wfn.org | Nominations to theological task force are due by Aug. 1

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

Note #6721 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

20-June-2001
01207

Nominations to theological task force are due by Aug. 1

17-member panel charged to seek "peace, unity and purity" of the church

by Alexa Smith

LOUISVILLE - August 1 is the deadline for nominating people to serve on a
17-member task force that will study the theological issues that have become
so divisive within the Presbyterian Church (USA).

	The task force is an outcome of deliberations during the recent 213th
General Assembly, which called the church to "unite in a sustained period of
prayer and reflection on Scripture and our confessions, seeking to promote
the peace, unity, purity and mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA)." Its
task is to reflect on and discuss the matters that "unite and divide"
Presbyterians.

	Letters of nomination must be mailed to General Assembly Nominations and
Moderatorial Staff Services, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY
40202-1396, in care of Valerie Small, the office manager. Presbyterians
interested in being part of the group may nominate themselves.

	Members will be appointed by the GA Moderator, the Rev. Jack Rogers, and
the two immediate past moderators, the Rev. Syngman Rhee, of Richmond, Va.,
and Elder Freda Gardner, of Princeton, N.J.

	The task force is to finish its work and make a final report to the 217th
General Assembly in 2005. In the meantime, it will furnish progress reports
to the three intervening assemblies.

	Rhee endorsed the idea of naming such a panel just before the opening of
the GA. The proposal came officially in an overture from the Presbytery of
John Calvin, in the Midwest, which said the task force may help to overcome
increasing divisiveness within the denomination about such matters as the
authority and interpretation of the Bible, Christology and standards for
ordination.

	"What the Assembly did is make this a church-wide consultation process, not
just the work of 17 people," Rogers told the Presbyterian News Service after
the Assembly. "They are to consult widely throughout the whole church, in
order that we might understand where we are and where we need to go."

	The task force will work in partnership with congregations, presbyteries
and synods. The cost over four years is estimated at $180,728.

	Asked about the challenges the task force will face, Rogers said: "I think
people will hear a great deal of pain. But I think they will hear, also, a
great deal of hope. I believe the church is ready to move beyond our
experience of polarization ... and to find new ways to relate to each other,
so we can carry out the ministries to which we believe God has called us."

	Rogers said the three moderators and the General Assembly Nominating
Committee will engage in a slow, deliberative process of naming the task
force members. "I hope we can surprise people ... find capable Presbyterian
folk that nobody is expecting," he said.

	For more information about nominations, contact Small by telephone at
502-569-5406 or 888-728-7228, Ext. 5406, or send email to
vsmall@ctr.pcusa.org.

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