The Covenant Connection

A Newsletter of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians 2515 Fillmore St. San Francisco Ca 94115 t 415 351 2196 (v) t 415 351 2198 (f) t www.covenantnetwork.org

Spring, 2005

Kathleen Norris to speak at the 2005 Covenant Network Conference

Author and poet Kathleen Norris will keynote the 2005 Covenant Conference, Disciples in Community, in November. Norriss books include Dakota, The Cloister Walk, and Amazing Grace. Other plenary speakers will be Amy Plantinga Pauw, Professor of Doctrinal Theology, Louisville Seminary; Larry Rasmussen, Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics (emeritus), Union(NY); and Eugene Rogers, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Virginia. Preachers will include Margaret Aymer, Assistant Professor of New Testament, Interdenominational Theological Center; Tom Long, Professor of Preaching, Candler School of Theology; Doug Nave, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York; and Nora Tibbs Tisdale, Consulting Theologian at the Fifth Avenue Church. The Covenant Network Conference, Disciples in Community will take place at the Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, November 3-5, 2005. Detailed conference information and registration will be available this summer. The Christian Science Monitor website is posting a series of articles and essays examining the political and cultural divide with an aim toward getting people to talk with each other rather than past each other. Visit www.csmonitor.com/commentary/conversations.html for more information. A new curriculum on the ethics of human sexuality, Becoming One In Christ, has been written by the Rev. Doc. Kevin E. Frederick and is available on the Covenant Network Resources page for downloading by congregations and other interested groups. www.covenantnetwork.org/ resourcestop.html. The PC(USA)s National Pastors Retreat will be held May 27-31 at the Snowbird Resort in Utah. Speakers include Walter Brueggemann, Barbara Brown Taylor, James Forbes, and Tony Campolo. See www.pcusa.org/pastorsabbath for information. A Church For Our Time takes tradition seriously but actively engages its current context. The popular week-long seminar which debuted last year at Ghost Ranch will repeat this year on June 26 to July 3 at Ghost Ranch and on August 8 to 12 at the Montreat Conference Center. Leaders at Ghost Ranch include Deborah Block, Tim Hart-Andersen, Sheila Gustafson, Ted Wardlaw, and Alika Galloway. Leaders at Montreat include Herb Nelson, Ted Wardlaw, Joe Harvard, and Kim Richter. The Covenant Network Northwest Conference, A New Way for a New Day, is scheduled for October 15th, 2005 at the Newport Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Washington. Former Moderator Susan Andrews will keynote; James Noel is the featured preacher. The Cathedral College of Preachers in Washington D.C. will feature a seminar led by J. Barrie Shepherd on May 16th to the 20th, The Pulpit as a Playground for the Spirit: Whatever happened to Delight? For more information, visit www.cathedralcollege.org.

New Resources for Dialogue and Education are coming on-line

Put these Dates on Your Calendar!

We seek the gift of unity among all who confess the name of Jesus Christ as Lord. Unity is Christs prayer for those who would follow him, so that the world might believe. We hope to maintain communion fellowship with all whose lives are guided by the Christian creeds and by the confessions of Reformed faith. We pledge to strengthen our ties to those who are at risk of being excluded by recent legislative actions of our church. We also want to live in unity with those whose views are different from ours. From the Call to Covenant Community. Please read in its entirety at covenantnetwork.org/call2cc.html.

