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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:
Perspectives on vocation, evangelical Presbyterians, global climate change, and more are featured in this issue.
Here’s a brief look at the articles:
 In the title of her article, “Renewing a Culture of Vocation,” Marcia Clark Myers expresses the overall hope of the work of the new Office of Vocation for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Myers is the director of this joint endeavor of the Office of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Council. She writes, “Many of us involved in pastoral formation have come to understand how essential it is for every Presbyterian to be supported in discernment of calling — to find the right life path for them ... When individuals are guided in the exploration of their gifts and paths of service where those gifts are needed, they discover a great variety of opportunities to make a difference serving God.”
In “Positive Contributions of Evangelicals to the Life of the PC(USA),” Winfield Casey Jones shares the second of two articles for Perspectives, the first of which was featured last month in response to Milton Winter’s article in the January 2007 issue. Jones writes, “…the answer to the question of who in the PC(USA) is contributing to peace, unity, and purity — and who is not — is complex because people are complex and because we see the issues differently. The answer we find will be rooted in our theology and even in our eschatology, but the truth is, we will probably not know for sure who actually furthered the peace, unity, and purity of the church until we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. He is the judge. In the end I do think, however, that we have quite reasonable grounds to consider that peace (as well as unity and purity) is linked to the living out of certain theological truths that our Lord has given us.” Jones has been a Presbyterian pastor since 1979, serving the former Presbyterian Church in the United States and the present PC(USA). He studied law prior to receiving his D. Min. degree, and is currently pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Pearland, Texas.
Information and concern about the climate change of the earth has been making headlines with increasing frequency. Participation by the religious community in this global conversation and its connection to ecological stewardship has also been increasing. Released in late February, “The Path to Climate Sustainability” is a statement by the Global Roundtable on Climate Change (GROCC), a group that includes the National Council of Churches in Christ and the World Council of Churches, both of which are ecumenical bodies in which the PC(USA) has membership. The roundtable is an initiative of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and brings together more than 100 high-level, critical stakeholders from all regions of the world — including senior executives from the private sector and leaders of international governmental and non-governmental organizations — to discuss and explore areas of potential consensus regarding core scientific, technological, and economic issues critical to shaping sound public policies on climate change.
If he were still with us, Bill Thompson would, most likely, be involved in some way with the work of the National or World Council of Churches. A former Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and noted figure in the ecumenical world, Thompson died last year. Long before his death, a fund was established in his honor for scholarships to the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland. We feature here reflections on Thompson by two individuals who knew him well. Christian T. Iosso is coordinator for social witness policy for the PC(USA). Juanita Granady was a staff member in the former United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
We close with a recent sermon by Riley Jensen, “Fighting Fair in Church.” In it, he says, “Conflict is a fact of life, and we will always have conflict in the church because we care so deeply about what we are doing here. We are strong people with strong opinions. Therefore, let us not pretend that everyone thinks the same and that there are no differences on things that matter. This morning I want us to admit the reality of conflict in the church, to think about how we handle it, and to commit ourselves to staying connected as we seek to work through it.” Jensen is pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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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