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The Presbyterian Outlook

The Presbyterian Outlook

Creating and curating trustworthy resources for the church, the Presbyterian Outlook connects disciples of Jesus Christ through compelling and committed conversation for the proclamation of the Gospel.

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Editorials

Season of Experimentation

Welcome to the season of experimentation. Like medical researchers desperately searching for a cure, some Presbyterians are kicking around innovative ideas, sending up trial balloons, and contemplating taking strides ranging from baby steps to giant leaps. They are proposing new kinds of connectionalism.

The backlash to actions of the recent General Assembly continues unabated. The initial outcry against the GA's responses to the reports of two theological task forces--one proposing steps for peace, unity, and purity of the church, and the other using some unfamiliar terms to lift up Trinitarian theology--has led to discussions and proposals for everything from redirecting funds, to operating as a shadow denomination, even to dividing the PC(USA) house.

How shall this faith community organize itself at such a time as this?

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Adair named PFF associate director

W. Andrew Adair, who has been working as a mission co-worker for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Asia, has been named associate director for mission sending of the Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship and The Outreach Foundation. He will lead their new effort to fund and send their own missionaries.

Since 1997, Adair and his wife, Teri, have worked in Asia, where he has helped direct a partnership involving workers from close to a dozen countries and a variety of agencies. Before that, he worked as mission pastor for Highland Church in Dallas.

Adair, a former investment banker, earned a master's in divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He will be based in Houston.

Voices

Envisioning the Presbyterian Church (USA)

© John L. Williams. Used by permission.

        

Where there is no vision, the people perish, (Proverbs 29:18a KJV)

 

"On life-support," opined a minister when asked about the state of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). "In need of hospice care," said another. These opinions envision the Church on its deathbed awaiting palliative drugs and last rites. I would argue that such a vision is neither faithful to God's promises nor consistent with the PC(USA)'s present realities.

This article is my alternative to prophecies of the PC(USA)'s imminent death. Following a summary of my perspective, it identifies God-given resources available to the PC(USA). It then focuses on major challenges confronting the PC(USA) and concludes with my personal vision statement.

 

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Presbyterian Women celebrates history, explores present needs, future service

LOUISVILLE -- Trying to get one's arms around the 2006 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women is like trying to grab hold of a river dashing down a hillside -- there's too much at once, and always more coming.

The Gathering -- held July 7 to 11 in Louisville -- brings together about 3,000 Presbyterian women from around the United States and also more than 80 global partners, who come to share stories of the faith and work of women from their countries.

It is partly a celebration of Presbyterian Women's long history of hard work on behalf of mission -- a recognition of the strength and service women have brought to Presbyterian congregations through the generations.

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Hope of the Church: Conference looks ahead

HOPE OF THE CHURCH IIIi 035.jpg
David Dobler addresses crowd at Montreat conference.

 

A once-in-a-lifetime gathering of seminary presidents and former moderators brought their impressive brain power and experience together to discern where to go from here now that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly has approved the recommendations of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church.

About 270 participants came to meet with 10 seminary presidents (or their representatives) and 16 former moderators at Montreat, NC, to plan for the future. The majority of leaders represented a moderate or left-of-moderate viewpoint. The participants ranged from conservative to moderate to liberal. Missing were the very conservative and the very liberal voices. Also missing, at least from the podium, was the denomination's stated clerk or a representative from his office.

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“Fear of the different other” explored by YWCA executive at PWC meeting

LOUISVILLE -- Musimbi Kanyora, a native of Kenya, lives in Geneva, Switzerland now -- she's general secretary of the World YWCA. So she thinks of the challenges of diversity with a global view, not an American one

Kanyora has seen what she calls "the growing fear of the different other," and says that racism has sometimes made her fear she could be attacked as she walks along a street in Europe. She sees how vulnerable many Muslims in Western countries feel.

And Kanyora, speaking July 8 at the 2006 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women, held up her arm to display three wristbands: three brightly-colored reminders of how the economic diversity of have and have-not plays out in the world.

Editorials

Unbreakable Covenant

In the letter to the editor (link to "Asking the Tough Questions" and comment printed this issue), Outlook reader John Sheldon seems to be raising the possibility that the recent General Assembly has broken covenant. What does it look like to break covenant with God?

In the context of marriage we catch a glimpse of covenant breaking. One spouse engages in an extramarital affair, thereby violating the covenant. If the violator apologizes, and if the violated forgives, then the covenant is restored. If either partner for any reason does not enact such restorative acts, then the covenant breaks.

