08927
December 12, 2008
More than 200 tune into moderator's Webcast
Conversation about 'rebuilding the Presbyterian establishment' can still be viewed
by Jerry L. Van Marter
Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE ― The second Webcast featuring Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow drew more than 200 viewers to a lively discussion of a paper entitled "Rebuilding the Presbyterian Establishment."
The one-hour Dec. 9 conversation between Reyes-Chow and the author of the paper ― Centre College professor Beau Weston ― can be viewed in its entirety at the Ustream site.
The Office of Theology and Worship of the General Assembly Council ― which commissioned Weston's paper for its "Occasional Papers" series ― issued a statement following the Webcast commending the two.
"The conversation on the Webcast modeled dialogue even in the midst of clear disagreement, and we commend it as an example of the sort of engaged conversation which will help us think clearly together as we seek faithfully to follow Jesus Christ today," the statement said. "More broadly, we are pleased by the varied critiques and commendations of the paper, and we look forward to further conversation about the ideas in the paper."
In his paper, Weston questions "whether the institutional arrangements of the PC(USA) help us flourish … or is it time for some of them to be reworked, reshaped or even replaced?"
Reyes-Chow remarked during the webcast that Weston's paper has generated considerable discussion around the PC(USA) ― which was also reflected in the number of people tuning into the Webcast ― "because it is asking the right question and inviting conversation about what are the best answers to that question."
Theology and Worship said "we look forward not only to continuing conversation about the paper itself, but also to other new proposals about where the shape of our life together is weak and where it is strong, why that is so, and what concrete steps can be taken to address weaknesses and enhance strengths."
Other "Occasional Papers" in the series include "Ordinary and Extraordinary Discipline" by Charles Wiley; "Bearing the Marks of the Church," with essays by Darrell Guder and others; and "Identity – Polity – Praxis: Ecclesiology and the Presbytery," by Paul Hooker. | 
