The following are news and notes of interest to the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church community. Times and locations of events listed here are subject to change without notice. Please contact the church office at 301-270-5550 or office@takomaparkpc.org for more information and confirmation.
An archive of past articles is also available on this site.
Note: Links with the text "(PDF)" require the Adobe Reader to access the URL, which is available free from Adobe.
Pastor Mark Greiner recently shared a statement with the congregation reitterating the church's support for our Boy Scout troop and its inclusive policy. The statement appears below:
Dear friends,
For 92 years, TPPC has proudly sponsored Boy Scouts of America Troop 33 -- one of the first troops in the country.
In November, 2000, we wrote a letter to the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts affirming that "Troop 33 and Pack 33, with strong support from the church, will continue their policy of selecting adult leaders based on commitment, ability, and adherence to Scout principles. Sexual orientation will not be a consideration."
Recent exclusionary policy statements from the national Boy Scout leadership created much concern in Troop 33, our church, our wider community, and indeed across the nation. Troop 33 families and leaders have been holding many discussions about how to respond. Troop 33 actively solicited participation and insight from the diverse range of its members and friends. Troop 33 carefully crafted a letter for our Session to share with the regional and national Boy Scout leadership.
Yesterday, the Session (Church Council) of the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church unanimously endorsed sending the attached letter.
Please find a copy on church letterhead (PDF)., The Troop will be sharing the letter locally with neighbors and our larger community. You are welcome and encouraged to share the letter, too.
We are proud to be in partnership with Boy Scouts of America, Troop 33 as an inclusive and affirming community.
Sincerely,
Pastor Mark Greiner
Takoma Park Presbyterian Church
A recent op-ed in the New York Times contains quotes from an elder of our church as well as Rev. Mark Greiner.
Members of El Rosal sewing circle joined us after worship on Sunday, April 1st to introduce themselves to our congregation. El Rosal is a sewing cooperative that was founded by a group of energetic and dedicated local Latina immigrants. With the assistance of Impact Silver Spring and some seed money from organizations like the Takoma Foundation, El Rosal has grown into a sustainable business, providing everything from custom-made reusable shopping bags (one of which Ike Leggett uses when he goes to the grocery or farmer's market!) to tailoring services to full-scale garment production.
One of the goals articulated in our Listening Campaign was "Connecting with Community," this visit was meant as one way of putting that aspiration into action. Learn more about El Rosal at http://www.impactsilverspring.org/
At their February Session meeting, the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church adpoted the Charter for Compassion, and voted to submit an overture to the General Assembly for PC USA to adopt the Charter for Compassion. At a special presbytery meeting the National Capital Presbytery voted to send TPPC's overture to the General Assembly.
On February 28, 2008 Karen Armstrong won the TED Prize and made a wish: for help creating, launching and propagating a Charter for Compassion. Since that day, thousands of people have contributed to the process so that on November 12, 2009 the Charter was unveiled to the world.
The idea behind the charter is simple: Every religious, spiritual and ethical tradition human beings have ever developed has had at its center the idea of compassion. Equally simple - and equally powerful - is the notion of compassion that the Charter seeks to foster, which is the belief that we should treat others as we ourselves desire be treated.
In a joint article in the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper, Desmond Tutu and Karen Armstrong said of the launching of the Charter:
If we wish to create a viable world order, we must try to implement the golden rule globally, treating all peoples - even those who seem far removed from us - as we would wish to be treated ourselves. Our world has become dangerously polarized and many of our policies - political, economic, financial and environmental - seem no longer sustainable. We have a choice. We can either choose the aggressive and exclusive tendencies that have developed in practically all religious and secular traditions or we can cultivate those that speak of compassion, empathy, respect and an impartial "concern for everybody."
Visit the Charter Website for history, videos and to sign on: ww.charterofcompassion.org
A YouTube video on the charter is also available.
TPPC's former youth director, Emily Welty, has sent a letter about her recent trip to Haiti. We reproduce her letter here, with her permission.
Looking for a way to deepen your faith and prayer? Thirsting to read the scriptures in a life-giving way?
Each week, the Human Rights Campaign offers an inspirational commentary on the Bible passages used in church for the Sunday sermon. Please join Pastor Greiner in reading these devotions each week at www.hrc.org/scripture.
Anyone interested in a Bible study together please speak with Pastor Greiner at 301-270-5550.
Webmaster : Brian C. Monsell