November 13, 2006

Introduction to the Discussion of Marriage Equality

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The Presbytery is providing a number of excellent workshops, conferences, and dialogues. The other day, along with several of you, I attended a presentation by Alan Hirsch, author of The Shaping of Things to Come. Alan encouraged us to look deeply into our tradition to discover the archetypes that form the foundation of what it means to be Presbyterian. “Who are the heroes of our faith?” he asked. While I have a difficult time imagining a John Calvin logo on a superhero outfit, I suppose he’s the closest thing we’ve got. People mentioned the word “scholar” as important to our heritage. While we do value education, I think Calvin was also concerned about power and process. He believed in power-sharing, and developed a process for corporate discernment of God’s leading.

Parliamentary procedure has served the church well, but it has its limits. Even the revised Robert’s Rules of Order suggest that there may be times when it is advisable to have break-out groups in order to aid in the “Crystallization of Opinion.” At the Forum to discuss the Marriage Equality proposal held on October 26, it was apparent that there are within the presbytery deeply held divergent opinions on this issue. Since we are very divided over the proposal we are about to consider, the Vision Committee and Council suggest we employ this model, presented in Robert’s Rules of Order, before we debate and vote on the proposal. We have invited Vicky Curtiss, who has expertise in facilitating this process and was a member of the General Assembly Peace, Unity, and Purity Task Force, to lead us through this process. Materials were sent with the White Book to help you prepare for the meeting.

In anticipation of our time together Thursday, I invite you to consider how we demonstrate our discipleship to Christ. As members of the Body of Christ, we are to show respect for each member (I Cor. 12:14-26). We are called to witness to God’s in-breaking reign through the love we show one another. As we discuss and debate on Thursday, please observe the following Rules for Fair Fighting:

Stick to the subject.
Avoid personal attacks and put-downs.
Refrain from making threats.
Don’t generalize.
Remain calm.

I encourage all of us to pray that our meeting together on November 16 will be meaningful, productive and loving.

Yours in Service to Christ,

The Rev. Dr. Anita E. Hendrix, Moderator, Presbytery of Baltimore

Inside this issue

Events of the week:

Nov. 16 Presbytery Meeting

1:00pm First PC of Bel Air

Take Note/Act Now

§ Mileage Reimbursement Rate

§ PSMIN and PADVN materials

§ Table and Tree loans needed

§ Spiritual Direction Retreat

§ Congo Mission Luncheon

§ NC4ND Thank-you Luncheon

§ AIDS Memorial Service

§ Guatemala Mission Trip

§ Triennium Deadline

§ Tour of Italy, April ‘07

§ Religion/Biblical Lit. Conf.

§ How to Wage Peace Conf.

§ Military Phone Cards

Prayer Concerns

Havre de Grace PC
First PC of Westminster

People

Joan Berry will be commissioned as a lay pastor at the Presbytery meeting on Nov. 16th; Catonsville PC will host a recognition service for her on Sunday, Nov. 19^th at 4:00pm.

Prayer Concerns

Havre de Grace PC

ask for prayers:

· For encouragement and excitement about the future as they enter a time of transition between pastors

· For the excitement from their fall devotional to continue, and that the new people it attracted will grow in faith and in love

First PC of Westminster

ask for prayers:

· Of thanks for Tonya Gunton, their new Director of Spiritual Formation

· As they seek to expand worship opportunities

· For continued growth in the areas of Youth and Christian Education

· For their next trip to the Gulf Coast

· For a growing sense of God’s call to mission and ministry

Contact Information

For the Presbytery Offices
Phone:
410-433-2012 or

800-511-0087

Fax:
410-433-2066

E-mail:
office@baltimorepresbytery.org
Website: www.baltimorepresbytery.org

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email Alice McGee

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Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items (non-dated items first; dated items in date order)

The IRS has raised the Mileage Reimbursement Rate to 48.5 cents per mile starting Jan. 1, 2007. Presbytery policy is that churches should pay the federal reimbursement rate.

Two new packets of materials for congregations are available in the resource center: one from the Presbyterian Serious Mental Illness Network (PSMIN) and another from the Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network (PADVN). Contact Wanda Morgan for more information.

For the Fair Trade Festival (Dec 7-10) the Next Generation Project would like to borrow: five 8’ folding tables, two round folding tables and one 6’ artificial Christmas tree. Contact Tim or Saranell Hartman 410-569-8150.

Towson PC will be hosting Exploring Spiritual Direction: A Retreat Day, on Sat., Nov. 18^th from 9:30am – 3:30pm. The leader will be the Director of Training and Programs for Oasis Ministries, Rev. Glenn Mitchell. RSVP by Nov. 8th (more).

Maryland PC will host a luncheon on Nov. 19^th with guest Dr. Cecile DeSweemer. She will speak about her hunger relief work to the Democratic Republic of Congo (more).

There will be a luncheon to thank past and current supporters of New Churches for a New Day at the Hopkins Club in Baltimore, MD on Thurs. Nov. 30^th at 11:30am. Invitations have been sent to churches and individual donors to hear an update directly from new church starters. RSVP to the Presbytery to attend (read full invitation).

First and Franklin Street PC will host an AIDS memorial service for those who have died from the disease on Fri., Dec. 1^st at 8:00pm. The service marks the 25^th anniversary of the disease. An offering will support local and global AIDS projects (more).

The Guatemala Partnership will be leading a mission trip to Guatemala from Jan. 29^th – Feb. 5^th, 2007. Registrations and deposits are due by Dec. 1^st (more).

Reminder to youth workers: the Triennium deadline for applications is Jan.16^th, 2007.

Ken Kovacs will be leading a 9-day tour of Italy from April 19-27, 2007 (more).

Synod and GA items
You are invited to two events around the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature on Nov. 17-18 in Washington, DC (more).

Other items
The Murphy Initiative for Justice and Peace will be hosting a conference titled “How to Wage Peace” on Sat., Nov. 18^th from 9:30-3:30 at Bon Secours Spiritual Center (more).

Overseas military personnel appreciate phone cards to stay in contact with their families, esp. during the holidays. You can help fulfill a request from a chaplain in our Presbytery.