I know, I know. This seems like another fixation on that worn-out spot in
the church carpet called “debate on human sexuality.” I promise this
isn’t the same old hash (well you get to judge I guess). And comparing it
to a carpet issue may be trivializing it a bit but calling it fixation is
pretty accurate most everyone will tell you.
So, a colleague who differs with me on how to fix the carpet in this spot said the following after last year’s ratification of G-2.0104b in the new
Book of Order:
Imagine you felt today as I feel: as if your denomination (but not
your congregation and many others) had abandoned a piece of biblical truth. (Not a piece of truth that you would necessarily have invented, but a piece of truth you felt God had decided on.) I understand many who welcomed the passage of Amendment 10-A in the PC(USA) do not feel that way, but those of you who disagree with me on this issue, imagine if something had happened where YOU felt your denomination had clearly walked away from a big part of the truth.
I think in that case (like me) you might just wish to be in some other denomination or even perhaps in some other time or place.
I feel bad for this dedicated leader of the church. I really do. I promise
I’m not trying to be patronizing here. The reason for me feeling this way
is that I remember what it was like in 1996 when my understanding of the character of Jesus Christ as the embodiment of grace and inclusion was violated with the passage of G-6.0106b. It hurt. It seemed the wheels came off the church. To me, they had. And, if we are honest, to my friends of another perspective, the feeling is the same now.
Sure, I had denominations more compatible available. At that time, it was really just the United Church of Christ or the Metropolitan Community
Churches unless you were okay with a more interfaith community like the Unitarian-Universalists. But, I thought, I’m Presbyterian! My ancestors
way back to colonial American days were Presbyterian – probably even before that! I like Presbyterian polity. I believe representative democracy
works pretty well. And, Reformed theology is the bees knees in my book. I
could never leave that totally behind no matter what.
But, I was ordained a deacon first, then a teaching elder (minister). I took an oath to be accountable to this church and uphold its tenets. And, I have to the best of my ability with God’s help. Even when it went against my conscience, I spoke my disagreement and followed through on the church’s instruction nonetheless. So, I understand what it is like to wish I had never been burdened with that ring like Frodo was. I do in fact understand. And I carried that ring (and my colleague above has committed to the same).
You see, in the PC(USA) what has happened at the very least is two sides believe their purity is violated. One side has lived through 14 years of suppression of their understanding of purity and it is my sincere prayer that we find a way, because of how it felt to us, to prevent the more conservative wing on this from having to experience 14 years of the same.
For ours is not a retributive justice, but a justice of grace upon grace.
Will we find our “better angels” and pave the way for conservatives to have their conscience in tact even when we weren’t able to do the same?
Perhaps the way forward is to allow churches who feel this way to identify themselves and be distinguished in name while still being encouraged to remain in community with all of us. Much as UCC churches who are more liberal designate themselves as “Open and Affirming,” perhaps Presbyterian churches could be “Evangelical Order,” telling everyone that the congregation still holds to G-6.0106b of the old Book of Order and is exempt from policies in the larger denomination in that regard. I’m just thinking out loud. I’m sure there are holes in this but that’s why I’m putting it out there.
But, I will assert this unequivocally: I don’t like non-geographic presbyteries. There is something right and counter to our individualistic culture by us saying we will not take the easy way out by refusing regular face-to-face community with those who differ from us. At the same time, there is something healthy about allowing and ENCOURAGING congregations to own their convictions and for the rest of us to respect that when we can do so. And I think we can do so on this. Trust in people is key from today forward.
To my friends who resonate with that paragraph above, I just want to say you have more friends than you think and more willingness to accommodate your convictions than you believe. Why? Because we’ve all been there in your shoes. Give us a chance. It starts by accepting invitations to dialogue about this. That’s always been the case with any kind of progress. Let’s talk.
I agree with Moderator Bolbach that we should not make huge moves this year. It would be like trying to top off your fuel tank at the pump. Dangerous stuff. But I do think we have to insist this year that everyone come back to the communion table and baptismal font together. We must remember that those sacraments remind us it is not okay to bolt when it doesn’t feel good anymore and it is also not okay to gloat and get greedy when it does feel good. We must love our neighbors and put aside our pettiness and then break bread together on our knees.
It’s the Christian thing to do for sure. And, I think it is the grown-up thing to do. At GA220, let’s repair this carpet the best we can (even if it means a patch over it that’s the wrong color) and then fixate not on the carpet but focus on the growing and important needs of people. It’s what
Jesus did and calls us to do.
Kyle Walker is Presbyterian campus minister at Texas A&M University.
