My Big Fat Gay Wedding
By David Maxwell ~ Covenant Network week on ecclesio.com concludes as David shares the joy of his wedding: "...Marriage, flawed as the institution may be, is still somehow sacred. Two people agree to an ancient covenant before God and friends. I was converted; perhaps civil unions and domestic partnerships are fine for people who prefer to omit all the God talk or all the institutional religion. Certainly, civil rights should be granted to all couples regardless of the exact title of their contract. But I realized that what we wanted was marriage—nothing less. It more accurately reflects how we have understood this strange, wonderful union. How it works is a holy mystery and it has only survived with God’s blessing. Society and the church need to catch up."
Discipline in Faith, Discipline of Self, Discipline with Church
How a pastor learned from a same-sex marriage and what came after: Day 4 of Covenant Network week on ecclesio.com features Tara Spuhler McCabe's reflection: "...I offer that any one of us can never know when we will have to stand at the intersection of our disciplines and then need to step forward into the next moment engaging all three, even with tension and conflict. When the moment came to me, officiating a wedding for a same-sex couple, as a pastor, I could not turn away. My conviction of faith, of my humble place before the mystery of it all, was deeper than I have known before. I acted with full integrity in that faith and true to the self I am called to be. This is why I can accept the discipline of the church with whom I have committed to be in relationship. I could not deny the call as a pastor to a gap where two people, seeking to have their love explained and professed through the ordering of worship, would celebrate and praise God’s work in bringing them together as no civil union or priest of their own tradition would do..."
Same-Sex Marriage: The Church’s Next Big Thing
Brian Ellison introduces Covenant Network week on ecclesio.com, and the Covenant Network's emphasis on marriage in the coming year.
Boy Scouts Moving Away from Discrimination?
Presbyterian minister Eagle Scouts Chris Iosso and Patrick Heery encourage supporting the Boy Scouts of America in their proposal to eliminate the ban on gay Scouts and leaders.
Presbyterian Welcome Launches Youth Group
Our friends at Presbyterian Welcome are beginning a youth group in the New York City area. The first meeting will be on Saturday, January 19. Read the details from John Russell Stanger, Organizer of Mission and Advocacy.
Book Note: Luke Paul
A Review by Barbara Wheeler of Luke Paul, by Finlay A. J. Macdonald:"The Church of Scotland’s long-time, greatly respected Principal Clerk (Stated Clerk in our terms) has written a book about a minister’s struggle with the issues of gay clergy and same-sex civil partnerships. The book is fiction, but it reads less like a novel than book-length journalism..."
Dr. Mary McClintock Fulkerson preaching at November conference!
We are delighted to welcome Mary McClintock Fulkerson to the leadership team for this year's conference.
Interview with Rev. Dr. Arlo Duba
Dr. Arlo Duba, Professor of Worship Emeritus, retired Dean of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and PC(USA) Minister of Word and Sacrament, was recently interviewed by More Light Presbyterian Outreach Director, Debra Peevey. Dr. Duba shares his journey, leading to a change of heart and mind regarding the ordination of LGBT persons.
The Christian Case for Gay Marriage
Dr. David Myers, in his plenary address at the recent CovNet Conference, affirms that "family values, a priority on covenant relationships, a celebration of marriage, a high view of Scripture: all these can co-exist with full and equal participation of gay and lesbian people in the life and the culture in the church."The complete address can be read here, including slides from Dr. Myers' powerpoint presentation.
Covenant Network and Presbyterians for Renewal Issue Joint Call to Prayer
As presbyteries consider Amendment 10-A, the boards of directors of Presbyterians for Renewal and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians have invited all Presbyterians to join in a Call to Prayer for our church and a joint commitment to conduct the upcoming discussions "in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called."
Covenant Network Board Recommendations on Issues before the GA
In its most recent Statement, the Covenant Network Board articulated 3 primary goals for the 219th GA. Further, the Board offers the following recommendations on several other issues coming before the Assembly.
Sign the Uganda Declaration
Sign the Uganda Declaration against criminalizing persons because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Church Unbound
Theological dialogue, reaching out across barriers, and the health of the Church are concerns of the Covenant Network; therefore we call attention to the Church Unbound Conference, August 11-14 at Montreat.
The Good News About Doubt
"...most of our days are not lived on Easter Sunday, nor are they lived in the valleys of Good Friday. If we’re honest, most of our days are spent living here, in a post Easter world where because of the resurrection everything is supposedly different, and yet when we look around us, far too little of the things that need to be different, are different."