Dear friends:

Greetings in the name of Christ. As a regional grouping of churches committed to removing G-6.0106b, we invite you to join us in a special observance of Reformation Sunday, October 27, 2002.

Our Presbyterian history is rich with examples of struggle to welcome and empower the disenfranchised, and to honor the signs of the Spirit in all God’s children. We are blessed with the witness of these past generations, who bequeathed to us principles of freedom of conscience and mutual forbearance for all who profess faith in Jesus Christ. We believe these principles continue to be a blessing for Presbyterians today, but we also fear that they are threatened as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seems intent on codifying exclusion by legislative and judicial means. We call on all churches in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to mark Reformation Sunday this year with a commemoration of reform, past and present.

Many churches in the presbyteries of New York City, Hudson River, and Southern New England have discerned that Christian conscience demands that they fully welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons into their congregational lives. This Reformation Sunday, members of these congregations will gather at South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry, New York. On that day, we will offer support and recognition to individuals and congregations who continue to heed God’s call to inclusion despite threats of discipline and invitations to leave the denomination. We will also renew our commitment to a just and inclusive church, reformed and ever reforming.

We invite other churches who believe that ongoing reformation will lead this denomination to full inclusion to join with us in marking Reformation Sunday in their own worship services and by planning regional programs. Because we are eager that all in the denomination know that we celebrate our freedom in Christ, we wish to create a public list of participating churches. If your church will join in a Reformation commemoration this year, please send information about your service to Presbyterian Welcome, 2095 Broadway, Suite 306, New York, NY  10023. This list of participating churches and additional resources will be posted on presbypromise.home.att.net.

You will see attached suggestions for a Reformation Day Celebration prepared by the Rev. Dr. Letty Russell. We urge you to consider using this litany for your service. If you develop resources that you would like to share and are willing to have them posted, please send them as well to the attention of Presbyterian Welcome. For your information, we enclose a list of churches (available under “PresbyList” at www.mlp.org/resources/presby.html) that have publicly witnessed for inclusion or have joined one of the national organizations committed to the removal of G-6.0106b.

Yours in the ever reforming power of Christ's love,
 

 

Rev. Jean Holmes Dissenting Churches of Hudson River

Rev. Cliff Frasier Presbyterian Welcome

Dick Hasbany Presbyterian Promise