PPL elects John Sheldon President; re-affirms stated purpose

Presbyterians Pro-Life is pleased to announce the election of The Rev. John S. Sheldon, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City, New Jersey, to the position of President of the Presbyterians Pro-Life Board of Directors.

ohn is the second Sheldon to serve PPL in this capacity. His father, The Rev. Benjamin Sheldon served as president of PPL for 11 years from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. He continues to serve on the PPL Board of Directors as President Emeritus.

John’s involvement with the PPL board is also long-standing, beginning as early as 1989. He has served as Senior Vice-President of PPL since 1995 and has been an integral part of PPL’s GA team.

The John Sheldon Family, 2006 John and his wife, Laurie, have 9 wonderful children (right and below). Both generations of Sheldons view children as “a heritage from the Lord,” (Psa. 127:3). Both have been faithful in their witness within the PC(USA) to the truth that God cherishes every human life and calls us to protect and nurture especially the most vulnerable, those waiting to be born.

We will stay and witness!

It is a season of change in the PC(USA). At their October 2007 meeting, PPL’s Board of Directors wrestled with how to respond faithfully in a time of transition. The board prayerfully answered this challenge by unanimously re-affirming PPL’s stated purpose:

The John Sheldon Family, 2006

“to be a prophetic voice in the PC(USA), upholding the sacred value of human life and the family.”

PPL’s call to the PC(USA) remains clear and we have answered: “We will stay and witness.”

For more than 30 years Presbyterians Pro-Life has been a voice for life at every General Assembly, calling the PC(USA) to cherish human life in accordance with the teaching of Scripture as created, loved, and called by God from within the wombs of our mothers.

PPL diligently teaches a biblical perspective on life issues through our newsletter, publications, and our website. We seek to equip churches and individuals for ministry, helping them to establish Alternatives to Abortion Resources Centers, to work with local pregnancy care centers, and to care for those experiencing crises in pregnancy in their own congregations. We work to train pastors and lay leaders to minister grace, healing, and forgiveness to those who have experienced abortion and to comfort those who grieve pregnancy loss and stillbirth. We assist churches and individuals seeking to write pro-life statements, initiate overtures, and request Relief of Conscience through the Board of Pensions.

John & Laurie Sheldon and family, 2008 We are not done yet!

We are still burdened by our denomination’s acceptance and approval of abortion. We continue to call the PC(USA) to repentance and to return to a biblical position on abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research and all the life issues.

Presbyterians Pro-Life will again have a presence at the 218th General Assembly to be held in San Jose, California, June 21-28, 2008. Our PPL GA team will be an active witness: giving testimony in committees, passing out our Daily Delivery newsletter to commissioners, assisting commissioners and advisory delegates with the GA processes, and calling Text Box: John & Laurie Sheldon and family, 2008 the church to take a biblical stand on issues dealing with life, family, and sexuality.

We will be launching a Partners for Life program for churches in the coming months and we invite your church to join hands with us in nurturing and protecting the unborn and vulnerable in your community as well as bringing a witness to God’s involvement and care for each human life as reflected in scripture to the whole denomination.

Please contact us any time for resources and information on how you can be involved in bringing a return to pro-life policies in the PC(USA).

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the
children of one's youth.

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127:2-5

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