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Opinion
As I see it, the 219th General Assembly failed its math test by subtracting instead of adding. I refer to its action regarding G-6.0106b, where it subtracted instead of adding. The given reason was that all of life instead of just human sexuality should be under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And then it substituted a general statement that will be open to myriad interpretations. Fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness are clear witnesses to a Christian view of behavior in human sexuality. Can anyone rightly deny that America is in the throes of a monsoon of sexual immorality? The litany is unending: 50% divorce rate, widespread shacking up of couples before marriage, 40% of children born to unmarried mothers, … widespread addiction to pornography, pedophilia in abundance, serial polygamy among the rich and famous, etc.
Our witness to faithfulness in marriage and chastity in singleness has just been removed. Instead of subtracting G-6.0106b, the G. A. could have added words that brought other aspects of human life under the Lordship of Christ. It could have added instead of subtracting. If this change passes, I can see the headlines now: Presbyterians eliminate faithfulness in marriage and chastity in singleness from requirements for ordination! Lets keep G-6.010b and let the next G. A. add instead of subtracting.
Ernest H. Flaniken
Cocoa, Fla.
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In view of the spurious accusations being circulated through the media, I wish to publicly affirm President (Barack) Obama as a baptized child of God and my brother in Christ. Given this truth, regardless of President Obama's policies and statements as the President of the United States, may our living faith be an ever-present challenge and consolation for him today, tomorrow, and throughout his life. Shalom.
Karen Blatt
Beaverton, Mich.
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Editorials
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Written by Jack Haberer, Outlook editor
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Monday, 23 August 2010 14:47 |
They need no exodus who dwell in the Promised Land.
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Bill Tammeus’ article in the July 26th issue strikes me as the most “Christian” and makes the most sense of anything I’ve read or heard from within the Presbyterian Church in recent memory. Thanks to Mr. Tammeus for writing it and to the Outlook for publishing it.
Bob Ball
Austin, Texas
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Letters to the Editor
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Written by The Presbyterian Outlook
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Monday, 23 August 2010 14:45 |
I was a commissioner to GA 219, and I do wonder how much study is going to happen in the next two years without some sort of urgency. One has to only look at both nFOG and Belhar, two issues that have been available for “study” for four years (in some form or another), and I got the sense that both people in the church and people at GA were not really as up to speed with either issue as they should have been. I can assure you, with presbytery votes on both matters due by June 2011, there is going to be study, and, unfortunately, much of that study is going to be in the form of “cramming.”
More from a pedagogical point of view than a theological point of view, I wonder if sending a vote down to the presbyteries as well as the study papers would have been wise. This would have more closely linked study with evaluation. Now, with study but no real “test” on the matter until (potentially) 2012, and then another year for presbyteries to vote if constitutional changes get through GA220, how closely will study and evaluation be connected? It's like giving a study guide to high school seniors, but telling them that the sophomores (or even freshmen!) are going to be the ones taking the test, and they may or may not know about the study guide.
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It was 1968 when a Palestinian poet, a Sephardi Jewish psychiatrist from Morocco, a smattering of Israelis of European descent and a few Christians discussed an unheard of proposition. There should be two states: an autonomous Palestine and a safe, secure Israel. The conversation took place in the New York City apartment of my friend, a German Jew, whose uncle, an SS officer, managed to get her and her elder sister of two years on a train out of Frankfurt am Main.
We have always been talking and praying and acting for peace: Jews, Palestinians, Israelis, and Christians of every stripe. Always. This is not new.
So when my denomination passed the re-worked report on the Middle East — I just said, “Thank you,” to God, hugged a few folks, and got a cup of coffee. Shall the living room conversation of thirty and more years now be public discourse? Has the narrative of polarization — where the double speak of fair play actually meant win/lose — … been replaced by a narrative of cooperation and mutual respect? We worked hard, very hard on this and some worked a hell of a lot harder than those of us who merely worked hard. …
So now the work really begins. Education, it seemed to some and to me, is very high on the list. A lot of wonderful people simply don’t know a thing about the region — its history, peoples, aspirations, political ambitions. And we have to learn, almost from scratch, just what went on in that region, what's going on now and make good guesses (for that's all we have at the end of the day) about the future. So let’s begin the work of peace with prayer, savvy, and a goodly dollop of hope. And always to God be the glory. ...
Anne Schaeffer
Cincinnatus, N.Y.
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Recently I heard of seven tentmakers staffing an urban church, and of seven laypeople who intentionally chose an urban church for neighborhood renewal. The latter have seminary degrees but not ordination so they really do not need a preacher/teacher. It seems to me also with the death of George Webber of N.Y. Seminary that the ecumenical/theological training he offered to laypeople with day jobs at competitive rates on nights and weekends trained clergy and laity — especially ethnic minorities and women for leadership in their home congregation and area.
