News Archive

Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity makes steady progress

Group moves toward September deadline.

March 8, 2005

LOUISVILLE—The Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church moved closer to the reality of the deadline for their final report when they met last week in Dallas.

The March 2-4 meeting came six months in advance of the deadline, which is September 15, 2005. The report will be circulated throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) between September 15 and the 217th General Assembly, which convenes in June 2006 and is scheduled to take up the group’s report and recommendations.

The task force is mandated by the General Assembly “to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in spiritual discernment of our Christian identity in and for the 21st century.” The three-day meeting last week included in-depth discussions on theological assumptions and core theological convictions. The group spent time reviewing its earlier work on topics that included sexuality, polity, and ordination. Members also exchanged views about possible conclusions that might be drawn from their numerous discussions.

The 20-member task force divided themselves into four writing teams to develop draft sections for their final report, drawing on existing materials. Scott Anderson, Frances Taylor Gench, William Stacy Johnson, Jong Hyeong Lee, Lonnie Oliver, and Barbara Wheeler will serve on one team.

A second team will be comprised of Mike Loudon, Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, and John Wilkinson. Wilkinson will join Mark Achtemeier, Joe Coalter, and Vicky Curtiss on another team. Jack Haberer, William Stacy Johnson, Gradye Parsons, and Martha Sadongei will be on the fourth team. Barbara Everitt Bryant will edit the team drafts into a single document.

In addition to the writing teams, a communication/resource team will continue its ongoing work on behalf of the task force. Members of that group include Mary Ellen Lawson, Joan Merritt, and Jose Luis Torres-Milan.

Co-moderators Gary Demarest and Jenny Stoner will coordinate the work of the teams.

The task force will meet again in Dallas, July 18-21, to review and edit drafts that could become the final report. Last week, the group added a new meeting to their schedule, August 24-25, in Chicago, to finalize and approve their report to the 217th General Assembly.

Contact info: Sharon K. Youngs, Communications Coordinator, Office of the General Assembly; (888) 728-7228, ext. 5750.