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Welcome to Presbyterian Perspectives, an online forum on faith and politics from First Presbyterian Church in Wichita Kansas.
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Welcome to Presbyterian Perspectives, an online forum on faith and politics from First Presbyterian Church in Wichita Kansas.
Our first meeting regarding our faith and politics has occured and it is my belief that it was a success. Neighbor Roger Eastwood asked me the next day, “have you elected a president yet?” I think it is honest to say we are a diverse enough group that we may not reach consensus on that issue. We continue to work on the blog and will continue to let you know as progress is made.
Learning about this experiment of conversation regarding faith and politics, I want to enter the conversation initially and briefly for now.
I have been informed via family contacts of this experience re: politics at FPC and invited to participate. It reminded me of an issue of a religious journal that just arrived in our mailbox. The issue addresses “How to Talk Politics Without Dividing the Congregation.”
In my opinion, this exercise may be one of the helpful ways of accomplishing that goal.
I will follow the comments with interest and look forward to hearing the views and dynamics addressed in our US arena of politics during an election year with the various postures of faith and theological persuasion of those of us who live with a two kingdom ethic in our post-modern culture.
Roland
Thur.May 22,2008
A day or two ago we received our publication of the “Laman” Vol.41 No. 3/May 2008, There was a time in the past when it arrived I would just throw it in the trash not bothering to unfold it. I was aware that various ministers of that day and time gave it the same teatment. In more recent years, however, I have found the paper to include many articles that I believe should be of great interest to Presbyerians; such as “PCUSA at a Crossroad.” Also there is space given to the up coming election for the positions of Stated Clerk and Moderator to the General Assembly. Both positions are four year obligations. I am not certain how much these high positions affect our local church however they are our leaders and considering the rate of the declining membership in the PCUSA it would seem, as stated in the Layman, it is a serious matter and requires men and women who have dedication, leadership abilities, and Christian foresight if we are going to survive for the long haul. My faith says we will be there!! There are 28 pages to the May 2008 issue of the Layman; it is full of controversial issues relative to our faith. Our “Faith and Politics” group should discuss them all so that we could bcome better friends or????
The invitation by Rick Wedel to the link with our Church web-site was a delight for a new member of FPC. The May 4th Service included congregational singing of one of my very favorite hymns, “When Morning Gilds The Sky.” My first exposure to this inspiring, somewhat non-traditional, melodic PSALM: – “may Jesus Christ be praised,” – was as a theme song for a half-hour morning meditation broadcast under the direction of Wilbur Nelson and the Morning Chapel Hour Singers, (based in Long Beach, CA). Fortunately, I found several copies of an album they produced – (since my original disc acquired in the 1960’s suffers from a bit of ‘over-play’. Back to the subject at hand: The link to First Presbyterian Church, Wichita, found me engrossed with literary and pictoral history. Recent photos of special events and persons included a snapshot visit to the Archives, where I am becoming even further indoctrinated, while delving into the files as an assist to Mr. Gary Huffman, who is organizing a concise, quick reference index to the Archives collections. Speed-reading a multitude of newspaper clippings and published articles in order to briefly specify subject content, is providing an enviable exposure to First Church Presbyterians and to the Archives 1995 125th Anniversary chronicle of the First Presbyterian Church in Wichita: THIS IS WHO WE ARE.