wfn.org | Committees reflected on Great Ends

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

GA99077 
23-June-1999 
 
                Committees reflected on Great Ends 
 
FORT WORTH-Commissioners will note that each committee's report includes a 
paragraph about its own reflection on the Great Ends of the Church. One aim 
of this exercise was  to focus the perspective of committee work on those 
things  Presbyterians have in common, on our unity within our diversity.  
     Although the responses from all committees will doubtless be gathered 
elsewhere, a particularly creative one from the Assembly Committee on Life 
in Global Community  is quoted here.  
     "Several observations emerged as significant to our experience of the 
church and its work.  First it was apparent to us that the Great Ends are 
dependent on each other; no one can stand alone as a description of the 
church's calling. 
     "Second, we observed that each of us finds herself or himself 
particularly drawn to certain of the Great Ends, depending upon our own 
gifts for ministry. For example, preachers are often drawn to Proclamation, 
while teachers are more often drawn to the shelter and nurture of the 
children of God. 
     "Third, we observed that the Great Ends reflect the diversity we 
experience in our life together. Inasmuch as they reflect diversity, they 
also point us toward complementarity.  In other words, just as no one of 
the Great Ends can summarize ministry alone, so we need each other in our 
diversity to keep us whole.  
     "A final observation made was that, sadly, our system of majority rule 
does not encourage and value the way the gospel calls us to 
interdependence." 
 
Midge Mack 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  This note sent by Office of News Services, 
  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
  to the World Faith News list <wfn-news@wfn.org>.
  For additional information about this news story,
  call 502-569-5493 or send e-mail to PCUSA.News@pcusa.org

  On the web:  http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/

  If you have a question about this mailing list, 
  send queries to wfn@wfn.org