The Board of the Witherspoon Society, meeting from September 13 through 16 at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, today adopted a statement expressing dismay at the actions and statements by some Presbyterians, congregations and presbyteries that seem to violated the spirit of "harmony and covenanted partnership" that were fostered by the Theological Task Force and experienced by many at the 217^th General Assembly in Birmingham. 

The statement concludes:  "We pledge to join with all Presbyterians in carrying out the letter and the spirit of both the AI and our broader Presbyterian tradition: to defend our Constitution against anarchy and misinterpretation, to seek more thorough discernment, and to assist candidates and committees as we all try to live our way into the new opportunities brought to us by the Theological Task Force, the actions of the 217^th General Assembly, and the Reformed heritage upon which the Presbyterian Church (USA) stands."

Witherspoon's report on the 217^th General Assembly    [6-30-06]

Doug King and Gene TeSelle offer a summary report and commentary on the recent General Assembly.  It begins:

The 217th General Assembly was a "down the middle" Assembly. It elected a Moderator who seemed moderate and open-minded. It approved the report of the Theological Task Force (TTF) on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church (for short, "PUP Report"), which most regard as offering more leeway for the ordination of gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) church members. But it resolutely refused to consider amending the Book of Order to delete the prohibition in G-6.0106b.

This may be a typical "approach/avoidance" pattern. The closer you come to doing something new, the more you hesitate. Then it seems more comfortable to make one change at a time, putting other issues on hold for the time being.

The full report >>

Eugenia Gamble speaks of "embodying love"
[6-20-06]

The Witherspoon Society’s Award Luncheon, held on Sunday, June 18, drew about 170 people – some drifting in a bit late as they returned from worship services at churches around the Birmingham area.

The keynote speaker for the luncheon, the Rev. Eugenia Gamble, told the story of a congregation she called "extraordinary" – First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham. This congregation, she said, has been showing deep compassion to its community by providing hospitality and a safe place to the people in its downtown neighborhood, just a few blocks from the Convention Center where the General Assembly is meeting this week.   The rest of her talk >>

She offered a closing blessing which many people wanted to have in writing -- so here it is >>

The Mission of the Witherspoon Society

At our Witherspoon executive committee meeting on Sept. 17-20, 2003, we adopted a somewhat revised statement of our mission.  As you'll see at the end, it's a work in progress, and we would value your comments.  Just send a note!   [first posted 10-6-03]
 

Mission

We are a network of concerned Presbyterians responding to God's call to do justice, and to work with hope for healing and wholeness in a world increasingly broken.

Our mission is:

Through our witness, we seek to revitalize the church's proclamation and action, informed by the full witness of the Bible and the confessions, animated by our hope for the reign of God.

[Source: Doug King.   4-7-06]
 

The Witherspoon Society

A Time for Conflict Avoidance ... or for Courageous Action?

A response to the Theological Task Force report
by the Board of the Witherspoon Society
September 12, 2005

[9-13-05]

The report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church provides us with helpful insights and suggestions. We appreciate their patient efforts at mutual understanding and affirmation in a time of conflict in our church. We appreciate as well their efforts to demonstrate that the Gospel can make a difference in how we deal with one another when we disagree.

The Task Force’s use of the ancient Christian discipline of discernment reminds us of the importance of humility, listening to one another, and getting beyond stereotypes to a genuine appreciation of one another. They acknowledge that many people have suffered alienation and pain during our battles over inclusion and ordination. They point out that legislative and judicial actions alone will not bring peace to a community divided by conflicting but deeply held convictions. For this and more, we are grateful.

We are concerned, however, because the emphasis on discernment seems to rest on an assumption that the process of discernment can be separated from action. True discernment cannot proceed in a vacuum of inaction.

We agree with the Task Force that discernment must take place in an atmosphere of safety and mutual respect. Safety and respect are impossible, however, when one group is allowed to take part only as second-class members of the community, entering the discussion as "the problem," whose very presence is subject to question. This is an example of how the call for discernment is weakened by lack of attention to the realities of power – one of the basic issues included in the Task Force’s mandate.

Recommendation 5 proposes an Authoritative Interpretation stating that, among the scriptural and constitutional standards by which candidates are judged, some may be determined to be "essential" and others not essential. This reminds us that G-6.0108 has already established the legitimacy of "departures" ("scruples" in the language of the Adopting Act of 1729) from some provisions of the Constitution, as long as the person has not "departed from essentials of Reformed faith and polity" (G 6.0108b).

The proposed AI would reiterate the Constitution’s position that ordaining bodies – sessions and presbyteries – are responsible for determining what may or may not be considered "essential" matters in discerning each candidate’s suitability for ordination. This is consistent with numerous past General Assembly actions, including the adoption of the report of the Swearingen Commission in 1927, and the reaffirmation by the 2004 General Assembly that defining "essential tenets" is not appropriate.

The AI, however, would also place increased emphasis on the examination of candidates for ordination. This may well put pressure on nominating committees, sessions, Committees on Preparation for Ministry and presbyteries, to subject candidates to inappropriate and uneven scrutiny on matters of both faith and "manner of life." This problem could be reduced if the AI is supplemented to reiterate that any definitive listing of "essentials" by a governing body is not in the spirit of G-6.0108, and therefore has no status in a judicial review of an action taken by a governing body.

In Recommendation 6, the Task Force "strongly encourages" the 217th General Assembly to take no further actions dealing with matters of ordination, other than adopting its proposed authoritative interpretation. We are deeply concerned that if the Assembly were to follow this recommendation, it would perpetuate the second-class status of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the church. The recommendation to postpone any further action should be rejected, because it once again extends years of delay in exercising fairness and respect toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Task Force’s work would best be completed by the deletion of those AIs whose intent and effects are discriminatory, and by sending to the presbyteries an amendment deleting G-6.0106b.

The Task Force writes that our struggle on the ordination question is "integral to our vocation to proclaim the truth of the gospel." We agree. The Task Force, however, apparently believes that this integral part of our vocation can be deferred. We see no mandate in the Gospel for delay in doing right. Divisions and tensions are not resolved unless we are willing to wrestle with them with what the Task Force aptly calls "respectful attention and loving care." And with courage.

Approved by the Board of the Witherspoon Society
Meeting at Stony Point Center
September 12, 2005

This statement is also available in an easy-to-print PDF file

We would appreciate your comments!
Just send a note,
to be shared here.

Doug Ottati, who is a regular contributor of a column of "theological musings" in the Witherspoon Society’s Network News, has just published a new book entitled Theology for Liberal Presbyterians and Other Endangered Species.

He will be signing copies of his book at General Assembly on Thursday, June 15 11:00-1:00 and 5:00-6:00 at the Cokesbury Bookstore in the Exhibit Hall.    More >>