Last week on Wednesday night, after our ministry team meetings, our group had a great discussion about our discernment process. I wanted to find out how people are feeling about things at Parkway, and what we need to do to move forward.   One of the comments was that we like what we're doing, we feel we're doing ministry pretty well, and that maybe we just need to do what we're doing, only different/ better/ enhanced.  There's always room for growth, right?  So we went from there into talking about ways or areas in which we need to grow-- mission (doing for/with others with no expectation of return), outreach (doing for/with others, hoping for a relationship to grow), spirituality (nurturing our relationship with God), and stewardship  (using our gifts to serve God as fully as possible.)  One person spoke eloquently about her need to be "inspired", and that led us to each take a turn at filling in the blank in the sentence, "I love coming to Parkway because_____________." 

In light of this, our discussion turned to what we value about being a part of Parkway.  Our list looked like this:

1. We value all people just the way they are.

2. We value knowing that God is present among us when we gather here.

3. We value tradition while embracing the new.

4.  We value that we feel empowered to make a difference.

5. We value the loving relationships and nurturing environment.

6. We value that each of us is allowed-- and encouraged-- to pursue the use of our Spiritual Gifts regardless of our status (gender, race, marital status, etc.)

These are great things about being a part of the Parkway family.  But these are just words if we don't live them out and actively work to bring our values to the community. 

This Sunday is on the PCUSA church calendar the special emphasis is the small church.  Being a part of a small church is a wonderful, joyful, frustrating, exasperating experience, no matter if it's in a rural or suburban or urban setting.  I heard a wonderful metaphor for small church ministry while I was at GA, at the small church ministry lunch, in fact.  The speaker likened large churches to ocean liners-- lots of people on board, lots of programs and things to do; but an ocean liner is more difficult to change course and manouever with. A small church, on the other hand, is more like a speed boat:  there might not be as many people on board, and not as much to do-- but when a change of direction is needed, a speedboat can do it quickly and easily. Life changes faster in a small church than it does in a large church; worship can be more spontaneous; relationships can develop more quickly.  There is a lot to be joyful about in a small church!

Our scriptures for the week are appropriate for small church Sunday.  Beginning with the Isaiah 55:1-13 (the alternate OT selection), which invites all who are thirsty to come to the waters and all who are poor to come and buy and eat-- to buy that which is without price.  We in the small church are forced to be dependent on the movement of the Holy Spirit-- especially in a small church with no endowment!  Our very survival depends on God;  we have to be constantly open to and on the lookout for new ministries that we can handle, new ways of worshiping that honor the past but embrace the future (usually without a four-piece combo.)  A small church has nothing to be ashamed of-- but we, like larger churches, must constantly be evaluating ourselves and our ministries to ensure that we are doing God's work--- and not just working for our own benefit.  God calls us to partake in that which has no price-- waters of life, bread of heaven-- and to share our spiritual food with those around us.  Being small doesn't get us out of following the Great Commission, or the commandments to love God and neighbor, to live as Jesus lived every day, helping and healing and loving all who would listen.  

Today is the first day of July-- a new month, the beginning of the second half of the year (wow...).  Remember how as kids we used to try to remember to say, "Rabbit, rabbit" on the first day of the month, for good luck?   I first read about this practice in a Trixie Belden detective novel as a kid.  Trixie was the kind of girl I wanted to be-- brave, outgoing, ready for anything.  Intelligent, in a street-wise (even if it was a suburban street!) way. 

We may be tempted as adults in the church today to say "Rabbit, rabbit" as we begin to sort through the aftermath of GA.  Rabbit, rabbit, wishing ourselves good luck as those whose ideals prevailed rejoice and those whose didn't make plans to regroup and react.  Many of us on both sides or in the middle as well (where I place myself) are now wondering how many churches will pull out before even allowing the process to continue through the voting of the Presbyteries.  I hope none; I hope folks will let the process work itself through before reacting in any extreme way.  But I have a feeling that there are some who were already on the fence that will decide to leave and join another denomination-- where there perhaps won't be a problem with G-6.0106b, but there will be other issues.  If anyone is looking for a perfect denomination, they won't find it because it doesn't exist.  Perhaps they'll be more comfortable, but is that really why we belong to church, is that why we really follow Christ, to be comfortable?

 In his article for the PET newsletter, our interim exec Carl Schlich wrote that perhaps we need to not focus only on the controversial things that happened at GA, but to remember also the things that we can celebrate-- such as the new Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts and Hands.  Apparently donations have jumped by $8 million dollars since May 31, bringing the total to $33 million, which is only $7 million short of the goal of $40 million.  It's a great sign and well worth celebrating that regardless of our differences we can still come together in mission.   (Read all of Carl's article on the "Newsletters" page.)

