DOCSLIB.ORG

Religious Leaders Opposed to Justice Sunday's Manipulation of Faith

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Religious Leaders Opposed to Justice Sunday's Manipulation of Faith American Religious Leaders and Supporters Opposed to “Justice Sunday’s” Manipulation of Faith April 21, 2005 The Honorable Bill Frist 509 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Frist: We write as religious leaders who cherish America’s distinctive tradition of religious respect, tolerance, and pluralism. We write as members of religious traditions that revere truth and are guided by prophetic calls to seek justice. We are gravely disappointed that you have lent support to those who are trying to create confusion and sow division with false charges of religious discrimination and persecution. Good people can and do differ on policy questions like the filibuster. We emphatically reject claims that those who seek to uphold the country’s traditions of checks and balances are forcing Christians to choose between their faith and public service. It is simply not truthful to assert that supporting the filibuster amounts to an attack on people of faith. Most, perhaps all, of the 95% of the Bush nominees who have been approved, have been people of faith. They enjoyed support from both sides of the aisle. As Senate Majority Leader, you have a responsibility to defend your colleagues on both sides of the aisle, public servants whom you know to be deeply religious people, from shameful and divisive accusations that they are attacking people of faith. You have a responsibility to defend the nation from efforts utilizing deception and fear-mongering to manipulate Americans of faith. And, perhaps most importantly, as one of our nation’s highest elected officials, you have a responsibility to repudiate those who misuse religion for political purposes and who impugn the faith of any who disagree with them. Your participation in the “Justice Sunday” event gives your personal stamp of approval and legitimizes an event built on inflammatory falsehoods. We urge you either to withdraw your participation in this event or, if you participate, to use that opportunity to repudiate the message of divisiveness and religious manipulation that is at the core of the gathering. Sincerely, 1 American Religious Leaders and Supporters Opposed to “Justice Sunday’s” Manipulation of Faith 1.) Rev. Barbara G. Green President and Professor of Theology Executive Director Chicago Theological Seminary The Churches’ Center for Theology and Public Policy 11.) Rev. Mary J. Kuhns Presbyterian (U.S.A.) 2.) Rev. Betty Meadows General Presbyter 12.) Anne Del Prince Mid-Kentucky Presbytery Elder Springdale Presbyterian Church 3.) Reverend David L. Maxwell, Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. 13.) Rev. Tony Aja Louisville, Kentucky 4.) Rev. Jane Larsen-Wigger Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church 14.) Rev. Peter Laarman Louisville, KY Executive Director, PCU Progressive Christians Uniting 5.) Rev. Nancy K. Troy Pomona, CA Presbyterian Church USA 15.) Rev. Timothy McDonald, III 6.) Richard W. Teaford, Honorably President, African American Ministers Retired In Action Vice-Moderator, the Presbytery of Mid- Pastor, First Iconium Baptist Church Kentucky Atlanta, Ga. Louisville, Kentucky 16.) Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs 7.) Rev. Dr. Patricia K. Tull Temple Kol Tikvah Professor of Old Testament Woodland Hills, CA Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary 17.) Eric McFadden - President Louisville, KY Catholics for Faithful Citizenship 8.) Rev. Richard L. Killmer 18.) Rev. Jana R. Hall Program Director Frankfort, KY Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy 19.) Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson Yarmouth, ME Washington, DC 9.) Rev. Carol E. Lytch, Ph.D. 20.) Rev. Jim Burklo Louisville, KY Pastor, Sausalito Presbyterian Church Author, "Open Christianity" 10.) Rev. Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite 2 21.) Chris Korzen 31.) The Rev. John W. Sonnenday, Director, Catholic Voting Project Pastor Jeffersontown Presbyterian Church 22.) Rev. Ken Brooker Langston Louisville, Kentucky Director, Disciples Justice Action Network 32.) Cilla Raughley District Executive, Pacific Central 23.) Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock District Founding Director Faith Voices for the Common Good 33.) Rev. Theodore A. Gill, Jr. Oakland, CA Senior editor World Council of Churches 24.) Gary Percesepe, Ph.D Geneva, Switzerland Coordinating Director (Minister, PCUSA) Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America 34.) Rabbi Liz Rolle Charlotte, NC Stamford, CT 25.) Rev. Dr. Douglas King 35.) Rabbi Robert H. Loewy The Witherspoon Society (Presbyterian Congregation Gates of Prayer Church USA) Metairie, LA Wayzata, Minnesota 36.) Rabbi Norman T. Roman 26.) Rev. James Gertmenian (Temple Kol Ami Senior Minister West Bloomfield, MI) Plymouth Congregational Church Minneapolis, MN 37.) Rabbi Lennard R. Thal 27.) Rev. Thomas J. Bumpas 38.) Reverend Nathan D. Wilson Member of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery. Minister Clintonville Christian Church (Disciples 28.) Ann E. Smith, Community of Christ) Relations South Texas Alliance for Peace and 39.) Rabbi Betsy Torop Justice Congregation Beth Shalom Corpus Christi, Texas Brandon FL 29.) The Rev. Paul S. Fraser 40.) Rabbi Gerald M. Kane Program Coordinator Temple Beth-El Peace and Security Project of Iowa Las Cruces, NM 30.) William Chris Hobgood, 41.) The Rev. Louise L Ulrich General Minister and President, San Jose, CA Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 42.) Rabbi Marc A. Gruber Central Synagogue of Nassau County 3 Rockville Centre, New York 55.) Howard A. Cohen, Rabbi 43.) Thomas H. Jeavons 56.) Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld General Secretary Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Emanu-El Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Toronto, Ontario Canada Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) 57.) Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, LCSW 44.) Rabbi H. Philip Berkowitz Rabbinic Director, Kennebunk, Maine New York Jewish Healing Center and National Center for Jewish Healing, 45.) Rabbi Richard L. Klein Jewish Board of Family and Children's Temple Beth Jacob Services Concord, NH New York, NY 46.) Dr. Gary E. Pennington 58.) Rabbi James Prosnit Louisville, KY Bridgeport CT 47.) Rabbi Michael L. Feshbach 59.) Rabbi Michael L. Kramer Temple Shalom Temple Judea Chevy Chase, MD Massapequa, NY 48.) Rabbi Samuel Barth 60.) Jeffrey L. Ballon, Rabbi Austin, Texas Temple B'nai Sholom Huntsville, Alabama 49.) Rabbi Steven D. Burton Riverdale Temple 61.) Lina Grazier-Zerbarini Associate Rabbi 50.) Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Congregation Shaarei Shamayim Yale 80 Wall Street Madison, WI New Haven CT 51.) Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl 62.) Rabbi Scott Corngold San Antonio, Texas Long Island, NY 52.) Rabbi Paula Jayne Winnig 63.) Rev. Oliver Hofmann Temple Sinai of Long Island Parish Associate Lawrence, NY Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church Louisville, Kentucky 53.) Rabbi Nathan M. Landman Deputy Director 64.) Susan Marks, Rabbi JWB Jewish Chaplains Council Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies/Klingenstein Professorship 54.) Rabbi Gustav Buchdahl New College of Florida Rabbi Emeritus Division of Humanities Temple Emanuel of Baltimore Sarasota, FL 4 65.) Rabbi Aaron Spiegel 78.) Marlene Bertke, OSB Erie Benedictines for Peace 66.) Rabbi Jonathan Miller Temple Emanu-El 79.) Rev. James Wentz Birmingham, AL Freeport, NY 67.) Rabbi Alan D. Fuchs, CCAR 80.) Rabbi Brooks R. Susman Congregation Kol Am 68.) Marcia M. Jumblatt Ph.D. Freehold, NJ Springdale Presbyterian Church Louisville KY 81.) The Rev. Alison Cornish Consulting Minister, Unitarian 69.) Rabbi Howard A. Berman Universalist Congregation of the South 74 Moss Hill Road Fork and Unitarian Universalist Jamaica Plain, MA Fellowship of Bellport 70.) Rev. Dr. John H. Thomas 82.) Rev. Jane Dwinell General Minister and President of the Unitarian Universalist United Church of Christ Montpelier, VT 71.) Rabbi Cy Stanway 83.) Rev. David Herndon Temple Beth Miriam First Unitarian Church Elberon, NJ Pittsburgh, PA 72.) Rabbi Morton M. Rosenthal 84.) Sue Nichols Pennington, NJ UN Representative International Association for Religious 73.) Rabbi Melanie Aron Freedom & Founding Officer Congregation Shir Hadash UN NGO Committee on Freedom of Los Gatos, CA Religion