Our denomination's national meeting, General Assembly is taking place this week, through June 28. Most of the work, in committees and plenary sessions, is not interesting. But, the work done regarding sexuality is making the news.
Below is the beginning of a fairly thorough story from the AP. I encourage you to read it, since TV reports will be brief summaries and may convey the wrong impression.
The important thing to understand is that the the G.A. did not, and cannot change the Book of Order's ordination standards. They are, however, making that recommendation to the presbyteries for their approval. This has been done twice before, 1997 and 2001, and the presbyteries have not approved the recommendation.
The process is similar to our national government. Any change to the U.S. constitution must pass the House and Senate and then be ratified by the states (remember the ERA?). 2/3 of the states must approve it in order to amend the constitution. In the case of changes to the Presbyterian Book of Order, a simple majority of the presbyteries must approve the change.
Here's a news story on the headline:
Presbyterian assembly votes to drop gay clergy ban
By ERIC GORSKI – 38 minutes ago
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), bitterly divided over sexuality and the Bible, set up another confrontation Friday over its ban on ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians.
The denomination's General Assembly, meeting in San Jose, Calif., voted 54 percent to 46 percent Friday to drop the requirement that would-be ministers, deacons and elders live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness."
The proposed change to the church constitution requires approval from a majority the nation's 173 presbyteries, or regional church bodies a yearlong process that has proven to be a barrier to similar efforts in the past.
Read the entire article here:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jS1udR4uiYj1j7mjonL9JV4BoVoQD91IMBBG0
Hopefully, our PCUSA website will have a thorough news story up soon. You will find it here: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/
or here: http://www.pcusa.org/ga218/news.htm
As always, your comments are welcome and anticipated.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Your Religion and Moral/Political Issues
How does your religion or denomination affect your views on moral/political issues? It depends less on your affiliation and more on how intensely you adhere to your beliefs. That's one conclusion of a Pew study on religion and politics. A story was published in the June 24 Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.
For example, evangelicals (not a denomination) are twice as likely to oppose abortion and homosexual relationships than people in mainline denominations.
SR PD Article: Politics linked to religion, study shows
By GUY KOVNER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Controversial issues, such as abortion and homosexuality, reflect sharp political differences among religious traditions.
Political views on the "culture wars" issues of abortion and homosexuality are strongly intertwined with Americans' religious affiliation, according to a national survey.
And while some faiths generally are more liberal than others, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey released Monday also found that within most faiths Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and evangelical people with "high levels of religious commitment" are politically more conservative than their fellow worshippers.
People who attend services more frequently, pray more often and express "absolute belief in a personal God" are less accepting of homosexuality and more likely to oppose legalized abortion, the survey said.
Read the article here: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080624/NEWS/640501572
For example, evangelicals (not a denomination) are twice as likely to oppose abortion and homosexual relationships than people in mainline denominations.
SR PD Article: Politics linked to religion, study shows
By GUY KOVNER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Controversial issues, such as abortion and homosexuality, reflect sharp political differences among religious traditions.
Political views on the "culture wars" issues of abortion and homosexuality are strongly intertwined with Americans' religious affiliation, according to a national survey.
And while some faiths generally are more liberal than others, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey released Monday also found that within most faiths Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and evangelical people with "high levels of religious commitment" are politically more conservative than their fellow worshippers.
People who attend services more frequently, pray more often and express "absolute belief in a personal God" are less accepting of homosexuality and more likely to oppose legalized abortion, the survey said.
Read the article here: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080624/NEWS/640501572
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Looking for something to do this summer? Cheap and close to home
Highlights from the Israel Antiquities Authority: The Dead Sea Scrolls and 5,000 Years of Treasures – at the deYoung Museum, SF. Exhibition ends August 10, 2008
The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history. They were uncovered by Bedouin herders and excavated by archaeologists in caves along the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. Fragments of the scrolls were pieced together to form more than 800 documents, many of them Biblical and Apocryphal manuscripts. All
Highlights from the Israel Antiquities Authority: The Dead Sea Scrolls and 5,000 Years of Treasures, at the Legion of Honor from February 9 to August 10, 2008, will include rotating examples of the rare and precious Dead Sea Scroll fragments in addition to artifacts spanning over 5000 years, from the Chalcolithic Age (4,000 BC) to the Fatimid Period (11th century AD).
The treasures on view are on loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), and most have never been seen outside of Israel. "Highlights from the Israel Antiquities Authority and our partnership with the IAA call attention to Israel's rich archaeological heritage and the importance of these splendid objects, many of which are national treasures, emanating from the Holy Land," says curator of ancient art and interpretation Renée Dreyfus.
For more info, go to http://www.famsf.org/fam/press/press.asp?presskey=296
The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history. They were uncovered by Bedouin herders and excavated by archaeologists in caves along the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. Fragments of the scrolls were pieced together to form more than 800 documents, many of them Biblical and Apocryphal manuscripts. All
Highlights from the Israel Antiquities Authority: The Dead Sea Scrolls and 5,000 Years of Treasures, at the Legion of Honor from February 9 to August 10, 2008, will include rotating examples of the rare and precious Dead Sea Scroll fragments in addition to artifacts spanning over 5000 years, from the Chalcolithic Age (4,000 BC) to the Fatimid Period (11th century AD).
The treasures on view are on loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), and most have never been seen outside of Israel. "Highlights from the Israel Antiquities Authority and our partnership with the IAA call attention to Israel's rich archaeological heritage and the importance of these splendid objects, many of which are national treasures, emanating from the Holy Land," says curator of ancient art and interpretation Renée Dreyfus.
For more info, go to http://www.famsf.org/fam/press/press.asp?presskey=296
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Are you humble?
"If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…" - Philippians 2:1-5 (NRSV)
A Test of Humility
A top-ranking British official once entertained a haughty and sophisticated lady in his home. By mistake his assistant asked her to sit on the left of her host rather than the place of honor at his right hand. The visitor was offended and became very indignant. Turning to the general, she said, "I suppose you have real difficulty in getting your aide-de-camp to seat your guests properly at the table." "Oh, not at all," came the reply; "I have found that those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter!"
Exercises in Humility:
· Invite a friend over for a meal. Don't clean or re-arrange things.
· Next time you're asked to do something that is beneath you, do it.
· When in a meeting, take notes on what other people are saying, especially one who takes a different position on an issue than you take.
· Tomorrow morning, spend more time helping a family member get ready for their day than you spend getting yourself ready.
· Next time you're late for an appointment, just apologize. Don't make an excuse. Don't blame.
· If you're asked to do something that will add to your sense of importance, but will make you too busy, say, No, thanks.
· Don't complain or argue (Phil. 2:14)
A Test of Humility
A top-ranking British official once entertained a haughty and sophisticated lady in his home. By mistake his assistant asked her to sit on the left of her host rather than the place of honor at his right hand. The visitor was offended and became very indignant. Turning to the general, she said, "I suppose you have real difficulty in getting your aide-de-camp to seat your guests properly at the table." "Oh, not at all," came the reply; "I have found that those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter!"
Exercises in Humility:
· Invite a friend over for a meal. Don't clean or re-arrange things.
· Next time you're asked to do something that is beneath you, do it.
· When in a meeting, take notes on what other people are saying, especially one who takes a different position on an issue than you take.
· Tomorrow morning, spend more time helping a family member get ready for their day than you spend getting yourself ready.
· Next time you're late for an appointment, just apologize. Don't make an excuse. Don't blame.
· If you're asked to do something that will add to your sense of importance, but will make you too busy, say, No, thanks.
· Don't complain or argue (Phil. 2:14)
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