“. . . the censure is removed”

The Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA ruled (on Monday, released on Tuesday . . . so not like Wimminwise is right up to the minute) that the Synod of the Pacific’s decision to censure Rev. Jane Spahr was reversed, and the censure removed. You can read the full text of the decision here.

There’s also a Presbyterian News Service report on the verdict here. Jane Spahr’s response is online here.

This seems like very good news! And at the same time, maybe not such good news, from the perspective of those who see the need for the church to recognize same-gender unions as marriages — since refusing precisely this recognition seems to played a role in the favorable verdict.

The opinion makes interesting reading, whatever one’s ultimate take on the reasoning. It contains some eloquent statements about the difficulty and ambiguity of prophetic ministry, the dangerous demands of pastoral care, and the challenge of ministry to marginalized and oppressed — which is, after all, the church’s mission.

And no doubt the writers of the opinion are correct about this: “Christians are called to do justice.” And no doubt they felt, as we all feel, sometimes more acutely than others, that this is no light task.

 

Chris Elwood and Sue Garrett on “Homosexuality and the Church”

I am going to be on I-71, returning from a short trip to Dayton, Ohio, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20 (that’s tomorrow!) — which is only of general interest because of what I would be doing if I weren’t:  going to the Christian Sexuality Forum that’s going to be held at that time in Hundley Hall, Gardencourt.  Professors Chris Elwood and Sue Garrett will moderate this forum. 

Organizers Gail Monsma and Karin Wright say “Many of us are struggling with how to think and talk about sexuality from a biblical and theological stance and also how to prepare ourselves to address this in pastoral ways.  We need a place to discuss our views and listen to each other.”  Sunday’s forum is meant to be such a safe place for discussion and learning.

There can’t be too many safe places for discussion and learning, especially about issues that are squarely facing the church and the world.  We hope many members of the community will take advantage of this opportunity to think about the way same-gender relationships look from various vantage points within the Christian Biblical and theological tradition. 

Then, we hope that many of those members will continue that process by coming to the discussion of gay marriage next Saturday, April 26, “Wedding Justice and Love in Faith Communities,” with Lisa Larges, Jim Rigby, Jane Spahr, and others, 9 a.m. to noon, also in Hundley Hall, Gardencourt. 

That discussion is part of a set of events that clusters around the hearing of Jane Spahr’s appeal on disciplinary charges in the denomination (more info here).  Which maybe just shows how much we have needed those safe spaces for discussion and learning, and for how long.

 

Spring Events

We have recently been updating our Events page. As of early this morning, the Events page reflects what we know of upcoming events, and also includes the traces of past events, through last year’s 2nd Annual Katie Geneva Cannon lecture.

Please feel free to click on Events and take a look at what’s in store for Spring, 2008! We are looking forward to visits from Rev. Bob Gamble of This Child Here in February and Rev. Jane Spahr of That All May Freely Serve in April, and to the 3rd Annual Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture and Consultation in March — March 30-31, to be precise.

This year’s Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture and Consultation promises to be a thought-provoking and memorable event. Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Associate Professor of Ethics and Director of Black Church Studies at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, will deliver the 2008 Katie Geneva Cannon lecture, which will confont the question “‘Why, In This Land: Unmasking, Debunking, and Disentangling’ the Interlocking Forces of Oppressive Institutions and Social Sin.” Dr. Floyd-Thomas will also lead a workshop on Monday, “Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: A Workshop in Metaethics and Conflict Resolution,” which will reflect on Dr. Cannon’s notion of “hitting a straight lick with a crooked stick” as “the genius of womanist ethics to both describe, analyze, and construct liberative ethics that seek to dismantle the intelocking forces of social oppression.” The workshop will delve into womanist ethical methods, an area on which Dr. Floyd-Thomas has published a significant book, Mining the Motherlode: Methods in Womanist Ethics.

Other events of the weekend will include worship with Dr. Teresa Snorton, Executive Director of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, on Monday morning in Caldwell Chapel, and reflection on “Gendered Dimensions of Contemporary Migrations” with Dr. Maura Toro-Morn, Professor of Sociology and Assistant Director of the Unit for International Linkages in the Office of International Studies at Illinois State University, on Monday night.

Nor can we forget the Silent Auction, which is becoming a significant part of the festivities surrounding the Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture. The Women’s Center is now actively seeking donations of extraordinary works of art and artisanship, or other auction-worthy items, to make the Silent Auction an event not to be missed. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Women’s Center and its programs. If you have items to donate to the Silent Auction, please contact us at our new extension, (502) 895-3411 ext. 285, or direct at (502) 894-2285, or by e-mail at womenscenter @ lpts.edu We look forward to hearing from you!

As excited as we are about the Katie Geneva Cannon events, we have not forgotten that we will also be celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, continuing our “Light+Lunch” series of lunch hour conversations, which will include a discussion of “gender respect” with Rus Funk of Menswork on March 11, and finally (we mean it) having an open house to welcome the Seminary community officially to the Women’s Center’s new space (WE LOVE IT!) in White Hall.

We know this isn’t all that will be happening this coming Spring semester — but what will be happening will continue to be available on our Events page. We hope readers will continue to check it out, and make a note in their calendars to join us for some of the events of the Spring!