From the 219th General Assembly

We go in God's name

2010-07-10T11:26:00.004-05:00

This incredible assembly has come to a close. But as our moderator Cynthia Bolbach noted, it is not the end, but the beginning of our work.

We have charted a new course for this denomination and God's work in the world. Commissioners now face the task of sharing the good news of this work and how it can make our congregations more vibrant, active and vital members of the body of Christ.

As I've often noted in my correspondence to you throughout this week, this has been an assembly filled with strong emotions, passion for our convictions and a will to work in unity. The best way I can share with you the powerful experience that this has been for me is through the words of our closing hymn, "The Summons," in our closing worship:

     Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
     Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
     In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show.
     Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

May the peace of God be in you and with you and me.

Shalom!

The wave of change is upon us

2010-07-09T19:29:00.003-05:00

I realize that I owe you a fuller report about what occurred at the assembly over the last two days, but I have to confess that I hit a wall of mental fatigue after Thursday's significant action.

What I didn't express with my post Thursday was the tremendous wave of change that this General Assembly has unleashed on the body of Christ. Not only did we recommend to presbyteries a revision of the ordination standard to remove exclusive language over sexuality and to send to presbyteries both reports on civil union and marriage, we approved a new form of government proposal and took substantial steps to allow middle governing bodies to make changes in their form and function as they find necessary to improve their effectiveness at doing and facilitating ministry.

Whew!

Thursday was an emotional day for this assembly, given its debate of the ordination issue and the reports on civil union and Christian marriage. While these issues seemed to dominate our energies, it didn't sap them. An amazing calm seemed to descend on the assembly, as we came to respect the need to take a collective breath.

Needless to say, debating a new form of government and a mechanism for allowing changes within middle governing bodies elicited plenty of strong feelings. The debate is one I've outlined in previous posts about my committee's work (middle governing bodies). Do we want to create a more flexible, nimble form of government that is adaptive to the individual needs of congregations, presbyteries and synods, or do we want to maintain one-size-fits-all rules for these bodies?

The debate over social justice and same-sex issues arose again Friday afternoon over a Presbyterian Board of Pensions proposal to extend benefits to church employees, their domestic partners (which I would interpret as same sex and opposite sex partners) and their children. The debate turned on two points: cost and fairness, though the underlying debate over same-sex unions was apparent. Or as my fellow commissioner, the Rev. Dana Waters, framed the debate: fairness vs. righteousness. Ultimately, the assembly voted to approve extending those benefits.

We've done all this (and still more I haven't yet covered) in the last two days, with more yet to do. But it is an exciting time and will be an exciting time in our denomination if we follow the Spirit that is moving among us.

Ready or not? Divided or united?

2010-07-08T23:50:00.006-05:00

On maybe the most controversial issue facing the denomination, the General Assembly was both divided and united.

The body voted by a two-thirds majority late Thursday night to make the minority report part of the majority report of the Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage, then decided by a narrow majority of only 24 votes to answer all other questions put before it, including a recommendation to approve a new definition of marriage, with that action (an action which means no specific action one way or another). The reports now go to sessions and presbyteries for their study.

These decisions demonstrate two things: The church is united in its desire to continue to study, discuss and wrestle with the issue of civil union and Christian marriage, but divided in its readiness to make a substantive change in that understanding.

And I'm torn by that dichotomy. On one hand, I understand the biblical perspective that sees marriage as between a man and woman, relying on the Genesis story of creation as a starting point of that understanding. On the other hand, I accept what we moderns now understand about human sexuality and the desire of human beings to live in covenant relationship one to another. On one hand, as the minority report notes, some see the biblical authors as captives of limited cultural perspectives prevalent in societies deformed by patriarchy and other injustices. On the other hand, as the majority report notes, we study Scripture so that we might follow the Word of God incarnate in our changing world.

Lost in all of this is what the General Assembly did do. It approved a change in the Book of Order to alter the language on ordination, removing the fidelity/chastity clause. That change now goes to the presbyteries for their approval or disapproval. It was on this item that there was considerable passionate, heartfelt debate that I felt was cathartic and set the stage for the assembly's action on the civil union and marriage reports.