To me, if we are seeking renewal in our denomination, this is where we need to focus:  mission.  We need to remember why we are a church, why we come together as the Body of Christ; it isn't just about "my own personal salvation" but about feeding Christ's sheep the way he instructed us to. It's about bringing healing where there is brokeness, friendship where there is lonliness, food and drink where there is hunger, hope where there is hopelessness.  I fear we are in danger of having a "survivor" mentality in our denomination-- not in the reality show way, but in the way many small dying churches become "survival focused" churches.  Our goal becomes keeping the doors open at any cost, so that no pledges and no effort goes into reaching out into the community.  We become focused on our internal struggles, so that in a small church, the focus is on pastoral care of existing members, keeping the property maintained, and so forth, rather than new initiatives for mission.  At the presbytery level I see us afraid to use our New Church Development funds or our Church Transformation funds, and we are all aware that pledging from congregations is down, so our mission team budgets are cut.  At the national level it has seemed that we are being held hostage by our internal struggles; so afraid that if we change-- or if we don't change-- we're going to die out. 

Sometimes you just have to reach out in faith and let what happens happen. We need to remember that it is God whose church this is, not ours, and that God knows what is going to happen and in fact is the driving force behind the Body of Christ.  We are representatives of God in this world, we are the face of God, the Body of Christ, but it is God who makes things happen.  Sometimes our desire to exercise our free will gets in the way of that.  But if we trust in God, then even the decisions that are made that we don't agree with will work together for good; even the issues that we're uncomfortable with will ultimately fulfill God's purpose.  That is and has been my faith all along.

 

I am now home. GA is over.  I got back Saturday evening, and I'm glad to be home, but I'm still a little jet lagged.  I'm feeling some post-GA let-down, I think; time now to sort through all of the images and experiences of the past week, while getting my normal life back on track after being gone for a week. 

In my last entry, I made a mistake about the numbering of the "fidelity and chastity" amendment that was changed.  The correct number in the Book of Order is G-6.0106b.  Sorry for the error, I can never remember it correctly.  It's interesting, people on both sides of this issue can rattle it off like it's their phone number or something.  I guess it just hasn't been something I've spent a lot of time worrying about one way or another. 

I don't know what happened with GA after I left Friday evening. I had an early flight, so after dinner Friday I had to go back to my hotel and pack and get ready to come home.  I know there was an attempt to reverse the earlier decision about G-6.0106b that failed; only because one of my friends called me while it was going on. After that, I don't know, but I will check it out and write about it later if there was anything of significance that happened.

It was really interesting to see the national church at work this past week.  It's pretty easy when you don't have any exposure to the national church to think of it as "those people in Louisville"; and there are folks that work for the denomination as their chosen vocation or because that's where they felt called to serve.  But in large part, the work of the denomination is done by people just like you and me, ministers and elders who live all across the country and come together to do the work of the body. There are standing committees at the national level that need volunteers to serve on them, just as there are presbytery level committees that need volunteers to serve on them.  The folks who came this week were sent by their presbyteries to represent and to vote as the Holy Spirit led them to vote.  We all need to remember that the church isn't them, it's us, all of us, together, serving and working for the kingdom.  Some who serve forget that sometimes, I think; and many who don't serve forget that as well.  Our system can be frustrating at times, seem overly political at times, seem to be heading in the wrong direction at times (at different times, depending who you talk to!)  But it's what we have to work with, and I guess my point is, we should all work with it and within it whenever we can.

I'm typing this from the GA plenary hall, while the afternoon session is going on.  I wanted to do at least a short entry now, before it gets too late, because I'll be on a plane all day tomorrow and probably won't get a chance to write.

Today has been interesting, starting with election of the new Stated Clerk, Gradye Parsons.  I heard most of the question/answer session with all of the candidates, and I feel that Gradye is the best choice.  Not only am I a little familiar with him from Holston Presbytery, but I felt that his answers were genuine, reasonable and knowledgeable.  The other candidates seemed to be fine men as well (no women, unfortunatley) but I think Gradye will do a good job. 

The other big issue of the morning was the consideration of changes to G-6.0102b (?), the so called "fidelity and chastity" clause.  The change, which eliminates any reference to sexual practice from the clause was passed after some discussion (but not really as much as I thought there would be.)  What it does do is say that candidates for ordination are to follow their consciences as far as their adhereance to Biblical and Christ-like standards, and provides for presbyteries to decide which candidates meet standards for ordination.  I have to say I'm a little concerned; while I'm no  fan of G-6.0102b (for several reasons, ask me if you want to know; I may write about it later) I am concerned because 1. I live in the south and it's going to make things difficult within my presbytery and 2. Some folks believe that it takes us away from a unity that is a part of being presbyterian (the connectionalism), although others say that it takes us back to a more original way of doing things.  It certainly is an issue that requires thought and prayer before we get too worked up about it; my prayer is that we can all approach the presbytery votes in a thoughtful and prayerful manner.

