June 19
A full day, to say the least. Mid-morning we
entered into ninety minutes of conversation on marriage equality and divestment.
We heard of presbyteries, like Lehigh, which have built community conversation into
our presbytery meetings and especially before voting on controversial issues.
As I have seen many times in our presbytery, if the questions don’t fit, people
take them the opportunity to go where they feel led to go. It was good to hear
from folks with whom I’ve never discussed these matters. We heard honest questions
and struggles and disagreements.
Worship was quite thought-provoking. The preacher, The Rev. Anne Zaki, is a professor at the Theological Seminary of Cairo, which of course led me to
think of the Revs. Barty Abdelnour and Sameh Shaker, Commissioned Ruling Elder
Moufid Khoury, and all of our brothers and sisters in the Christian Evangelical
Arabic Center and Arabic Fellowship of First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Rev. Zaki’s
sermon was grounded in Mark 5:24-34, Jairus’ daughter and the hemorrhaging
woman. To be honest, it was so thought-provoking that I couldn’t give you her
content without mixing it with my own reflection on her words.
It doesn’t help that there have SO MANY words. This
is a hard place to be an introvert. There is much talk, not much space, a few
meals when I’ve been able to “escape,” but most others are group meals, or rare
opportunities to meet with friends, colleagues, or key contacts throughout the PCUSA.
Civil Union and Marriage Issues presented its
report, which came down to a handful of actions frequently in duplicate. The
Lehigh overture came up second, and after the committee’s response I wrestled
with whether to speak to it all. Finally, I offered the following;
As a Stated Clerk, I do not know why this action was pulled from the consent docket. But as the writer of the overture I am glad to speak in favor of it.
As a Stated Clerk, I do not know why this action was pulled from the consent docket. But as the writer of the overture I am glad to speak in favor of it.
Throughout this week, in the halls, in the committee,
in small groups and in plenary, again and again the tangled relationship
between church and state in regard to marriage has been recognized.
We have an opportunity to claim our identity as
ambassadors for Christ rather than agents of the state. I would encourage the commissioners
to vote in favor of this overture, to re-examine how we have bought into cultural
norms that are longstanding but not eternal, and whether these norms in any way
hinder our ability to contribute to the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God.
I was pleasantly surprised to have the support of about
twenty advisory delegates (whether theological, young adult, missionary, and
ecumenical), and 141 commissioners in support. Though I was neither shocked nor
disappointed by the outcome, I do want to thank those who have reminded me, or
demonstrated it, that seeds have been planted. I was reminded of a prayer
offered by Archbishop Oscar Romero of El
Salvador, martyr of the church, which I think is a good prayer for all of us to
remember, at GA, in our presbytery and congregations, and in our lives:
It
helps, now and then to step back and take the long view.
The
kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it
is even beyond our vision.
We
accomplish in our lifetime
only
a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is in God's work.
Nothing
we do is complete,
which
is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No
statement says all that could be said.
No
prayer fully expresses our faith.
No
confession brings perfection,
and
no pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No
program accomplishes the church's mission.
No
set of goals and objectives includes everything.
That
is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We
water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We
lay foundations that will need further development.
We
provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
We
cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This
enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It
may be incomplete, but is a beginning, a step along the way,
an
opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We
may never see the end results,
but
that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We
are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs.
We
are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.
We then entered into some of the
most difficult business and discussion we are likely to encounter, in this or
any General Assembly. We began with an Authoritative Interpretation that reads:
“'Worship is a
central element of the pastoral care of the people of God (W-6.3001, W-6.3010)
in which a teaching elder’s discernment of the leading of the Holy Spirit is
indispensable. The necessity of ensuring the exercise of freedom of conscience
in the interpretation of Scripture (G-2.0105) in the planning and leadership of
worship has deep roots in our Reformed tradition and theology. Because a
service of marriage is one form of such worship, when a couple requests the
involvement of the church in solemnizing their marriage as permitted by the
laws [of the civil jurisdiction in which the marriage is to take place]
["'Exercising such discretion and freedom of conscience under the prayerful guidance of Scripture, teaching elders may conduct a marriage service for any such couple in the place where the community gathers for worship, [
Apart from a flare-up or two, the moderator’s
call for the Assembly to be respectful of one another was heeded, and in the
end, it was approved 61%-39%. For those who wonder what the point of study and
prayer and dialogue are, I am proof that it matters: my position on AIs is more
nuanced now than it was. I am not entirely sold on them, but I am less opposed
to them.