Joyce L. Manson, H.R.
Seattle, Wash.
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Editorials
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Written by Jack Haberer, Outlook editor
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Monday, 09 August 2010 16:14 |
The city of Minneapolis could not have been more welcoming to the two or three thousand Presbyterians who gathered for the 219th General Assembly. But her quiet twin brother, St. Paul, also threw open his arms of welcome.
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Thank you so much for this very good interview with a peaceful Palestinian leader. This point of view is not often seen in our media reports, so it is a welcome report.
Elizabeth Rahal
Vienna, Va.
Great interview. We'll be looking forward to an interview with a Jewish Israeli as well!
Noel Anderson
Bakersfield, Calif.
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I VERY much like the notion of requiring a 2/3 majority to change the Book of Order! That is outstanding! It would be a lot clearer to everyone as to where we all stand instead of having to deal with trying to change things every two years. (Personally, I think we should have G.A. only every 3 years. Let's have other years devoted to Worship, then Spiritual Growth, then Evangelism, etc., and offer regional "workshops" and a national "conference" every year on that year's "topic." We need to concentrate mostly on local congregations and enabling them to do ministry rather than on constantly fighting the "mega-issue wars." THAT's the biggest reason we lose members constantly: We think being concerned about "justice" substitutes for actually doing ministry. Christ isn't honored by all the arguing/ debating/denigrating, and I can't imagine people come to faith in God because of it.)
Larry W. Cracraft
Wichita, Kan.
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When I linked to Dr. Wheeler’s presentation from the article, I was struck by her statement: “We seem to be edging toward the creation of two classes of ministers of word and sacrament—one with theological degrees, minimum salary and pension, the other informally educated and paid only token amounts without benefits.” As a tentmaker minister, I wondered where I and my fellow tentmakers fit in. I have the theological degree, yet am paid by the church I serve only a token amount, and do not receive benefits. Actually, I take that back; I would not consider what the church pays me “token,” nor would they, but it is far from a full-time package. Most of my family’s income comes from my wife’s work and my work as a photolithography technician.
When Dr. Wheeler envisions just two classes, I wonder why we are not included. Maybe we need a third tier for tentmakers! I have been a tentmaker for going on 30 years, and the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers has been around since 1986. Considering that tentmakers solve Dr. Wheeler’s dilemma in one fell swoop (We have the theological degree yet can be paid token amounts without benefits) I sometimes wonder why our tribe has not increased with the same vigor seen in the lay pastor movement.
… The typical seminary product graduates with a valuable degree looking for a call to serve, but also expecting to be fully supported by the church in his or her ministry. That worked fifty years ago, but no longer. Yet there are still churches that need pastoral leadership. Lay pastors have rushed in to fill that vacuum, and when a vacuum is filled, there is a lot of turbulence as the gas expands to fill the nooks and crannies. We can tweak and improve the training of lay pastors, but we really need to face up to the larger question of how we financially support the ministry in all its forms. This is a severe challenge for our denomination in its wounded state.
David Vellenga
Henderson, N.C.
Barbara G. Wheeler responds:
The writer makes a good point. Bi-vocational ministers have always been part of the ministry ecology, and in some settings the use of them is a creative response to local conditions. The location of many churches that cannot afford a full-time minister, however, limits the possibilities for the use of "tentmakers." Often such churches are found in communities that have few employment opportunities. Where I go to church, for instance, in the less populous part of a semi-rural county, there are a number of congregations without full-time pastors. The obstacle to attracting bi-vocational ministers is that most of the jobs in the community don't mesh easily with ministers' training and earning needs. The principal employment opportunities are for corrections officers in a large state prison, miners in the slate industry, retail clerks and health aides. The school system is the only employer that offers professional and skilled technical positions that might be combined with ministry--and it is as strapped for funds as the churches are. The writer of this letter would have to travel some distance--perhaps as much as 50 miles--to find a job that uses his special skills, and that would limit his availability for ministry in the community.
Barbara G. Wheeler
New York, N.Y.
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As one whose career — 25 + years — has mainly been in youth ministry, I am absolutely in support of CM! Youth Ministers work so hard to cultivate a faith in young people and then send them off to college and never see them again. The link between YM and CM is GREAT!!!! and very important.
You Go Campus Ministries!!!!!
Robert Hay
Birmingham, Ala.
