Hello All,
We will meet from 2-3:30 at Christ Presbyterian (Thank you!) in room L-200. The agenda for the meeting is prayer, bible study (lectionary reading from I Samuel 1, Hebrews 10 and Mark 13) then fellowship and "check-in" and close with prayer. If I am ambitious I might some kind of snackage for us to share. Hope to see you there!
Amy
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Presbyterian Coalition Comments on GA-PJC Rulings
Terry Schlossberg of the Presbyterian Coalition writes:
GA-PJC reasserts requirement to comply with
"fidelity and chastity"
November 6, 2009
On Tuesday, Nov. 3 the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GA-PJC) made public its decisions in cases from the presbyteries of San Francisco and Twin Cities Area. Both cases relate to presbytery actions dealing with persons who, on the record, declared unwillingness to comply with the express requirement of "fidelity and chastity" in G-6.0106b of the Book of Order. These recent decisions by the GA-PJC are characterized by narrow procedural rulings rather than rulings on the substance in the cases before them.
Despite their limitations, the commission's decisions produced some help for the church. The PJC signaled in Naegeli et al v. Presbytery of San Francisco that its previous decision in Bush v Presbytery of Pittsburgh still stands, by quoting from that decision: "It would be an obstruction of constitutional governance to permit examining bodies to ignore or waive a specific standard that has been adopted by the whole church, such as the 'fidelity and chastity' portion of G-6.0106b, or any other similarly specific provision."
Similarly, though allowing the restoration of a person to ordained office in Bierschwale et al v. Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, the commission said, "Having been restored to the exercise of the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament, [Paul] Capetz is fully accountable under all standards and requirements for ministers of Word and Sacrament to abide by the Constitution of the PC(USA), including G-6.0106b."
The PJC does emphasize that actual obedience is not optional and that it cannot be waived. However, the new decisions fail to grapple with the implications of the fifth ordination question: "Will you be governed by our church's polity, and will you abide by its discipline..?" (W-4.003e). How can a candidate give affirmative answer to this question while refusing to declare intent to comply with a constitutional requirement now and in the future?
By ruling on narrow procedural questions, while failing to rule decisively and clearly on the substantive issue--unwillingness to comply with G-6.0106b--the court avoided the substance of the issues before it.
These rulings have done harm to the church by leaving a serious conflict unresolved, by inviting more court cases, and by exacerbating a breakdown of faith and trust in the church. The extent of the harm and whether the harm is reversible is not clear.
The Presbyterian Coalition's Discipline Team is deliberating the meaning and implications of the recent decisions and will be issuing a more complete analysis in the next few days.
For further information, contact Terry Schlossberg at 703-680-4571 or terry@presbycoalition.org.
GA-PJC reasserts requirement to comply with
"fidelity and chastity"
November 6, 2009
On Tuesday, Nov. 3 the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GA-PJC) made public its decisions in cases from the presbyteries of San Francisco and Twin Cities Area. Both cases relate to presbytery actions dealing with persons who, on the record, declared unwillingness to comply with the express requirement of "fidelity and chastity" in G-6.0106b of the Book of Order. These recent decisions by the GA-PJC are characterized by narrow procedural rulings rather than rulings on the substance in the cases before them.
Despite their limitations, the commission's decisions produced some help for the church. The PJC signaled in Naegeli et al v. Presbytery of San Francisco that its previous decision in Bush v Presbytery of Pittsburgh still stands, by quoting from that decision: "It would be an obstruction of constitutional governance to permit examining bodies to ignore or waive a specific standard that has been adopted by the whole church, such as the 'fidelity and chastity' portion of G-6.0106b, or any other similarly specific provision."
Similarly, though allowing the restoration of a person to ordained office in Bierschwale et al v. Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, the commission said, "Having been restored to the exercise of the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament, [Paul] Capetz is fully accountable under all standards and requirements for ministers of Word and Sacrament to abide by the Constitution of the PC(USA), including G-6.0106b."
The PJC does emphasize that actual obedience is not optional and that it cannot be waived. However, the new decisions fail to grapple with the implications of the fifth ordination question: "Will you be governed by our church's polity, and will you abide by its discipline..?" (W-4.003e). How can a candidate give affirmative answer to this question while refusing to declare intent to comply with a constitutional requirement now and in the future?
By ruling on narrow procedural questions, while failing to rule decisively and clearly on the substantive issue--unwillingness to comply with G-6.0106b--the court avoided the substance of the issues before it.
These rulings have done harm to the church by leaving a serious conflict unresolved, by inviting more court cases, and by exacerbating a breakdown of faith and trust in the church. The extent of the harm and whether the harm is reversible is not clear.
The Presbyterian Coalition's Discipline Team is deliberating the meaning and implications of the recent decisions and will be issuing a more complete analysis in the next few days.
For further information, contact Terry Schlossberg at 703-680-4571 or terry@presbycoalition.org.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Meeting September 8th
From Pastor David:
We are blessed to have John Crosby and the folks with Christ Church in Edina to host us for this meeting. I hope you can join other Ministers and Elders for this meeting for Worship, Sharing, Fellowship, Updates, and Discussion:
Tuesday, September 8, Lunch at 12:30 P.M. (Pizza--please "chip in" for payment as you are able, or
feel free to bring your own bag lunch.
Room 204, Christ Church, Edina
We are blessed to have John Crosby and the folks with Christ Church in Edina to host us for this meeting. I hope you can join other Ministers and Elders for this meeting for Worship, Sharing, Fellowship, Updates, and Discussion:
Tuesday, September 8, Lunch at 12:30 P.M. (Pizza--please "chip in" for payment as you are able, or
feel free to bring your own bag lunch.
Room 204, Christ Church, Edina
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Presbyterians for Renewal
There will be a Presbyterian for Renewal meeting at Hope Presbyterian on Tuesday, September 22nd from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hope to see you all there.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Update: Time and Place
Hello All,
The evangelical pastors' meeting has been rescheduled today from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. We will meet in the church library.
The evangelical pastors' meeting has been rescheduled today from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. We will meet in the church library.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Meeting, July 14th
Hi again!
I hope you can gather with other sisters and brothers in Christ from our evangelical community in the Twin Cities Area on:
Tuesday, July 14
1:00 P.M.
Sanctuary of
Presbyterian Church of the Master
Coon Rapids (just north of Minneapolis)
We will join in a time of sharing in
small groups for getting to know one another
better, for encouragement in prayer.
We will have updates on 2 or 3 items
We will worship the Lord together
We will, if needed, have a smaller task force
or two form if needed for strategy on various
issues in Presbytery.
In Christ's Peace & Hope,
David Bierschwale
I hope you can gather with other sisters and brothers in Christ from our evangelical community in the Twin Cities Area on:
Tuesday, July 14
1:00 P.M.
Sanctuary of
Presbyterian Church of the Master
Coon Rapids (just north of Minneapolis)
We will join in a time of sharing in
small groups for getting to know one another
better, for encouragement in prayer.
We will have updates on 2 or 3 items
We will worship the Lord together
We will, if needed, have a smaller task force
or two form if needed for strategy on various
issues in Presbytery.
In Christ's Peace & Hope,
David Bierschwale
Friday, May 1, 2009
Voting on Amendment B
Non nobis, Domine, Domine, non nobis, Domine
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to your Name give glory
Let's give thanks to God that once again the truth has been proclaimed.
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to your Name give glory
Let's give thanks to God that once again the truth has been proclaimed.
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