I believe we are moving to a different understanding of who we are as sexual beings, and that on the issue of who can serve God and the church, we as flawed people will set no flaw above another that would exclude any from that service.

New tools for the body of Christ

2010-07-07T23:27:00.006-05:00

The assembly took dramatic action Wednesday on two significant issues. First we approved the addition of the Confession of Belhar to the Book of Confessions. Then that night we voted to accept by a two-thirds margin the report from the task force on a new Form of Government. Both proposals now go to the presbyteries for their approval or disapproval.

The Confession of Belhar is one that grew out of the reconciliation process in South Africa following the end of apartheid. It addresses specifically the issue of racial discrimination, but more broadly speaks to discrimination of any sort. Its core message is one of unity. A deeper reading of it within the context of our divisions over social, political and theological perspectives demonstrates to me that the confession will have resonance beyond the issue of discrimination.

When it came to the proposed new Form of Government, there was considerable debate on the floor of the assembly, even a substitute motion that would have delayed the report for further study and comment by the presbyteries (which was defeated). The proposal has been the subject of study and debate for at least four years.

There is no doubt the document is not perfect. There were calls for more input from presbyteries, but presbyteries have had ample opportunity to offer suggested changes. Many did, and the General Assembly committee reviewing the proposed new Form of Government amended it further. It was that further amended document that we approved.

I have heard discussions on both sides of the issue. As someone who sits in the pew, it's hard for me to see how a form of government relates to the practice of my faith. As an elder and member of session, I understand that the Church needs to define its standards, set rules for adhering to those standards and create an outline for governing ourselves. What is at issue is how we will do those things. Do we want a constitution that strictly outlines our form and functions, which would be consistent from congregation to congregation, presbytery to presbytery, and synod to synod? Or do we want a constitution that defines who we are but leaves defining the functions of these bodies to the bodies, which may create diverse structures across the denomination?

That's the central question we must answer. And now it will be up the presbyteries, which are closest to the membership, to decide. It is my hope that all presbyteries will do the "due diligence" by studying the document, debate its merits or lack thereof and make a decision that is in the best interest of God's Church.

Diversity in unity: We are one body

2010-07-07T11:33:00.003-05:00

I have just come from a stirring ecumenical service at Westminster Presbyteryian Church in the heart of Minneapolis. It was a service that not only celebrated our diversity as believers and human beings, but reminded us that even with our diversity we live in the unity of the community of God.

We were first welcomed by former Vice President Walter Mondale, a Westminster member. We heard music sung in Spanish, Korean and African. We heard various parts of worship led by ministers from a wide variety of denominations and nationalities, black and white, Protestant and Catholic, Pakistani and Iraqi, Rwandan and Korean.

The Rev. Peg Chamberlin, a minister in the Moravian Church, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and the current president of the National Council of Churches, focused on this message of unity in diversity during her sermon. She reminded us that, as Ephesians says, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all."

She told, what for me was, a telling story about a gathering she had been invited to that was exploring the possibilities of life on Mars. Most of the participants were scientists, but they kept referring to the "ecumenical" nature of life, that without diversity there is no life.

Stop and think about that for a moment. How deep and wide the diversity of life that makes up our own bodies. How deep and wide the diversity of life that makes up and makes this planet. We are all part of it, individuals yes, but called to live in community as one.

She of course touched on the social, political and theological perspectives that often divided us. And then noted this commentary by Mark Twain, who once remarked that some of us have enough faith to hate, and some of us enough faith to love.

We are one body, one community. One baptism, one faith, one Lord.

That is an important reminder to all of us who are commissioners to this General Assembly, who are about to come together today in plenary to begin to decide issues great and small facing our denomination, that no matter our age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual identity or theological perspective, we are one body.

That is an important reminder to all of us as we live our daily lives, that no matter what each of us thinks and believes as individuals, we are blood members of the same family, the human family, God's community on this Earth.

