wfn.org | Council Proposes Emphasis on "Great Ends of The Church"

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

11-February-1997 
97074 
 
     Council Proposes Emphasis on "Great Ends of The Church" 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The General Assembly Council (GAC) has added its weight to 
a proposal that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) undertake a six-year 
emphasis, from 1998 through 2003, on the six "Great Ends of the Church," as 
found in the first chapter of the "Book of Order." 
 
     Noting that the recommendation to the upcoming General Assembly in 
Syracuse is under consideration by the six major entities of the General 
Assembly -- the GAC, Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, Board 
of Pensions, Presbyterian Foundation, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation 
and Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program -- General Assembly stated 
clerk the Rev.  Clifton Kirkpatrick told the Council, "We need a fresh way 
to express our unity as a church."  He added that if the recommendation is 
endorsed by all six entities, "it will be the first time I can recall that 
all the major Assembly agencies agreed on one proposal at the same time."  
 
     General Assembly moderator the Rev. John Buchanan called the proposed 
emphasis "an opportunity to reclaim Presbyterian common ground." 
 
     The "Great Ends of the Church," found in G-1.0200: 
 
     *    "the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind" 
     *    "the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children 
          of God" 
     *    "the maintenance of divine worship" 
     *    "the preservation of the truth" 
     *    "the promotion of social righteousness" 
     *    "the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world." 
 
     The proposal instructs the Office of the General Assembly to highlight 
the Great Ends as "the overarching theme of the next six General 
Assemblies," with one of the ends highlighted each year in the Assembly's 
worship, preaching and educational and special events.  It also asks church 
agencies to relate their activities to the great ends and to offer special 
resources "where possible" in relation to the emphasis.  And it encourages 
all Presbyterian congregations and governing bodies to join in the 
emphasis. 
 
     The Council brushed aside a request from its National Ministries 
Division (NMD) Committee to delay the start of the emphasis until 1999 "so 
that it would not undo preparatory work already done on "The Year with 
Education," which was approved for 1998 by the 1994 General Assembly. 
 
     "We're not against the Great Ends of the Church," explained NMD 
Committee chair Sandra Hawley, "but  The Year with Education' has already 
been approved and planned and will be diluted by this new emphasis." 
 
     GAC interim executive director the Rev. Frank Diaz countered that "the 
Great Ends of the Church are a unifying theme for all that we do, including 
education" and should not be seen as a competing emphasis.  Kirkpatrick 
characterized them as "an umbrella," and Patricia Niles commented that the 
first Great End -- the proclamation of the gospel -- and a specific 
emphasis on education "are wonderfully complementary." 

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