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PC(USA) fires Golliher; Embezzlement charged

LOUISVILLE -- The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has fired its associate director for finance and accounting, Judy Golliher, after discovering that she has embezzled at least $102,000 from the church.

The theft has been reported to the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney's office and criminal prosecution is being considered.

Voices

Got hope?

With just six years of combined parish ministry experience, two young clergywomen ventured from the East Tennessee valley to the mountains of Montreat for the Hope for the Church Conference. Although many twenty and thirty-something's are labeled with a strong aversion to anything institutional, such a label fails to fit either of us. Through our ordination vows, we have promised our lives to God's work through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Buoyed by our experience sharing pews with some of the most seasoned leaders, we offer a glimpse of our hope for the denomination.

 First, our hope resides in Scripture. Scripture gifts us with a narrative history of salvation revealing that God has always fulfilled God's promises. Abraham and Sarah, venturing into the unknown to follow God, were granted a child, as promised, and became a blessing to the nations. The Israelites grieved their exile, yet were ultimately delivered from aimless wandering by a faithful God. And after the crucifixion, when it seemed as if darkness had overtaken the world, God once more broke in to make all things new with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

Voices

The Bible reading us on the Sunday Morning After

There was no escape. On the Sunday morning following the adjournment of the 217th General Assembly, the Word of the Lord brought some comforting and challenging words into our life together. Thanks be to God. 

In the lectionary readings for that Twelfth Sunday of not-so-Ordinary Time the psalmist sang, "How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!" even as some Presbyterians in the pew were experiencing an unpleasant disconnection and all Presbyterians were newly aware of how very hard it is to live together in unity. 

The Gospel reading from the evangelist Mark told the story about Jesus and the disciples in the boat on a stormy sea, winds blowing, waves beating and swamping the boat. We heard Jesus calming the waters and chastising the disciples for their lack of faith. 

Voices

A new Connectionalism

I'll save you the trouble -- we ought to split the church.

There, I've said it so you don't have to even though you wanted to say it, but you just couldn't bring yourself to do it. Never mind, no need to thank me.

Before you naysayers get all worked up, just sit back and think what this means for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Finally, you and your side can go and do what you know the church ought to have done all along. That is, if only those pesky ________ (fill in the name of your least favorite advocacy group) were not around any more. Now, with them gone, you and yours will have free rein!

Of course, there are a few loose ends. We'll have to settle who'll get what: Foundation funds, seminaries, pension assets, and so forth, but that shouldn't be too big a deal. Surely, we can come up with some kind of equitable formula, based on the number of people who go with what part of the split. Giving up some assets in order to get what we think God wants is a small price to pay, after all!

Voices

Aging mainline Jesus freak

It's been almost 11 years since Paul Swedlund died; but it seems like only a few hours ago.

Maybe that's because his last words to me make more sense now than then.

Before he fell off a Colorado mountain on 17 August 1994, his 48 years were tempered by surviving the Vietnam War as a riverboat captain, abandoning financial gain as a marketable executive for Mobil when called by Jesus to pastoral ministry, enduring friendship with another Paul and me, and switching from the UCC to PC(USA) at my urging.

Actually, he grew up in our franchise and only left because he didn't feel required to learn Hebrew for urban ministry; and he returned after Kansas City's Northminster Church took my advice and called him, presbytery's gatekeepers aka COM forgave the ecclesiastical detour, and he spent about a decade living happily ever after as a reborn Presbyterian until our Lord's last call.

Voices

Why Stay in the PCUSA? An Ecumenical Perspective

In 2017 we Protestants mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation that Martin Luther launched and that John Calvin did so much to advance. It is an auspicious time to reflect on the state of Protestantism as a whole as we near this historic milestone. What does it mean to be "protestant" today? Who or what are we protesting against? Is it part of our ecclesiastical DNA to always be protesting something?

Obviously it was our mother, the Roman Catholic Church, our Reformation forbears so vigorously protested against. And with good reason -- Luther alone came up with 95. One of the chief causes of enduring division was the doctrine of justification. Protestants generally patted themselves on the back for being "grace oriented" while caricaturing the Catholics as "works oriented". I grew up around Southern Baptists in the Deep South where Catholics were not even considered Christian. The Presbyterians I knew seemed to be a bit more gracious as we considered them "almost Christian."

