I occasionally wonder how God can manage it -- to hear, to know, even to feel everything the world feels all at once. Our joy, our pain, our anxiety, our hope, our courage, our fear, our inabilities and awkwardness, our prejudice and pride, our depths and our shallows.
I know I can't begin to imagine how God does it -- but in this moment, this holy and humanly moment, I'm feeling more of all of the above than I know how to say.
The General Assembly has just taken three momentous votes -- two little pushes of more than 900 buttons -- that will change the course of the church.
We'll take them in reverse order -- the way the "headlines" are likely to treat them in the morning --
First, and by a 54% majority, the Assembly is sending out an Amendment to the Book of Order to strike the current language of G-6.0106b. The new language would no longer prohibit gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered persons from ordination or installation as Elders or Ministers of the Word and Sacrament. In the same action, the Assembly repealed all "Authoritative Interpretations" that declare homosexual practice to be sinful. These companion actions were framed off of an overture from the Presbytery of Boston.
Secondly, and by a 53% margin, the Assembly has overturned the action of the GA Permanent Judicial Commission which barred "scruples" to G-6.0106b. This reestablishes the intent of the Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the church, which reported in 2006. Candidates for ordination/installation are now free to declare departures of theology or practice with regard to our standards -- and it rests upon the governing bodies to determine, on a case-by-case basis, if such departures fall outside the essentials of the Reformed faith.
Thirdly, as the first item of business this morning, a new General Assembly Stated Clerk has been elected. The Rev. Gradye Parsons will assume the Clerk's role as the term of the current Clerk, Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, comes to a close this summer. During the pre-election hour of questions and answers, Gradye offered words very apt to the Church on this day:
"When we fight with each other, we develop a blind spot between us. I stop seeing the Christ that is in you, and you stop seeing the Christ that is in me." He went on to talk about the fear that also blinds us, sharing with us his daily mantra -- words that keep him going. "Get in the boat. Go across the lake. There will be a storm. You will not die."
Parsons will take office in a church feeling many things -- from deep grief to great joy.
How does God do it? How does God know the weight and the joy of this world all at once? How does our loving, aching, all compassionate God feel all these things every day, for you and me and all the world? Oh to feel the echo of God's groans! I can only bear it for a moment before the tears come rushing. They remind me of my baptism, and that, wrapt around all my wonder, is sufficient.
Reflections from a Hudson River Presbyterian on the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
News
About Me
- Chris
- A Presbyterian minister, recovering Southern Baptist, sometime theatrical, aspirant for a new tomorrow. A favorite singer puts it this way: “Somebody somewhere decided we’d be better off divided. Yet somehow, despite the damage done, God says ‘Come, there is room enough for all of us.’” (Nichole Nordeman) Our world is too much divided, and it can be so hard to hear the good news invitation through the commotion. Where the world sees black and white, rich and poor, gay and straight, Iraqi and Afghan, Republican and Democrat—we are given the curious commission to see “Child of God” in every face. Where the world tells us that it’s everyone for themselves—God calls us to care for each other. Where the world builds walls and wages war—Jesus calls us to welcome the stranger and love our enemies. Where the world teaches competition and self-promotion—the Spirit leads us to put others before ourselves. The unceasing, immeasurable, and unexpected grace of God is still at work and speaking in this world, even as we try to drown it out. The church is called to be God’s voice through the noise.
3 comments:
Hey Chris,
As I read this news I have already begun praying that we at Hudson River Presbytery will use our discernment time about this overture in such a way that we come closer together rather than further apart. The language of the new G-6.0106b is faithful, rich, and Christ-centered. I am cautiously hopeful. And thank-you so much for keeping those of us who cannot attend up-to-date.
Traveling mercies,
Jean Holmes
I sincerely echo Jean's call for prayer that we will continue to listen to and for all voices. There are many people leaving this assembly today (Saturday) grieving deeply. And as much as there was deep and good talk about the "fear factor" when the four candidates for Stated Clerk were being questioned, you can almost smell the fear that is pervasive among many on all sides of the ordination issue. Jesus said over and over again, "Fear Not." May we heed his words and pray for God's grace to prevail as we seek to move forward in his light.
Thank you, Chris, for this blog.
Harriet
I conversed privately with you Chris but I am compelled by God to petition publicly as well, whether you choose to censor or not.
Any individual who has fooled themselves into believing the lies of the flesh over the very clear Word of God with respect to matters of sexual sin, much less requirements for church leadership, are far beyond misguided. 1 Thes 4:7 says "God has not called us for the purpose of impurity [sexual immorality], but in sanctification. So he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. So you see that to accept any sexual sin [ whether fornicators, adulterers, effeminate, homosexual, or otherwise impure ] is a clear sign of the unbeliever. And an organization who willingly accepts this has already rejected God in favor of man, sealing their fate: (1 Cor 5:12) clearly states that these will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Do not misunderstand me. A believer may have temptations of a sexual nature, but would not willingly act upon them without remorse or repentance. That is not a sign of the sanctification process be "worked out" in them.
Harriet you are correct in that God says fear not, but the fear He is referring to is that of man. On the other hand he commands us to fear Him. (Phil 2:12) says "work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." This is not to say we can loose that salvation once we have it, but to encourage us [believers] in the fact that it is He who is working out that salvation ( i.e. sanctifying us), not us alone, that we might persevere when we are faced with sin of any kind.
Therefor, I plead with you to flee from a "denomination" that seeks "acceptance and peace" for the sake of numbers over the Truth of God's Holy, inerrant Word. I pray that God would open your eyes to the Truth and lead you out of the dark shroud of worldly sin and into His marvelous light.
God will be glorified through or in spite of our lives.
--Soli Deo Gloria
Post a Comment