wfn.org | Jack Rogers elected Moderator on first ballot

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

Note #6585 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

9-June-2001
GA01019

Jack Rogers elected Moderator on first ballot

by Jane Hines

LOUISVILLE, June 9 - From  a group of what Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick
called "four wonderful candidates," Jack Rogers was elected Moderator of the
213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) .  He received
286 votes on the first ballot - 55 percent - out of 524 votes cast by
commissioners.  Elder Nancy Maffett received 125 votes; Peaks Presbytery
Executive M. Anderson Sale received 67 votes and Elder Sandra Hawley
received 46 votes.

     Rogers, termed a "bridge builder," came recently from the Presbytery of
San Gabriel in California and from a heritage in the Presbyterian Church of
North America.  He came from being a teacher in two diverse seminaries,
Fuller and San Francisco, to share his experience in "compromising and
finding creative ways to move forward through the genius of the Presbyterian
way" with Presbyterians in the 21st century.

     In her nominating speech for Rogers, Janet Arbesman, minister
commissioner from Grand Canyon Presbytery, called him a world renowned
scholar.

     The new Moderator has attended 29 Presbyterian General Assemblies.  He
said that he comes to the Assembly every year because this is the only place
he experiences the church in its great diversity.  As Moderator he wants to
demonstrate and give to others the same opportunities he has had to know the
transforming Gospel.  He told commissioners that he wants to emphasize in
this denomination the importance of marriage and family life.  He wants to
lead the church through the pain of what he called the current "Presbyterian
Civil War."  "No one has all the truth", he said.  He believes that we can
affirm that we are united in Christ and learn to trust each other.

     "Unity does not mean uniformity," he said.  "There is room in this body
of Christ for all of us and in this Assembly we can find that to be true."

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