The Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center ( sabeel is Arabic for 'the way' and also 'a channel' or 'spring') is a Christian liberation theology organization based in Jerusalem . It was founded by Palestinian Anglican priest, Rev. Naim Ateek , the former Canon of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem.
128-661: An official partner of the Presbyterian Church USA , Sabeel has Friends of Sabeel chapters in the United States , Canada , the United Kingdom , Sweden , Denmark , Norway , Ireland , France , Germany , the Netherlands and Australia . According to its official website, Sabeel "strives to develop a spirituality based on love, justice, peace, nonviolence, liberation and reconciliation for
256-512: A moderator at each assembly who moderates the rest of the sessions of that assembly meeting and continues to serve until the next assembly convenes (two years later) to elect a new moderator or co-moderator. Currently, the denomination is served by Co-Moderators Cecelia Armstrong and Anthony Larson, who were elected at the 226th General Assembly (2024). They followed Ruth Santana-Grace and Shavon Starling-Louis, elected in 2022. They followed Elona Street-Stewart and Gregory Bentley, elected in 2020. At
384-507: A two-state solution as an immediate goal, while envisioning that it may eventually lead to a one-state solution . The document outlines several demands made of Israel, including the need for reparations to be made to Palestinians . It further states that "No solution is acceptable if it does not guarantee the Palestinians’ and Israelis’ right to self-determination , independence, and sovereignty" and calls for "a peace treaty… between
512-524: A PCUSA minister, many of these conservatives would establish what became known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936. Although the 1930s and 1940s and the ensuing neo-orthodox theological consensus mitigated much of the polemics during the mid-20th century, disputes erupted again beginning in the mid-1960s over the extent of involvement in the civil rights movement and the issue of ordination of women , and, especially since
640-531: A Teaching Elder, but the Office of the General Assembly does maintain and publish a national directory with the help of each presbytery's stated clerk. This directory is also published bi-annually with the minutes of the General Assembly. A pastor cannot be a member of the congregation he or she serves as a pastor because his or her primary ecclesiastical accountability lies with the presbytery. Members of
768-607: A beginning of the terraced gardens there. The Head of the religion after him, Shoghi Effendi , began building other structures and the Universal House of Justice continued the work until the Bahá'í World Centre was brought to its current state as the spiritual and administrative centre of the religion. Its gardens are highly popular places to visit and Mohsen Makhmalbaf 's 2012 film The Gardener featured them. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from
896-473: A dialogue with them on this issue." Presbyterian Church USA The Presbyterian Church (USA) , abbreviated PCUSA , is a mainline Protestant denomination in the United States . It is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country, known for its liberal stance on doctrine and its ordaining of women and members of the LGBT community as elders and ministers. The Presbyterian Church (USA)
1024-399: A geographical region to form a synod . Each synod contains at least three presbyteries, and its elected voting membership is to include both elders and Ministers of Word and Sacrament in equal numbers. Synods have various duties depending on the needs of the presbyteries they serve. In general, their responsibilities (G-12.0102) might be summarized as: developing and implementing the mission of
1152-589: A head the following year when, in response to the New York Presbytery's decision to ordain a couple of men who could not affirm the virgin birth, the PCUSA's General Assembly reaffirmed the "five fundamentals": the deity of Christ, the Virgin Birth, the vicarious atonement, the inerrancy of Scripture, and Christ's miracles and resurrection. This move against modernism caused a backlash in the form of
1280-459: A minister member or elected member of the presbytery as moderator with the concurrence of the local church session. The moderator presides over the session as first among equals and also serves as a "liturgical" bishop over the ordination and installation of elders and deacons within a particular congregation. The session guides and directs the ministry of the local church, including almost all spiritual and fiduciary leadership. The congregation as
1408-415: A new Presbyterian denomination that allows ordination of women but is more conservative theologically than PC(USA). In 2013 the presbyteries ratified the General Assembly's 2012 vote to allow the ordination of openly gay persons to the ministry and in 2014 the General Assembly voted to amend the church's constitution to define marriage as the union of two persons instead of the union of a man and woman, which
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#17327827566791536-440: A nominating committee of the congregation; in addition, nominations from the floor are permissible. Elders are then elected by the congregation. All elders elected to serve on the congregation's session of elders are required to undergo a period of study and preparation for this order of ministry, after which the session examines the elders-elect as to their personal faith; knowledge of doctrine, government, and discipline contained in
1664-592: A passage about Musa ( Moses ) proclaiming to the Children of Israel : "O my people! Enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you ˹to enter˺. And do not turn back or else you will become losers." The Quran also refers to the land as being 'Blessed'. Jerusalem (referred to as Al-Quds , Arabic : الـقُـدس , 'The Holy') has particular significance in Islam. The Quran refers to Muhammad 's experiencing
1792-604: A pattern set in the first congregation of Christians in Jerusalem described in the Book of Acts in the New Testament , the church is governed by presbyters (a term and category that includes elders and Ministers of Word and Sacrament, historically also referred to as "ruling or canon elders" because they measure the spiritual life and work of a congregation and ministers as "teaching elders"). The elders are nominated by
1920-502: A representative form of government, known as presbyterian polity , with four levels of government and administration, as outlined in the Book of Order . The councils (governing bodies) are as follows: At the congregational level, the governing body is called the session , from the Latin word sessio , meaning "a sitting". The session is made up of the pastors of the church and all elders elected and installed to active service. Following
2048-512: A territory roughly corresponding to the modern states of Israel and Palestine . Jews , Christians , Muslims , and Baháʼís regard it as holy . Part of the significance of the land stems from the religious significance of Jerusalem (the holiest city to Judaism , and the location of the First and Second Temples ), as well as its historical significance as the setting for most of the Bible ,
