News of note
Living Waters will fold
final synod newspaper
The Layman, November 30, 2010
Citing a combination of shrinking dollars, higher expenses and the rise of electronic communications, the Synod of Living Waters will end its 30-year publishing run early next year.
Presbyterian Voice will mail its final print edition in March 2011, but will continue to publish in electronic form. According to an announcement on the Presbyterian Voice Web site, Living Waters is the last of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s 16 synods to cease production of its printed newspaper
“Enhanced electronic communication has a better chance of reaching those generations we are called to reach out to and witness the Good News of the Gospel,” the article states.
The print edition of the publication covered presbyteries including East Tennessee, Holston, Middle Tennessee, Mid-Kentucky, Mid-South, Mississippi, North Alabama, Sheppards and Lapsley, South Alabama, St. Andrew, Transylvania and Western Kentucky.
Kirkpatrick 10-A endorsement on YouTube
An endorsement of Amendment 10-A, which seeks change to existing standards for ordained officers, by former PCUSA Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick is now on YouTube and is being used to lobby for its passage.
Kirkpatrick’s comments are made in a 2-minute video, which now is posted on the Covenant Network Web site via YouTube, titled “Why Amendment 10-A is good for the Presbyterian Church (USA).” Similar to comments made during a sermon at the3-day conference in Houston Nov. 4-6, Kirkpatrick said the “damage” caused to hundreds “to have the door slammed in front of them” by G-6.0106b.
The fidelity/chastity standard in G-6.0106b requires ordained officers to be faithful in marriage between a man and woman or chaste in singleness, and also excludes those who refuse to repent of any self-acknowledged practice that the confessions call sin. Opponents of the standard argue that it excludes practicing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. The Covenant Network was formed to remove the standard.
“It is doing the church no good to keep voting this year after year,” Kirkpatrick said, while predicting the end of the standard in the current referendum. “It needs to go ahead and change it and make it right.”
He also argued that Amendment 10-A is more consistent with the denomination’s constitution and its understanding of call. Kirkpatrick’s comments, which have attracted more than 100 YouTube views since its Nov. 20 posting, have been criticized by many who support G-6.0106b.
Byers announces retirement
At the same Covenant Network of Presbyterians meeting, the organization’s Executive Director, Pamela Byers, announced that she will retire in mid-2011. Byers has held the position since the organization’s founding in 1997.
Byers is an elder at Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. A graduate of Wellesley College, she earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in 2009.
OPW seeks interns
The Office of Public Witness (OPW), formerly known as the Washington Office, is seeking applicants for its Internship for Public Witness program.
Persons participating in the internship program will work with OPW staff and have the opportunity to follow an issue through the legislative and decision-making process. In addition, they will also be exposed to other components of public policy ministry, which may include church relations, communications, resource development, and event planning, according to the OPW Web site.
“The Office of Public Witness is prioritizing our internship program in an effort to train a new generation of prophetic leaders,” said the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, director of OPW. “By educating persons to speak truth to power, we acknowledge the important role of the Biblical prophets, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and John Calvin. In these times of economic deprivation, environmental neglect and human rights abuse, it is imperative that our internship program be connected to the contemporary role of the Church as an advocate for justice.”
Interested applicants may download the complete description at www.pcusa.org/go/opw-intern. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and applicants are requested to specify the time frame they wish to serve.