Southeast Covenant Network Conference: Challenges Confronting the Church

The first Southeast Regional Conference, April 1-2 in Davidson, NC, offers Presbyterians in our corner of the country a safe place to ask questions, confess confusion and learn from one another. One of the goals of local Covenant Networks is fostering honest and open theological conversations in a non-adversarial context. This conference is hosted by Charlotte Presbytery's Covenant Network group led by the Rev. Doug Oldenburg. Having retired from the presidency of Columbia Theological Seminary and served as Moderator of the 210th PC(USA) General Assembly, Doug now lives in Davidson. What better place is there than Davidson College Presbyterian Church to discuss responsibly issues before the denomination? Hospitality (a characteristic generally credited to Southerners) is a biblical edict and a cornerstone of the Covenant Davidson College Network. Presbyterian Church During registration at DCPC from 1-3 p.m. on April 1st (no fooling), there will be opportunities to see Turning Points, the Covenant Network documentary which premiered at the last General Assembly. The Rev. Joanna Adams, who is featured in one of the video stories, will preach at the Opening Worship at 3 p.m.; and her successor as Co-Moderator of Covenant Network, the Rev. Kim Richter, will preach at the Closing Worship on April 2nd. The Rev. Jack Rogers will give the keynote address, The Big Five Theological Issues in the Homosexuality Debate. Dr Rogers described himself as a bridge-builder when he was elected Moderator of the 213th PC(USA) General Assembly, promising to listen to all voices and to discover a unity that is more fundamental than our difference. Gary Demarest, Co-chair of the churchs Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity, will report on that groups work. Another highlight of the Conference will be seeing the acclaimed play Benedictions, which the Davidson Community Players will present after dinner on Friday evening. Written by Judy Simpson Cook, a Presbyterian elder in Charlotte, Benedictions tells the story of a Presbyterian female pastor whose good life is interrupted by the appearance of a young homosexual man, then shaken by personal tragedy, culminating in a poignant soul-searching and rediscovery of the reality of Gods love. For more information or to register, visit the Covenant Network web page at www.covenantnetwork.org/SEConf05/seconfdtls.html Rebecca Schenck - Charlotte Presbytery Covenant Network

Share the Vision

Toward a church as generous and just as Gods grace.

Do you share the vision? If the vision is to be realized, its up to each of us its up to you. Change happens not somewhere out there where other people are working, but where you live and breathe and do your ministry, in your The Rev. Tricia Dykers Koenig congregation and presbytery and community. Thats why the Covenant Network is focusing on local organizing. Top two tips for effective local organizing: 1) Be Intentional. Think about what most needs to happen in your context. One size does not fit all. Your greatest demand may be for mutual support, education, reaching out across boundaries, being connected with resources but priorities must be discerned where you are, not decreed from afar. 2) Be Consistent. In order to be intentional proactive and prepared you need a group thinking together on a regular basis. This may mean meeting weekly, The Rev. Lou East monthly or quarterley, or simply the week before each presbytery meeting. If you already have a group organized locally, please be in touch with National Organizer Tricia Dykers Koenig, [email protected], or Southeast Regional Coordinator Lou East, [email protected], to let us know what youre up to wed love to share your stories with others. And if you dont, were eager to help you get started. If it is to be, it is up to me. We look forward to hearing from you! Tricia Dykers Koenig