I ate lunch at an Asian Express today and my fortune cookie said, "Now is the time to call loved ones at a distance. Share your news."  I got this as I was processing in my head this vote about G-6.0102b, and I found it to be eerily prophetic.  Fortunately (ha!) I don't really believe in the power of fortune cookies to affect what's going on in my life.  But I did laugh out loud when I read that fortune!

So, sorry for not posting yesterday.  I spent the entire day at the assembly, from the opening worship at 8:30 to almost the end of the evening portion of the business meeting, leaving at 9:00 pm.  I was just too bushed to write anything last night or this morning. 

Worship yesterday was intersting.  It was an ecumenical worship service, and the preacher was a Palestinian Arab Christian, resident of Israel, the Archbishop of Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Archbishop Elias Chacour.  Archbishop Chacour was a very engaging speaker who used well a subtle humor to make his points.  He described very well how complicated his life is by being a Christian Arab in the middle east. And he asked not for the United States to stay out of the Middle East's problems, specifically the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;  just to perhaps engage this conflict as a bridge or peace-maker for both sides rather than taking sides with one group over the other.  I'm sure that there are other points of view from other people living in the middle east, but we so often hear the Jewish or Muslim points of view, so as a Christian it was nice to hear about the situation from a brother in Christ. 

After worship I went a workshop about making films of your congregation or ministry.  I had gone to a viewing of some short documentary films the previous evening, and the workshop was put on by the same people.  It energized me to find a way to make a short documentary at Parkway that would tell people who we are, that we could then use on our website and post on U-Tube.  So I'm going to be working on that as soon as I get home!  I have had so many good conversations and heard good presentations that my head is about to explode (I may have said this before!) and I'm looking forward to having some time to process it all.  Anyway, this group who sponsored the video screening and the workshop held a contest earlier this year for youth groups to make videos illustrating the Micah 6:8 concept (which the youth group of one of my seminary pals entered, BTW). If you'd like to see some of the videos go to ymiLIVE, the PC(USA) youth networking site. 

Next I went to the Louisville Seminary lunch, where I met up once again with my friend Chris, and saw a couple of other people I knew while at LPTS.  After eating a hotdog and some potato salad, the new seminary president, Dean Thompson, spoke, followed by Claudio Carvalhaes (new Asst. Prof. of Preaching and Worship) and Debra Mumford (also a new Asst. Prof. of Preaching and Worship).  Later I went to the afternoon session of the GA Business Meeting where I heard presentations by the Committees on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Mission Coordination and Budgets, Church Growth and Education.  The Church Growth and Christian Education committee presented, among other things,  recommended a couple of church growth programs and an overture from Grace Presbytery regarding the development of an adolescent human development resource, based on Scripture and the Reformed Theological tradition.  The Grace overture generated some discussion and proposed amendments due to the inclusion of adolescent human sexuality in the resource. 

The other somewhat controversial issue came from the Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith relations, from an overture from the Presbytery of Newton.  The overture, item 07-01, was regarding the relationship between Christian and Muslim communities.  There was controversy over a portion of the overture that recommended affirming that "though we hold differing understandings of how God has been revealed to humankind, the PC(USA) affirms our belief in one God, the God of Abraham, whom Jews and Muslims also worship; and that, as children of this loving God, we share the commandments of love for God and for neighbor, the requirement to care for the poor, and acknowledge Abraham as an expression of our common committment to one God."  This portion of the overture was changed to:  "though we hold differing understandings of how God has been revealed to humankind, we share the commandments of love for God and neighbor and the requirement to care for the poor", removing any mention of the common roots that we do share with Judiasm and Islam. 

This has so far been an interesting and enlightening experience.  I am looking forward to the possibility of being a voting member at the 2010 GA-- in fact, while sitting in the Business Meeting, each time the Moderator asks for a vote I almost say "Aye" (a reflex after sitting in so many Presbytery meetings, I guess!)  It is a frustrating, irritating process sometimes, but I do think it's a fair way to do the business of the Assembly.  Not too spiritually nurturing-- more business-like and political (which is the part I hate.)  But after this, presbytery meetings will be a snap!

 

I had an early breakfast this morning, so I didn't get to do my usual early blog of my activities and experiences of yesterday.  We had a breakfast of as many of us from Presbytery of East Tennessee could get together-- I think there were 7 or 8 of us, including all 4 of the commissioners, the interim exec, his wife, our marketing coordinator, and me. There are, I think, 5 or 6 others from PET who are here who didn't make the breakfast-- our YAD, the other alternate, and some other pastors and miscellaneous people.  It was nice to see some of the other folks from home-- although we come here to spend time and network with people from other presbyteries than our own-- and hte interim exec and his wife are new to PET, so it was nice to break bread with them. 