or Belief 74.) Cantor Barbara Ostfeld 85.) Rev. Vernon C. Nichols ACC Director of Placement UU clergyman and Vice President UN NGO Committee on Disarmament, 75.) Rabbi Kennard Lipman, Ph.D. Peace & Security Cong. Brit Shalom State College, PA 86.) Rabbi Allen B. Bennett Temple Israel 76.) Rev. Rollin H. Tarter Alameda CA Presbytery of Transylvania Danville, KY 87.) Rabbi Margaret J. Meyer Temple B'nai Israel 77.) The Rev. Jim Bridges Jackson, Tennessee UU Congregation at Rock Tavern Rock Tavern, NY 88.) The Rev. Sarah Lammert Unitarian Society of Ridgewood 5 Ridgewood, NJ Manchester, CT 89.) Rabbi Gerry Serotta 99.) Rev. Peggy Owens Temple Shalom Drawn Together, Connecting Chevy Chase, MD Communities, Witnessing to God's Love and Justice: 90.) Linda Anderson, Minister Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Louisville, KY the Catskills Kingston NY 100.) Rabbi Lawrence P. Karol Topeka, Kansas 91.) Rev. William R. Nye (Pastor Emeritus, All Souls Bethlehem 101.) Nancy Huston, Director Church of Brooklyn, UUA/UCC) Nebraska Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice 92.) Rabbi David Holtz Temple Beth Abraham 102.) Rabbi Michael Fessler Tarrytown, NY Congregation B'nai Tikvah Turnersville, NJ 93.) Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy President 103.) Rev. William P. Zelazny, The Interfaith Alliance Unitarian Universalist North Providence, RI 94.) Kim Baldwin Director of Public Policy & Voter 104.) Rabbi Sylvin L. Wolf Education The Interfaith Alliance/ Foundation 105.) Rabbi Daniel J. Moskovitz Washington DC
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Inventory to the Richard Land Papers AR
    1 Inventory to the Richard Land Papers AR 933 Dr. Richard Land commencing his work at the SBC Christian Life Commission, 1988 Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives November, 2014 2 Inventory to the Richard Land Papers AR 933 Summary Main Entry: Richard D. Land Papers Date Span: 1953 – 2014 Abstract: Materials documenting the work and ministry of Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, 1988-2013. Includes administrative files, correspondence, news stories (including blog archives, Commission press releases, Land interviews, and news clippings), photographs, subject files, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) files, writings and addresses, and recordings. Size: 104 linear ft. (208 document boxes) Collection #: AR 933 Biographical Sketch A sixth-generation Texan, Richard Dale Land was born November 6, 1946 in Houston, Texas. He spent his childhood and teenage years in Houston and was baptized in 1953 at South Park Baptist Church and was licensed to preach (1965) and later ordained (1969) at Townwood Baptist Church, both in Houston. Land graduated from Princeton University (A.B., 1969), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1972), and Oxford University (D.Phil., 1980). Upon completing his doctoral studies Land served as vice president for academic affairs at Criswell College in Dallas (1980-1988) and as administrative assistant to Governor Bill Clements of Texas (1987-1988). He served as president of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission from 1988 to 2013. Dr. Land moved the Commission to more conservative positions on social issues such as sanctity of life and homosexuality.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fundamentalist Judicial Persona of Justice Antonin Scalia
    Pace Law Review Volume 26 Issue 2 Spring 2006 Article 3 April 2006 Confrontation, Fidelity, Transformation: The Fundamentalist Judicial Persona of Justice Antonin Scalia Tom Levinson Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/plr Recommended Citation Tom Levinson, Confrontation, Fidelity, Transformation: The Fundamentalist Judicial Persona of Justice Antonin Scalia, 26 Pace L. Rev. 445 (2006) Available at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/plr/vol26/iss2/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at DigitalCommons@Pace. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pace Law Review by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Pace. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Confrontation, Fidelity, Transformation: The "Fundamentalist" Judicial Persona of Justice Antonin Scalia Tom Levinson* I. Introduction Commentators characterize a number of federal judges and legal academics as "fundamentalists."' In part, the term is used because religious fundamentalists and their purported legal counterparts share a similar type of political conservatism. 2 In larger part, though, the connection is drawn between legal and religious "fundamentalism" because of the analogous relationship between the legal interpretative method of textualism3 and the religious fundamentalist's theology- Tom Levinson is a currently a lawyer at Sachnoff & Weaver, Ltd. in Chicago. Levinson has a J.D. from the University of Chicago and a M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School. Levinson is also the author of "All That's Holy: A Young Guy, an Old Car, and the Search for God in America" (2003). This article does not represent the views of his employer or its clients.
    [Show full text]
  • WEDGE STRATEGY Harry Jackson Is the Face of the Religious Right’S Outreach to African American Christians
    SPEAK OUT AGAINST INTOLERANCE. That’s the American Way POINT MAN FOR THE WEDGE STRATEGY Harry Jackson is the face of the Religious Right’s outreach to African American Christians by Peter Montgomery Senior Fellow, People For the American Way Foundation www.PFAW.org Introduction myself to speak up.” Jackson bragged that when he got a group of African American pastors to hold a press In recent years, Religious Right leaders have made a conference (falsely) attacking a federal hate crimes bill as major push to elevate the visibility and voices of politically a threat to religious liberty, he got media coverage that conservative African American pastors. The star of that traditional Religious Right groups had been unable to effort has been Bishop Harry Jackson. Jackson, the generate. pastor of a congregation in Maryland, has been ushered into the Religious Right’s inner circle since he announced His media profile, and his embrace by Religious Right in 2004 that God had told him to work for the reelection leaders and right-wing politicians have led to his being of George W. Bush. Since then, Jackson has become anointed a “conservative Christian A-lister” by Beliefnet’s somewhat of an all-purpose activist and pundit for right- Dan Gilgoff and “one of the 50 most influential Christians wing causes – everything from judicial nominations to in America” by the Church Report. In 2005, then- immigration and oil drilling -- but his top priorities President of the National Association of Evangelicals mirror those of the Religious Right: he’s fervently anti- Ted Haggard said of Jackson, “He’s building a bridge abortion and dead-set against gay equality.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relative Irrelevance of the Establishment Clause
    The Relative Irrelevance of the Establishment Clause Richard C. Schragger* Despite the heated legal, political, and scholarly battles that rage around the Court’s Establishment Clause decisions, this Article contends that these decisions are actually quite tangential to the maintenance of the nonestablishment norm. The Article argues, first, that a pervasive feature of modern Establishment Clause jurisprudence is that the Court’s stated doc- trine is underenforced; second, that there are some legitimate reasons for that underenforcement; and, third, that the Court’s decisions serve mostly as political markers that leave much pertinent activity wholly unregulated by law. By focusing not on what the Court is doing but on what it concertedly seeks not to do, the Article hopes to illuminate the relationship between law and politics in an era in which religious–political movements have become increasingly sophisticated. In light of these movements, the important ques- tion for scholars of the Establishment Clause is how the Court “manages establishment” in the political/legal culture outside constitutional law. The Article assesses four potential answers to this question and discusses a num- ber of recent Establishment Clause decisions, paying special attention to disputes about the Ten Commandments, the Pledge of Allegiance, and faith- based initiatives. The Article concludes by suggesting how a self-conscious Supreme Court Justice might help maintain the constitutional settlement of nonestablishment despite the Court’s limited doctrinal influence.