2176-421: A whole has only the responsibility to vote on: 1) the call of the pastor (subject to presbytery approval) and the terms of call (the church's provision for compensating and caring for the pastor); 2) the election of its own officers (elders and deacons); 3) buying, mortgaging, or selling real property. All other church matters such as the budget, personnel matters, and all programs for spiritual life and mission, are
2304-468: A wide land-range including Syria and Lebanon , especially the cities of Tyre and Sidon ; Az-Zujaj describes it as " Damascus , Palestine, and a bit of Jordan "; Muadh ibn Jabal as "the area between al-Arish and the Euphrates "; and Ibn Abbas as "the land of Jericho ". This overall region is referred to as " Ash-Shām " ( Arabic : الـشَّـام ). The holiest places for Baháʼí pilgrimage are
2432-857: Is a member the World Communion of Reformed Churches . The similarly named Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is a separate denomination whose congregations can also trace their history to the various schisms and mergers of Presbyterian churches in the United States . Unlike the more conservative Presbyterian Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA) supports the ordination of women and affirms same-sex marriages . It also welcomes practicing gay and lesbian persons to serve in leadership positions as ministers, deacons, elders, and trustees. The Presbyterian Church (USA)
2560-725: Is also known as the Presbyterian Historical Society . Six agencies carry out the work of the General Assembly, two of which (OGA and PMA) are being unified, with a new staff reporting structure that seems to imply that OGA and PMA have been dissolved. These are the Office of the General Assembly (OGA), the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation , the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, the Board of Pensions,
2688-621: Is also rejected by the ADL as an "ugly and false deicide charge against all the Jewish people - a concept rejected by prominent historians and repudiated by the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian denominations." The Judeo-Christian Alliance has also promoted Van Zile's paper, entitled "Sabeel's One State Agenda", claiming that Sabeel has failed to draw attention to the mistreatment of Christians by Muslim extremists in areas under
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#17327827566792816-556: Is different, as an extra day is observed in the Jewish diaspora . According to Eliezer Schweid : The uniqueness of the Land of Israel is...'geo-theological' and not merely climatic. This is the land which faces the entrance of the spiritual world, that sphere of existence that lies beyond the physical world known to us through our senses. This is the key to the land's unique status with regard to prophecy and prayer, and also with regard to
2944-405: Is elected annually and is either a minister member or an elder commissioner from one of the presbytery's congregations. The Moderator presides at all presbytery assemblies and is the chief overseer at the ordination and installation of ministers in that presbytery. The stated clerk is the chief ecclesial officer and serves as the presbytery's executive secretary and parliamentarian in accordance with
3072-418: Is open to Presbyterian high school students throughout the world. The very first Youth Triennium was held in 1980 at Indiana University and the conference for teens is an effort of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest Presbyterian denomination in the nation; Cumberland Presbyterian Church ; and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America , the first African-American denomination to embrace Presbyterianism in
3200-416: Is open to the community. Sabeel also publishes a quarterly English-language newspaper Cornerstone , which "highlights Sabeel's ministry activities both locally and internationally as well as theological reflections on contemporary social and political events". Sabeel describes Friends of Sabeel – North America (FOSNA) as "a nonprofit, tax-exempt Christian ecumenical organization seeking justice and peace in
3328-461: Is operating daily,". Similarly, in a February 2001 sermon, Ateek likened the occupation to the “stone placed on the entrance of Jesus’ tomb. ... This boulder has shut in the Palestinians within and built structures of domination to keep them in. We have a name for this boulder. It is called the occupation.” Sabeel's comparisons of Palestinians to the crucified Jesus and Israel to his murderers
3456-525: Is the " Promised Land ", an integral part of God's covenant . In the Torah , many mitzvot commanded to the Israelites can only be performed in the Land of Israel, which serves to differentiate it from other lands. For example, in the Land of Israel, "no land shall be sold permanently" (Leviticus 25:23). Shmita is only observed with respect to the Land of Israel, and the observance of many holy days
3584-538: Is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States, having 1,140,665 active members and 18,173 ordained ministers (including retired ones) in 8,705 congregations at the end of 2022. This number does not include members who are baptized but not confirmed , or the inactive members also affiliated. For example, in 2005, the Presbyterian Church (USA) claimed 318,291 baptized but not confirmed members and nearly 500,000 inactive members in addition to active members. Its membership has been steadily declining over
3712-468: The Auburn Affirmation — a document embracing liberalism and modernism. The liberals began a series of ecclesiastical trials of their opponents, expelled them from the church and seized their church buildings. Under the leadership of J. Gresham Machen , a former Princeton Theological Seminary New Testament professor who had founded Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929, and who was
3840-650: The Anti-Defamation League issued its list of "the top 10 anti-Israel groups in America" and included Friends of Sabeel–North America (FOSNA) and Jewish Voice for Peace among them. Friends of Sabeel– North America posted a response to the Anti-Defamation League saying that Fosna did not consider its criticism of Israeli government policies "anti-Israeli" and that to the extent those policies are unjust and violate international law, they jeopardize Israel's future. A Protestant church in
3968-590: The Church of Scotland embraced Reformed theology and presbyterian polity . The Ulster Scots brought their Presbyterian faith with them to Ireland, where they laid the foundation of what would become the Presbyterian Church in Ireland . Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought Presbyterianism to North America as early as 1640, and immigration would remain a large source of growth throughout
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4096-583: The Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ , are fairly progressive on matters such as doctrine, environmental issues, sexual morality, and economic issues, though the denomination remains divided and conflicted on these issues. Like other mainline denominations, the PC(USA) has also seen a great deal of demographic aging, with fewer new members and declining membership since 1967. In
