Newspapers / Montreat College Student Newspaper / Oct. 15, 2002, edition 1 / Page 2
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and State Florida 'Confessing Church’ Rebuked by Ecclesiastical Court Bv Scott Denkman ^ » By Scott Denkman Norman Blessing, an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Sebas tian, Florida, filed suit against his own church. Blessing claims that during a meeting of the elders, of which he was not present, the elders voted to affirm a confession, now dubbed the “Sebas tian Confession.” The Sebastian Confession states that heterosexual marriage is the only acceptable sexual relationship, that the Bible is completely infallible, and that Jesus Christ is the only means to sal vation. The confession was modeled around the statements of the Confess ing Church Movement, a loose coali tion of conservative churches within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), of which Blessing’s church is a member. The Confessing Church Movement has rallied together about 1,200 con gregations aeross the United States. Locally, Montreat Presbyterian Church is a “confessing church,” while Black Mountain Presbyterian Church is not. Blessing claims that the Sebastian church required he and others to either consent to the confession or be foreed out of the church. The Permanent Judicial Commis sion of the Synod of South Atlantic ruled unanimously on September 13 that Blessing’s church was in the wrong to require him to sign a confes sion above and beyond what is stated in the Book of Order, the governmen tal portion of the denomination’s con stitution. The court ruled that any church has the right to draft a confession sim ilar to the one approved by the Sebas tian ehurch, but that churches do not have the right to force their members to uphold the same beliefs, or to use a confession as a “litmus tesf’ to join a church. The court also stated that the Sebastian church must be sensitive to its own membership’s diversity of theological beliefs, as stated in the Book of Order (G-3.0401). The , Confessing Church Move ment has not released an official state ment on the Sebastian ruling. Neither side is planning an appeal. Minutes of the Student Government Assooiation By Kelley Cleveland September 26, 2002 Called to Order by Adam Schultz at 7:06 pm Scripture: I Cor. 10:31 Philp 2:3,3:4-11 Prayer Present; Adam Schultz, Graham Ottley, Kaylin. Fisher, Lueas Fisher, Ashley Presson, Nathan Swift, Jon athan Bennet, Lindsay King, Toney Johnson, Kelley Cleveland, Tim Tyson Th« Montr«kt Cotii;«a4 Student Voice WHETSTONE Montreat College Box 838 Montreat, NC 28757 828.669.8012 Ext. 3710 whetstone@montreat.edu Managing Editor Asst. Managing Editor Business Manager Asst. Business Manager Sponsor/Advisor Staff Writers Photographers Layout/Web Tim Tyson Becca Snyder Donovan Campbell Andrew Jones Bob Graham Kortney Blythe Kelley Cleveland Scott Denkman Jen Jolley LeAnn Lane Justin Leonard Erin Maguire Kendell Milton Adam Shultz Wes Waldorf Johanna Wright Andrew Baird Andrew Jones Billy May Joel North Tiffany Stoddart Becca Snyder Tim Tyson Wes Waldorf Dan Windmiller Absent: Jeff Bryson, Vince Norfleet, Sarah Hicks First Order of Business: Elect Senior and McGregor Dorm Representative Senior Representative: Lindsay King McGregor Dorm Representative: Toney Johnson Second Order of Business: Howerton Dorm kitchen proposal pre sented by Tim Tyson Vote taken on pending resident poll Other Business: Adam pointed out that it is impor tant that meetings start on time. Adam encouraged all to read responsibilities of SGA members that are printed in the student handbook. A vote decided that SGA will research to the possibility of setting up a table at coffee house on October 3, and members will be present to answer questions. A committee is to investi gate recycling. Formed committees -Coffee house: Nathan Swift, -Monthly Service Projects: Nathan Swift, Lucas Fisher , -Recycling: Lindsay King, Kelley Cleveland A discussion was started to change the next meeting time, but a time was not finalized. Next meeting the group will be taking personality tests to get a view of how we interact with each other and to learn more about the group. Meeting adjourned: 8:25 pm The Whetstone is published bi-monthly while school is in session. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of Mon treat College or its staff. Funding for this paper is provided by our advertisers. Student Activities Budget, and the Office of Alumni Affairs. Visit our Web site at www.montreat.edu/whctstone. Please direct any questions or comments to the ^itor at whetstone@montreat.edu. ^ Page 2, Oct. 152002 Like to investigate news? Have an eye for that magic shot? \\ Come to the Whetstone Reporter and Photographer meeting October 24 @ 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Living Water By Johanna Wright The Way This is what the Lord says: ^ ^ "Stand at the crossroads and look; ■ ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it,' and you will find rest for your souls.” . Jeremiah 6; 16 Life can be compared to a journey, on which there are many routes and pathways. The world tells us to make the most of our lives and make a name for ourselves, The world tells us to live the way wc want to live, because uititnatcly it is all about us. The Lord tells us something quite different in this passage. God instructs us to seek out the good way and to follow it It is in this way that we can truly, make the most of our lives. The question we must ask when we come to the crossroads of life is: which direction will we choose? Will if be that of the world, or that of the Lord? The way of the world leads to emptiness and strife. In our passage, God had denied the Israelites the rest they sought because they chose the path of the world and rejected Flim. We are prone to wander just as the Israelites did, but we have a .hope even in our waywardness. Friend, God has prepared ultimate rest for you. Will you take it? Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became the way for us to walk in. He, is the ancient way, and in Him-only in Him-will we find re.st for our .souls. Look. Ask. Find true rest in Jesus. "Our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee" (Augustine of Hippo). The Whetstone
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