Ethics & Society
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Ethics & Society |
Read about he need for civility in American political discourse and The Voice of Abel's Blood by Shepherd of the Hill Church in Chaska Pastor Gordon Stewart.
| An Ecumenical Statement | "A Social Creed for the 21st Century" |
Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska holds in creative tension between two strong commitments: 1) "God alone is Lord of the conscience" and 2) the Church, as a body, is sometimes called to speak on critical public issues that affect the common life of our society and the world.
This creative tension finds natural expression in First Tuesday Dialogues, previously known as Shepherd of the Hill Dialogues, adult classes, sermons, and guest commentaries by SHPC Church Pastor Gordon Stewart. In the Presbyterian Church (USA) the pastor does not speak for the church; s/he speaks to the church's members and to the world as an act of faith and conscience that calls the rest of us to do the same.
We seek, whenever possible, to work with Christians of other traditions, and with people of other religions on matters affecting the common good. The Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2008 adopted "A Social Creed for the 21st Century." developed in partnership with the 35 other communions of the National Council of Churches USA representing 45,000,000 members. "A Social Creed for the 21st Century" was composed for the centennial of the Social Creed of the Churches produced in 1908 by the Federal Council of Churches, the predecessor to the NCC, that led to the end of child labor and established worker rights in the work place.
Sunday mornings September 12, 2010 through Feburary the Sunday adult class will explore in depth A Social Creed for the 21st Century (see below). Read "The Social Creed" or the background and history (1908 Social Creed) that led to creation of the new creed for the 21st century.
Watch a video of a new social awakening and the history of the ecumenical social witness principles. The link will take you to the PCUSA web page that contains the video "Toward a New Social Awakening, The Social Creed 1908 - 2008" produced by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy.
Please let us know your views on the video or the creed itself by using the Contact Us page on our web site. Come by Shepherd of the Hill for worship Sunday morning at 9:30, participate in the adult class on the Social Creed, or attend one of the First Tuesday Dialogues on the first Tuesday of the month.
Thanks for visiting. Here's a MAP to guide to the door for worship or a Dialogue.
Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska (SHPC) - host of First Tuesday Dialogues: examining critical public issues locally and globally - is a place for the mind and heart with thoughtful worship, education, community outreach and public dialogues that promote the common good. SHPC Jazz-gospel-classical pianist Momoh Freeman lifts our hearts. Pastor Gordon Stewart brings the sermon and does guest commentaries for Minnesota Public Radio (KNOW 91.1 FM) on "All Things Considered," MPRNewsQ, MinnPost, an online news source, and the Chaska Herald. We are the local expression of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Chaska, Minnesota, sharing the message of God's unconditional love for everyone, a place for your mind as well as your heart.