Voices

Should I stay or should I go?

It had been one week since the gavel was laid down at the General Assembly in Birmingham, Ala. My energy level had rebounded--it can be tough work as an "observer." But, I was finding it more difficult to bounce back emotionally and vocationally from GA. After hours of debates in committee, debates on the floor, asking whether or not the minority should become the majority report, trying to figure out LES (the electronic report system) and hearing countless people refer to the decline of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and threats of leaving, I was left wondering isn't there more to life than this? Is there a place to start over fresh? Is staying in this denomination worth it?

Voices

Tomorrow’s Church

This is what we know:                              

God's people will continue to meet together, for worship, support and encouragement, inspiration, and mission. They will design this in ways that make sense to each of their culturally stratified situations. 

 

This is what we have learned:

It is really hard to change existing churches! It is not only hard to accomplish but it may not be fair. Consider the pastoral implications of demanding that a generation, who has worshiped meaningfully and successfully with a particular style of music and liturgy, suddenly give all that up because kids don't like it. It isn't fair to anyone.

 

This, then, is what we can do:

New churches; new faith communities in existing churches; new worship services, new fellowships, new identities and new strategies!

Voices

Should We Separate? A Theology of Unity and Disunity*

 

Should we, as evangelicals, separate from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?

Many of us are now asking this question. We know there is no genuine theological solution to the homosexuality issue. We know that any continued unity would be contrived. So, why can't we just admit the presence of irreconcilable differences in our marriage to the PC(USA) and file for divorce? Such a decision, although unfortunate, seems increasingly desirable for many of us.

But should we pursue this as an option? After all, we know that a divorce would probably be messy. There will be no "gracious separation" as some of us may have hoped - far too much money and power is involved for that to happen. Do we want to have a nasty, public fight?

We may be thinking, "Sure, it will be nasty, but it will be worth it in the long run." But surely this can be our choice only if we are convinced that we are fulfilling the will of God. That's where the confusion creeps in.

Some are saying that schism is repulsive to God. Others are insisting that separation is necessary for us to remain faithful. These conflicting voices bewilder us. What we need is a theology of unity and disunity that would help us understand whether separation might be in the will of God or not. To spark thinking in this direction, let's first look at some of the most relevant Scriptures about unity and disunity, as well as two classic formulations from church history. Then let's draw out some of the implications for the present situation in the PC(USA).

 

Voices

Called to love

John 17:20-26: I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 

I think this text is an important touchstone for all of us in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at this particular moment in our history. It is a time in which many of us are down on our knees praying for the peace, unity, and purity of our denomination -- a time when it is imperiled, when talk of schism is in the air. I find myself sticking very close to John 17 during these troubled days, for I need the reassurance it provides that the Lord Jesus is praying for us too -- and whenever I turn to it, I find it a powerful experience to overhear him speak our names before God in fervent prayer for our unity.

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Mission networks growing in numbers, energizing efforts, says Browne

LOUISVILLE--Mission networks have proved to be a valuable component of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s international mission work and their importance will grow, declared a PC(USA) mission leader after a gathering of mission network leaders here July 13-14.

"The network experiment has been successful beyond expectations," said Will Browne, associate director for Ecumenical Partnerships, in an interview. "Networks are here to stay to help the whole of the PC(USA) engage in international mission. They are generating a growing energy across our church."

Leaders of 20 of the denomination's 26 mission networks came together for the consultation. Mission networks are groups of Presbyterians who share a common interest in a country, people group, or programmatic emphasis. An outgrowth of mission partnerships developed by synods, presbyteries and congregations, networks provide a venue for partnership participants to relate to international partners, connect with PC(USA) international mission staff and mission personnel, think about common strategies, coordinate efforts and share best practices.

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New Wineskins association takes shape

TULSA -- What exactly the New Wineskins Association of Churches is -- and what it wants to become -- is still shaking out.

The group will hold its third convocation Feb. 8 and 9 in Orlando, after a flurry of other gatherings that may shine some light on the mood of the evangelical wing of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) A steering committee will have more recommendations then.

In the meantime, some pieces have fallen into place. And on some other things, the New Wineskins convocation, meeting July 19 to 22 in Oklahoma, decided, "Not yet."

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New Wineskins supporters explore defining, implementing movement;
Weaver likens it to “wet cement”

TULSA -- What does it mean to have unity in Christ?

