There can be danger in trying to parse too much meaning from what cannot be seen. What happened behind closed doors is hidden from the church. But a few things were spoken of that give clues as to what might happen next.
First, the task force is preparing a pastoral letter that is expected to discuss, in part, its concern that some Presbyterians might be expecting too much – might be assuming the task force will somehow solve all the denomination’s problems.
“The task force is not going to have a magic pill,” said Milton “Joe” Coalter, librarian and professor of bibliography at Union Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond. The task force is more likely to suggest for the church a process for thinking through divisive issues, he said – a process that, to be effective, would have to continue on long after the task force makes its report.
Second, at its next meeting, expected to be held in Chicago October 13-15, the task force will talk about the theology of the Holy Spirit and will begin testing for consensus on matters relating to sexual ethics and ordination standards. After that, the task force is scheduled to meet next in early March – and by then hopes to be drafting its final report, which it will present to the church in September 2005 and to the General Assembly in 2006.
Third, the task force has challenged presbyteries and congregations to set up their own diverse discussion groups modeled on the task force. Task force co-moderator Gary Demarest of California said he wants to know to what extent that’s actually happening and how Presbyterians are using the resources the task force already has provided. Otherwise, Demarest said, “we could end up going the whole way basically talking to ourselves.”
Fourth, the task force members say they are trying to engage in a process of structured communal spiritual discernment – to listen to hear where God may be leading the PC(USA). In their closed-door sessions, they talked about where they have encountered grace, sin and signs of resurrection and hope surrounding homosexuality – they revealed the questions that guided their conversations, the answers they did not.
In a public discussion of the spiritual discernment process, Mark Achtemeier, who teaches theology at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, spoke of “how many surprises there were in that conversation, how many people in places different from where I might have expected.”
And during another session some task force members spoke of how one’s theological views are not always held independently of one’s encounters of those who live out the ordination struggle.
Some people say that in a world buffeted by cultural change “we need to hold on to something,” said José Luis Torres-Milán, a pastor from Puerto Rico. “We need to say this is good, this is bad,” to say, “The Bible says so, that’s it.”
Many in his community hold the view that homosexuality is bad “until it touches you,” Torres-Milán said. “Then you have to sit down and say, `It’s my own son, it’s my nephew, it’s my friend, it’s an elder, it’s a good preacher.’ ”
The task force also is working on a report regarding Presbyterian history and polity – a condensing of long presentations it’s considered at earlier meetings, which includes a description of four areas of “constructive tension,” or four balancing points that have allowed Presbyterians historically to continue working together in ministry despite disagreements. For example, there’s been a historic tension between honoring discernment in community of the will of God and the Holy Spirit’s leading, and the recognition that God alone is the Lord of the conscience under the authority of Scripture.
Each of these balance points has involved complex give-and-take over the course of Presbyterian history, but “we do ourselves and our church no favors by simplifying what is not a simple story,” Coalter said.
