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Note #7300 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

19-June-2002
GA02091

Theology and education matter

by Jane Hines

COLUMBUS, OH - The 214th General Assembly approved the report and recommendations of the Committee on Theological Issues, Educational Institutions on June 19.

"These are our heroes," declared Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel.  He had just asked all ministers present to stand, following the committee's salute to educational leadership . An award for excellence in theological education had been presented to Sara Little, a faculty member at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education for 38 years and Philip Walker Butin had been confirmed as president of San Francisco Theological Seminary.

The Assembly approved a unanimous committee recommendation directing the General Assembly Council (GAC) Office of Theology and Worship to conduct a study of sacramental theology and practice with a report to the 217th General Assembly.

The Assembly approved the committee's slightly revised recommendation from the GAC to approve "Presbyterian Worship Beyond the Local Congregation"; to commend it to the church as useful for study and guidance; and to make it available to presbyteries, synods, the GAC, and the Office of the General Assembly as a central resource in planning worship.

The Assembly also approved the new trustees elected by Presbyterian Church (USA) theological institutions in 2001, with this comment from the committee. "Many of our Presbyterian seminaries need the prayerful support of our denomination in achieving representation on their boards of trustees that reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of the people of God.  We ask that our seminaries be more conscious of representational issues in their recruitment of trustees, including more women and racial/ethnic members in the leadership of our seminaries."

The Assembly disapproved an overture calling for a Presbyterian Day of Prayer and Fasting in a Time of Crisis. The committee had recommended disapproval, with the rationale that prayer and fasting is appropriate but legislating it is not.

The Assembly approved a resolution encouraging the use of the ecumenical Lord's Prayer and a resolution on renewing the promise of the 1862 General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio, to adopt a "new covenant to cherish fraternal greetings, to cultivate Christian dialogue, to worship God, to promote the cause of Christ, and to avoid all needless controversies and competitions adapted to perpetuate division and strife."   
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