Task force writing groups, assignments are disclosed
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, March 10, 2005
Gary Demarest, the co-moderator of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity, has disclosed the members of the writing teams and their assigned topics leading up to the final draft of the panel’s recommendations to the 217th General Assembly in 2006.
The writing assignments include an initial three segments with a fourth writing group assigned the task of preparing proposed conclusions, Demarest told The Layman Online.
Demarest said the themes of the first three reports and their writing teams are:
Theology, including Christology: Scott Anderson, Frances Taylor Gench, William Stacy Johnson, Jong Hyeong Lee, Lonnie Oliver and Barbara Wheeler.
Ordination, sexuality and “other controversial issues:” Mike Loudon, Sarah Sanderson-Doughty and John Wilkinson.
Polity, process and decision-making: Wilkinson, Mark Achtemeier, Joe Coalter and Vicky Curtiss.
Review and conclusions: Jack Haberer, William Stacy Johnson and Martha Sardongei. This writing group will prepare its report after the task force approves the final content in the other three segments.
Previously, an official news release by the task force, which was prepared by the Office of the General Assembly, had listed Gradye Parsons as a member of one of the writing teams. But Demarest said that was in error. Parsons is an associate stated clerk of the Office of the General Assembly and not eligible to serve as a member of a writing team for the appointed body.
The task force’s news release did not reveal the names of the task force members who would be assigned to the specific writing groups.
Demarest said he and co-moderator Jenny Stoner will work with all of the writing teams.
The task force members who prepare the first three reports are scheduled to present their reports to the task force at its three-day meeting in July.
Demarest said the first day of the July meeting may be in executive session but that the panel will consider the first three reports in open session and decide, whether by consensus or votes, the final content of those reports.
Following the July meeting, the Haberer-Johnson-Sardongei writing group will prepare proposed conclusions for consideration at a one-day meeting of the task force in August. The task force plans to compile a final draft report in English, Korean and Spanish and send copies to all of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries and 11,000 congregations.
The 213th General Assembly in 2001 established the task force to make recommendations on Christology, Biblical authority and interpretation, ordination standards and power.