News Archive

March 10, 2005

Theological Task Force announces topics for writing teams

LOUISVILLE—In response to inquiries from an earlier press release about their meeting, March 2-4, in Dallas, the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church has provided additional information about the writing teams that will prepare draft sections for their final report.

The 20-member task force divided themselves into four writing teams to develop the draft sections, drawing on existing materials:

Team 1, comprised of Scott Anderson, Frances Taylor Gench, William Stacy Johnson, Jong Hyeong Lee, Lonnie Oliver, and Barbara Wheeler, will review and summarize themes from the theological study sessions that task force members have conducted and the draft papers on theological issues they have produced.

Team 2, which includes Mike Loudon, Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, and John Wilkinson, will review and summarize themes from study sessions and papers on ordination, sexuality, and other controversial issues before the task force.

The membership of team 3 will be Mark Achtemeier, Joe Coalter, Vicky Curtiss, and John Wilkinson, and will review and summarize study sessions and papers on polity, process, and decision-making.

Jack Haberer, William Stacy Johnson, and Martha Sadongei will make up team 4, which will frame conclusions and possible recommendations from the task force. This team will do its work after the task force has reviewed the draft sections from the other teams.

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

Co-moderators Gary Demarest and Jenny Stoner will coordinate and Office of the General Assembly staff member Gradye Parsons will be a resource for the work of the teams.

The final report of the task force is due September 15, 2005.

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