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Thanks, Jack, for sharing your experience on the West Bank. More Presbyterians need to make trips to the places you went in order to better understand the situation. It does not happen on those Jewish tour guide trips. I know because that was also my first experience. I learned much about holy sites and nothing about the Palestinian plight, much about old dead stones and nothing about living, breathing children of God. That didn't come until my second trip to Israel and Palestine with the PC(USA).
To answer your question: … will we endorse the Palestinian (right of return), while knowing that we're enjoying the spoils of past conquests? The answer has to do with the fact that removal of the Palestinians from their ancestral homes happened within this generation and there were Palestinians removed who are still alive and waiting. There are still Palestinians living in the refugee camps who wear around their necks the keys to the front door of the houses from which they were taken. But you are right, if we all wait long enough, just another generation or so, then the living witnesses to the Nakba will no longer be around and everyone will conveniently forget. And then, as we do in regard to the plight of Native Americans, we will simply shrug our shoulders and say: "It was so long ago, what can you do?" Because two wrongs always make a right.
Jeffrey DeYoe Sr., pastor
Worthington Church
Worthington, Ohio
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Are we to feel uncertain about enforcing the current laws against slavery because some of us had forebears who practiced it and, perhaps, benefited from it and passed those benefits down to us?
Are we to feel uncertain about enforcing the 4th Geneva Convention against an occupying force's settlement of its own citizens in occupied territories?
Civilization, we hope, advances in its understanding as events take place, and the revision of old and introducing of new laws reflect that. Israel accepted the 4th Geneva Convention, which incorporated such enlightened understanding, in its becoming a member of the United Nations but has continued to violate its pledge.
To raise the issue of Native Americans and their claims on land in the US in the context of discussing Israel's violation of international law is nothing but lending support to Israel's oppression of the Palestinians today.
C.E. Prince
Austin, Texas
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Editorials
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Written by Jack Haberer, Outlook editor
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Monday, 26 July 2010 16:34 |
But, would I want to live there? Thousands of Jewish settlers from the United States and Europe do. So do the Palestinians who have been there for four millennia or more.
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Bill Tammeus' article in the July 26th issue strikes me as the most "Christian" and makes the most sense of anything I've read or heard from within the Presbyterian Church in recent memory. Thanks to Mr. Tammeus for writing it and to "The Outlook" for publishing it.
Bob Ball Austin, Texas |
Change is often a slow process and that is never truer than in Higher Education. I am sure that as the years go by other PC(USA) seminaries will follow the very courageous lead of UDTS in offering different methods for answering God’s call to obtain an M.Div. I have been very fortunate to be a part of the 1st Cohort in UDTS’ distance M.Div. Program and it has indeed been an answer to prayer. It has allowed me to fully respond to God’s call, by staying in my position in the church in my hometown while obtaining my degree. A great and unexpected outcome has been the ability to stay “in touch” with Presbyterians who are in service each and every day and to see the work of the Church with a new set of eyes as my studies have continued. I commend UDTS for heeding God’s leading and not what is, but what might be.
UDTS’ Distance M.Div. is a great option for those hearing God’s call in their lives.
Keith Leach
Tallahassee, Fla.
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Not only are students able to complete courses a la carte from a menu of online classes at UDTS, including courses to prepare CLPs, but students like Peggie can also earn a fully accredited M.Div. online.
As Keith mentioned in his comment, there are already (three) cohorts of students gathering on the UD campus twice a year for intensive courses and community building then returning to homes across the U.S. (and beyond) to complete courses online during the traditional academic year. I will complete my M.Div., prep for ords. and experience supervised practice ministry without moving my family AND without taking any classes at a non-PC(USA)-affiliated seminary.
Crazy as it sounds, God continues to call “non-traditional” and second-career women and men to prepare for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. Offering non-traditional delivery of education is a wonderful step toward preparing them (us!) for that call. To be honest, it was a direct answer to prayer for many of us. But that is just part of the story. Seminaries and the denomination must also find ways to help these students — who are no less called nor less committed to preparation than those in the traditional, in residence (three-year) paradigm — find comparable financial aid to avoid the debt trap that is becoming all too common across the board.
Laura Viau
Orlando, Fla.
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As another member of the “pioneer cohort” in the full M.Div. program that UDTS offers online, I have to join with Keith and Laura in adding my praise for both the concept of offering a complete M.Div. program online with on-campus intensives and for the specific innovative effort with which UDTS has launched this program.
As a full-time CLP in a small and isolated rural church that would be without a pastor if I uprooted and moved away to go to seminary (not an option in my personal life, either), I was eager to find an online M.Div. program. My presbytery was also urging me to go to seminary, if I could do so online. I checked out some options, but all were at non-PC(USA) seminaries —and eager as my presbytery was, they were leery of that option since I am a somewhat recent transfer to the PC(USA) from another denomination.