    [Show full text]
  • The Revenge of the Racists and the Silence of Those Who Worship the Lamb
    Temple Tracts: Issue 1, Volume 4 The Revenge of the Racists and the Silence of those who Worship the Lamb Greg Smith The Revenge of the Racists and the Silence of those who Worship the Lamb Greg Smith Temple Tracts: Issue 1, Volume 4 Shelf Reference: Book 17 Sign-up for our free e-newsletter at: williamtemplefoundation.org.uk © William Temple Foundation 2018 2 Greg Smith has worked for over forty years in urban mission, community development and social research in London and Preston. He has published extensively on religion in the inner city, faith involvement in urban regeneration, and urban theology. Greg is Development Officer for Together Lancashire, a joint venture of Church Urban Fund, Diocese of Blackburn and the Lancashire Methodist District supporting faith based social action and urban churches in the western half of the county. He is active in the City of Sanctuary movement in Preston, and works with food banks, inter-faith networks and projects serving the homeless. From 2011 to 2016 he also worked for the Evangelical Alliance managing the 21st Century Evangelicals research programme and continues to analyse and publish academic papers based on the data. See more on Greg’s work and publications. In his spare time he volunteers with Lancashire Wildlife Trust and enjoys photography, railways and walking with his dog. 3 Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5 Political resurgence of the populist right and its religious correlates .............................. 6 Brexit and Religion .......................................................................................................... 7 And across the pond ..................................................................................................... 10 Persistence of white male privilege and institutional racism ......................................... 13 Changing dimensions of diversity: globalisation and intersectionality .........................
    [Show full text]
  • The Christian Right, the Federal Courts, and the Constitution in the United States
    THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT, THE FEDERAL COURTS, AND THE CONSTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES Judith A. Garber* INTRODUCTION The current Christian Right5 is built upon its 1970s precursor, but it has moved well beyond it There’s more than one way to skin a cat, to become a more radical movement in both style and there’s more than one way to take a and substance. A centrepiece of this radicalism is black robe off the bench. – Tony Perkins, a concerted, unabashed effort to make American President, Family Research Council1 courts – most obviously, but certainly not exclusively, the federal appellate courts – into We set up the courts. We can unset the conservative Christian adjuncts to the electoral, courts. We have the power of the purse. legislative, and administrative processes. Three – Representative Tom DeLay, then- elements comprise this effort: 1) attacks on Majority Leader, United States House of judicial independence and authority carried out by Representatives2 means of electoral, legislative, and cultural Twenty-five years have passed since the newly formed Moral Majority helped put Ronald 5 John C. Green argues: Reagan in the White House and a Republican Although no name is perfect, “Christian right” is majority in the United States Senate. The Moral preferable to the more common term, “religious Majority was one organization (and its founder, right,” which properly refers to a possible alliance of traditionalists f rom all religious groups, including the Reverend Jerry Falwell, one figure) at the evangelicals, conservative mainline Protestants, centre of an emerging evangelical Protestant social traditionalist Catholics, Orthodox Jews, and so movement. T his m ovement was g alvanized b y two forth.
