Comments for General Assembly approves Theological Task Force PUP report at http://pres-outlook.net , comment 1 to 6 out of 6 comments http://pres-outlook.net Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:48:22 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://pres-outlook.net/news-and-analysis/1-news-a-analysis/2044.html#comment-2395 I watched the livecast on Tuesday during the business meeting. I was stunned to hear Rev. Syngman Rhee saying that the Korean churches were not leaving the denomination even if the recommendation was to be approved. Let me assure all of you. He was NOT representing the Korean Presbyteran churches within PCUSA. Most of the Korean churches in PCUSA (more than 98%) oppose ordination of homosexuals though we love them and accept them as members. The National Korean Presbyterian Council (NKPC), a body consisted of Korean churches within PCUSA, has officially published in its newsletter to its members a couple months ago that it recommends to disapprove PUP Report's Recommendation #5. Rev. Syngman Rhee is not representing the Korean brothers and sisters. What he said during the GA session was totally his own personal opinion. Now it's a time for Korean churches to consider which step we need to take once the decision was made in the GA. - Joon Lee Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0100 http://pres-outlook.net/news-and-analysis/1-news-a-analysis/2044.html#comment-2394 I find the argument that our ordination standards have remained intact to be intentionally deceptive. While technically true, this argument ignores the very real path that has been opened to go around those standards. It is as though a homeowner is arguing that 'my fence is intact,' while a bridge has just been created for the purpose of walking over it. I am deeply saddened by this decision. - Jonathan Fettig Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0100 http://pres-outlook.net/news-and-analysis/1-news-a-analysis/2044.html#comment-2392 Now what? That is the question. Beaver-Butler had an overture that tried to answer that question precisely. It was the flexible membership overture. It would have allowed churches in the minority that agreed or disagreed with the application of recommendation 5 to move to another presbytery. The committee on polity is not recommending this. Unless the GA decides to do differently, the only option now for churches in disagreement is to leave the PCUSA. Perhaps there will still be time to give churches or presbyteries an option. gandlwiest@yahoo.com - Greg Wiest Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0100 http://pres-outlook.net/news-and-analysis/1-news-a-analysis/2044.html#comment-2393 I find the argument that our ordination standards have remained intact to be intentionally deceptive. While technically true, this argument ignores the very real path that has been opened to go around those standards. It is as though a homeowner is arguing that 'my fence is intact,' while a bridge has just been created for the purpose of walking over it. I am deeply saddened by this decision. - Jonathan Fettig Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0100 http://pres-outlook.net/news-and-analysis/1-news-a-analysis/2044.html#comment-2391 Once again we have dealt with an issue. I am satisfied that the assembly and the task force have done the best they could given the divisions to search for the peace, unity, and purity of the church for today. 2 years from now everything may change since the issue will continue for many years. Unfortunately no one in the denomination seems to really care about the most important issue...we are dieing and that is not because of the issue that we like to fight about. With Kirkpatrick's prediction that we will be down 85,000 members by next year, we just slowly die away as we scream louder about issues that even if resolved will not resurrect the church. Unless a real resurrection begins within the hearts and minds of this family of God in the local congregations, our overall denomination will cease to matter. We may become like unprogrammed Quakers, very small and very effective on matters of peace and justice. Or we may become like the Shakers, a footnote in Christian history. Hopefully our church can begin to focus on the great ends of the church and develop metrics that will help us set individual congregational goals that we can all strive for. Without those goals and a renewal of executive leadership within congregation, we may legislate ourselves into oblivion. Goals such as how many members in our local congregations are worshipping weekly? Is that increasing or not? Why? Or how many members are serving weekly in their communities in works of compassion, justice, and peace? Or is the educational programming for lifelong growth in faith reaching more people this year? At the same time, executive leadership is a lost forgotten tradition in the church today, only legislative leadership carries the day. And traditionally, legislative leaders don't make good executives. Barth used to say that he held the bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other as he prepared for preaching. Today we need the bible, the internet, and Jim Collin's Good To Great For The Social Sectors. Do we have three hands? Is this a trinitarian moment? - Martin Shelton-Jenck Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0100 http://pres-outlook.net/news-and-analysis/1-news-a-analysis/2044.html#comment-2389 It is with great sorrow and sadness that I read that the GA has passed such a drastic change of our constitution with such a weak majority. Anything this monumental should have at least 75% approval. I pray that the Holy Spirit, who has led us against these propositions for 20 years, will help us derive some good out of this grievous decision. I would rather be devided in Truth as united in error...so it looks like the PCUSA cares NOT for a large percentage of Presyterians. God have mercy upon us all. Jane C. Williams 200 Ellison Road # 1 LaFollette, TN 37766-3042 - Jane Williams Tue, 20 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0100