Videos in the new Seeking Peace, Unity, and Purity series will be produced on an occasional basis throughout the life of the task force and will cover a wide range of topics being addressed by the group. The series is designed primarily for adults of all ages who have come together as a theological reflection group to use similar processes and to study the same issues as the task force. Other groups-adult study groups, new member classes, office training, commissioned lay pastors-may find the series helpful to adapt for more general use.

"It was made clear by many that the church does not want us to produce another report that will be received, then sit on a shelf, said Jenny Stoner and Gary Demarest, co-moderators of the task force. "So, we are doing these video resources as one way to offer the church something that is clearly not a report to be filed, but a resource to be used interactively by many groups."

"It is one way we hope to share with the church a small portion of our experience of doing church in a new way."

In the first video, Vicky Curtiss, co-pastor of Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames, Iowa, shares some of the tools being used on the task force to build a community of trust within the framework of worship, Bible study, prayer, and sharing. Frances Taylor Gench, professor of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia, discusses principles of biblical authority and interpretation, which is one of the topics that is key to the task force's mandate. Gench also leads viewers through a Bible study of Matthew 5. Both Curtiss and Gench are members of the task force.

A leader guide is included with the video.

Copies of the video have been mailed to every presbytery resource center and seminary library, as well as middle governing body executives. Copies are available for $10 through PDS by calling (800) 524-2612 and asking for item #OGA-03-069.

The second video in the "Seeking Peace, Unity, and Purity" series, "Who is Jesus Christ," addresses the topic of Christology--our confession of Jesus Christ, who he was and is for us. This is one of the areas the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church was mandated to address.

This video, in three segments, has a total run time of slightly more than 25 minutes. Copies are available for $10 through PDS by calling (800) 524-2612 and asking for item #OGA-04-069. The video comes with a leader guide.

Both videos are combined into one for Spanish and Korean translations.

Contact information: Sharon K. Youngs, Communications Coordinator, Office of the General Assembly; (888)728-7228, x5750.

TESTIMONIAL: See how others are using this valuable new resource.

Video One
Price: $10.00
PDS#: OGA-03-069
Length: 37 minutes
Study guide: Yes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Video Two
Price: $10.00
PDS#: OGA-04-069
Length: 25 minutes
Study guide: Yes
Closed Captioned: Yes

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