The Rev. Joanna Adams

The Rev. Jack Rogers

The Rev. Gary Demarest

The Rev. Kim Richter

Covenant Network Chapters and Churches are Making a Difference Presbytery of the James
The Covenant Network Chapter in the Presbytery of the James is now in its second year. FPC recently held an adult forum to share The Covenant A core group meets monthly during the lunch reflections on the Covenant Network Conference Network Chapter in the hour for study and planning. Among the books from three members who attended. After Presbytery of San discussed by the group is Godviews, by Jack reviewing the purpose and the history of the Gabriel has been Haberer. Covenant Network for newcomers, the Calhoun meeting for five years familys segment in Turning Points was shown. and is one of the oldest The PoJ Chapter sponsored a open meeting Afterward, participants talked about the Covenant Network with the Rev. Steve Montgomery which drew Calhounss story - and how a version of that story chapters. The PSG 150 Presbyterians from around the region, many also has played itself out in that congregation. Chapter holds three of whom were grateful to break through the general membership isolation surrounding the issues of gay and On that morning, a third-time visitor came to meeting each year and lesbian participation in the Presbyterian Church.I the forum. At the end of the forum, he stood up the steering committee didnt know there were and addressing the meets monthly. One of so many people who group, came out. thought like this, one Before this moment, he the general membership meetings participant said when was only out to his is a catered dinner with The Covenant Network Chapter in the the event was over. family - but not at a national speaker. The Presbytery of Western North Carolina started work. The PoJ Chapter other two meetings are meeting two years ago in support of restoring has sent out letters to He trusted us to more informal, with a full authority for ordination to the local the leadership of share this about potluck and local examining authorities. Since then, the members congregations in the himself, Pastor Scott presentations. of the Chapter realized that gay and lesbian presbytery offering to Marrese-Wheeler members of their congregations as well as The PSG chapter come and present said. People have family members needed a safe place to meet and places its membership information and known him for years support one other. meetings within the facilitate discussion on but not this. Everyone context of worship. The PWNC Chapter sponsored and then the issues of inclusion. applauded and then The Order of Worship spun out Welcome Home, where families with Congregations and there were hugs and from their last meeting gay and lesbian members can break their youth groups have tears. God does move is on the Covenant isolation and claim their families rightful place responded positively. through our living Network web site at in their congregations. stories. That video In addition to www.Covenantnetwork made a difference - as Recently, members of the Welcome Home conversation around .org/newsermpap.html group showed Turning Points at Grace Covenant did the Calhouns the ordination issues, We have always held Presbyterian Church. At that event, a mother of a story. the PoJ chapter is our meetings as gay child found the courage to break a silence of working to witness to services of worship, years and speak to her friends about her love for the larger secular Sonny Swenston said. her child and his life. community, as the It works well for us Virginia State The PWNC Chapter meets monthly and and is a demonstration Legislature recently serves as a clearing house of ideas for better of our belief in the considered barring ministry in the presbytery.. They attribute their Reformed traditions adoptions by gay and sucess to date on setting and remaining focused The Presbytery of and a demonstration of lesbian families. on annual action goals. Carlisle Chapter is just how we can do beginning to form. church as well as be Judd and Peggy the church. McConnell invited a Covenant Network recently received an exceptional gift of $15,000 group of 12 people to from First Church of Decatur, IL. The gift helps to pay off production their home where they costs for the Turning Points video and will also add to the David B. viewed Turning Points together. We couldnt McDowell scholarship fund that assists seminarians and small-church stop talking, McConnell reports. Even after we pastors attend the Covenant Conference. served the dessert, even as the night wore on, Other churches may want to study First Decatur's policy for using people kept talking about the video and about undesignated bequests. The first $3,000 goes to the Memorial Fund; the what we could do next. balance is evenly divided among their capital fund, an endowment program, There is something about gathering in a and selected mission projects. Covenant Network is very grateful to be one home, in serving food, McConnell said.I of the missions selected this spring! envision a series of meetings in homes, viewing Immanuel Church in Milwaukee has included the Covenant Network the video, talking about it. Were going to do in its Alternative Christmas Market offerings every year since 2002, and more of this. some other congregations have now followed their lead.

First Presbyterian Church, Marshfield, IL

Presbytery of San Gabriel

Presbytery of Western North Carolina

Presbytery of Carlisle

Continuing the Ministry

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage Paid Shawnee Mission, KS Permit No 223

Anitra Kitts Rasmussen, Editor [email protected]

2515 Fillmore Street San Francisco, CA 94115

Save the Dates! Covenant Network Conference - 2005 November 3-5 - Memphis, Tennessee Disciples in Community

Toward a Church as Generous and Just as Gods Grace

April 2005 Dear Friends, Our denomination is taking an intentional period to slow down activity and deepen reflection. This year is the first since 1789 that we are not coming together in General Assembly. While this changes the rhythm and dynamic of our communal life, it does not lessen our need for fellowship and thinking together. A number of opportunities to do so are highlighted in this newsletter. Whether by traveling or, equally usefully, by gathering in congregations and presbyteries, wed like to think that many Presbyterians are using some of this time to reflect together about the church we long for, and even more, about the church God longs for us to become. As the denominations Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity & Purity of the Church moves ahead toward a report next fall, we all are responsible to practice ways of listening to each other, studying and doing mission together. As Paul wrote to his former parishioners in Corinth, You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common (I Cor 1:10, in Eugene Petersons translation.) More than anything else, we need to be intentional and disciplined about praying for the Church. We hope the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Church are in personal prayers and Prayers of the People, all across the denomination. And we remember with gratitude the guidelines adopted by an earlier G.A., which conclude with the promise to include our disagreements in our prayers, not praying for the triumph of our viewpoints, but seeking God's grace to listen attentively, to speak clearly, and to remain open to the vision God holds for us all. Grace and peace,

A Message from our Co-Moderators

Kimberly C. Richter

Jon Walton