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.

This month may very well find us at war with Iraq. The first three articles in this month's issue deal, directly or indirectly, with this sobering reality. [For additional resources and articles on the situation with Iraq, please visit www.pcusa.org/iraq.]

The Rev. Dr. Leighton Ford is an active PC(USA) minister and a member of the Presbytery of Charlotte. Currently specializing in spiritual formation of young pastors, evangelists and missionaries, he is director of Leighton Ford Ministries. A graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, he served with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association until 1980 when he began his present work. He is also a brother-in-law of Dr. Graham. In "Three Questions about War with Iraq," which is a letter from Rev. Ford to young Christian leaders, we learn what this respected Presbyterian in the Evangelical movement is thinking and saying.

"Presbyterian Response in Times of War" was first published in the Winter 2002 issue of Presbyterian Heritage: The Newsletter of the Presbyterian Historical Society. We include it here because it offers a historical perspective on the life of the Presbyterian Church in relation to the twentieth-century wars in which the United States was involved. In the article, Robert F. Smylie is quoted as saying, "The Presbyterian tradition reflects the flow of American history.... As wars-and the quest for lasting peace-have been part of that history, so has the church been caught up, torn, chastened, tortured, changed by those wars...."

"Joseph's Story" is a sermon by the Rev. Amy Miracle, Associate Pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado, and one of the preachers for the upcoming 215th General Assembly (May 24-31 in Denver). This sermon was preached on the Fourth Sunday in Advent in 2002. It is still timely for these present days, when Rev. Miracle says, "…it is in the mess of real life that God is mostly likely to appear. This is good news for those among us who are imperfect-whose lives are messy and complicated. This is good news for our world which-this year more than ever-seems to be in a bit of a mess. If it is in messes that God finds a home, then there just might be some hope for us and for our world."

One of the keynote speakers at the recent Synod of Lakes and Prairies training event for Committees on Ministry and Committees on Preparation for Ministry was the Rev. Gradye Parsons, Director of Strategic Operations. Featured here is Rev. Parsons' address, "Redemption and Good Order." In his address, Rev. Parsons says, "Who we will be at the end of our denominational journey in the wilderness is based on God's promise to us as seen in God's reconciling act in Jesus Christ. As a church community we are going to bump up against each other on this journey. But if we hold on to what is the core value of our discipline system-restoration and reconciliation-we too will experience redemption and good order."

Our final article is about a new ecumenical venture of which the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a part. Phase I in the organizational process of Christian Churches Together (CCT) in the USA has begun. The final proposal for CCT, featured here, is now being distributed among those in the Christian "families" who have been part of the organizational process-Orthodox, Evangelical/Pentecostal, Roman Catholic, Historic Protestant, and particular Racial/Ethnic churches, seeking from appropriate governing bodies a decision regarding their participation with CCT. Christian Churches Together in the USA will become established when twenty-five denominations, communions, and national Christian organizations (no more than twenty percent of the total) decide and take action to become participants, a process that is anticipated to take about two years. The hope for CCT is that it will create opportunities for a broad ecumenical group to come together to pray, take up issues regarding the ministry of the church, and present a common witness to Jesus Christ.

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

The first verse of "In the Day of Need" (The Presbyterian Hymnal, #169) is:

In the day of need may your answer be the Lord,
May the God of Jacob strengthen you;
May our Lord send help from the high and holy place,
And support you for the glory of God's name.

Take care in these present days of need.

- Sharon K. Youngs, Editor