Presbyterian Lay Committee The Presbyterian Layman Post Office 2210 136 Tremont Park Dr. NE., Lenoir, NC 28645 Telephone: 828-758-8716 Fax: 828-758-0920 July 8, 1998 |
|
| General
Assembly Council Special Committee to Evaluate the National Network of Presbyterian College Women Dear Fellow Presbyterians: Today I am making available to your committee a packet of evidence that documents activities of the National Network of Presbyterian College Women (NNPCW). I request that you take this material into consideration as you pursue the task to which you have been called by the 210th General Assembly. Before you consider this matter, a word of background may be in order. I am a religious journalist, having served on the staff of the Presbyterian Lay Committee as editor of The Presbyterian Layman since 1989. In that capacity, I covered meetings of the General Assembly Council Women's Ministry Unit when Mary Ann Lundy was its executive director. I remember many hours of discussion by members of that unit and its successor entities concerning two projects which were very important to Ms. Lundy, the planning and denominational underwriting of the 1993 ReImagining Conference, and the organization of NNPCW. The ReImagining Movement In 1993, I dispatched reporters to the ReImagining Conference, and since then I have followed the activities and writings of its leaders, including onsite coverage of the April 16-19, 1998 ReImagining Revival in St. Paul, Minn. Although this information may not at first appear germane to the subject of your inquiry, I ask you to reserve judgment, for I can assure you of its relevance to the assignment given to you by the 210th General Assembly. Homosexual Activism in the PCUSA I have also followed the activities of Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns, the More Light Churches Network, and Voices of Sophia, independent organizations whose publicly avowed agenda on matters of sexual morality is contrary to the position affirmed by the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1978. The General Assembly position, first expressed as "Definitive Guidance," then as "Authoritative Interpretation of the Constitution," and finally, in 1996, as an explicit statement in the Constitution itself, declares homosexual behavior to be a sin. It proscribes ordained leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) from engaging in such behavior, and it prohibits the ordination of persons who openly choose to do so. Over a period of several years, I have noted increasing interest expressed by members of the above-named organizations in NNPCW. That interest came visibly to the fore during the demonstration that occurred at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 1998, the final evening of the 210th General Assembly. Lesbian activist Jane Spahr and other leaders of the homosexual movement within the Presbyterian Church (USA) played active roles. Here is how they describe their involvement in that demonstration following the Assembly's twice-affirmed decision to terminate denominational funding for NNPCW: |
|
|
|
Following adjournment of the General Assembly meeting I returned to my office, wondering what kind of alliance might exist between the More Light Churches Network and NNPCW. The involvement of so many homosexual activists in the Charlotte demonstration caused me to question if there might be explicit connections between NNPCW and movements that promote and facilitate homosexual behavior. I was, of course, aware of the NNPCW booklet Young Women Speak that refers approvingly to lesbianism, suggesting that young women who have questions regarding their sexual feelings consult with Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns. But in the wake of the demonstration I wondered if there were other linkages that commissioners who participated in the Charlotte discussions may have missed. Indeed, there are. NNPCW: A Gateway to Pornography The evidence appeared on my computer screen. I discovered that the official Presbyterian Church (USA) web site includes pages sponsored and maintained by NNPCW. The NNPCW pages have been serving as an Internet gateway to hard core homosexual pornography. Following links initially recommended as resources by NNPCW I found my way to a lesbian dating service (only three key strokes from the official church page). Continuing through interlocking links that started with a NNPCW recommendation I reached animated pictures depicting aberrant forms of sexual behavior including, but not limited to oral and anal sex, sadism and masochism, and an entrance to "live chat rooms" in which potential partners may discuss their fantasies. Getting There All of us who follow the news are aware of widespread concerns over the appearance of pornography on the Internet. But how does one find these pornographic sites? Each site has an address, but if one does not know the combination of symbols that comprise that address, it would be almost impossible to access it. The key: a site you know and trust that provides a "link." A link is an electronic doorway that leads from your present Internet location to a new address. That is what NNPCW has been offering to Presbyterian college women. A simple "click" on a subject line listed under the category "Resources We Offer" did the trick. Instantly, doors were opened to interlocking links that can guide Presbyterian coeds deeper and deeper into the world of pornography. Like a doorway leading from a Presbyterian sanctuary, it all starts on the official church web page. Anticipating an Argument Representatives of NNPCW, and the General Assembly Council