4224-568: The Episcopal Church , have discussed divestment and the possibility of using the money in their pension funds and endowments to exert pressure for peace in the Middle East. In February 2006, the World Council of Churches (WCC) commended the actions of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and urged other member churches worldwide to consider economic measures to end Israel's occupation. Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, former special consultant to
4352-626: The Holy Land for Christian clergy. The trips provide them with an opportunity to meet, talk, and worship with Palestinian Christians and others who oppose the Israeli occupation. The clergy members are able to experience "the Separation Wall, illegal settlements, checkpoints, confiscated and demolished homes, refugee camps, and environmental degradation". Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds an ecumenical Communion service that
4480-745: The Isra and Mi'raj as "Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs". Ahadith infer that the "Farthest Masjid" is in Al-Quds; for example, as narrated by Abu Hurairah : "On the night journey of the Apostle of Allah, two cups, one containing wine and
4608-757: The Kaaba in the Hijazi city of Mecca , following a revelation to Muhammad by the Archangel Jibril . The current construction of the Al-Aqsa mosque , which lies on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, is dated to the early Umayyad period of rule in Palestine . Architectural historian K. A. C. Creswell , referring to a testimony by Arculf , a Gallic monk, during his pilgrimage to Palestine in 679–82, notes
4736-739: The Kairos Palestine Document , "a prayerful call by Palestinians Christians to end the Occupation". Based on the 1985 South African Kairos Document , Palestinian clergy called to the churches of the world for "a moment of truth: a word of faith, hope and love from the heart of the Palestinian suffering." Sabeel's Community Building Program seeks to educate the public about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to foster "a sense of solidarity", and to contribute to
4864-633: The Land of Israel as "The Holy Land" ( Hebrew : אֶרֶץ הַקוֹדֵשׁ Eretz HaKodesh ). The Tanakh explicitly refers to it as "holy land" in Zechariah 2:16. The term "holy land" is further used twice in the deuterocanonical books (Wisdom 12:3, 2 Maccabees 1:7). The holiness of the Land of Israel is generally implied by the Tanakh's claim that the Land was given to the Israelites by God, that is, it
4992-884: The Old Side–New Side Controversy that lasted from 1741 to 1758. In the South, the Presbyterians were evangelical dissenters , mostly Scotch-Irish , who expanded into Virginia between 1740 and 1758. Spangler in Virginians Reborn: Anglican Monopoly, Evangelical Dissent, and the Rise of the Baptists in the Late Eighteenth Century (2008) argues they were more energetic and held frequent services better attuned to
5120-702: The Reformed tradition that came before him in the form of the sermons and writings of Huldrych Zwingli . From Calvin's headquarters in Geneva , the Reformed movement spread to other parts of Europe. John Knox , a former Roman Catholic priest from Scotland who studied with Calvin in Geneva, took Calvin's teachings back to Scotland and led the Scottish Reformation of 1560. Because of this reform movement,
5248-557: The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh and the Shrine of the Báb , which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the coastal cities of Acre and Haifa , respectively. The Baháʼí Faith 's founder, Bahá'u'lláh , was exiled to Acre Prison from 1868 and spent his life in its surroundings until his death in 1892. In his writings he set the slope of Mount Carmel to host the Shrine of the Báb which his appointed successor 'Abdu'l-Bahá erected in 1909 as
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5376-592: The United States and has advocated for divestment resolutions, which it sees as a non-violent approach to resisting the occupation. It has met with some success. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has passed divestment resolutions based on information provided by Sabeel. All of the major mainline denominations, including the United Church of Christ , the United Methodist Church , the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and
5504-531: The United States achieved independence from Great Britain , Presbyterian leaders felt that a national Presbyterian denomination was needed, and the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) was organized. The first general assembly was held in Philadelphia in 1789. John Witherspoon , president of Princeton University and the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence ,
5632-594: The colonial era . Another source of growth were a number of New England Puritans who left the Congregational churches because they preferred presbyterian polity. In 1706, seven ministers led by Francis Makemie established the first American presbytery at Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania , which was followed by the creation of the Synod of Philadelphia in 1717. The First Great Awakening and
5760-683: The incarnation of God and the Messiah . Christian books, including many editions of the Bible, often have maps of the Holy Land (considered to be Galilee, Samaria, and Judea). For instance, the Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae ( lit. ' Travel book through Holy Scripture ' ) of Heinrich Bünting (1545–1606), a German Protestant pastor, featured such a map. His book was very popular, and it provided "the most complete available summary of biblical geography and described
5888-401: The revivalism it generated had a major impact on American Presbyterians. Ministers such as William and Gilbert Tennent , a friend of George Whitefield , emphasized the necessity of a conscious conversion experience and pushed for higher moral standards among the clergy. Disagreements over revivalism, itinerant preaching , and educational requirements for clergy led to a division known as
6016-651: The separation barrier and end its occupation of the Palestinian territories . Other groups within these denominations have rejected and opposed these resolutions. Rev. David Runnion-Bareford of the Biblical Witness Fellowship issued an apology to Jewish people after the United Church of Christ issues their 2005 resolution. He also accused "an ad hoc group made up of Sabeel representatives and UCC officials" of becoming unduly involved in
6144-445: The 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, the General Assembly of PC(USA) adopted several social justice initiatives, which covered a range of topics including: stewardship of God's creation, world hunger, homelessness, and LGBT issues. As of 2011 the PC(USA) no longer excludes Partnered Gay and Lesbian ministers from the ministry. Previously, the PC(USA) required its ministers to remain " chastely in singleness or with fidelity in marriage ." Currently,
6272-426: The 1990s, over the issue of ordination of homosexuals. The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was joined by the majority of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church , mostly congregations in the border and Southern states, in 1906. In 1920, it absorbed the Welsh Calvinist Methodist Church. The United Presbyterian Church of North America merged with the PCUSA in 1958 to form the United Presbyterian Church in