We then moved on to Amendment 10-02, ultimately with
the insertion of the words “traditionally between a man and a woman,”
suggested by moderatorial candidate John Wilkinson, who visited Lehigh
Presbytery with Jack Haberer as part of the Peace, Unity, and Purity (PUP)
report.
I think it is important that you see the approved text
in its entirety:
“Marriage is a gift
God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family.
Marriage, traditionally between a man and a woman,
involves a unique commitment between two people to love and support each other
for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple
sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and the wider
community.“In civil law, marriage is a contract that recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges.
“If they meet the requirements of the civil jurisdiction in which they intend to marry, a couple may request that a service of Christian marriage be conducted by a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), who is authorized, though not required, to act as an agent of the civil jurisdiction in recording the marriage contract. A couple requesting a service of Christian marriage shall receive instruction from the teaching elder, who shall agree to the couple’s request only if, in the judgment of the teaching elder, the couple demonstrate sufficient understanding of the nature of the marriage covenant and commitment to living their lives together according to its values. In making this decision, the teaching elder may seek the counsel of the session, which has authority to permit or deny the use of church property for a marriage service.
“The marriage service shall be conducted in a manner appropriate to this covenant and to the forms of Reformed worship, under the direction of the teaching elder and the supervision of the session (W-1.4004–.4006). In a service of marriage, the couple marry each other by exchanging mutual promises. The teaching elder witnesses the couple’s promises and pronounces God’s blessing upon their union. The community of faith pledges to support the couple in upholding their promises; prayers may be offered for the couple, for the communities that support them, and for all who seek to live in faithfulness.
“A service of worship recognizing a civil marriage and confirming it in the community of faith may be appropriate when requested by the couple. The service will be similar to the marriage service except that the statements made shall reflect the fact that the couple is already married to one another according to the laws of the civil jurisdiction.”
This overture, which passed 71%-29%, may raise questions
which an upcoming FAQ sheet hopes to answer. I’ll get it out to the Presbytery as
soon as I receive them.
Subsequently new business was introduced, calling
for a way to introduce reconciliation for the unity of the church; the exact language is tabled for the moment, but Barbara Lucia,
Teaching Elder Commissioner and interim pastor of Hope of Christ Church spoke
to the prevailing position. Later she raised a question in regard to another
overture concerning children “who are unwanted by human society.”
One of the more interesting, if no less challenging
items of business, came from the Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee. After approving
an extensive report on interfaith relations, we turned to debate on whether/how
to distinguish between the biblical and modern state of Israel, especially but
not only in music and liturgy. When we read Scripture or sing hymns regarding “Israel,”
what are we referring to, and what does this language imply? Ultimately, while
it was agreed that this is a matter for further exploration, the report
proposing the action was deemed insufficient and it was voted down.
While we still had time together, we were able to
have a group photo taken:
Back Row Jack
Felch Barbara Lucia
Front Row Chris
Palmer Chris Dudley Steve
Shussett
After a series of actions, the moderator suggested
that we have our closing prayer before the last item of business. Unusual, but…
We learned of initiatives related to the New Worshiping Communities which I
look forward to sharing with you upon my return, one of which is the
recommendation to pray at 10:02AM (although apparently PM will do as well!): “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).
And then? Then anything but decently and in order!
Beachballs, 248 of them at least, representing each
of the New Worshiping Communities thus far, were bounced all over the meeting hall,
to the tune of …what else?...”Happy”! I am sure that many of you will be
disappointed, but even your Stated Clerk and Parliamentarian got into the act!
Sorry, Jack, but what happens in Detroit doesn’t always stay in Detroit!
At the end of a very long, often very stressful
day, it was good to celebrate and have some fun, and end earlier than anyone
could have expected.
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