December 2002
Dear Friends,
"In Jesus Christ God was reconciling the world to himself."
This astonishing assertion began to take shape at Christmas and
continues, of course, to this day. It remains the task and model
for the church.
That core proclamation of the Confession of 1967 resonated throughout
our recent Covenant Conference, "Confessing Christ Today
- Seeking Common Ground." We are grateful for all that took
place during the conference, especially the richness of the lectures
and sermons. You can experience some of that by way of the addresses
excerpted inside and posted on our website.
We in the Covenant Network envision a church as generous and just
as God's grace. We remain committed to a church that welcomes
the leadership gifts of all whom God calls to service, including
gay and lesbian Presbyterians. Even as we work and pray for a
change in our polity to reflect God's generous welcome, we remain
equally committed to a church that affirms the value of a broad
range of theological perspectives and cherishes the opportunity
to learn from those with differing points of view.
Even as we actively seek to develop a consensus for change, we
continue to search for faithful and productive ways to be the
church together. At a time when a few in the PC(USA) are choosing
to emphasize the things that threaten to pull us apart, the Network's
focus is on the great Reformed theological tradition that holds
us together.
In these times of tension in our nation and our world, as well
as our church, that tradition calls us to carry the gospel into
the world both in word and deed. "Already God's reign is
present as a ferment in the world, stirring hope" in men
and women, the Confession of 1967 reminds us. "With an urgency
born of this hope, the church applies itself to present tasks
and strives for a better world."
We are grateful to share that urgency, and that hope, with all
of you.
Grace and peace,
Joanna M. Adams
Co-Pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago
Eugene C. Bay
Pastor, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, PA