series of case studies of mainstream Protestant denominations that were experiencing precipitate decline at the end of the 20th century.
How often do you recall final exam questions — or your answers? A decade has passed since I first sat in a classroom furiously composing a response to this question for "Presbyterian Heritage," a course taken in my middler year at Louisville Seminary.Describe the current trajectory of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as you see it and evaluate that trajectory based on what you consider the distinctive marks of the Presbyterian tradition.
The current directed study on Reformed Theology for certification of Christian educators in our church refers readers to "‘The Presbyterian Predicament’ [by] Coalter, Mulder, Weeks (A six-volume set of the history . . . )." The actual title of the seven-volume set — they wrote another book later — was "The Presbyterian Presence in the 20th Century," but the mistake in thinking of our study as the "Presbyterian Predicament" is both a common one and a telling one.
Ten years ago, our nation’s President was George H. W. Bush.
Ten years later, the family is the same, but the middle initials have changed. Ten years ago, we were making demands of Saddam Hussein. Ten years later, we are making demands of Saddam Hussein. Ten years ago, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was struggling over biblical hermeneutics and human sexuality. Ten years later . . . well, you get the idea by now.
We’ve been discussing at some length in this column the need at this time for Presbyterians and the Presbyterian Church to recover the wellsprings of faith and to experience the rebuilding of community under Jesus Christ its Head, and by means of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.
Donald Stroud, the gay Presbyterian minister who's been at the heart of a dispute in Baltimore Presbytery because of his public statements that he cannot in conscience comply with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) prohibitions against ordaining sexually active gays and lesbians, grew up in the Presbyterian Church and began telling people when he was 9 that he was going to be a minister. Stroud also said he knew early on that there was "something different" about him, compared to other boys.
Paul Rolf Jensen isn't surprised and he isn't happy.
The decision of two designated members of Baltimore Presbytery's Permanent Judicial Commission not to bring charges against Don Stroud, an openly gay minister who has said publicly that he cannot in conscience comply with the provision in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Constitution that limits ordination to those who practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single, means "they have decided to use the Constitution as toilet paper," Jensen said in a written statement.
Two members of Baltimore Presbytery's Permanent Judicial Commission designated to review an investigating committee's report say no disciplinary charges should be filed against Donald E. Stroud, a gay Presbyterian minister who is on the staff of That All May Freely Serve.
The commission members' letter to the presbytery, which will meet on Nov. 21, was made public Thursday by Charles P. Forbes, the presbytery's stated clerk.
MINNEAPOLIS — Some in the Covenant Network of Presbyterians are arguing that the time has come to interpret what the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) really means when it limits ordination of elders and ministers to those who practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single. And their conclusion: it does not say what many people think it does.
By Milton J Coalter, John M. Mulder and Lewis B. Weeks
WJKP. 2001. 137 pp. Pb. $16.95. ISBN 0-9724196-0-8
— Review by Lillian McCulloch Taylor
Pastors and church leaders will welcome the re-issue of this 1996 summary of 15 years of research concerning mainline Protestantism in America. Many will recall that the research was originally published in seven volumes under the general heading, The Presbyterian Presence, appearing between 1990 and 1992 from Westminster/John Knox Press. That research was aided by a significant grant from the Lilly Endowment.
What was needed upon conclusion of the seven-volum
If the primary task of the Presbyterian Church today is the task of rebuilding community under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit — as has been suggested in recent weeks — then the primary locus of that building effort must be in the congregation. For the congregation is where the people of God have their spiritual home.
MINNEAPOLIS — It's clearly not a time for legislation: the Covenant Network of Presbyterians has no plans to push now for another amendment to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to remove restrictions on ordaining gays and lesbians who don't promise to be chaste. Instead, the group is working to win over what co-moderator Eugene Bay of Philadelphia called "the great middle of the church" and to broaden its agenda
MINNEAPOLIS -- Fahed Abu-Akel, moderator of the 214th General Assembly (2002) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has released a letter to the General Assembly's commissioners announcing his opposition to calling the Assembly back into session for a special meeting to address what some in the church are calling a "constitutional crisis."
The Mid-Atlantic Synod has decided to set up an administrative review committee to review the actions of Baltimore Presbytery regarding Donald Stroud, a minister who has publicly said that he cannot comply with the section of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that does not permit the ordination of those who are single and sexually active.
By Carnegie Samuel Calian
WJKP. 2001. 137 pp. Pb. $16.95. ISBN 0664222668
— Review by C. Benton Kline, president and professor of theology emeritus, Columbia Seminary
Sam Calian, president of Pittsburgh Seminary and senior among presidents of PC(USA) seminaries, has written this book to mark his more than 20 years in that position. The book does not presume to present the ideal of a seminary, but it indicates some of the trail markers on the way to an excellent seminary. It will be of interest to any and all who are concerned about the role and influence of seminaries in the church and in the community.
The older I get the more content I become with my own preferences. I try very hard to participate with the modern world but I find it difficult and often annoying. For example, a recent Presbyterian book of worship recommended the use of dance in the church service.
A religious and spiritual revival is underway on the campuses of American colleges and universities. It is propelled by students searching for meaning in their lives, by the growing religious pluralism in American society and, perhaps surprisingly, by the post-modern movement itself. No campus is free from its influence, but only a few have recognized its power. To the extent that we Presbyterians understand our higher educational mission as a mission to promote Presbyterianism we may achieve a sectarian goal, but miss being a part of this extraordinary movement.
LOUISVILLE — Mike Loudon's church in Lakeland, Fla., thinks of itself as "very evangelical," he said — but it loses people, folks who think his Presbyterian church isn't conservative enough, to Assemblies of God or Southern Baptist congregations. Sacramento, where Scott Anderson's from, has been named one of the most integrated cities in the country. There, he said, one of the fastest growing congregations is called the "spiritual life center," which promotes no clear dogma or doctrine at all.
It’s true: the advertising folks would hate it. There’s absolutely no jingle in the phrase, "International Leader Development."
But the idea itself has plenty of pull. Think of Christians from many countries, some of them new converts, some religious minorities in a volatile political landscape, hungry for pastors who can teach them about the Bible and God.
Forty years ago, the Presbyterian Church — in both its principal branches, the United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. and the Presbyterian Church, U.S. — was busy marshaling its accumulated spiritual and material resources in addressing major structural issues of justice in American society which had been long neglected.
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