News Archive

Theological Task Force considers polity, power, and perspectives on sexuality

October 18, 2004

LOUISVILLE—The Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church held its fall meeting in Chicago last week. The October 13-15 meeting was the eleventh since the task force was formed four years ago.

The foundations, principles, and implications of Presbyterian polity and their contributions to the peace, purity, and unity of the church occupied several sessions of the full meeting. The task force also resumed consideration of theological perspectives on human sexuality, following up on work begun at its August meeting.

Discussions took place in both public and closed sessions. Reporting out from their closed session, task force members shared that they had given consideration to various theological views as they pertain to the task force’s final report, in accordance with the authority given by the General Assembly.

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick spent time with the task force, providing input on the global context of the group’s work. Kirkpatrick was elected president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches at its recent gathering in Ghana.

The task force opened each day with worship. They also participated in a Bible study on the Holy Spirit, led by task force member Frances Taylor Gench of Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia.

The next meeting of the task force will be March 2-4, 2005.

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