The hard work of committees ends

2010-07-06T22:14:00.006-05:00

Our work as committees came to an end today, some earlier than others. In my committee on Middle Governing Body Issues, today was supposed to be a simpler one, but there's always an overture that throws the agenda out of whack. That overture was one dealing with multiple recommendations regarding a special study committee on the church in Puerto Rico, specifically the Synod of Boriquén and its three presbyteries.

The study committee's report attempted to outline all the problems within the synod, which involves a power struggle within the synod leadership and with the leadership of the Presbytery of San Juan. Our committee recommended that the study committee be extended another two years and reconstituted as a subcommittee of the administrative commission on middle governing bodies that was recommended for approval Monday. This would give greater oversight and continued study of the delicate nature of relations within the Puerto Rican synod. But it also would empower the commission to dissolve the synod and its presbyteries should the parties not be able to adequately resolve their differences.

It was a difficult and delicate negotiation, complicated by the constitutional deficiencies in some of the original recommendations which had to be amended to be perfected, and because of our efforts to be fair to the Puerto Rican churches and to fellow Puerto Rican members of our committee.

The big issues, though, involved overtures with the potential to threaten the unity of the denomination over theological differences.

Item 04-03 proposes creation of a non-geographical synod that would promote a particular theological and missional identity. The synod would be governed by special provisions regarding the theological and behavioral standards of ministers (essentially allowing the synod to maintain its own ordination standards), the reception and dismissal of congregations and whole presbyteries, the use of quasi-confessional statements, and veto power over further amendment of these provisions that would have been added to the Book of Order, our constitution.

This item, and item 04-04, which calls for creation of presbyteries along similar lines, both clearly are in conflict with our polity and the unity of the church by letting theological conservatives within the denomination coalesce in like-minded clusters. The committee, in significant majorities, voted to recommend disapproval by the full assembly of both overtures. As our committee moderator noted, we are often not in unanimity but we are in unity. But it is a clear sign of the deep divisions within the denomination over theological differences that persist.

For me, my service on this committee was a tremendous experience and opportunity to see the church at work in a manner that was respectful of all points of view and that honestly tried to discern God's will and do God's work. It also was an opportunity to meet, get to know and work with dozens of fellow Presbyterians from around the country. The Holy Spirit was truly present and active.

On Wednesday, we come together as the full body in plenary, when we will hear committee reports and no doubt further debate and then decide dozens of issues before the church.

We have a decision

2010-07-05T22:47:00.000-05:00

After a couple additional amendments, and voting against a couple of others, the committee on Middle Governing Body Issues finally voted Monday night to approve to recommend an amended item 04-06 to GA on a vote of 38 for, 4 against and 3 abstentions. That's the item that would create a commission of GA that would work at the initiative of synods and presbyteries to help them create more nimble and effective bodies for ministry.

This is a significant step. The amended item now will go before the full assembly. I am already making preparations to speak in favor of passage during plenary, which begins Wednesday afternoon. I believe this could become one of the most significant actions of this General Assembly.

A step toward a nimble denomination

2010-07-05T18:23:00.005-05:00

Finally a post on my activities on the day they occurred!

If you thought the committee I was assigned to at General Assembly – Middle Governing Body Issues – would deal with mundane issues, you'd be in for a surprise. This committee is dealing with crucial questions about the future vibrancy of the denomination.

We have spent most of the day wrestling with the question of how to create ways for our middle governing bodes (presbyteries and synods) to be more nimble, more flexible in the fast changing world we live in so they are better able at equipping congregations to do God's work. And we are close to recommending to the full assembly that it approve an overture to create a commission with the authority of General Assembly that "will consult with sessions, presbyteries, synods, and the wider church on the mission and function of middle governing bodies" and "develop models that reflect the roles of middle governing bodies in our polity and the changing context of our witness in the United States and their relationships with other governing bodies."

In our morning session, we heard from presbytery executives, synod executives and even the moderator of the 218th General Assembly, Bruce Reyes-Chow, who spoke passionately about the need to change middle governing body structures to allow the church to more effectively do mission together. Among those speaking was Tom Evans, now executive of Greater Atlanta Presbytery and the former exec of our presbytery, Sheppards & Lapsley.

