I don’t recall anybody quoting that text at the Big Tent event, but it was everywhere to be heard. It spoke through lectures and sermons, it sang in worship, and it rang out in prayer.
• Nobody needed to amplify the death knell coming from the shrinking economy – although attendees compared notes on budget shortfalls, trimmed staff, and cutback programs.
• Nobody needed to amplify the death knell being rung by a shrinking denomination, although a few speakers indulged our penchant to self-flagellate for our 46 years of declining membership.
• Nobody needed to amplify the death knell coming from halls of power, although at least a few attendees did pine for those good ol’ days when Presbyterians exercised almost unrivalled influence upon the larger culture.
We are caught in a death spiral, and everybody under the Big Tent knew it. Yet most folks seemed downright upbeat. It’s as if they also knew that a resurrection waits just around the next corner.
Optimism and hope did pervade the Big Tent event, in part, because 1,500 Presbyterians had come together for something other than a legislative battle. With so many folks worshiping together, smiles filled the room.
Optimism filled the tent, in part, because politics did not crowd it out. Even the exhibit area lacked the spicy conversations that surround GA’s exhibits — due to the fact that non-General Assembly entities, like advocacy organizations and independent The Presbyterian Outlook, were not allowed to peddle their wares. I overheard a few attendees remarking that the absence was refreshing.
Folks found their journey to Atlanta was rewarded; they learned lessons, made friends, and acquired new ministry skills. True blue firebrands could learn everything they wanted to know about their core mission vision, while eclectic types could mix learnings on justice ministries with tips on faith-sharing; they could engage in multicultural and immigrant ministries and then jump to stewardship training.
Elevator conversations often began with, “You should have attended the workshop headed by so-and-so (or on such-and-such). It was amazing.”
One dissimilarity between this conference and others offered around the denomination: national staff members were working not only behind scenes as coordinators but also out front as speakers and workshop leaders. The staff members’ skills were put on display, and one couldn’t help but be impressed.
Most of all, optimism captured the mood there because Christian hope set the tone. What happens to those who die in the Lord? They discover the blessedness of new life in Christ. What happens to those whose congregation, or presbytery, or denomination – or, their mission, or work project, or political alliances, or personal power – dies? If they are willing to carry their cross to that death, they rise in resurrection power – somewhat the same, somewhat different, somewhat chastened, somewhat smarter, much more humble, and most importantly, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Time and again, speakers at the Big Tent event acknowledged the failure of an old way of doing something, the obsolescence of an old program, dead end of an old strategy, the stupidity of parochialism (especially our smug dismissal of methods being used successfully in other churches/traditions). In their place these resourceful leaders put forth new research data, fresh ideas, gleanings from others’ strategies, and common sense alternatives for us to become the healthy, multicultural, ethnic-embracing, elder-empowering, justice-promoting, effective-communicating, immigrant-reaching, peacemaking, evangelizing stewards of this part of Christ’s kingdom.
Just one rub: the grain of wheat has to die. What part of what we are and what aspect of what we do are we treasuring too much for that to happen? What blocks the way of the new life Jesus would give to the church for the sake of the world God so loves?
— JHH
NOTE: This week’s magazine features some aspects of the conference. More will follow next week.