Office of Women's Ministries that staffs and sponsors it, will surely point out that the lesbian dating service and pornographic material identified in this report are not located on Presbyterian Church (USA) servers (computers). Technically, that argument is accurate. It is also irrelevant. I could not have found my way to those pornographic addresses unless someone showed me the door. That is what NNPCW did when it included specific links among its "Resources We Offer." Thus, while it would be inaccurate to say that the National Network of Presbyterian College Women produces pornography, it is entirely accurate to say that this network has been leading college women into pornography. That is the charge that I make to your committee. Scope of Inquiry My investigation into the NNPCW Internet web site was conducted between June 22 and July 2, 1998. Prior to this time, I was unaware of the fact that NNPCW sponsored a web site. I learned of the fact from comments made by NNPCW's defenders during commissioners' committee hearings at the 210th General Assembly meeting. I do not know how long the site existed prior to the General Assembly meeting. Shortly after I discovered the contents and links on NNPCW's site, I notified Presbyterian webmasters in Colorado and California, persons of impeccable integrity, asking that they access the site from their servers in order to verify what I had witnessed. They did so. Following adjournment of the 210th General Assembly, PresbyWeb, an independent Internet service that notifies its readers of various Presbyterian web pages, listed NNPCW as a site that Presbyterians might find interesting. I suspected that this increased visibility, particularly in light of a pending General Assembly Council investigation into NNPCW activities, might lead NNPCW officials to consider destroying their site. In order to preserve the evidence, on July 1, 1998, I accessed the NNPCW site and printed all material that appeared on my computer screen as I followed several of its links. Each printed page includes the link's Internet address and the date on which the computer gave me access to the site. The following day, July 2, 1998, all material on the site vanished. In its place was a note, located between the NNPCW logo and the PCUSA seal, that said, "Come back soon to see the new NNPCW web page." On July 3, Presbyweb alerted its readers to the sudden disappearance by displaying the following message: "National Network of Presbyterian College Women 7/3 7:30 a.m. CDT - The entire content of this site has been removed …" Investigation Overview On my first visit to the NNPCW site I examined three of the organization's recommended resources for college women: "Feminist/Womanist Theologies" (#3), "Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Life" (#5), and "Sexuality and Spirituality" (#10). I noted that the recommended resource material was replete with books and articles authored by leaders of the ReImagining movement. Among those featured were Delores Williams (who rejects Christ's atonement), Carter Heyward (who rejects the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as God's self-revelation), Beverly Harrison (who describes evangelical Presbyterians as persons who "have a passion for killing queers"), Sylvia Thorson-Smith and Chris Glaser (prominent leaders in Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns), and James Nelson, consultant for the Human Sexuality Report that was rejected by the 1991 General Assembly. I noted also that the Human Sexuality Report itself, "Body and Soul: Human Sexuality and the Church," was included as a recommended resource. Then I spotted the links. Only two were listed under the category "Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Life." They are: "Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (PLGC) homepage," and "Christian Views on Homosexuality." I clicked "Christian Views on Homosexuality" which took me to a menu under the banner, "Homosexuality and Bisexuality." From here I clicked "Bisexual, Gay, & Homosexual Resources," and from this page I accessed "LesbianMatch, A Dating Service for the Lesbian Singles Community." The text on this page invited me to "Come in and find the woman of your dreams at the best Lesbian meeting and matching site on the net." At this point I checked my computer log. The lesbian dating service was a very short trip from the official Presbyterian Church (USA) web page, to be exact, only three clicks. Backing up to the "Homosexuality and Bisexuality" page, I clicked another selection, a link titled "gay web site." That led me to "Let me take you for a magic carpet ride." Among the many links listed here I clicked on one which advertised group trips to homosexual gatherings, erotic videos, erotic "toys," chat rooms where the participant can connect to live conversations with other participants, and a link titled "live sex, click here." I clicked "live sex" and was taken to "GBN #1 Gay Hardcore Sex Television Network." On a page decorated with phallic symbols, there appeared animated pictures of same-sex couples engaging in vigorous sexual activity. Included in links from this page were pictures of women in chains and tools apparently used for flagellation. Feeling nauseated, I terminated my investigation. The Evidence I have offered you an explicit verbal description of what I witnessed in order to obviate the committee's need to see the pictures themselves. But I am aware of the fact that at least one member of the NNPCW evaluation committee will need to verify my description by examining the evidence, pictures of what appeared on my