Here's what Tom had to say: He believes that "God calls us to use the authority of the church to make decisions and go forth and do God's work in the world. The Spirit's will might not be eternal discernment." He said a commission could act to make presbyteries and synods more nimble, as opposed to a committee, which can only study the issue and report to GA. He said in this cloudy time, we need to be more like a catamaran than an ocean liner in our ability to turn the church in a new direction. "Presbyteries and synods are bleeding and need to be able to respond more quickly. We need to reshape them from governing bodies into bodies that equip our congregations to do mission. "

Others had similar things to say. There were those who opposed such a commission, fearing that it would make changes in synods or presbyteries that are functioning well. That was a concern of our committee, but in listening to staff from the Committee on the General Assembly and other advocates, we learned that any such commission would become involved only at the invitation of specific synods or presbyteries. And as a committee we included a requirement that action of the commission must be approved by a two-thirds rather than simple majority vote.

We are working on item 04-06 and have amended it twice to include language from item 04-05 and clarify other language. The MGB committee still has some additional amendments that will likely be proposed after our dinner break, but I'm optimistic that the committee favors recommending this action to the full assembly. It is my hope and prayer that the full assembly will approve creation of this commission. If it does, our denomination will have the flexibility to adapt to the rapid pace of change we face in the world today to better do the mission of the body of Christ. That indeed is exciting news.

Committee work begins

2010-07-05T00:20:00.007-05:00

We got our introduction to the committee on Middle Governing Body Issues on Sunday, July 4, but the first day wasn't about the work of the committee but about getting to know one another so we can work together as the body of Christ. We opened with worship in prayer and in song. Then we spent at least an hour first breaking into groups by what we would do for dinner that night if we had these choices: fast food, specialty restaurants, seafood or cooking at home, then on a personal scavenger hunt with clues about who our fellow committee members are and placing a name next to that interesting fact about that person.

So I got to meet the two people who were born in China (Sam Stone and Miriam Pride), the two people who were candidates for moderator (Julia Leeth and James Belle), and got to know a little more about the two people who sit on either side of me (Ron Bowie who was a city planner and city manager, and Frank Moody who is a retired Army colonel), plus many others (there are 49 members on this committee).

Then we spent time in orientation about our work. As our moderator, Chicago Presbytery executive Cliff Lyda told us, none of us may feel properly trained or prepared for the work we are about to do, but we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us.

The real work begins Monday, when will consider overtures to eliminate synods, allow different synod and presbytery combinations, and whether to study our whole middle governing body structure. So it will be an interesting committee to sit on because so much of what we will consider affects the form and function of these bodies.

A time of worship, work and BOOM!

2010-07-05T00:15:00.001-05:00

Sunday we started the day with worship at the convention center with 7,000 to 8,000 people in a celebration that showcased Minnesota's (and the denomination's) rich culture. We celebrated a baptism (a first for a General Assembly) and the Lord's Supper. And we heard from the moderator of the 218th General Assembly, Bruce Reyes-Chow, whose term ended Saturday night. He wondered how God might move “the mountain” of the denomination, and whether members are ready to embrace that movement. “We say to a generation of people every day, by the ways that we engage in church and community, ‘I don’t care [about your needs or yearnings],’ ” Reyes-Chow said. “‘I sort of like this mountain I’m living on.’” He challenged the congregation to celebrate the ways that “God is going to surprise us.” His candor about the denomination’s future both engaged and worried the congregation.

The middle part of the day got commissioners started in their committee work. For most committees, it was a time to get to know one another, do some procedural business such as set agendas, then dismiss early.

In the evening, we all road buses to Nicollet Island for a picnic and the Red, White and BOOM! Fourth of July fireworks over the Mississippi at the Riverfront district.

Election of a moderator

2010-07-04T02:00:00.005-05:00

It is early Sunday morning as I compile these thoughts about our day Saturday.