    [Show full text]
  • UUA Social Justice Empowerment Program Handbook
    The Unitarian Universalist Association’s SOCIAL JUSTICE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM HANDBOOK ...supporting congregational action for transformational social change 10/2011 Creating Community “We regard our living together not as an unfortunate mishap Warranting endless competition among us But as a deliberate act of God To make us a community of brothers and sisters Jointly involved in the quest for a composite answer To the varied problems of life.” -Steven Biko Biko is known for fighting South African apartheid in the late 60s and 70s. His death while in police custody became a worldwide symbol of the oppressive regime. Dismantling Oppression “We are a gentle and generous people. But let us not forget our anger. May it fuel not only our commitment to compassion but also our commitment to make fundamental changes. Our vision of the Beloved Community must stand against a vision that would allow the privilege of the few to be accepted as just and even holy. Our religious vision must again and again ask the Gospel question "Who is my neighbor" and strive always to include more and more of us as we intone the words that gave birth to this nation, "We the people..." We are, and we should be, both a gentle, and an angry people.” -The Rev. William G. Sinkford, "Faith in the Face of Disaster: UU Response to Hurricane Katrina - A Gentle, Angry People," 9/6/2005 Social Justice “The challenge of social justice is to evoke a sense of community that we need to make our nation a better place, just as we make it a safer place.
    [Show full text]
  • October 27, 2019 — 11 Am Sanctuary Worship Environmental Justice Sunday
    EAST LIBERTY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 116 South Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412.441.3800 www.ELPC.church As a diverse community of believers, we strive to follow God – the Creator who calls us, Jesus who teaches us, and the Spirit who empowers us. We show God’s unconditional love by providing a refuge for spiritual growth, ardently pursuing justice, and extending Christ’s radical hospitality to all. (Strategic Vision mission statement, 2011) OCTOBER 27, 2019 — 11 AM SANCTUARY WORSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SUNDAY Handbells were first TIME OF PREPARATION brought to the United States from England by “Hope is the only way and would keep one to get up every morning that the situation Margaret Shurcliff in is going to change. And you know we need to say that loud to ourselves….the 1902. The ELPC situation is going to change especially for the future because that is the only way that Ringers’ handbells are we have a vision that is positive as we begin to, to struggle with the day to day manufactured by the survival that it’s going to change because once people lose hope for change then Schulmerich Company nothing will inspire one to continue to do. You need a little bit in the midst of it, a from Hatfield, PA. bit of inspiration to come from yourself, to come from those around you. And struggle and struggle that one day, that day will come for you and for your children.” One year ago today, as — Dr. Brigalia Bam, they gathered for Anglican Women’s and Social Activist, morning Shabbat Author, and former Chairperson of the worship at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Electoral Commission of South Africa Squirrel Hill neighborhood of MINISTRY OF MUSIC Palmer Shonk, bagpiper Pittsburgh, 11 people “Selection of Hymns for Bagpipes” were needlessly and ELPC Ringers senselessly killed and 6 “O Lord, We Praise You” arr.
    [Show full text]
  • Jesus for President Reviewed by Ed Housewright
    Christian Ethics Today A Journal of Christian Ethics Volume 14, Number 4 Aggregate Issue 71 Fall 2008 “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” Isaiah 40:3; John 1:23 Lemuel, I Found One! Joe E. Trull ........................................................................................................................2 EthixBytes ............................................................................................................................................... 3 We’ve Got Mail—Letters From Our Readers ................................................................... 4 The Saddleback Forum: Two Viewpoints Richard Pierard and Robert Parham .... 5 Survivor: The Story of a Pastor and a Church Glen Schmucker ................................. 7 Southern Baptists: Struggling with Sexual Predators and Wife Abuse Marie Fortune .....11 Islamic Terrorism: Fact vs. Fiction Glenn L. Carle .................................................................13 Left Behind or Left in Cyberspace? Noreen Herzfeld ........................................................14 Living Apart Together: Why I Am Trying To Stay Jon Mark Hogg .........................15 On Patriotism, Public Preaching, and the IRS Martin E. Marty ................................17 Torture and We’re Number 1? Britt Towery .............................................................................. 19 Early Challenges to Capital Punishment David W. T. Brattston .................................21 CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND THE MOVIES
