When’s the last time you attended a presbytery meeting? I’ve attended about 30 in the past two years — several for speaking engagements, several times to promote the Outlook. In the majority of cases, I’ve come away happily surprised.
The “feel” of such presbytery meetings has been more positive than I expected. Many of them exuded a spirit of collegiality and mutual support. For some, it has always been this way, but for others this is a new thing, a very new thing. What’s going on?
Many a presbytery has transformed itself from a command-and-control regulatory body into a partnership-and-care missional body.
One mode of change has come as the role and, in some cases, the job title of the lead staff person was altered. After World War II, when churches were booming with growth, most presbyteries created the position of “Executive Presbyter,” following the management model then used in corporations that also were booming. Recent decades have challenged the top-down model of corporate leadership, and presbyteries have been paying attention. The amended title, “General Presbyter”, is now used in many presbyteries. Others have adopted more specific titles: “General missioner” (Tres Rios), “Teaching presbyter” (Lehigh), etc.
With or without the title change, many of these staff members are treating their role primarily as a calling to support ministers, elders, and churches entrusted to their care.
A second factor — many a presbytery has reclaimed the best intentions of Presbyterian connectionalism, where church leaders gather as a collegium for mutual learning, worship, and prayer. Continuing education for effective ministry is not simply by listening to professional talking heads, but sharing the varied charisms and insights that each presbyter has been given by the Spirit of God.
The healthy presbyteries are not simply “getting along.” In fact, some of these bodies have confronted a decades-old, collective passive aggressiveness that kept the peace on the surface, but only as a tool to allow the power brokers to rule without dissension. Civility, which has been lauded on these pages, is not an end in itself. We are commanded not only to love one another but also to speak the truth in love. Given that the same truth that sets free is also the truth that hurts at times, the healthy presbyteries are finding ways to surface the truths — and opinions, right or wrong — that used to be silenced.
The development of theological discernment groups, urged upon the church by the last two General Assemblies, is providing a structure and model to help foster such exchanges of ideas. Many folks who have felt outnumbered and disregarded in their regions are now saying, “I’m being listened to. I’m being treated like my opinion counts.” This reciprocity offers great hope for more effective ministry for all of us in our particular ministry locations.
Speaking of “the truth in love”, one unmistakable change to most presbyteries these past two years has been the intensification of rigor in examining ministerial candidates and, in some presbyteries, of ministers transferring from other presbyteries. Doubtless, many fear that the return to rigor in examinations could turn some unsuspecting candidates into pawns for disaffected presbyters to rail about their personal agenda. We’ll need to quell that impulse. But we also need to reverse the more common pattern of treating those oral exams as rubber stamp actions. The theological integrity, missional effectiveness, and community health of our congregations require presbyteries to carefully vet those who would be entrusted to pastor its churches.
Yes, many presbyteries are finding renewed vigor, greater mutuality and deepening trust. But not all of them. A few of the presbyteries I’ve visited are openly uncivil. Others are living in denial, as their power brokers continue to muzzle the voices of people long silenced. Given the real changes taking place in many locations it’s clear that the resources are available for all who are willing to “do” presbytery in a different way. Perhaps they will find their way to new more excellent practices.
One other thing seems to bubble up in the transforming communities — vision and hope. A renewed sense of purpose, of expectation, of anticipation reverberates through such meetings and amid such fellowships. Some presbyteries have returned to planting new churches. Some are setting up mission fellowships with immigrant communities in their midst. Some are engaging in mission partnerships with overseas congregations or projects. Good stuff is going on!
— JHH