After some minor procedural questions, the first real order of business for this General Assembly was the election of a moderator Saturday evening. Maybe it says something about who we want to be as a denomination that of the six candidates, one is Latina, one is Korean-American, one is African-American; three are women and three are men; only one is a white male. We heard wonderful testimony from these candidates, one of which will not only moderate this General Assembly, but lead the denomination for the next two years. Here are the candidates and some of what they said.

The Rev. Julia Leeth: God is good all the time, all the time God is good. We haven't always done a great job of being the church. My hope is that we as God's people will wrestle with God's word and be as best we can God's people. That is the business of the church. Being the body of Christ.

The Rev. Jin S. Kim: A third generation Korean Presbyterian. Those who know me know I have no shortage of critiques of this denomination. I believe that God has given me some critical understanding of the issues that we face at this time.

The Rev. James A. Belle: We are in a place where we need to remember whose and who we are. I want us to see one another as the children of the one who created us.

Elder Cynthia Bolbach: The only lay person standing as moderator of the 219th GA. We are paralyzed by fatigue over constant battles over how we will order ourselves, but fear how we can proclaim the gospel effectively. Rely on relationships and not just rules. Let's accept that we will not always agree on the best way to know how to put a hole in the roof. Breaking holes in roofs is dirty, hard work. We need to talk about getting dirty and breaking holes in roofs.

The Rev. Eric G. Nielsen: We face challenging questions. Amidst all these challenges facing GA, it's important to have strong leadership leading the way. These challenges often divide us. The nons (nonreligious but not nonspiritual) hold a positive view of Jesus but a negative view of Christianity. I know we can proclaim and reclaim a positive voice for the future.

The Rev. Maggie Palmer Lauterer: The Spirit means for us to hear six voices. Different theologically, geographically. The person you choose will be your voice, the voice of the denomination for the next two years. We are listening for a voice to give us courage.

After giving introductory speeches, the candidates had 90 minutes to address questions relating to the value and role of seminary training of ministers, Christian educators and education in general; the role of the different parts of our constitution and how they should relate to each other in the decision making of commissioners; the role of mission and evangelism; what role young people have in the church; and one of the touchiest but most telling, their position on civil unions and Christian marriage. Here is what the candidates had to say on that question:

Leath: Declared herself the most conservative of the candidates, saying she supports the decision of the 218th General Assembly in its affirmation of the traditional view of marriage between a man and a woman. Having said that, it is our challenge to wrestle with that decision and the implications of what that is.

Bolbach: Who poses the greatest threat to the traditional definition of marriage: Larry King, who has been married multiple (eight?) times, or a gay couple she knows who has lived together for 62 years? She supports same-sex unions, but doesn't believe the denomination "is ready to go there." But pastors in jurisdictions where gay marriage is legal need the guidance of the church in how they can respond.

Kim: Also supports the traditional view of marriage, but also supports full civil rights for gay unions. Said if we're going to talk about covenanted relationships, there are other issues, such as polygamy that still exists in some countries in Asia. We can't address the issue of gay marriage without addressing covenanted relationships in general.

Lauterer: Believes that in any state where gay marriage is legal, that the church should be involved in affirming that covenant.

Belle: Said he supports the traditional view of marriage because one can't overlook what Scripture, the Book of Confession and the Book of Order say about it.

Nielson: Supports the covenant of marriage as being between a man and a woman. He talked about the two reports from the Special Committee on Civil Unions and Christian Marriage, neither of which recommend changes to our current definition of marriage. Noted that the minority report encourages a time of study of the current view, while the majority report went further in encouraging study of the broader issue. Said we as a denomination can stick our head in the sand and act as though this issue doesn't exist, or acknowledge what is going on in the world around us, study it, and discern how the church is to respond to this changing environment.

After working out some glitches in the electronic voting system, commissioners cast their votes in several successive ballots until Cynthia Bolbach ("elders rule!") was elected with 51 percent of the vote late on Saturday night. She was commissioned and installed as moderator, succeeding the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow.

