policy Archives

Presbytery takes steps to welcome transgender teens

Posted August 25th, 2021

The Presbytery of New Covenant in southeast Texas has had a strong youth ministry for decades. A highlight has been its Youth Conclaves weekend retreats that are led by the youth themselves. These retreats are a time to meet other Presbyterian youth and a time to grow as disciples. Our presbytery also recognizes that youth is a time of exploration and identity formation — including gender or sexual orientation. This became apparent in February 2020, when a request was received regarding a young person who was hesitant to attend a retreat weekend because of who she is. Katrina is transgender. She had attended the previous year when she hadn’t fully come out, and she stayed in the boys’ cabin. While she knew she didn’t want to stay there, she wasn’t sure she would be able to stay with the girls. The presbytery’s General Council made a quick decision, with a hastily written policy, that Katrina could attend and stay with the girls. We felt that, at the very least, she could feel comfortable, and we were covered legally. We knew, though, that inclusion of transgender youth in church events had to be addressed because there were more teens like Katrina among us.

Connecting to the halls of power

Posted June 12th, 2018

Working with decision makers looks different depending on where you are. Convincing your toddler to brush her teeth looks different from convincing your teenager to write a college admissions essay, which is different still from convincing the school board to keep funding the arts program you care so deeply about.

Managing editor hired for Christian social justice journal, Unbound

Posted May 26th, 2017

Unbound, the online social justice journal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is getting a new editor. Henry Koenig Stone has been selected to helm the award-winning journal, sponsored by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP).

PC(USA) Stated Clerk opposes order banning refugees’ entry into U.S.

Posted January 28th, 2017

This afternoon, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), issued a statement opposing President Trump’s executive action on immigration.