6400-433: The 223rd Assembly in St Louis, MO, Co-Moderators Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Cindy Kohmann were elected. See a complete listing of past moderators at another Misplaced Pages Article. A Stated Clerk of the General Assembly is elected to one or more four-year terms and is responsible for the Office of the General Assembly which conducts the ecclesiastical work of the church. The Office of the General Assembly carries out most of
6528-433: The Chair of Friends of Sabeel—North America denies those allegations, writing that "the state of Israel is not above criticism and needs to be challenged when its policies are wrong. And its policy of occupation is wrong." Toll also says that Sabeel "consistently condemns anti-Semitism in all its ugly forms." In 2004, Sabeel issued a document entitled Principles for Just Peace in Palestine-Israel outlining their support for
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#17327827566796656-415: The Christian Eastern Roman Empire in AD 630. In the 19th century, the Holy Land became the subject of diplomatic wrangling as the holy places played a role in the Eastern Question which led to the Crimean War in the 1850s. Many sites in the Holy Land have long been pilgrimage destinations for adherents of the Abrahamic religions , including Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Baháʼís . Pilgrims visit
6784-420: The Confession of 1967, the Westminster Confession and Westminster Shorter Catechism , the Heidelberg Catechism , the Second Helvetic and Scots Confessions and the Barmen Declaration . An attempt to reunite the United Presbyterian Church in the USA with the Presbyterian Church in the United States in the late 1950s failed when the latter church was unwilling to accept ecclesiastical centralization . In
6912-402: The Constitution of the church, and the duties of the office of elder. If the examination is approved, the session appoints a day for the service of ordination and installation. Session meetings are normally moderated by a called and installed pastor and minutes are recorded by a clerk, who is also an ordained presbyter. If the congregation does not have an installed pastor, the Presbytery appoints
7040-415: The Department of Philosophy and Religion at Coe College (Iowa), which had co-sponsored a campus conference with a group of American supporters of Sabeel, acknowledged in a letter to a local rabbi that anti-Semitic remarks had been made at the conference. The chair wrote "We regret any harm that may have been caused by such anti-Semitic statements", but later told journalists covering the story that his letter
7168-430: The General Assembly met annually; since 2004, the General Assembly has met biennially in even-numbered years. It consists of commissioners elected by presbyteries (not synods), and its voting membership is proportioned with parity between elders and Ministers of Word and Sacrament. There are many important responsibilities of the General Assembly. Among them, The Book of Order lists these four: The General Assembly elects
7296-475: The Geneva-based WCC General Secretary on Palestine and Israel, has noted that support for divestment by the WCC governing body came in the backdrop of a history of "bold statements since 1948 on its Israel/Palestine policy", and was a way of ensuring "that it is not in any way contributing financially to what it says is illegal or immoral." The Episcopal Church, The United Church of Christ and others have passed Sabeel-influenced resolutions urging Israel to dismantle
7424-405: The Holocaust... In his 2001 Easter Message, Ateek wrote the ‘Israeli government crucifixion system is operating daily’ and likened the occupation to the stone blocking Christ’s tomb. In a February 2001 sermon, Ateek compared Israeli officials to Herod (the baby killer). The implication is undeniable: Israel is a baby- and Christ-killing nation that stands in the way of humanity’s salvation. Given
7552-431: The Holy Land through non-violence and education". It works in the U.S. and Canada to support the vision of Sabeel. It cultivates the support of American churches through co-sponsored regional educational conferences, alternative pilgrimage, witness trips, and international gatherings in the Holy Land. Friends of Sabeel chapters also exist in Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark , Norway , Ireland , France, Germany ,
7680-417: The Holy Land to touch and see physical manifestations of their faith , to confirm their beliefs in the holy context with collective excitation, and to connect personally to the Holy Land. Researchers consider that the concept of a land made holy by being the "earthly dwelling of the God of Israel " was present in Judaism at the latest by the time of Zechariah (6th century BCE). Jews commonly refer to
7808-466: The Netherlands supported organization, Kerk in Actie, employs a representative in Israel, who is working at Sabeel in Jerusalem, promoting the Kairos Palestine document and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel. The synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, in regards to the Gaza Flotilla supported by Sabeel, said, "We are not responsible for the political views that Sabeel or their employees promote, but we are engaged in
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#17327827566797936-428: The Netherlands, and Australia . In 2010, Friends of Sabeel-North America circulated a list of ten companies to boycott titled “All I want for Christmas is an End to Apartheid,” stating that “While there are many Israeli and multinational companies that benefit from apartheid, we put together this list to highlight ten specific companies to target.” Sabeel has sent representatives to several denominational gatherings in
8064-410: The New School and Old School respectively. By the 1838, the Old School–New School Controversy had divided the PCUSA. There were now two general assemblies each claiming to represent the PCUSA. In 1858, the New School split along sectional lines when its Southern synods and presbyteries established the pro-slavery United Synod of the Presbyterian Church. Old School Presbyterians followed in 1861 after
8192-427: The OGA and PMA, currently planned for summer of 2025. The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) currently has oversight over the Stated Clerk and OGA, but COGA is scheduled to be dissolved on December 31, 2024, along with the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board. A new Unification Management Office is planned to manage the integration of PMA and OGA. In March 2024, the former OGA Communications Director
8320-407: The PC(USA) permits teaching elders to perform same-gender marriages. On a congregational basis, individual sessions (congregational governing bodies) may choose to permit same-gender marriages. These changes have led to several renewal movements and denominational splinters. Some conservative-minded groups in the PC(USA), such as the Confessing Movement and the Presbyterian Lay Committee (formed in
