Calvin Synod Herald, 1999 (99. évfolyam, 2-4. szám - 100. évfolyam, 9-12. szám)
1999-09-01 / 9-10. szám
8 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD UCC 22nd General Synod Restructuring and Actions The General Synod of the United Church of Christ met this year in Providence, Rhode Island, and finalized the form of its newly restructured government. Based upon a team leadership concept, the new constitution provides for Homeland, Wider Church, and Justice and Witness Ministries, each headed by an Executive Minister also newly elected. A checklist of the actions of GS-22 follows: * Voted overwhelmingly to “affirm and strengthen” marriage, but rejected an attempt to broaden the definition of marriage as “any covenant between two persons”; encouraged “local churches to provide counsel and preparation for those seeking to be married”, and urged the UCC’s new Local Church Ministries agency to continue development and promotion of marriagestrengthening programs and resources. While delegates did not back off from the 1997 General Synod action affirming “fidelity and integrity in marriage and other covenanted relationships” as the standard “for sexual and relational behavior for members of the United Church of Christ,” they voted down an amendment that defined marriage as any covenantal relationship between two persons. * Recognized that fewer men are taking an active role in church life and charged the national setting of the United Church of Christ to help local churches revive men’s ministry by serving as a clearinghouse of information and resources, equipping leaders, and spreading the word about successful models of men’s ministry programs in local congregations. * Called upon associations, conferences and seminaries of the United Church of Christ to begin dialogue on “Licensed and Ordained Ministries in the UCC” which include input from persons affected by decisions resulting from the discussion process * Reaffirmed the United Church of Christ’s commitment toward accessibility to all, as well as being multicultural and multiracial in scope, enabling persons with and without disabilities to serve in UCC congregations and ministry settings; and asked the Office of Church Life and Leadership (or its successor body) and the National Committee on Persons with Disabilities to develop educational programs and resources to help address discrimination against clergy with disabilities. *Developed a feedback mechanism for issues coming before General Synod 23 in 2001 by which local church comments on resolutions and other matters would be distributed to all delegates prior to their deliberation on issues. These comments would be part of the deliberations yet not be binding on delegates. * Overwhelmingly opposed the death penalty in light of information that more than 3,500 persons in the United States are on death rows in 38 different jurisdictions. That the death penalty has not proven to be an effective deterrent to crime, that Scripture repeatedly calls us to overcome evil with good and to transform hatred with love, and that the death penalty is imposed significantly more frequently when the victim is white. * Urged the church to “work together and with the broader ecumenical community” and to move towards a statement on Interfaith Relations for General Synod 23. * Criticized the Code of Conduct of the Apparel Industry Partnership and suggested improvements to the AIP documents, including: allowing children to complete mandatory education; establishing a worldwide standard 48-hour maximum work week with voluntary overtime; and paying employees a living wage. * Took a stand on school violence, calling on UCC members, churches and agencies to study the causes of violence in our schools and propose programs and activities to address those causes. * Voted to devote resources to reducing the incidence of suicide among gay and lesbian youth and pledged “to take actions that will increase awareness of and seriously address youth suicide and the link between youth suicide and sexual or gender identity.” * Pushed for remedies to fix serious flaws in the 1996 welfare reform legislation including an improvement in welfare assistance formulas so employment income does not drastically offset public benefits, an improvement in child care and transportation support, and an increase in the federal and state earned income tax credit. * Reduced the number of special mission offerings from six to four: One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, and the Christmas Fund. * Voted down a Florida Conference initiative calling for open enrollment in the insurance plan intended to get more people, especially young pastors and lay workers. Into the UCC Pension Boards-administered health, dental and disability plan. The two failed because they might have fattened the rolls, but they surely would have sunk the financial ship, according to Joan Brannick, head of the UCC’s Pension Boards. Delegates to General Synod: * Voted to continue the life of a national “Hispanic Ministries Implementation Team” for another two years and adopted a fiveyear Plan of Action. * Supported the Farm Labor Organizing Committee’s Boycott of Mount Olive Pickles. * Called attention to border ministries in UCC settings over the next two years and required a report on them to General Synod 23. * Issued a call for support of Jubilee 2000, the international effort to erase the major debt of 41 most severely impoverished nations. * Called for an official apology to the people of the Marshall Islands and full redress for the damages from atomic and nuclear testing. * Recognized the dangers of global warming and urged ratification of the Kyoto Climate Change Treaty. * Opened a two-year dialogue with the Alliance of Baptists, a progressive denomination of 60,000 members. * Approved a partnership in mission and ministry with the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa. * Urged the U.S. Government to use financial aid in ways that “deter development of Israeli settlements is Palestinian areas” and to “rebuild infrastructure and homes for the Palestinian people.” mo