    [Show full text]
  • May 27, 2021 May 30Th Is Trinity Sunday! Traditionally, the First
    May 27, 2021 May 30th is Trinity Sunday! Traditionally, the First Sunday after Pentecost is "Trinity Sunday." It's the only Sunday in the Christian year devoted entirely to a sacred doctrine and a word that doesn't appear in the Bible. The Three-in-One personage of God has supporting witnesses in both Testaments and is specifically formulated in Matthew 28: Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." LUMC will observe the day with hymns, prayers, and preaching to illuminate the inner life of God, a union of love. Here's Pastor Bill's sermon theme: When God is with us and for us, God comes as the Holy Spirit. The Way, which was the name for the early church, began first as God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit came for empowering, sustaining, nurturing, inspiring, commissioning, calling, and credentialing the church for unity and communion with the Triune God. God is present, revealed, incomprehensible, complex, resourceful, persistent, and deeply, unconditionally loving. Christians do the impossible: thinking, feeling, loving, and acting in faithfulness to the Triune God who has been faithful to us. In this, we find true life is holy living: when God reaches out to us, rescues us from meaninglessness by grace and love through faith, giving us a new birth from above, and giving us a divine mystery to live by.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record—Senate S4144
    S4144 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 22, 2005 an up-or-down vote. This is rank hypocrisy. tesy. After all, he has in his lineage a When we explain in public session the When the tables were turned, Republicans Senator. His father, as does he, served basis on which we have decided to op- filibustered President Bill Clinton’s choice as a Senator. He knows, as did his fa- pose a nomination of somebody we be- for surgeon general, forcing him to choose ther, the normal courtesies that make another. And Bill Frist, the Senate majority lieve does not merit a lifetime appoint- leader, who now finds judicial filibusters so this place run so much more smoothly. ment to the Federal bench, the judicial offensive, himself joined one against Richard So I appreciate it. activism we detail is ignored and we Paez, a Clinton appeals court nominee. I spoke at the beginning of the week are smeared as anti this or anti that. Yet these very same Republicans are about the alarming rise of religious So I thank the many religious leaders threatening to have Vice President Dick McCarthyism. I hoped that by drawing who have come forward this week to Cheney rule from the chair that a simple ma- attention to this situation the major- uphold America’s great traditions of jority can confirm a judicial nominee rather ity leader and other Republican leaders respecting faith, honoring faith, and than the 60 votes necessary to stop a fili- would speak out against any campaign buster. This is known as the ‘‘nuclear op- ensuring that the constitutional prohi- tion’’ because in all likelihood it would blow that improperly characterizes Senators bition against any religious test for up the Senate’s operations.
    [Show full text]
  • The New Religion
    University of North Carolina School of Law Carolina Law Scholarship Repository Faculty Publications Faculty Scholarship 2007 The ewN Religion Michael J. Gerhardt University of North Carolina School of Law, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.unc.edu/faculty_publications Part of the Law Commons Publication: Creighton Law Review This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty Scholarship at Carolina Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Carolina Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 399 THE NEW RELIGION MICHAEL J. GERHARDTt INTRODUCTION In 2006, one chapter in the history of the Supreme Court came to a close, and a new one began. The Senate's confirmation of Samuel Alito, Jr., as the Supreme Court's 110th justice, signaled the formal end to the nearly twenty-five-year-long tenure of the first woman ap- pointed to the Court, Sandra Day O'Connor. Justice Alito's appoint- ment further marked the end to the second longest period in our nation's history without a vacancy arising on the Court. With Justice Alito's confirmation, Justice Stephen Breyer fell a couple months shy of the record for the longest serving junior justice in American history. The appointments of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito also marked the first time since 1971 that two new justices joined the Court during the same Term. My objective in this Essay is to explore the ramifications of these historic developments for the Supreme Court and particularly the ju- dicial selection process.
    [Show full text]