computer screen as I accessed the NNPCW site and its interlocking links. It is for that purpose that I have prepared one copy of this material for private delivery to Rev. James Mead, Vice Moderator of the General Assembly and author of the motion that called for establishing an NNPCW evaluation committee. Other than the original that I have kept in my secure files and a copy that I have delivered to Attorney Robert L. Howard, chairman of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, no additional copies of this material will be circulated. Internal GAC Linkages Although the General Assembly action that created your committee assigned to you the task of evaluating NNPCW, I urge you to look beneath the surface of this organization to its root, the General Assembly Council Office of Women's Ministries. This office is successor to what was formerly known as the Women's Ministry Unit, headed by Mary Ann Lundy, who first articulated the vision for what was to become NNPCW. Susan Holcolm Craig followed Lundy as the first director of the Office of Women's Ministries. After resigning this position, Craig identified herself as a member of the lesbian/bisexual community during her introduction of Mary Ann Lundy to the Voices of Sophia breakfast at the 209th General Assembly in Syracuse. Susan Holcolm Craig was succeeded in office by Barbara E. Dua, the current director. Dua participated in the 1998 ReImagining Revival in April along with representatives from Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns, the More Light Churches Network (now called "More Light Presbyterians" following its merger with Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns), and Voices of Sophia. Staff members of NNPCW work for and are accountable to Ms. Dua, as was the case when Susan Holcolm Craig and Mary Ann Lundy headed this program area. I simply point out this history because, while the connections are obvious to me as a veteran observer of national staff activity, newly appointed members of the NNPCW evaluation committee may not be aware of historic relationships between this college women's group, the "ReImagining Community," and independent organizations that promote gay/lesbian/bisexual activism. An awareness of these connections may prove useful as your committee examines the materials NNPCW recommends as "resources" for Presbyterian college women. Availability to the Committee I will make myself available to the evaluation committee in the event that you wish to question me regarding this matter in the presence of NNPCW representatives. Under the General Assembly Open Meetings Policy, The Presbyterian Layman will observe and report on all meetings conducted by your committee. In the event that you should decide to request my testimony, I would appreciate receiving advance notice in order that I might secure the services of another reporter on those occasions. Grateful for your willingness to undertake a difficult, unpleasant, and necessary task in service to the peace and purity of the Presbyterian Church (USA), I am Sincerely,  |
|
| Parker
T. Williamson Executive Editor |
|
| DOCUMENTATION | |
The following material, printed directly from a Presbyterian Lay Committee computer while accessing the National Network of Presbyterian College Women Internet site (http://www.pcusa.org/pcusa/nnpcw) and its interlocking links, is segmented by seven tabs. Tab One: Printed Pages 1&2 This is the Presbyterian Church (USA) home page, entry point for all official Presbyterian Church (USA) ministries on the web. Note that the bottom line of each page identifies the Internet address that is being printed (http://www.pcusa.org/) and the date on which this printing occurred (7/1/98). Printed Pages 1&2 This is the Presbyterian Church (USA) search engine. By typing "National Network of Presbyterian College Women" in the window, one accesses the NNPCW page. Printed Pages 1-5 This is the NNPCW site. Note from the Internet address (http://www.pcusa.org/pcusa/nnpcw/) that it is a part of the official PCUSA site. Page 3 of 5 displays "Resources We Offer." Under this title category one finds "To see the issues discussed in Young Women Speak." This is an active link. Aligning a computer cursor with this red line and clicking it will take you instantly to the next tab. Tab Two: Printed Page 1 of 6 This section lists an index of NNPCW "resources." Note the Internet Address which tells you that you are still on an official PCUSA page. The ending code (res.html) is hyptertext language indicating that these six pages are "resources" on the official PCUSA/NNPCW site. Feminist/Womanist Theololgies Note the ideological slant of the recommended resources, particularly: Johana Bos, outspoken advocate of ReImagining and gay/lesbian/bisexual movement. Letty Russell, radical feminist theologian and a key leader in the ReImagining Revival (April, 1998), and Delores Williams, a platform speaker at both the ReImagining Conference (1993) and the ReImagining Revival (1998) who denies the atonement of Jesus Christ ("we don't need folks hanging on crosses and blood dripping and weird stuff.") Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Life Note the ideological slant of the recommended resources, particularly: Chris Glaser, a prominent gay ordination activist, and a reference to Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns. Note also the recommended Internet Links. There are two, Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (PLGC) homepage, and Christian Views on Homosexuality (page 4 of 6). These are active links. That means that you do not need to know the Internet addresses of these two sites. If you place your cursor on an active link and click it, you will be transported to that site instantly. This is an important feature. Computer linking is more than merely suggesting another site; it facilitates one's visit to that site. In a few moments we are going to click on "Christian Views on Homosexuality," which will take us to the next tab. But before going there, please note the list of recommended resources under "Sexuality and Spirituality." Sexuality and Spirituality Note the ideological slant of the recommended resources, particularly: "Body and Soul: Human Sexuality and the Church." This is the Human Sexuality Report that was rejected by the 1991 General Assembly. It affirms moral legitimacy to adulterous and homosexual behavior under the rubric of "justice-love" and declares that only those portions of Scripture that express "justice-love" are authoritative. Note also the recommendation of James Nelson, who was the paid consultant to the Human Sexuality Committee that produced the above report, also ReImagining platform speakers Beverly Harrison and Carter Heyward ("Jesus is not God"), and Sylvia Thorson-Smith, leader of Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns. Now we will activate the "Christian Views on Homosexuality" link (printed page 4 of 6) that will instantly take us to the site identified in tab three. Tab Three "Christian Views on Homosexuality" Note from the Internet address that you have now traveled from the PCUSA/NNPCW site to another Internet location dealing with "tolerance." You probably do not know anything about this organization or what it stands for. Chances are, you didn't know how to locate it on the Internet. But because NNPCW called it a "resource" and linked it to the official PCUSA site, you didn't have to know these things. You simply clicked on the resource line and arrived here. This page is essentially a switching station, an index of active links that take you in different directions. Had we had opportunity to follow all of these links before July 2, 1998 when NNPCW destroyed the evidence, we would have done so. We chose two links on July 1. The first is "Bisexual, Gay & Homosexual Resources" (page 2 of 2). We will follow that link, and then later (tab 5) return to this page to follow the second chosen link. We are now clicking the cursor on "Bisexual, Gay & Homosexual Resources" and are instantly transported to tab four. Tab Four "Bisexual, Gay & Homosexual Resources" Pages 1-4 - Here you will find another switching station that gives those who value "inclusiveness" and "diversity" a wide variety of resources. After a quick perusal of these four pages we choose the lesbian dating service identified as http://192.115.136.18/lesbianmatch/ Pages 1-2 - The contents of these pages speak for themselves. You are exactly three clicks away from the official PCUSA/NNPCW Internet site. The amount of time required to get from the PCUSA page to this lesbian dating service depends on the speed of your computer and modem. We made the trip in less than ten seconds. Using the "Back" feature on our Internet program, we are now going to return to the NNPCW-recommended "Homosexuality and Bisexuality" resource page. This will take us to tab five. Tab Five "Christian Views on Homosexuality" You are looking at a black and white photocopy of a page that you have seen before (tab three). This is the "tolerance" switching station recommended by NNPCW under its "Resources We Offer" banner and from which we traveled to the lesbian dating service. Having returned to this page, we will now click on a link that will take us to the material found in tab six. Tab Six WARNING: I must warn you that when you turn this tab you will enter a section of material that is filled with hard core pornography. Because I am providing documentation in order to sustain the very serious charges I am making against NNPCW, I have chosen not to mask any of the pictures included in this section. What you will see, if you choose to examine this section, is exactly what I saw on my computer screen. I do not believe that any commentary on my part is needed, for these pages speak for themselves. As was true in previous sections, you will note the Internet address and date of access on the bottom of each page. I want to emphasize again that this site was accessed via interlocking links that began with a recommended resource link on the official PCUSA/NNPCW Internet site. Tab Seven On July 2, 1998, I revisited the PCUSA/NNPCW web page, intending to continue tracing links that were embedded in its recommended resource page. Here I discovered that the entire contents of the site had been destroyed, leaving behind only a shell with the twin logos of NNPCW and the Presbyterian seal and an announcement: "Come back soon to see the new NNPCW web page." (Page 1 of 1). On July 3, 1998, PresbyWeb announced its discovery of the deletion. (Page 1 of 19). Certification I certify that all color pages included this documentation are original prints made by me on a Presbyterian Lay Committee computer located at 136 Tremont Park Drive NE, Lenoir, North Carolina, during an online connection with the Presbyterian Church (USA) Internet site, http://www.pcusa/nnpcw and its interconnected links, and the PresbyWeb Internet site, http://www.lisco.com/presbyweb/target2.html. I certify that the two black and white pages included in tab five constitute a photocopy of the original print that is included in tab three.
|
|
| Parker T. Williamson Date: 7/8/98 |
|
| Breaking News contents | |
|
Home,
· Archives,
·
The
Presbyterian Layman - current issue, |
|