8448-411: The PCUS located in Atlanta, Georgia . The merger essentially consolidated moderate-to-liberal American Presbyterians into one body. Other US Presbyterian bodies (the Cumberland Presbyterians being a partial exception) place greater emphasis on doctrinal Calvinism, literalist hermeneutics, and conservative politics. For the most part, PC(USA) Presbyterians, not unlike similar mainline traditions such as
8576-439: The PCUSA's informal influence over American life might effectively make it an established church . The Second Great Awakening divided the PCUSA over revivalism and fear that revivalism was leading to an embrace of Arminian theology . In 1810, frontier revivalists split from the PCUSA and organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church . Throughout the 1820s, support and opposition to revivalism hardened into well-defined factions,
8704-426: The Presbyterian Church (USA) on June 10, 1983. At the time of the merger, the churches had a combined membership of 3,121,238. Many of the efforts were spearheaded by the financial and outspoken activism of retired businessman Thomas Clinton who died two years before the merger. A new national headquarters was established in Louisville, Kentucky in 1988 replacing the headquarters of the UPCUSA in New York City and
8832-419: The Presbyterian Foundation, and the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) (formerly known as the General Assembly Mission Council). Holy Land The Holy Land is an area roughly located between the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern bank of the Jordan River , traditionally synonymous both with the biblical Land of Israel and with the region of Palestine . Today, the term "Holy Land" usually refers to
8960-456: The Quran and Islamic traditions, Al-Aqsa Mosque is the place from which Muhammad went on a night journey ( al-isra ) during which he rode on Buraq , who took him from Mecca to al-Aqsa. Muhammad tethered Buraq to the Western Wall and prayed at al-Aqsa Mosque and after he finished his prayers, the angel Jibril ( Gabriel ) traveled with him to heaven, where he met several other prophets and led them in prayer. The historical significance of
9088-486: The United States of America (UPCUSA). Under Eugene Carson Blake , the UPCUSA's stated clerk, the denomination entered into a period of social activism and ecumenical endeavors, which culminated in the development of the Confession of 1967 which was the church's first new confession of faith in three centuries. The 170th General Assembly in 1958 authorized a committee to develop a brief contemporary statement of faith. The 177th General Assembly in 1965 considered and amended
9216-484: The administrative duties of the presbytery, often with the additional role of a pastor to the pastors. Presbyteries may be creative in the designation and assignment of duties for their staff. A presbytery is required to elect a Moderator and a Clerk, but the practice of hiring staff is optional. Presbyteries must meet at least twice a year, but they have the discretion to meet more often and most do. See "Map of Presbyteries and Synods" . Presbyteries are organized within
9344-513: The al-Aqsa Mosque in Islam is further emphasized by the fact that Muslims turned towards al-Aqsa when they prayed for a period of 16 or 17 months after migration to Medina in 624; it thus became the qibla ('direction') that Muslims faced for prayer. The exact region referred to as being 'blessed' in the Quran, in verses like 17:1 , 21:71 and 34:18 , has been interpreted differently by various scholars. Abdullah Yusuf Ali likens it to
9472-572: The belief that Christianity needed to be re-interpreted in light of modern scientific theories such as evolution or the rise of degraded social conditions brought on by industrialization and urbanization ). Open controversy was sparked in 1922, when Harry Emerson Fosdick , a modernist and a Baptist pastoring a PCUSA congregation in New York City, preached a sermon entitled "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?" The crisis reached
9600-533: The beliefs of the PC(USA) by declaring the creeds by which the Church's leaders are instructed and led. Complementing that is the Book of Order which gives the rationale and description for the organization and function of the Church at all levels. The Book of Order is currently divided into four sections – 1) The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity 2) The Form of Government, 3) The Directory For Worship, and 4) The Rules of Discipline. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has
9728-484: The boundaries of a particular synod (see below ); it may be more accurate to refer to them as "trans-geographical." Three PC(USA) synods have a non-geographical presbytery for Korean language Presbyterian congregations, and one synod has a non-geographical presbytery for Native American congregations, the Dakota Presbytery. There are currently 166 presbyteries for the 8,705 congregations in the PC(USA). Only
9856-406: The church Constitution and Robert's Rules of Order. While the moderator of a presbytery normally serves one year, the stated clerk normally serves a designated number of years and may be re-elected indefinitely by the presbytery. Additionally, an Executive Presbyter (sometimes designated as General Presbyter, Pastor to Presbytery, Transitional Presbyter) is often elected as a staff person to care for
9984-571: The church throughout the region, facilitating communication between presbyteries and the General Assembly, and mediating conflicts between the churches and presbyteries. Every synod elects a Permanent Judicial Commission, which has original jurisdiction in remedial cases brought against its constituent presbyteries, and which also serves as an ecclesiastical court of appeal for decisions rendered by its presbyteries' Permanent Judicial Commissions. Synods are required to meet at least biennially. Meetings are moderated by an elected synod Moderator with support of
10112-491: The commandments. From the perspective of the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia , the holiness of Israel had been concentrated since the sixteenth century, especially for burial, in the " Four Holy Cities ": Jerusalem , Hebron , Safed and Tiberias – as Judaism 's holiest cities. Jerusalem, as the site of the Temple , is considered especially significant. Sacred burials are still undertaken for diaspora Jews who wish to lie buried in
10240-497: The community's spiritual growth. Sabeel's Youth Program "provides opportunities for young people from different churches to meet and get to know each other" and "educates and empowers youth to be future Church and Civic leaders". Sabeel's Women's Program "encourages networks of women, fosters inclusivity, broadens knowledge of existing support resources, and educates women on their spiritual history and their responsibility as Christian women". Sabeel offers regular "witness visits" to
10368-470: The congregation generally choose their own pastor with the assistance and support of the presbytery. The presbytery must approve the choice and officially install the pastor at the congregation, or approve the covenant for a temporary pastoral relationship. Additionally, the presbytery must approve if either the congregation or the pastor wishes to dissolve that pastoral relationship. The presbytery has authority over many affairs of its local congregations. Only
