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.

On the eve of Advent, we offer an issue that speaks, in part, of hope. From Palestine to Guatemala, from Florida to Tacoma, this month’s articles point to the kind of hope that lives in the midst of chaos, destruction, and violence.

Hope from the ashes. Our first article, “Real Security,” is from an interview that Corey Schlosser-Hall had with Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Corey, Communication Director for Seattle Presbytery, had the opportunity to sit down with the Moderator at the Peace and Justice Conference in Tacoma, Washington, this past August, which coincided with the fifty-ninth observance of Hiroshima Day. “I’m not interested in asking whether or not [the bombing of Hiroshima] was the right thing to do...But I am interested in remembering what security at that time really cost. What was the cost of security?” he asks, “and who paid it? We need to recover that memory in the conversation.”

Hope from destruction. Mike Loudon, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Lakeland, Florida, was among the hundreds of thousands of Floridians who weathered Hurricane Charlie, then Frances, then Ivan, then Jeanne in August and September. He writes, “I have not heard many people say, ‘How could God let this happen to us?’ I’m sure some have said that, and others have felt it. But I have heard people talk about how blessed we are in so many ways.” Read more in “Waiting for Christmas.”

Hope from injustice. This year’s Fall Polity Conference just concluded in Sacramento. Part of the conference focused on the ongoing effort to interpret this year’s assembly actions regarding Israel/Palestine. The speakers included Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders, who, are missionaries-in-residence in Louisville this year after having served as mission co-workers in the West Bank. Marthame said, “I want to offer a few words about the violence [in Israel/Palestine] to conclude my remarks. Coming out of our particular context of living in a village in the Jenin area, this subject has great urgency for me. These words are words we wrote two years ago, and it was directed toward a Palestinian audience. But I hope that you hear in them words of challenge and encouragement to the church in the United States.”

Hope from violence. With our ongoing attention this year to the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010): Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace, we feature poetry from participants in a travel study seminar to Guatemala as part of the observance of the Decade. Nineteen individuals, ranging in age from 18 to 35, took part in the seminar, sponsored by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program’s Young Adult Network. They included college students, teachers, a pastor, elders, deacons, two recent Guatemalan immigrants, and three young adult volunteers serving in Guatemala. The study focused on the environment, gender inequality, racial inequality and discrimination, economic injustice, worship, song, and prayer.

Hope through cooperation. Finally, we offer a brief description of the liturgical resources that are now available for calling it a “further, small step in the direction of Christian unity,” WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and the secretary of the Pontifical Council Bishop Brian Farrell suggested in the foreword that the joint publication of the liturgical resources will, hopefully, usher in the “birth of a new era of collaboration” between the two bodies.

May the God of hope fill your hearts to overflowing.

We always appreciate hearing from you. Simply drop us a line at OGA_Communications@ctr.pcusa.org.

Sharon K. Youngs, Editor