While it was a long and busy day, it was thrilling for me to be part of the work of this body. But it was disheartening to hear some commissioners complain about the time it took to vote for moderator, or the uselessness of the advisory delegates' vote despite the still fresh responses from the candidates for moderator to questions put to them by young people about the role of young people in our denomination. It is just such attitudes that make me think that some of us just still don't get it. How unfortunate it is that we aren't fully engaged in all the work of denomination, no matter how tedious it may feel.

Our first gathering as an assembly

2010-07-04T01:41:00.001-05:00

The 219th General Assembly opened on Saturday afternoon with the pouring together of water the commissioners carried to Minneapolis from around the country, symbolizing the theme "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." In this water contains the hopes and dreams for this church, this festival. We are to be as living water not only for ourselves but for the next generation.

The theme of water is one that was reflected in the Scripture, music and prayers to open the assembly. We got an introduction to our host state, and learned that the name Minnesota comes from the Dakota word "minisota," which means the sky reflected in the water.

The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th General Assembly, instructed us in our call that we are a church that is trying to figure out what God is doing with us, and that we are called to discern the mind of Christ and the will of God together. Then we were formally commissioned for this assembly.

Let the conversations begin

2010-07-03T17:08:00.007-05:00

GA commissioners had the opportunity Saturday morning to talk about several significant issues facing the church during the Riverside Conversations. The six topics were:

◗ Equipping the Church for Ministry with God's Diverse Family
◗ Reports from the Stated Clerk and Executive Director of the General Assembly Mission Council
◗ Confessional Statements
◗ The proposed new Form of Government
◗ The Middle East Study Committee Report
◗ The Special Committee on Civil Unions and Christian Marriage Task Force Report

We were able to attend two sessions and I sat in on the conversations about the proposed new Form of Government, which is important to our future as a vibrant denomination, and the Special Committee on Civil Unions and Christian Marriage Task Force Report, which is of particular interest to my congregation.

Here's what I heard and some thoughts.

New Form of Government
Form vs. function. Describes the house we live in, but doesn't determine how we arrange the furniture.

The committee describes the proposed new Form of Government this way: The mission of the Church is to participate in God's mission in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Polity is the architecture for mission. It specifies the dimensions of our theological foundation, the height of our ecclesiastical rafters and the pitch of the covenantal roof over all of our heads. What furniture occupies the rooms or what pictures hang on the walls is left to the discretion of those who will live in the house and make it a home. The discussion then is about one of form vs. function. We will have a constitution that describes who we are (form) or one that prescribes what we do (function).

The proposed new Form of Government is an architecture for mission that preserves standards for the whole church, provides flexibility to meet those standards in context, and connects what we believe about the church with how we live together as the church. It connects our beliefs with our actions.

It was noted during the discussion that since the 1983 union to form the PCUSA, the Book of Order has been amended 300 times. For those of us living in the state of Alabama, that is something to think about. The Alabama Constitution has been amended more than 900 times.

The discussion that ensued seem to encapsulate the concerns over the increased flexibility that would be vested in the new Form of Government and what controls or accountability would be in place. That in fact is what the task force was charged with: maximizing flexibility for sessions, presbyteries and synods in doing God's work while being accountable to the standards of the PCUSA. As one task force member, James Kim, said: The church, due to one or two bad cases, made rules for the entire church. His response was how can we have a Form of Government that models health rather than preventing disease.

It becomes an issue of trust, which the denomination is struggling with due to its divisiveness over several issues. This explanation of accountability by one of the task force members seems to me to be an appropriate one: We are accountable to one another by how we use the polity of our church. How can we trust one another and be accountable to one another so that we can construct a church that is vibrant and missional? Our polity is to further mission. An ethos shift from exceptions to acceptance.

My sense of the proposed new Form of Government is that it will allow the councils or governing bodies of the church (sessions, presbyteries, synods) to be adaptive to their specific needs while ensuring that they are accountable to the theological standards of our denomination.