10496-583: The context of a Jewish state, when you're doing it in the context of 2000 years of Jewish suffering from the Christian dogma of deicide that the Jews killed God and the violence that has been visited on the Jewish community by people upholding that theology, to hear that strikes a nerve that has 2000 years of pain behind it and that has to be heard." Sabeel has posted responses to questions about its policies and theology at http://fosna.org/faq . In October, 2010,
10624-546: The control of the Palestinian Authority . Van Zile also accused Ateek of breathing new life into what French historian Jules Isaac called the “teachings of contempt” and having directed their "vile energy" toward the Jewish State. Sabeel disagrees with these characterizations of their beliefs and actions. They have published a statement affirming their belief that the ancient Jews were not responsible for
10752-600: The crucifixion of Jesus by the Roman Empire ... and from their view point of course the resurrection of the Christ as teaching of what it means to transcend imperial power, in the Latin American context it's clear that the empire you're talking about is America and it makes sense." Waskow said that Sabeel may think it's doing the same thing when it talks about the crucifixion of Jesus, but "when you are doing it in
10880-485: The death of Jesus, and that neither Palestinians nor Israelis have a "vocation for suffering" that requires either people to be stateless. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), in a backgrounder article on Sabeel, accused the organization of "generating hostility towards Israel" citing "its use of theologically charged accusations" as belying "its professed passion for reconciliation." The ADL further submitted that, "Sabeel rejects Zionism on theological grounds. It has promoted
11008-512: The decades after independence many American Protestants , including Calvinists (Presbyterians and Congregationalists), Methodists , and Baptists , were swept up in Christian revivals that would later become known as the Second Great Awakening . Presbyterians also helped to shape voluntary societies that encouraged educational, missionary, evangelical, and reforming work. As its influence grew, many non-Presbyterians feared that
11136-492: The decision to resign include struggling efforts since 2016 to unify the OGA and PMA agencies, and struggling efforts to return to normal following the pandemic. The Stated Clerk is also responsible for the records of the denomination, a function formalized in 1925 when the General Assembly created the "Department of Historical Research and Conservation" as part of the Office of the General Assembly. The current "Department of History"
11264-506: The different national and faith communities." In particular, the group aims to "promote a more accurate international awareness regarding the identity, presence and witness of Palestinian Christians as well as their contemporary concerns." Sabeel, which advocates " morally responsible investment ," has been described by its critics as promoting an anti-Israel agenda, including divestment from Israel . It has also been accused of using anti-semitic rhetoric. The Rev. Canon Dr. Richard K. Toll,
11392-424: The direction of the denomination, but wishing to continue in a Reformed, Presbyterian denomination. The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), which does not allow ordained female clergy, separated from Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1973 and has subsequently become the second largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), which gives local presbyteries
11520-416: The draft confession and sent a revised version for general discussion within the church. The 178th General Assembly in 1966 accepted a revised draft and sent it to presbyteries throughout the church for final ratification. As the confession was ratified by more than 90% of all presbyteries, the 178th General Assembly adopted it in 1967. The UPCUSA also adopted a Book of Confessions in 1967, which would include
11648-524: The ecumenical functions and all of the constitutional functions at the Assembly. The Stated Clerks since reunion are: James Andrews (1984–1996), Clifton Kirkpatrick (1996–2008), Gradye Parsons (2008–2016), J. Herbert Nelson (2016–2023), Bronwen Boswell (2023–2024) (interim), and Jihyun Oh (2024–). Bronwen Boswell was appointed Acting Stated Clerk in June 2023 to serve the remaining year of Nelson's term. She
11776-429: The friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith." In some churches, the responsibilities of the deacons are taken care of by the session, so there is no board of deacons in that church. In some states, churches are legally incorporated and members or elders of the church serve as trustees of the corporation. However, "the power and duties of such trustees shall not infringe upon
11904-629: The frontier conditions of the colony. Presbyterianism grew in frontier areas where the Anglicans had made little impression. Uneducated whites and blacks were attracted to the emotional worship of the denomination, its emphasis on biblical simplicity, and its psalm singing. Some local Presbyterian churches, such as Briery in Prince Edward County, owned slaves. The Briery church purchased five slaves in 1766 and raised money for church expenses by hiring them out to local planters. After
12032-619: The future may choose to enter into a confederation or even a federation, possibly with other neighboring countries and where Jerusalem becomes the federal capital. Indeed, the ideal and best solution has always been to envisage ultimately a bi-national state in Palestine-Israel where people are free and equal, living under a constitutional democracy that protects and guarantees all their rights, responsibilities, and duties without racism or discrimination . One state for two nations and three religions. In December 2009, Sabeel endorsed
12160-500: The geography of the Holy Land by tracing the travels of major figures from the Old and New testaments." As a geographic term, the description "Holy Land" loosely encompasses modern-day Israel , the Palestinian territories , Lebanon , western Jordan and south-western Syria . In the Quran , the term Al-Ard Al-Muqaddasah ( Arabic : الأرض المقدسة , English: 'Holy Land' ) is used in
12288-651: The historical locale of Jesus' ministry , the location of the first Qibla before Kaaba in Mecca and the site of the Isra and Mi'raj event in Islam , and the site of the most revered pilgrimage sites in the Baháʼí Faith . The holiness of the land as a destination of Christian pilgrimage contributed to launching the Crusades , as European Christians sought to win back the Holy Land from Muslims, who had conquered it from
12416-471: The holy soil of Israel. According to Jewish tradition, Jerusalem is Mount Moriah , the location of the binding of Isaac . The Hebrew Bible mentions the name " Jerusalem " 669 times, often because many mitzvot can only be performed within its environs. The name " Zion ", which usually refers to Jerusalem, but sometimes the Land of Israel, appears in the Hebrew Bible 154 times. The Talmud mentions
