Continuing the conversation of a few weeks ago about why we are Presbyterian, here is my monthly column for August, Being Connected. This goes out via different tubes of communication from the Office of the General Assembly in Louisville. Be sure to check out, Why are you Presbyterian? Part I, for more ways to find out how others are thinking about their Presbyterian-ness.
PC(USA) Churchwide letter – August 2009
I am having a busy summer on your behalf!
I
traveled to Washington, D.C., for public policy talks. I attended
Montreat Youth Conferences, as well as the New Wilmington Mission
Conference, Presbyterian Women’s Churchwide Gathering, Big Tent, Alt7
Young Pastors Conference, and the Pittsburgh Seminary Summer Youth
Institute. Still to come are the National Black Presbyterian Caucus,
Massanetta Bible Conference, and back to the Philippines for the
National Church Worker’s Convocation.
As I
cross the halfway mark of my term as Moderator, my heart and spirit are
energized by what I see and experience in the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.). Yes, we are struggling in some places to find our way through
difficult situations, local and national. All in all, I think the
world’s struggles have reminded us that we are, first and foremost, to
be the church in the world. This humbling posture has freed up many
from some aspects of institutional church life that may have previously
drawn our attention away from our calling to be the hearts and hands of
Christ in the world. I am also uplifted by our willingness to ask tough
questions of each other with the hope of discovering what God has in
store for us Presbyterians.
This question
of our Presbyterian identity in what many say is a post-denominational
world will require us to fully understand how and why we are together
as a denomination. I believe we offer amazing approaches to the faith
that show to the world wonderful expressions of needed peace and
healing. Our commitment to discern together the mind of Christ and the
will of God stands against a world that would rather choose isolation.
Our connectionalism may at times be burdensome and frustrating.
However, in a world that often wants the easy way out of disagreement,
when done well, our willingness and encouragement to engage one another
is a great gift.
What do you think? Why are
you Presbyterian? What do we hold onto as we move into the future of
our denominational life together?
Join the conversation and see how others are responding.
Read the moderator's column in Korean.
Read the moderator's column in Spanish.
Greg Wiest
Sep 10, 2009 -
Bruce,
Thanks for raising the right questions of who we are as a church in a post-denominational culture. The question is: what is it that will hold us together and to what extent will we be together as a church? I recall you saying that we need to become more fluid as a church as well. The elephant in the living room is of course, Ordination of Gays and Lesbians. As a conservative I object to this on the grounds that it is prohibited in Scripture and of course my liberal friends object to the non-inclusion on the basis of social justice. We are at an impasse. So far those for full inclusion have not gotten what they desire, but they have not and probably will not leave the church. Conservatives, on the other hand, have already begun to leave. How can it all hold together?
I wonder, if we were to build more fluidity into our structure, might we just be able to hold it together. Give churches a little choice as to where they might stand theologically in our denomination. For example, I wonder if it would be too terrible to allow movement of churches between presbyteries. If a More light church found itself in Santa Barbara Presbytery, why not let them have the fluidity to move to a presbytery that was more to their leanings. Likewise, if a conservative church found itself in Geneva presbytery why not allow it the option of moving to a more conservative presbytery. I see a denomination that looks a lot less like the present day federal government and more like the articles of confederation of the 18th century. Back to the future if you will. We can have separate covenants for discipline and immediate mission. But we can join in greater mission to feed the poor and to help disaster victims(no controversy on any of these). And when we speak as a church, lets have a higher majority requirement so that when our moderator speaks it really does represent the vast majority. I see movement in such a way that perhaps even some presbytery’s specialize in tent-makers, some specialize in emergent churches and some in elder care. The common threads will always be the Gospel, presbyterian Government and presbyterian heritage.
I don’t want to go the way of the Episcopalians and now the Lutherans. let’s go for win/win rather then destruction of one side or the other. By being fluid we can allow the spirit literally a few hundred years to work this out. God’s way will win out in the end.
From a conservative presbyterian minister.