The task force was charged with maximizing flexibility, One area is interim or associate pastors being able to succeed to installed pastor. The church due to one or two bad cases made rules for the entire church. What are healthy churches doing, what are healthy congregations doing. Allow flexibility for grooming our own leadership. No blanket statements. How can we model health than preventing disease (James Kim, minister member of task force),

Walking the dog on a leash vs. walking your dog within the parameter of an electronic fence. Keeping it between the hedges (football analogy). The hedges define the boundaries, but the game is played on the field within the hedges. How far do we let the leash go?

We are accountable to one another about how we use the polity of our church. How can we trust one another and be accountable to one another so that we can construct a church that is vibrant and missional? Our polity is to further mission. An ethos shift from exceptions to acceptance.

Civil Union and Christian Marriage
The committee's mandate was to study the history of the laws governing marriage and civil union, including current policy debates; how the theology and practice of marriage have developed in the Reformed and broader Christian tradition; the relationship between civil union and Christian marriage; the effects of current laws on same-gender partners and their children; and the place of covenanted same-gender partnerships in the Christian community. The committee was expressly prescribed to operate within the constitutional definition of marriage, which is between a man and a woman.

This is an issue that clearly is divisive within the denomination, and the discussion during the question and answer period demonstrated that. The committee didn't reach the same conclusion on all issues. A minority report is being offered that goes further than the majority report, affirming the traditional view of marriage. It's perspective is that marriage is the image of God's relationship with God's people.

The committee didn't set out to find a solution. It wanted to be descriptive rather than prescriptive.

Much of the discussion was about what Scripture says about marriage and the interpretation of Scripture. As one committee member noted, our core Presbyterian struggle is how we use and interpret Scripture. Do we take literally what Scripture says about marriage, or marriage (and infidelity) as metaphor for God's relationship to God's people and for our relationship to each other?

What the full committee ultimately determined was that we've got to find a new way to talk. We need to be able to declare our positions in such a way that the conversation doesn't shut down. Moral pride needs to be repented, that pride that declares "I'm right and you're wrong and you're going to Hell because you are wrong."

Here is the covenantal commitment that arose from the committee's work: Jesus Christ is strong enough to hold us together. A great witness that we pray for one another, love one another, even when we don't agree. Let's grant that both sides are both being faithful and that we talk about the lenses that we use to reach the position we hold. Let's not be afraid to have the conversation.

But this question still remains: What is the place of same-gender partnership within the Christian community?

The journey begins

2010-07-02T23:07:00.003-05:00

Friday was a day of travel to General Assembly. A couple of metaphors came to mind as I was flying from to Minneapolis after a stopover in St. Louis.

The Mississippi River, dark and muddy, stretches out across our flight path as we leave this gateway city to the West. Could this be a symbol of the unknown facing commissioners as we arrive in Minneapolis to begin the work of the denomination in our General Assembly? We know the issues we will face, we can even guess at some of the debates that will occur, but we don't know what the outcome will be. The way is still dark and muddy, like the river, this life-giving and life-spreading river that cuts through the middle of our country.

Then, as the plane climbs to 10,000 feet, I'm struck by the features of the landscape. Roadways, running at right angles, bisect the land, most of it farmland. The roads continue in straight lines for miles, but joined by offshoots, other roads, almost always at right angles, the progression orderly and planned. Every now and then there is a road, most look like major thoroughfares from the sky, that cuts diagonally across these right angles. In contrast, there are tendrils of greenery, treelines most likely, that spread out across the land, some in thin, long bands, others in wide swaths. They look like the twists and turns of small creeks, then larger streams all flowing together to form some great river of greenery. Does this describe our denomination? Are some of us like the roadways, moving in order, within some prescribed parameters, but confined in direction to specific turns? Are others like the treelines, moving randomly, finding our way where it's least expected or directed? If this describes us, are they mutually exclusive? Do each not have their purpose? Their own direction? Do we want one without the other?

This metaphor of divergent paths repeated itself again on Friday evening at Westminster Presbyterian in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, where several hundred Presbyterians (most connected with GA) came to hear a contrast in musical sounds in the church's 1897 landmark sanctuary. First there was Cantus, a nine-member group considered by critics to be the nation's top male a cappella ensemble. Cantus' sound was rich, deep and moving as it performed American folk tunes, spirituals, and hymns such as Bobby McFarrin's arrangement of the 23rd Psalm, a haunting, stirring version of "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning," and "Amazing Grace."

