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Welcome to Perspectives,
the online magazine published by the Office of the General Assembly.
Perspectives
offers an exploration of issues facing the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
and its witness in society through
- reflective and
provocative analysis of our life together as a denomination, and
- the lenses of
Scripture, Reformed theology, cultures, and a constitutional and confessional
framework.
IN THIS ISSUE:
As 2006 draws to a close, we offer perspectives from the past and present, as well as expressions of hope for how the church and the world will look in the new year.
Here is a quick look at each of the offerings:
 “When I was a kid I asked, ‘What the heck is an Ebenezer?’ … All over the world there are those who know what it means. It’s only a pile of rocks, but it’s not just a pile of rocks….” In his remarks to those gathered for this year’s Fall Polity and Leadership Conference, Vernon Broyles reflects on his experience as a pastor in the South during the time of conflict in the church that led to the formation of the Presbyterian Church in America. Among others, the issue over property was front and center back then, too.
This year has seen celebrations galore across the denomination, marking several historical milestones in American Presbyterianism. We offer here one final article about a handful of women who, as this article by staff of the Presbyterian Historical Society write, “found a way to serve, and we honor those women who have followed God’s will and shared their time, talents, and lives with others.” Needless to say, the ministries of women, lay and clergy, known and anonymous, will continue well into the next 300 years of American Presbyterianism, and for that, we are most grateful.
One clergywoman who is currently fully immersed in ministry is Cathy Ulrich. Among her many roles is that of a board member for a local hospital in her community of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Through that service, she has learned much that has benefited her ministry. In a reflection offered at the Fall Polity and Leadership Conference, Ulrich shared some of what she has learned. We pass along her insights here, as well.
After reading Cathy Ulrich’s reflection, one might conclude that she was having a bad day one Sunday morning. We all have them, as Joan Gray, Moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2006), reminded those who attended the Fall Polity and Leadership Conference. In her sermon, which we share here, she notes that the church is currently having some bad days. “But,” she says, “I think we can safely bet that we will have in the future some good days. And we will also have some bad days. But in the midst of the bad days, I want you to remember this: In the midst of even the really bad days, God is with us. We are not alone.”
Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10 to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has available a number of resources to help mark the observance of Human Rights Day. The human rights litany, which we feature here, along with an order of worship for the day’s observance, seems appropriate for use throughout the season of Advent as we seek to “prepare the way of the Lord.”
Finally, we close this issue with the annual Christmas message from the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). This year, Samuel Kobia writes, “Luke’s gospel story encourages us to see that if shepherds can become angels, then there is hope for each of us also to become angels, witnessing to how God’s grace is transforming the world.” The message is used here with permission from the WCC.
May God’s grace transform us all.
Do
you have suggestions for future issues or other comments to share? Drop
us a line.
Sharon
K. Youngs, Editor
.
All Rights Reserved.
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