12544-664: The idea that Zionism is based on a false reading of the Bible and that it stands for injustice and in opposition to God." The Boston Globe's conservative columnist Jeff Jacoby criticized Boston's historic Old South Church , a congregation of the United Church of Christ , for hosting the Most Reverend Doctor Desmond Tutu as part of that church's Engaging Three Faiths spiritual dialog series, and Sabeel's Apartheid Paradigm in Palestine-Israel conference. Jacoby argued that "Sabeel and Ateek's denunciations of Israel have included imagery explicitly linking
12672-406: The meantime, a conservative group broke away from the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1973, mainly over the issues of women's ordination and a perceived drift toward theological liberalism. This group formed the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Attempts at union between the churches (UPCUSA and PCUS) were renewed in the 1970s, culminating in the merger of the two churches to form
12800-467: The mid-1960s) have remained in the main body, rather than leaving to form new, break-away groups. Several Presbyterian denominations have split from PC(USA) or its predecessors over the years. For example, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church broke away from the Presbyterian Church in the USA (PC-USA) in 1936. More recently formed Presbyterian denominations have attracted PC(USA) congregations disenchanted with
12928-954: The modern Jewish state to the terrible charge that for centuries fueled so much anti-Jewish hatred and bloodshed" and that "In Ateek's metaphorical telling, in other words, Israel is guilty of trying to murder Jesus as an infant, of killing Jesus on the cross, and of seeking to prevent his resurrection." Rabbi Arthur Waskow , director of the Shalom Center , and Rabbi Howard A. Berman, founder of Jewish Spirit have expressed support for, and are participants in Old South Church's Engaging Three Faiths series. During his presentation at Old South Church on October 28, 2007, Waskow raised concerns about Sabeel's use of crucifixion imagery in reference to Israel. Waskow said that in Latin America, Christian liberation theologians often "talk about
13056-465: The northern PCUSA's Old School and New School factions reunited as well and was known as the "Northern Presbyterian Church". The early part of the 20th century saw continued growth in both major sections of the church. It also saw the growth of Fundamentalist Christianity (a movement of those who believed in the literal interpretation of the Bible as the fundamental source of the religion) as distinguished from Modernist Christianity (a movement holding
13184-485: The option of allowing ordained female pastors, broke away from the United Presbyterian Church and incorporated in 1981. A PC(USA) renewal movement, Fellowship of Presbyterians (FOP) (now The Fellowship Community ), held several national conferences serving disaffecting Presbyterians. FOP's organizing efforts culminated with the founding of ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO),
13312-462: The other containing milk, were presented to him at Al-Quds (Jerusalem). He looked at them and took the cup of milk. Angel Gabriel said, 'Praise be to Allah, who guided you to Al-Fitrah (the right path); if you had taken (the cup of) wine, your Ummah would have gone astray'." Jerusalem was Islam's first Qiblah (direction of prayer) in Muhammad's lifetime, however, this was later changed to
13440-592: The past several decades; the trend has significantly accelerated in recent years, partly due to breakaway congregations. Average denominational worship attendance dropped from 748,774 in 2013 to 431,379 in 2022. Presbyterians trace their history to the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. The Presbyterian heritage, and much of its theology, began with the French theologian and lawyer John Calvin (1509–1564), whose writings solidified much of
13568-505: The place where they died, in order to be buried there. The sage Rabbi Anan said "To be buried in Israel is like being buried under the altar." The saying "His land will absolve His people" implies that burial in Israel will cause one to be absolved of all one's sins. For Christians , the Holy Land is considered holy because of its association with the birth , ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus , whom Christians regard as
13696-623: The possibility that the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate , Umar ibn al-Khattab , erected a primitive quadrangular building for a capacity of 3,000 worshipers somewhere on the Haram ash-Sharif. However, Arculf visited Palestine during the reign of Mu'awiyah I , and it is possible that Mu'awiyah ordered the construction, not Umar. This latter claim is explicitly supported by the early Muslim scholar al-Muthahhar bin Tahir. According to
13824-596: The powers and duties of the Session or of the board of deacons." The deacons are a ministry board but not a governing body. A presbytery is formed by all the congregations and the Ministers of Word and Sacrament in a geographic area together with elders selected (proportional to congregation size) from each of the congregations. Four special presbyteries are "non-geographical" in that they overlay other English-speaking presbyteries, though they are geographically limited to
13952-433: The presbytery (not a congregation, session, synod, or General Assembly) has the responsibility and authority to ordain church members to the ordered ministry of Word and Sacrament, also referred to as a Teaching Elder, to install ministers to (or remove them from) congregations as pastors, and to remove a minister from the ministry. A Presbyterian minister is a member of a presbytery. The General Assembly cannot ordain or remove
14080-410: The presbytery can approve the establishment, dissolution, or merger of congregations. The presbytery also maintains a Permanent Judicial Commission, which acts as a court of appeal from sessions, and which exercises original jurisdiction in disciplinary cases against minister members of the presbytery. A presbytery has two elected officers: a moderator and a stated clerk. The Moderator of the presbytery
14208-475: The reformed tradition. Since 1907, Montreat, North Carolina has hosted a youth conference every year. In 1983, Montreat Conference Center became a National Conference Center of the PC(USA) when the northern and southern denominational churches reunited. The Constitution of PC(USA) is composed of two portions: Part I, the Book of Confessions and Part II, the Book of Order . The Book of Confessions outlines
14336-786: The religious duty of populating Israel. So significant in Judaism is the act of purchasing land in Israel, the Talmud allows for the lifting of certain religious restrictions of Sabbath observance to further its acquisition and settlement. Rabbi Johanan said that "Whoever walks four cubits in Eretz Yisrael [the Land of Israel] is guaranteed entrance to the World to Come ". A story says that when R. Eleazar b. Shammua' and R. Johanan HaSandlar left Israel to study from R. Judah ben Bathyra , they only managed to reach Sidon when "the thought of
