wfn.org | "First Catechism" Submitted for General Assembly's Review

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

6-October-1997 
97382 
 
    "First Catechism" Submitted For 
    General Assembly's Review 
 
    by Theodore A. Gill 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Special Committee to Write a New Presbyterian 
Catechism has approved a draft of the first of two catechisms it will 
submit to the 210th General Assembly (1998) of the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.). The Assembly will consider the Special Committee's proposal when 
it convenes in Charlotte, N.C., June 13-20, 1998. 
 
    A "catechism" is a presentation of the basic teachings of the Christian 
faith, usually arranged in a series of questions and answers. The Special 
Committee was appointed in 1994 following actions calling for the 
composition of such a teaching device in contemporary language. Surveys 
indicated the desire for catechisms that could be used in more than one 
educational context. 
 
    "The First Catechism" was approved for submission during a Sept. 6 
committee meeting held at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, 
N.J. A second, more detailed catechism will be proposed by the Special 
Committee in early 1998. 
 
    "The First Catechism is primarily a resource for parent education, 
Sunday school classes and sacrament education for children who are going to 
participate in the Lord's Supper," according to the Rev. Richard Osmer, 
committee chair and professor of Christian education at Princeton 
Theological Seminary. "It should be helpful to people with a limited church 
background and will be understood by students as young as 10 years of age." 
 
    The 56 questions and answers of "The First Catechism" follow the 
narrative of the Bible. From creation through the life and teaching of the 
New Testament church. 
 
    The more detailed catechism to be completed by the Special Committee in 
1998 is intended for use in confirmation classes, adult new membership 
groups and church officer training discussions. This second text will be 
organized around the interpretation of the Ten Commandments, the Lord's 
Prayer, and the Apostles' Creed. 
 
    When the Special Committee was created, part of the mandate was to 
consider whether a new catechism should be proposed for inclusion in "The 
Book of Confessions."  The committee decided to request that the product of 
its work be presented initially as an educational resource rather than as a 
constitutional document. In 1998, the General Assembly will be asked to 
review the texts for their value as teaching materials. In future years, if 
the church as a whole finds either or both of the catechisms to have 
sufficient merit, inclusion in "The Book of Confessions" would remain a 
possibility. 
 
    In addition to Osmer, the Special Committee members are Dawn Devries of 
Richmond, Va.; the Rev. George Hunsinger of Princeton, N.J.; the Rev. Laura 
B. Lewis of Austin, Texas; Bruce McCormack of Princeton, N.J.; William 
Placher of Crawfordsville, Ind.; the Rev. Marjorie J. Thompson of 
Goodlettsville, Tenn.; Leanne VanDyk of San Anselmo, Calif.; and David Yoo 
of Claremont, Calif. 
 
    Users of the World Wide Web will find the catechism posted on the Web 
page of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at http://www.pcusa.org  Comments 
on the catechism may be sent by mail to: Catechism Committee, Office of the 
General Assembly, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396. E-mail 
may be sent in care of: TheoG@ctr.pcusa.org. All comments will be read and 
a summary will be presented to the Assembly Committee that deals with the 
catechisms in June 1998. 

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