Next came Monroe Crossing, which took its name in honor of bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and is one of the nation's premier bluegrass bands. Monroe Crossing's music was playful, energetic and surprising as it performed bluegrass classics along with its version of Etta James' classic "At Last." And its audience challenged the Presbyterian reputation as "the frozen chosen" by breaking into "the wave" at the instigation of the band's bass player.

As divergent as the two sounds were, they came together as the two ensembles performed together, singing first "Sing Hallelujah When I Come Home," then "Seven Bridges Road" made most famous by The Eagles but sung in the style, as one member of Cantus said, of Dolly Parton.

Two divergent styles of music. Two distinct voices. Yet music nonetheless. Is this a pattern for our denomination, with all of its distinct and sometimes discordant voices? Can we all be heard individually yet speak as one? If a bluegrass band and an a cappella ensemble can make harmonious music together, why can't we as a denomination find a voice of celebration and singleness of purpose?

An introduction to my GA experience

2010-06-23T17:16:00.014-05:00

Like 711 other elder and clergy commissioners, I have been preparing for a busy week in Minneapolis for the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s 219th General Assembly. It will be a time for our denomination to discern God's will on significant issues facing the church today and as it sets a course for the future. I am one of four commissioners from the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley.

For me, it will also be a homecoming of sorts. I am originally from Minnesota and still have many relatives in the Twin Cities area and the southern part of the state.

It is my hope that by sharing my experience as a commissioner that you will have a greater understanding of what our denomination is doing at GA to chart its future.

And there is much to be done. There are at least 220 overtures (proposed changes to the Book of Order, our denominational constitution) awaiting action by the assembly, along with major reports on the proposed new Form of Government, Middle East peace, and civil unions and marriage. It is a lot to absorb. I'm almost halfway through reading all this material with only 10 days left before the assembly's start. Fortunately, there are 18 committees assigned to review the overtures by topic, and the recommendations that come out of committee will give the assembly a sense of the discernment that already has occurred on each of these overtures.

I have been assigned to Middle Governing Body Issues, which will be reviewing several overtures seeking a change in our governing structure by either eliminating or changing the functions of synods and presbyteries. It is part of the wider discussion about the future form of the PCUSA. That is why the decision on the new Form of Government will be so important. Will we keep a Book of Order that may have become less a constitution and more a manual of operation that spells out everything governing bodies must do? Or will we have a constitution that outlines the standards by which we operate and gives governing bodies the flexibility to create the forms that best allow them to function within a denomination that must be able to respond to major changes in the world around us along with a declining membership? In other words, what shape will our future take? How are we reformed, always to be reformed?

That's just one of the big questions that may or may not be answered during this assembly.

Two other major issues, both related, have to do with civil unions and marriage, and our ordination standards. We are not alone as a denomination wrestling with questions about homosexuality, marriage, and who can or can't be ordained for service as a minister of Word and Sacrament, elder or deacon. And while this assembly may not answer those difficult questions, I am encouraged by the final report of the Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage, which proposes not that we take specific action related to gay unions/marriage but that we continue to find ways to come together to discuss these issues about which we disagree. Whatever your feelings on these issues, that is certainly an encouraging hope for the church.

But what can you do far away from the assembly site in Minneapolis while commissioners are hard at work? Here are my hopes:

◗ Pray for me and the other commissioners. The week will be long and busy. We need to feel the strength of your support.

◗ Follow the work of the assembly during the week of July 3–10. The links in this blog, particularly PC-Biz and Presbyterian Outlook, will let you read about issues before the assembly and follow the action as it unfolds. The more we all know and understand, the better able we are to discern together God's will for us.

◗ Pray for the power of the Spirit to be at work as the assembly discerns God's will for our denomination.

I look forward to continuing this conversation over the next couple of weeks.

Peace and shalom!