wfn.org | NCC GENERAL SECRETARY ISSUES A RESPONSE

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

NCCCUSA General Secretary Issues Response
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the 
USA
Contact: Wendy McDowell, NCC News, 212-870-2227
Internet: news@ncccusa.org

84NCC8/18/98         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC GENERAL SECRETARY ISSUES PASTORAL RESPONSE TO
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S AUGUST 17, 1998 SPEECH

 NEW YORK, August 18 ---- The Rev. Dr. Joan 
Brown Campbell, General Secretary of the National 
Council of Churches (NCC), has issued a pastoral 
response to President Clinton's August 17 speech to 
the nation.

 In her response, Dr. Campbell reacts with 
sadness to "human frailty" and draws on belief in a 
God who "judges with unclouded vision and responds 
with understanding love - a model for our human 
lives."

 Dr. Campbell also says, "our long experience in 
pastoral care has taught us the wisdom of  
protecting personal life from public display.  I 
hope that, as a nation we are now learning that 
truth."

 The full text of Dr. Campbell's statement 
follows.
____________________________________________________

A Pastoral Response
^From the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell
August 18, 1998

 Our thoughts and prayers are with the President, 
his family and the nation.  It is more a moment of 
sadness than surprise when we confront the human 
frailty in ourselves or others.  We are grateful for 
the grace of honesty in the face of untiring 
accusations.

 Yet, we believe that all of us in our humanity are 
finally accountable to God and to those who love us.  
Our God is One who judges with unclouded vision and 
always responds with understanding love - a model for 
our human lives.

 Our long experience in pastoral care has taught us 
the wisdom of protecting personal life from public 
display.  I hope that, as a nation, we are now learning 
that truth.  The private lives of our public leaders 
are best left private or we will have none allowed to 
lead.

 In such a painful time, the Clinton family 
deserves our quiet support.  Our churches invite all 
people to join us in private and caring prayers.  

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