Perspectives offers an exploration of issues facing the church as well as some reflective analysis of our life together as a denomination through the lens of scripture, our Reformed theology, and a constitutional and confessional framework.

Last month, the annual Fall Polity Conference was held in Denver, Colorado. More than 250 stated clerks, executive presbyters, and Office of the General Assembly staff gathered for a weekend of worship, study, and discernment. In this issue we share remarks made by two participants on the last morning of the conference who were asked to reflect upon what they had heard throughout the weekend. The Rev. Dennis J. Hughes, Ph.D., is Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Seattle. Elder Margaret Haney is the Executive Presbyter for Miami Presbytery.

Elder Jeannie Choy Tate is a PC(USA) delegate to CANAAC (Caribbean and North America Area Council). She is a member of Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco and a doctoral student in religion and psychology at the Graduate Theological Union. Jeannie was asked to write about her impressions of CANAAC's meeting in Trinidad in October 2002. We offer her impressions for you in this issue as a way to help the church-at-large know more about the work of CANAAC.

With these present days including the possibility of a war with Iraq, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America is at work collecting peace resources. We share with you a prayer from the collection. Its author is Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918) who was widely regarded as the "Father of the Social Gospel."

The Rev. Whit Malone is the pastor of Springdale Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Earlier this fall, Whit, along with associate pastor Jean Davidson preached a series of sermons on the expectations we have of each other in the church-members, elders, and pastors. In this issue we feature the sermon, "God Servers," from the series. Next month: "Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Pastors."

Finally, as the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Presbyterian Historical Society draws to a close, Frederick J. Heuser, Associate Stated Clerk and Director of the Presbyterian Historical Society offers his "Reflections on Leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."

We are always eager to know your comments about and suggestions for Perspectives. Contact us at OGA_Communications@ctr.pcusa.org.

May the blessings of a peace-filled Advent be yours as we prepare for the birth of the Prince of Peace.

- Sharon K. Youngs, Editor