As each of us discerns how we are going to vote in this and subsequent elections, I would like to point you to several wonderful resources produced by the Presbyterian Church (USA).

1. Presbyterian Social Witness Policy Compilation:
Throughout the history of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and its predecessor denominations, the General Assemblies have adopted numerous social witness policies that help the church to discern faithful acts of public witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

All of these policies have been brought together in an online guide arranged by topic. (I suggest that you view the guide in Java by clicking the tab that says “Java” just beneath the PC(USA) logo.)

As you examine what the candidates have to say about such issues as war, public education, reproductive rights, immigration, and the economy (to name a few), you can use the compilation to see what our church’s social witness policies have to say about these same issues.

This resource is produced by the General Assembly Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, and is updated annually. (Please note that the current copy online does not yet include policies adopted by the 218th General Assembly, which met this past June.)

2. “Christian and Citizen” Booklet:
The “Christian and Citizen” Booklet identifies some of the main policy issues that will be highlighted in this current election campaign, and gives the reader a sample of General Assembly statements that relate to these specific public policy issues.

The booklet also includes an theological introduction that outlines the challenging call we have as Christians to engage in political life.

This resource is produced by the PC(USA) Washington Office, and it does include policies adopted by the 218th General Assembly.

3. PC(USA) Washington Office Election Year Resource List:
The PC(USA) Washington Office website provides an extensive resource list every election year.

It includes voter registration information, worship resources, a study guide on Christians and Government, and several “how to” guides.


Many blessings as we each discern God’s call to engage in the public witness of the gospel this election season!

A good conversation was begun over the weekend about the current presidential race, but as some of my postings and comments were perceived as supporting one party over the other, I want to reframe the conversation. Therefore, I have removed my last two posts. Please check back this week for new posts and a new conversation about the issues surrounding this race.

Blessings,
Noelle

a reflection on NNPCW's annual event by abigail king kaiser


the national network of presbyterian college women just might be the most fabulous part of PCUSA. though no longer a "college woman"(i am a student...) i always wanted to go to a nnpcw leadership event and never could make it while i was in college. but here i am in the same city as their annual leadership event, so i signed up and today i went.

"no one can give you the work you must do... your soul must call forth the work."rev. dr. katie cannon's keynote this morning took my breath away. she taught me a lot about myself. she challenged us to listen to our pleasure... something difficult for me. i think life should be hard, and that if i am not stressed and stretched, i am not working hard enough. i tend to think that if i am not hurting in some way, i am not contributing to the world. rev. dr. cannon reminded me that what we love, what gives us joys, what connects us with the divine is the imago dei in us... and to step on that or to allow others to step on that is a sin.

it is important to remember those folk who got me where i am... there are a long list of them... but it is also important to be able to see the contributions i make to others. these days i find myself apologizing to others (perhaps for no reason, or before the fact, or just in case) and calling myself/thinking of myself as just a minion--a tiny, replaceable cog in a big machine. maybe this is true, maybe it is not. but i, of all people, should not be giving myself a hard time. i am my biggest obstacle most often, and rev. dr. cannon showed me that... something important to remember as i embark on new journeys as a "pastoral assistant" and "local assistant to the moderator" (i promise to try to stop calling myself a minion and thinking of myself that way. big sin.)

and after this bit of church (it was a sacred time and place) i lead a workshop. there... i claimed my authority. i lead a workshop and had a blast! six fabulous women joined me and we played with art, talking through how the arts can contribute to our faith lives and social change. we did a visual lectio divina of micah 6:6-8, in two languages. i learned from each of the women about who God calls us to be. the beautiful images they created are still swirling in my head. i was worried i wouldn't be able to fill up an hour and a half (and yes found myself apologizing to these ladies before we had even done anything) and couldn't believe how quickly the time went. i hope they had as much fun as i did. and i hope that i am blessed enough to continue to work with some of these women in the church in the future.

so in closing, i heart nnpcw and you should too.