I ran across UDTS’ “a la carte” M.Div. classes in the winter of 2006 and called the admissions office to find out if they were ever planning to offer a full program. One of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard was, “We’re in the accreditation process — call us back in a month!” I did, I applied, and I became a part of the first online cohort ever to tackle an M.Div. program at a PC(USA) seminary.
The PC(USA) has a motto “Reformed and always reforming.” Taking education into the 21st century by offering programs such as this is truly faithful to that concept. Roughly a quarter of us in the first three cohorts are CLPs serving churches already, and many more students are actively serving in other ways, so we are not only able to put our education directly into practice in the churches we serve, but our churches also enhance the educational process by adding a dimension of immediate relevance to what we are taught.
I applaud Derek Maul for urging other seminaries to join UDTS’ lead —and I suspect that online learning may one day come to be the ideal way to go to seminary!
Heidi Smith
Salmon, Ida.
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(pub. May 17, 2010)
I too have gone the way of The Mustard Seed Coffeehouse/church at one time in the mid 70’s. I was one of the latter kids to find this wonderful outreach that saved so many not just spiritually, but I’m sure physically and mentally as well (i.e., drugs, alcohol, etc.) I can never thank the people involved enough, businessmen, teens, youth counselors, worship leaders, etc. who helped us all during those turbulent times when they told us all to quote Timothy (Leary): “Turn on, and tune out.” God bless all those who led the coffee houses back in the 60s and 70s, “great will be your reward in heaven.” As for you, Jack, may God continue to show you more of Himself as you keep going forward in “His glorious light”!!
Nichola Campagna
Monroe, N.Y.
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Louis Evans was my friend. I just too young to realize what that meant. I was a kid from the inner city of Washington, D.C. I guess you can say that I was saved from what was an uncertain future by a then 39-year-old missionary. A man named E. Richard Brown. A man who is today known … by me as Dad.
He introduced me to Louis and his lovely wife Colleen. I remember being entranced by her beauty. Her eyes sparkled. When I found out she used to be a Hollywood actress, I felt even more humbled in her presence. She didn't like talking about herself, even though I would persist.
My dad and I were planning to go to a Christian retreat somewhere deep in Virginia, but unknown to me, we weren't driving. Turned out we flying — we were flying in Louis Evans' plane. I had never flown before, or ever seen a plane of any kind up close before. I remember asking Louis, "Are we going above the clouds?" He just kept asking me to hold on. Imagine my amazement as we flew through this thick mist, and (broke) through the other side. I could barely sit still, squirming with excitement. About four years later, Louis and I would fly together again, only this time, it was just the two of us. It would be one of the last times I saw him.
Nearly thirty years have passed, and I'm only just learning of his death. My heart grieves for him, and (those) left behind. His friendship was one (of the) very few true ones I ever had, and he will always keep a very special in my heart. I will see you again someday, Louis. Somewhere above the clouds.
Roy Easterling
Philadelphia, Pa. |
Thank you so much for this very good interview with a peaceful Palestinian leader. This point of view is not often seen in our media reports, so it is a welcome report.
Elizabeth Rahal
Vienna, Va.
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The government of Israel has mounted a serious public relations effort (called "HASBARA") to whitewash whatever criticism comes its way. This spin on events occurred with the Goldstone Report, went into high gear with the attack on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, and now is attacking our Presbyterian study documents with the help of sympathizers.
Any criticism is immediately twisted and retold so that the victim gets the blame and the government of Israel is viewed in a shining light, or at least with the concept of "defending herself." It is important for Presbyterians to realize that our criticism is with government policies and military actions, and not with Jews or Judaism. The whole report needs to be read, studied and discussed openly, not buried, so that people can begin to understand the serious consequences of this situation.
Richard K. Gibson HR
Lynnwood, Wash.
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Re: Bolbach elected (posted 07-04-10)
I hope Ms Bolbach is correct in her prediction. The denomination has been stumbling for many years and needs the benefit of a combination of creativity and activity. I have read of the growing number of congregations with fewer than 100 members, sometimes much smaller than 50. Why are we stumbling over ideas to help them and to encourage them to grow or merge?
Timothy W. Backus CLP
(And I have an education past the BA level with extensive management experience, coupled with service as a pastor for two congregations.)
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Editorials
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Written by Jack Haberer, Outlook editor
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Friday, 02 July 2010 17:56 |
So it’s time to cast votes for or against the proposed new Form of Government (see p. 16). Yea or nay?
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