LOUISVILLE — Don’t worry about suppressing the pain. No doubt, it’s still circulating like a continuous loop of hurt in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
But think for a bit about possibilities. What could things look like in 2010, if Presbyterians could take a leap or three of faith and do things differently?
Now, “we go to GA (General Assembly) to solve our problems,” and when the assembly goes home, “we continue to talk about the problem,” Graham Hart, general presbyter for Peace River presbytery in Florida, said during a Sept. 27 session bringing together national and regional church leaders.
Instead, Hart encouraged people to spend some time in “appreciative inquiry” — to imagine what could happen if Presbyterians focused on the positive, built on strengths, dared to take risks.
Hart’s comments came during a meeting Sept. 26-27 of about 200 leaders from around the PC(USA) — executives from presbyteries and synods, along with members of the General Assembly Council and the denomination’s national staff. In an effort to create better communication and perhaps better thinking, the General Assembly has instructed the council to meet once a year with middle governing body leaders. This meeting Sept. 26-27 in Louisville was the first.
Much of the time was spent imagining what could be — putting aside for a while all the talk of what’s wrong, in order to envision what creativity and grace could produce.
For example: “Meet more, eat more, talk less,” as a way to build relationships.
Or “we are Presbyterians sent by God as apostles, making disciples of Jesus Christ, transforming the world. … The work of the church is to get us outside and into the world.”
As Presbyterians interact, “be the prodigal’s father, the gracious father, the living father,” showing God’s love to one another.
After a long stretch of conversations at tables, in which the participants brainstormed in groups of eight, representatives from those tables came to the microphones to share some of what the groups had discussed.
“We need to tell our good news and let our light shine,” and “not just be defending ourselves,” said General Assembly Council member Andrea Stokes.
Have a denominational press secretary in charge of all communications, putting out a USA Today-type publication that tells good news about Presbyterians.
“The denomination needs one single press secretary who speaks a clear, strong, unified message of what’s going on in the church,” said Clark Cowden, evangelist presbyter with San Joaquin presbytery in California. Put a television screen in every presbytery office, and “line up famous Presbyterians” such as television anchor Robin Roberts or Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to tell good news about the Presbyterian Church, Cowden suggested.
“We cannot always have negative content getting out there,” he said. And the most negative of all, Cowden said, is the General Assembly, which he said pushes people into opposing camps and creates conflict. Instead, “we need a week that pushes us to togetherness, to community,” Cowden said.
The 2008 General Assembly should conduct no business, but spend a week in prayer and discernment, suggested Edie Gause of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii. And once a week, from dawn to dusk, church leaders should fast to seek God’s will.
The PC(USA) would emphasize tithing — the participants at one table made a covenant they would work towards “extravagant giving.” Those at another table promised to pray for one another over the next year.
“We need to adopt a radical course,” said Bruce Stevens of the Synod of the Trinity.
“Stop tinkering with how it is” and consider something completely different, said Lorna Kuyk, executive presbyter of Ohio Valley presbytery. Ask questions, such as, “What if there weren’t any offices in Louisville” or the presbyteries didn’t exist.
Corey Schlosser-Hall, executive presbyter of North Puget Sound presbytery, recommended “reading from the book of the prophet Bono,” who has said we need to stop asking God to bless our work “and start doing the work God has blessed.”
What next
So what comes next?
The organizers of this gathering have ideas for that as well — including efforts to spark “appreciative inquiry” at the local level. Initiate such conversations in congregations, presbyteries, and synods. Have conversations online in e-mail groups.
Perhaps, next year, schedule a week’s retreat.
At the same time, however, some are raising the question of the ongoing financial viability of presbyteries and synods. Two presbyteries from the Southwest — the presbyteries of Santa Fe and of Sierra Blanca — have sent a letter asking the General Assembly Council to “convene a consultation at an early opportunity in order to address the viability and stability of the synods and presbyteries of this denomination.”
Allison Seed, chair of the council, told this group that the council will discuss that proposal and said: “We want the meeting to happen.”
