wfn.org | Estimated 2,000 Presbyterians Tune in to Teleconference

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

6-June-1997 
97243 
 
     Estimated 2,000 Presbyterians Tune in to Teleconference 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--From Los Angeles to Charlotte, from Kansas City to 
Savannah, from Champaign to San Antonio -- an estimated 2,000 Presbyterians 
in at least 18 states tuned in to the first National Presbyterian 
Teleconference, June 4. 
 
     The 90-minute satellite television conference, which originated from 
the Presbyterian Center here, offered viewers throughout the country the 
opportunity to ask questions of six denominational leaders.  During the 
hourlong question-and-answer session, 23 Presbyterians posed questions 
ranging from the mundane -- "What are going to be the major issues at 
General Assembly this year?" -- to the very pointed -- "Why is the 
Presbyterian Church prying into my sex life?" 
 
     Panel moderator Ann Gillies, coordinator for Media Services in 
Louisville and a veteran television newscaster, hosted the program and set 
an informal, friendly tone, cautioning viewers to "not use this to make a 
speech on the telephone" and greeting them by name: "Hi, Don, I'm so glad 
you called!" 
 
     Panelists included General Assembly stated clerk the Rev. Clifton 
Kirkpatrick; General Assembly moderator the Rev. John Buchanan and vice 
moderator Gay Mothershed; General Assembly Council chair Youngil Cho and 
vice chair Jinny Miller; and GAC interim executive director the Rev.  Frank 
Diaz. 
 
     Calls were fielded by PresbyTel telephone consultants, who then fed 
them into the studio where the teleconference originated.  They reported 
that only two callers were not able to get on the air with their questions 
before the telecast concluded.  And at press time, only two of more than 40 
"downlink" sites -- the Synod of The Trinity and Cherokee Presbytery -- had 
reported that the satellite transmission failed where they were. 
 
     The first question, which came in at about 8:20 Eastern Daylight Time, 
was from Steve Williams in Savannah, Ga., who asked Kirkpatrick for advice 
on training and equipping elders for service on session.  Kirkpatrick 
suggested that in-depth study of the "Book of Order" and "Book of 
Confessions" can "introduce elders and all Presbyterians to the greatness 
and strength of our tradition." 
 
     Other questions concerned the role of Presbyterian Men in the 
denomination, commissioned lay pastors, the church's special offerings, 
Presbyterian campus ministries, urban ministry, the proposed new call 
system and Christian education resources. 
 
     One caller, Paul Bourassa of Memphis, Tenn., requested Buchanan to say 
a prayer.  Buchanan readily agreed and so the teleconference paused midway 
as the moderator asked God's guidance "on our terribly conflicted but 
amazingly creative church and its congregations, members and governing 
bodies." 
 
     Reflecting the current intense debate in the Presbyterian Church over 
Amendment B -- the commonly called "fidelity and chastity amendment" -- 
several callers asked questions related to the ordination issue.  In 
response to a question from the Rev. Mark Moon in Kansas City about 
"covenants of dissent" that are being circulated around the church, 
Kirkpatrick said, "I am deeply pained that congregations, individuals and 
even one presbytery [Milwaukee] feels it necessary to distance themselves 
from the polity and discipline of the church."  He decried "other tactics 
that have been used in the past -- such as withholding funds" and said his 
advice to all Presbyterians, "no matter what they disagree with, is to work 
hard to change those things with which they disagree." 
 
     In response to a question from Margaret Morris in Rochester, Ind., 
about how her divided presbytery can hold together, Buchanan raised the 
"common ground" theme that he has championed. "Every presbytery should hold 
an intentional conversation around those things that unite rather than 
those things that divide," he said.  "Everyone should keep talking directly 
to each other." 
 
     Elizabeth Delacruz in Champaign, Ill., bluntly asked, "Why is the 
Presbyterian Church prying into my sex life?"  After a lengthy pause by all 
the panelists, Kirkpatrick responded.  "We aren't," he replied, "but many 
believe it's critical to Christian character how we conduct ourselves 
sexually."  The stated clerk continued, "I personally believe it's tragic 
when we are so absorbed by this one aspect of Christian life that we fail 
to consider other aspects -- the gospel is so much broader and richer. ..." 
 
     Sam Austin of Virginia Beach, Va., praised the teleconference format 
and asked how the Presbyterian Church is going to continue to be on the 
cutting edge of "cyberspace technology."  Diaz answered that he would like 
to see all 11,400 Presbyterian congregations linked by computer.  "Why not 
use the anticipated budget surpluses for 1998 and 1999 [currently estimated 
at $3 million] and match synods and presbyteries dollar for dollar in 
purchasing computers for each church?" he proposed. 
 
     And in response to a question about church membership growth posed by 
Don Walters of Topeka, Kan., Buchanan said he believes the denomination "is 
beginning to bring understanding to the problem of membership losses and 
ways to grow."  He noted that 40 new Presbyterian churches were started in 
1996 and plans are being discussed to "dramatically increase the number of 
new Presbyterian churches in coming years."  Mothershed highlighted renewed 
efforts in the church to redevelop existing congregations and Diaz noted 
that a major report is due to the 1998 General Assembly on how to increase 
the racial/ethnic membership of the Presbyterian Church from its current 2 
percent to 10 percent by 2005 and 20 percent by 2010.  Those goals were 
adopted by last year's General Assembly. 
 
     Buchanan concluded the teleconference by reminding viewers that 
"Presbyterian congregations everywhere are faithfully serving Jesus Christ, 
having heard the gospel mandate to go into all the world with God's love. 
Presbyterian people have heard and responded to the biblical mandate to 
live that love in ministries of justice, advocacy, compassion, service and 
healing." 

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