St. Jerome once said, “Small minds cannot grasp great subjects.” In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) we can prove him wrong. Our Office of Theology, Worship and Education is directed by a small mind, and he grasps the greatest of subjects. Joe Small is his name, and–all punning aside–his appointment as that office’s director means that the great subjects will continue to inform the future of the PC(USA).
After being elected as executive director of the General Assembly Council, Linda Valentine has replaced many of the senior staff members in the national headquarters in Louisville. One of those who remain is Joe Small, and his recent appointment caused many Presbyterians to breathe a sigh of relief.
As pioneer and developer of The Company of Pastors, his reappointment assures that hundreds of ministers will continue to be fed by daily readings, by shared spiritual disciplines, and by the rich fellowship he has convened.
As primary author of GA reports, such as “Is Christ Divided?” (1988) and “Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ” (2002), his reappointment assures that the denomination will continue to be instructed by a believer who promotes church unity as an outgrowth of faithful theology, not in spite of it.
As midwife who helped birth the Study Catechism and as editor of Conversations with the Confessions, his reappointment assures that Presbyterians will not forget the faith once delivered.
As primary designer of the Pastor-Theologian Initiative and, more recently, of the ReForming Ministry Program, his reappointment promises to build bridges between the three islands where dwell 1) pastors, 2) seminary professors and 3) denominational officials, as such leaders gather in small groups for mutual learning and ministry partnering.
As a 10-year member of the National Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission, as 10-year participant in the World Council’s consultations and studies, and as five-year co-chair of the Reformed-Pentecostal International Dialogue, his reappointment assures that the PC(USA) will continue to be woven into closer fellowship with sister fellowships worldwide and faith-wide.
As frequent conference lecturer and as educator of the faith, his reappointment (which now includes curriculum development) assures that the PC(USA) educational materials will be reflect the best scholarship and theological faithfulness.
What is it about Joe Small that has made him a source of confidence and hope in the church? What is it that makes him the confidant and counsel for leaders across the spectrum?
It’s not that he tells them what they want to hear. His critique of the 1993 Re-Imagining God Conference (with John Burgess, Outlook, Mr 7, 1984) angered innovators on the left. His recent essay, “Curly, scissors, and Harry” (Outlook, Ag 14/21, 2006), which defended the controversial Trinity paper, peeved heresy hunters on the right. This issue’s article on the essential tenets of the faith will please and perturb folks all over the church.
What is it?
It’s that Joe loves the church and does a better than average job of fulfilling his ordination vows, including the vows most neglected by the rest of us. He takes guidance from the confessions. He is a friend among his colleagues in ministry — across the wide spectrum of the church — and works with them. He works for the reconciliation of the world. He furthers the peace, unity, and purity–all three!–of the church. He tries to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ.
Others argue about those vows. Joe lives them.
More than that, Joe respects those vows and the faith traditions that have written them. He treats them not as his property. He doesn’t use them as boundaries to protect his property. He treats them as the well from which to drink of the deep faith. As he says, “That’s not something that’s a possession of any group of the church.” He challenges his colleagues to take those vows seriously, too. They seldom disappoint. He testifies that so many of the Presbyterians who differ on particular, controversial matters do share a hunger to be informed and guided by the faith of the apostles and prophets, and of the councils and confessions.
St. Jerome was right on most counts. All of us would do well to enlarge our minds, so that we might better grasp the great subjects of the church. One way to start is by listening to what Joe Small has to say.
— JHH
