It seems that I have been caught be surprise yet again. Should the congregation not have been notified that this issue was to be presented to the General Assembly? Whichever opinion one has with regard to this matter, it is of importance to many if not most members.
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MINNEAPOLIS
With a 50-vote margin (373-323-4), the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved an overture from the Presbytery of the Western Reserve that would amend the so-called “fidelity and chastity clause” of the Book of Order (G-6.0106b).
The amendment will now go back to presbyteries, where a majority of the 173 presbyteries must approve it for the change to make it into the Book of Order.
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This is the "overture 06-09" which is being proposed and has been approved by the General Assembly, PCUSA:
Shall G-6.0106b be amended by striking the current text and inserting new text in its place: [Text to be deleted is shown between triple brackets, "[[[ ... ]]]"; text to be added or inserted is shown following.]
[[[“b. Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.]]]
Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”
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Does UPC have a representative at the 219th General Assembly? How did he/she vote? What input did our putative representative receive in order to decide how to vote? Did our Session publicize this and/or ask for input from the membership?
Friday, July 9, 2010
Prayer request
Please pray for our Armed Forces standing in harm's way around the world, and for their families -- especially families of those fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, who granted their lives in defense of American liberty.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Time
I attended Della Matthews' memorial service today. It was a beautiful and moving tribute and I was privileged, as Lamont's friend, to be there.
As the service unfolded, I began thinking about our human concept of time. We have a space in which we live, bounded by what we call "birth" and "death." To us, what are those temporal spaces before our birth and after our death?
It seems to me that our spiritual selves must exist outside time except for this brief flicker that we call "life." When we die, we believe we return to that "place" (there's another very human term) from which we came. Likewise, it seems likely to me that when we are born, we step into "time," and when we die, we step back out of it.
When asked His name, God told Noah, "I am." Simple as that. Does being require a time frame, or can a spirit just "be" without being temporal? The times when I am most at peace are those times when I can "let it be" (whatever "it" is).
Maybe, like Bill Clinton, I'm headed for trying to define what "is" is. But as Presbyterians, I think we believe that God and Jesus existed since the "beginning of time." If time is just our own invention, that wouldn't be too hard now, would it?
As the service unfolded, I began thinking about our human concept of time. We have a space in which we live, bounded by what we call "birth" and "death." To us, what are those temporal spaces before our birth and after our death?
It seems to me that our spiritual selves must exist outside time except for this brief flicker that we call "life." When we die, we believe we return to that "place" (there's another very human term) from which we came. Likewise, it seems likely to me that when we are born, we step into "time," and when we die, we step back out of it.
When asked His name, God told Noah, "I am." Simple as that. Does being require a time frame, or can a spirit just "be" without being temporal? The times when I am most at peace are those times when I can "let it be" (whatever "it" is).
Maybe, like Bill Clinton, I'm headed for trying to define what "is" is. But as Presbyterians, I think we believe that God and Jesus existed since the "beginning of time." If time is just our own invention, that wouldn't be too hard now, would it?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Generations
Just finished a weekend in Idaho with son and grandchildren and daughter-in-law. I can say it had some very pleasant times. Like most grandparents I dote on my grandchildren. It can be hard to bridge the generation gap immediately adjacent to my own, however.
I've heard it said that grandparents and grandchildren get along so well because they have a common enemy. Taken as a joke there's good humor in that. But there's also irony because of the larger dose of truth.
Today I must remember that in marriage a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife. I also recall instruction to honor one's father and mother.
today I pray for wisdom and humility.
I've heard it said that grandparents and grandchildren get along so well because they have a common enemy. Taken as a joke there's good humor in that. But there's also irony because of the larger dose of truth.
Today I must remember that in marriage a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife. I also recall instruction to honor one's father and mother.
today I pray for wisdom and humility.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Lesser-known verses
A few weeks ago, on Memorial Day Sunday, we sang the first three verses of "America the Beautiful." Looking further into it, I was surprised to discover that Katherine Lee Bates composed eight verses to this song. Verse seven particularly came back to me on this Independence Day Sunday:
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
How sad that we must still deal with the selfish gain that stains our government. On the other hand, of course, Winston Churchill pointed out that democracy is a terrible form of government except for all the others. Or something to that affect.
But this verse also calls on us to remember those men and women who gave their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor so that we could have the nation in which we now live.
A Facebook friend also pointed out that only two people have ever offered their lives for me: the soldier/sailor/pilot/marine who gave his/her life; and Jesus Christ. I am thankful today for both.
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
How sad that we must still deal with the selfish gain that stains our government. On the other hand, of course, Winston Churchill pointed out that democracy is a terrible form of government except for all the others. Or something to that affect.
But this verse also calls on us to remember those men and women who gave their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor so that we could have the nation in which we now live.
A Facebook friend also pointed out that only two people have ever offered their lives for me: the soldier/sailor/pilot/marine who gave his/her life; and Jesus Christ. I am thankful today for both.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Staying focused
It's eleven o'clock at night and everyone's in bed here in Hailey, Idaho. Since it's Saturday, I was thinking today about church tomorrow. There are Baptist and Episcopal churches within a block of my son's house, so I figured I'd catch a service at one of them.
Then my daughter-in-law came around and told us that they thought it would be nice to have the family all have breakfast out tomorrow at about nine o'clock so that we could be ready for the 4th of July parade down Main Street. Of course, there is the City Fair and the Old-Time Western Days program tomorrow, and it also happens to be my granddaughter Sophie's first birthday.
"WWJD?" I asked myself.
I suspect He would advise me to take advantage of the opportunity to spend an extra hour with my grandchildren, my son, and my daughter-in-law. I only get to do that a couple of times a year.
I think I might be forgiven for missing church tomorrow. Besides, I can always offer an extra prayer of thanks.
Then my daughter-in-law came around and told us that they thought it would be nice to have the family all have breakfast out tomorrow at about nine o'clock so that we could be ready for the 4th of July parade down Main Street. Of course, there is the City Fair and the Old-Time Western Days program tomorrow, and it also happens to be my granddaughter Sophie's first birthday.
"WWJD?" I asked myself.
I suspect He would advise me to take advantage of the opportunity to spend an extra hour with my grandchildren, my son, and my daughter-in-law. I only get to do that a couple of times a year.
I think I might be forgiven for missing church tomorrow. Besides, I can always offer an extra prayer of thanks.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
On the road today. These new tech communications methods are truly amazing. God has given us such limitless abilities. We have a huge obligation to use them well.
As we set out on a 600 mile trip to Idaho with AAA watching over us, I thought of Paul setting out on his travels with only his faith in God to sustain him. of
Of course, my trip would consume two days and his was substantially longer. I suspect I had more anxiety as my faith in Toyota and AAA was probably not as great as Paul's faith in God.
As we set out on a 600 mile trip to Idaho with AAA watching over us, I thought of Paul setting out on his travels with only his faith in God to sustain him. of
Of course, my trip would consume two days and his was substantially longer. I suspect I had more anxiety as my faith in Toyota and AAA was probably not as great as Paul's faith in God.
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