14464-572: The resolution process. The PCUSA resolution also created much controversy , leading to a 2006 Synod renouncing the resolution that was made under the consultation of Sabeel. In addition to the mainline opposition groups that have formed as a result of Sabeel's activity, there have been other groups that have opposed either Sabeel's goals or their manner of speaking their message. In some cases, groups have accused Sabeel of extremism and antisemitism. Sabeel's most vocal critics are listed below with their most significant criticisms also listed. The chair of
14592-461: The responsibility of the session. In addition, the session serves as an ecclesiastical court to consider disciplinary charges brought against church officers or members. The session also oversees the work of the deacons , a second body of leaders also tracing its origins to the Book of Acts. The deacons are a congregational-level group whose duty is "to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to
14720-399: The role this imagery has played in promoting violence against Jews, and its use in reference to the Jewish state is inexcusable. Van Zile bases these accusations on fragments from Ateek's 2001 Easter message , such as, “in this season of Lent, it seems to many of us that Jesus is on the cross again with thousands of crucified Palestinians around Him ...The Israeli government crucifixion system
14848-595: The sanctity of Palestine overcame their resolution, and they shed tears, rent their garments, and turned back". Due to the Jewish population being concentrated in Israel, emigration was generally prevented, which resulted in a limiting of the amount of space available for Jewish learning. However, after suffering persecutions in Israel for centuries after the destruction of the Temple, Rabbis who had found it very difficult to retain their position moved to Babylon , which offered them better protection. Many Jews wanted Israel to be
14976-651: The shooter in the body count . Bronwen's political perspective on the shooting has been contrasted with purely nonpolitical perspectives from other denominations. Jihyun Oh was installed in July 2024 as the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, and promoted by the Unification Commission in October 2024 to lead the interim unified agency. The Unification Commission is overseeing a unification of
15104-589: The start of hostilities in the American Civil War with the formation of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America . The Presbyterian Church in the CSA absorbed the smaller United Synod in 1864. After the war, this body was renamed the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) and was commonly nicknamed the "Southern Presbyterian Church" throughout its history. In 1869,
15232-544: The synod's Stated Clerk. There are currently 16 synods in the PC(USA) and they vary widely in the scope and nature of their work. An ongoing current debate in the denomination is over the purpose, function, and need for synods. See also the List of Presbyterian Church (USA) synods and presbyteries . The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the PC(USA). Until the 216th assembly met in Richmond, Virginia in 2004,
15360-462: The two states of Palestine and Israel guaranteeing the full sovereignty and territorial integrity of each including recognized borders, water rights, and other resources." The Genuine Hope: Two sovereign and fully democratic states This scenario envisages the total withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied territories including East Jerusalem according to United Nations resolutions 242 and 338. The Palestinians will establish their sovereign state on
15488-482: The whole of the 23% of the land of Palestine... As to Jerusalem, it will have to be shared. The city must remain open to all. A peace treaty will be drawn up and the two countries will become inter-dependent economically and will help each other develop their resources for the well being of both their peoples. . . The Vision for the Future Our vision involves two sovereign states, Palestine and Israel , who in
15616-576: Was established with the 1983 merger of the Presbyterian Church in the United States , whose churches were located in the Southern and border states , with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America , whose congregations could be found in every state. The church maintains a Book of Confessions , a collection of historic and contemporary creeds and catechisms, including its own Brief Statement of Faith . It
15744-429: Was ineligible to apply for the stated clerk position in 2024, and has limited responsibilities focused primarily on completing plans for the 2024 GA and unification of the OGA and PMA. Her partial characterization of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump as "two lives lost at a Pennsylvania rally" blurs the distinction between perpetrator and victim, unlike definitions of mass shootings that often do not include
15872-458: Was named PCUSA Communications Director and the former PMA Communications Director was named PMA Vision Integration & Constituent Service Manager. Nelson is the first African American to be elected to the office, and is a third-generation Presbyterian pastor. Nelson announced he would not seek re-election to a third term, and stepped down as Stated Clerk in June 2023, a year before his second term ended. Reported tensions that likely influenced
16000-409: Was not an apology, and that it was deliberately vague because he was unsure exactly which comments could be considered anti-Semitic. The Israeli Stephen Roth Institute claimed that Sabeel "commonly engages in blatant propaganda seeking to isolate and demonize Israel, while delegitimizing the right of the Jewish state to exist." Sabeel responded that "It accepts the presence of Israel in the land that
16128-596: Was once Palestine and asks that the two peoples be allowed to live together in this land as equals with full rights for people of both groups.". Dexter Van Zile, Christian Media Analyst for the pro-Israel media-monitoring group CAMERA , has accused Ateek of trafficking in the anti-Semitic canard of Jewish deicide : Ateek’s ‘theology’ embraces the old anti-Jewish teachings that every responsible church – Protestant and Catholic – has officially renounced fifty years ago... Not only does Ateek deny Israel’s right to exist, he traffics in anti-Judaic imagery that has been taboo since
16256-731: Was ratified (by the presbyteries) in 2015. This has led to the departure of several hundred congregations. The majority of churches leaving the Presbyterian Church (USA) have chosen to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church or ECO . Few have chosen to join the larger more conservative Presbyterian Church in America , which does not permit female clergy. Since 1983 the Presbyterian Youth Triennium has been held every three years at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, US, and
16384-587: Was the first moderator . Not all American Presbyterians participated in the creation of the PCUSA General Assembly because the divisions then occurring in the Church of Scotland were replicated in America. In 1751, Scottish Covenanters began sending ministers to America, and the Seceders were doing the same by 1753. In 1858, the majority of Covenanters and Seceders merged to create the United Presbyterian Church of North America (UPCNA). In
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