For some supporters of the New Wineskins movement, unity is getting new interpretations -- focusing in part on finding unity with Christians in the Southern hemisphere, or among evangelicals in other settings, but not necessarily within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

"If we're going to talk about unity in the church, we have to talk about the church -- not the American church, but the body of Christ," crossing every race and place, Dean Weaver, a Pennsylvania pastor and the co-moderator of New Wineskins, told that network's national convocation July 20.

"What we are about here today is not about how we realign a small group of American Western Presbyterians," but how Presbyterians fall into line with what God is doing around the globe, Weaver said.

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Down the middle

The 217th General Assembly was a "down the middle" Assembly. It elected a moderator who seemed moderate and open-minded. It approved the report of the Theological Task Force (TTF) on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church (for short, "PUP Report"), which most regard as offering more leeway for the ordination of gay and lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) church members. But it resolutely refused to consider amending the Book of Order to delete the prohibition in G-6.01206b; it refused even to keep these overtures alive by referring them to the next General Assembly.

The key recommendation of the PUP Report was Number 5, in which the Task Force called on the 2006 General Assembly to adopt an authoritative interpretation ("AI" for short) of G-6.0108b. This AI acknowledges formally that 8b has already established the legitimacy of "departures" ("scruples" in the language of the Adopting Act) from adherence to the letter of the Constitution, as long as they are not violations of the "essential and necessary" features of Reformed faith, practice, and polity.

 

Voices

The parable of the wheat and the tares

Matthew 13: 24-30; 36-43

 

Jesus was surrounded by religious/political circles whose membership required strict conformity. The Zealots were gaining strength and their agenda was set in concrete. The Qumran community insisted on the rigid obedience of all members and the Pharisees demanded strict observance of the Law (as interpreted by their own leaders).

Clearly, Jesus did not accept such attitudes. Matthew's Gospel asserts that there was opposition to Jesus' message and in chapter 11:12 Jesus says, From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. In such a world, how can the Kingdom of God, envisioned by Jesus, function when violence is inflicted on it? Must fire be met with fire? Many must have thought that there was no place for a tax collector or Zealot in Jesus' fellowship. Matthew 13 appears in such a context.

Voices

Did the Theological Task Force succeed?

On June 20, after four years of work by the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church, nine months of church-wide discussion of its report, and many hours of testimony and debate in the 217th General Assembly, the Assembly approved recommendations from the task force that were intended to dampen if not end the party strife that has roiled the Presbyterian Church for decades. Fifty-seven percent of commissioners voted in the affirmative, making the task force recommendations church policy. Then, within a few hours, both a coalition of conservative "renewal" groups and More Light Presbyterians announced their displeasure with the Assembly's action and promised to promote proposals to the 218th General Assembly (2008) that would remove one or another feature of the "balanced package" the TTF said it was presenting.  

Did the task force succeed or fail?

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Leaving the PC(USA): What Are The Facts?

Recent discussions in many quarters are focused on congregations and presbyteries considering removing themselves from the denomination. Questions about dissolution and secession or expressions of grave concern about future relationships with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have arisen largely in response to the Report of the Task Force For the Peace, Unity, and Purity (PUP) and possible responses to it by the General Assembly meeting in Birmingham. 

The clearest expressions of concern came from presbyteries and congregations, and also from coalitions of Presbyterians not officially connected with the PC(USA), governing bodies and groups that opposed the recommendations, usually  from a conservative evangelical perspective. The Presbyterian Coalition, for example, indicated in a statement released on October 10, 2005, that the PUP report, "... if adopted, will undermine the church's purity and exacerbate the denomination's disunity. Indeed, it will promote schism by permitting the disregard of clear standards of Scripture and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)." The Coalition will meet in Atlanta with the recently formed Presbyterian Global Fellowship after the General Assembly, presumably to make common plans about direction in a post-Task-Force-Report church. In its mission statement the latter says that it considers the PC(USA) to be in a deep crisis, an inward looking organization that is "an aging, dying, visionless denomination."

Voices

Why I will stay Presbyterian

 

Many of you have heard me preach that I am "sinfully proud of being a Presbyterian." After each General Assembly I ask myself "Are you still?"  And the answer is always yes--even after attending 27 straight.

I never agree with all the decisions made, but I still come away Presbyterian. I've always been proud of our historic heritage in forming the United States. I know the break-aways always try to claim this "as well" but they can't quite pull it off. 

And all of you who have heard me know there is one thing I consider the most important of all -- mission, mission, mission.

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