wfn.org | Theological Issues Committee recommends seeking inclusive language

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

Note #5996 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

26-June-2000
GA00050

	Theological Issues Committee recommends seeking inclusive language terms
for the persons of the Trinity

	by Bill Lancaster

LONG BEACH, June 26-- A committee of the 212th General Assembly has approved
a measure that opens the way to finding inclusive language terms for the
persons of the Trinity-- traditionally the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit.  The matter now goes to the full Assembly for vote.

	The Committee on Theological Issues approved an amended version of a
recommendation from the Congregational Ministries Division.  The
recommendation, approved by a vote of 45-10-3, directs the General Assembly
Council's Office of Theology and Worship to create a task force to study the
doctrine of the Trinity in Presbyterian theology and worship, "with
particular attention to the need to recover terms and images that refer to
the being of the persons of the Trinity." The task force would report to the
215th General Assembly in 2003.

	The committee's intention is that the task force search the scriptures for
other "rich and vital" terms for God.  The concern is that God is thought to
be beyond male and female, but the traditional terms are predominately male.

	The committee also is recommending the reaffirmation of "Definitions and
Guidelines on Inclusive Language" adopted by the 197th General Assembly
(1985) and making the guidelines available throughout the church.  And the
committee is recommending that the Assembly direct the Office of Theology
and Worship "to review and propose revisions to ‘Presbyterians at Worship in
Mass Assemblies' (1985)" and report to the 214th General Assembly in 2002.

	On another matter, the committee readily approved (58-0) an overture to
study the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s beliefs on "eschatology, the
millennium the Second Coming of Christ and the judgment" and write a
response to the popular contemporary theologies and novels found in many
bookstores.  The concern of the overture is to give Presbyterians resources
to help them understand Presbyterian beliefs "in this time in history."

_______________________________________________
pcusaNews mailing list
pcusaNews@pcusa.org

To unsubscribe, go to this web address:
http://pcusa01.pcusa.org/mailman/listinfo/pcusanews