Statement on the General Assembly’s Adoption
of the Report and Recommendations of
The Theological Task Force on
Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church
By the Executive Committee of the Covenant Network
June 20, 2006
The Covenant Network has prayed that the Holy Spirit would lead commissioners to a faithful response to the Theological Task Force report. In approving the report as amended, the General Assembly has called the church to a higher standard of life together. While the Church still faces deep disagreements, the Assembly has given us an opportunity to recover our oneness in Christ.
The Assembly has reaffirmed the responsibility of sessions and presbyteries to apply ordination standards set by the whole church. In doing so, the Assembly has clarified the historic responsibility and authority of local governing bodies to discern gifts for ministry in those whom they know best. We look forward to working with Presbyterians across the church to live into this new time with serious theological and biblical reflection and faithful discernment.
We remain committed to working toward a church as generous and just as God’s grace.
Please read the May 9th A Time for Hope Covenant Network Board Statement.
Read about the floor debate:
|
|
- Ordination Overtures turned away following recommendation #6 of the TTF Report.
- The Report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the church was adopted by the 217th General Assembly. with a 57% vote.
-
- Read the Witherspoon GA Report here
- For a variety of progressive views and updates visit the the Just Presbyterians web page.
- The Office of the General Assembly has posted several FAQs on major issues debated by the General Assembly:
|
Read the Ordination Overture Advocates powerful presentation here
- Cynthia Campbell, President of McCormick Seminary, spoke to an overflow, standing room only crowd at the Covenant Network Lunch on Friday. Read her remarks, Reformed: Not 'What' We Are But 'How'. Read Covenant Network Co-Moderator Jon Walton's remarks to the luncheon here.
- Over 230 people attended the Covenant Network Commissioners’ Convocation Dinner on Wednesday night. The four candidates for moderator briefly addressed the gathered community and the Moderator of the 215th General Assembly, Susan Andrews spoke on The Purity of Unity. To read more about the dinner and Board Member Timothy Hart-Andersen remarks, please click here.
- Three Covenant affiliated leaders: Joanna Adams, pastor of Morningside Presbyterian Church, Atlanta; Kim Clayton Richter, Director, Center for Life Long Learning; Columbia Theological Seminary; and Laird Stuart, pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church; led Morning Worship during the assembly.
|
|
Tuesday, June 20th
Over 22 Presbyteries sent overtures seeking to remove G-6.0106b and the earlier Authoritative Interpretations. On Tuesday, the commissioners approved the Peace Purity and Unity Task Force and declined the ordination overtures.
Dr. Laird J. Stuart, Pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, led morning worship. His meditation, A Trinitarian Strategy, can be read here.
|
Saturday, June 17th
- The Trinity Paper, "The Trinity, God's Love Overflowing," was receieved and commended for further study and use. Read the PNS report here.
- Heartland Overture and concurrences received a recommendation of disapproval from the Church Orders Committee. The vote was close, 30 to 28 with no abstentions. The report will be debated in plenary on Tuesday afternoon. Read the news report from PNS.
- The Report from the Peace, Purity and Unity Task Force was approved by the Ecclesiology Committee with minor changes after extended debate and parliamentary process. The Task Force Report will be debated in plenary on Tuesday morning. Read the reports from PNS and the Presbyterian Outlook.
|
Friday, June 16th - The Covenant Network Luncheon
Over four hundred commissioners, observers, and friends crowded into a hotel ballroom to greet old friends and make new ones.
|
Thursday, June 15th - Joan Gray is Elected Moderator
On Thursday night, the 217th General Assembly elected the Rev. Joan Gray of Atlanta Presbytery as Moderator. One of four candidates, Gray spoke of a willingness to listen and to let God lead both Gray and the church through the next two years. “Polity isn’t going to save us,” Gray said in her introduction speech. “There is one thing that is going to save us, a faith in God who makes a way where there is no way.” To read more, please click here
|
Wednesday, June 14th - The Covenant Network Commissioner's Convocation Dinner
Over 230 people attended the Covenant Network Commissioners’ Convocation Dinner on Wednesday night. The four candidates for moderator briefly addressed the gathered community and the Moderator of the 215th General Assembly, Susan Andrews spoke on The Purity of Unity. To read more about the dinner and Board Member Timothy Hart-Andersen remarks, please click here.
|
Surprise announcement electrifies Assembly
PC(USA) receives historic $150 million gift for church growth
BIRMINGHAM, June 15 — A Colorado businessman and elder has contributed a historic $150 million gift to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) aimed at helping presbyteries start new churches, transform struggling congregations and develop new racial-ethnic congregations.
The money from Stanley W. Anderson of Denver, CO, for the new Loaves and Fishes Church Growth Fund will be distributed to presbyteries through grants ranging from $250,000 to $1 million each.
Please click here to read the full PNS Story |
| |
|