After breakfast I went to the daily worship service.  There was a beautiful choir of Koreans (I think-- the bulletin didn't say exactly who they were, but the were dressed in what looked like Korean costumes.)  The liturgy was given in many different languages, and there was one point-- during the Lord's prayer-- that we all were encouraged to speak it in our native language.  It was amazing to hear the cacophany of sound that came when all the languages represented there were spoken at the same time!  It make me think of Pentecost, when the Spirit of God came to the people and they all spoke different languages.  It gave me chills and was a terrific representation of the Body of Christ at worship together!

Yesterday-- I can barely remember yesterday!-- I went to a small church lunch and heard a wonderful speaker who presented the image of a small church being like a speed boat (as opposed to large churches being like ocean liners.)  Speed boats are more flexible, more maneuverable, and easier to move in a new direction-- much like small churches!  And it is true:  in a small church it is possible to change the worship service, change the mission program, even change gears during worship! All things that are more difficult to do in larger churches.  It was good for me to hear small churches presented in such a positive light, because so often any more smaller isn't considered better. 

Today I went to the Association of Interim Ministry Specialists (APIMS) lunch, which was good.  The speaker was from the PC(USA)'s Research Services, and she shared the Top 10 Myths about Church Growth.  I will include those in a seperate post, at another time, becuase there is a lot of information there.  As part of the lunch ticket we got a book entitled "Places of Promise: Finding Strength in Your Congregation's Location."  I'm looking forward to reading this book, because one of the issues we wrestle with at Parkway is our location-- which somehow seems so good and so bad at the same time.  Look for a review of this book in the future!

Later tonight I'm going to a presentation entitled "Micah Goes to the Movies."  It's a showing of a series of Presbyterians embodying Micah 6:8 (He has told you, O Mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you:  to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God) through stories of social justice, compassionate acts of kindness, and prayerful worship.  Micah 6:8 is the theme of this year's General Assembly, by the way. 

What do I think of the General Assembly so far?  I'm impressed that with all of our differences we are able to come together to worship and work in a coherent way.  I sat in on a couple of committees at work today and was amazed how well our "decently and in order" practice serves us in these situations.  I have heard that sometimes there are arguements and raised voices and so forth, although so far I haven't seen anything like that; but even in the midst of disagreement we are seemingly glad to be together and glad to break bread together and worship together and spend time together.  It is good for all voices to be heard-- especially the ones we don't agree with-- and this seems to be happening even though eventually firm decisions need to be made that may not be what we'd like to hear.  Part of the problem may be that commissioners go through this process together and as a result come out with a recommendationor decision; but because others haven't been through the same or a similar process along with them it's hard to understand how they could reach certain decisions (and again, especially if they're decisions we don't agree with.)  

 The big event of yesterday was the GA opening worship service.  Above is a picture of one of the worship spaces that were used-- because there was not one really appropriately-sized space (they were either too small or too large for everyone to worship together in one space) the GA planners decided to have simultaneous worship in two spaces and link them by video.  There were some aspects of worship that happened at the same time in both spaces, such as spoken liturgy, hymn singing, communion, and so forth; and there were some parts of the worship service that happened at one venue and broadcast to the other.  I wasn't sure at first how I was going to like a split service, but I thought it was a very effective and very thoughtful way to solve the problem.  There were enough people at each venue to make the participants (at least the ones I talked to) feel as though they had had the GA worship experience-- the experience of worshiping in an extra-large group. Probably not as big as some mega-churches, but enough to get the flavor of the body of Christ as worship.

As for the worship itself, I thought it was pretty high-church, pretty formal, and pretty conservative. I don't mean conservative theologically, necessarily-- although I would have liked to see more attention paid to inclusive language (a pet peeve of mine.)  By conservative I mean there wasn't anything unusual  about the service-- no liturgical dance, no worship band, no drama-- it was a pretty straightforward worship service. There was a period of commissionings and recognitions of military chaplains and foreign mission workers, which was moving; and the necrology of Ministers of Word and Sacrament (a listing and recognition of MWS's who had died in the past two years.) I imagine they kept in simple in order to keep the logistics of merging the two services simple-- which was probably a good plan. As far as I could tell there was only one place where the services didn't coincide exactly; at the very end, our group had finished singing the last hymn, and had gone to the broadcast of the other group-- where the new moderator was going to give the benediction-- and they were about 10 seconds behind us in singing the closing hymn.  Not bad for doing something a new way!

The former moderator, Rev. Joan Gray, gave the sermon, based on Micah 6:6-8 and John 13:34-35 and 15:9-17, and her theme was "Love one another."  What I got out of the message is that while we're at GA, and after we go home, as well, that we follow this command of Christ's as we deal with each other.  That we remember that we're all human beings, that we're all followers of Christ and members of his body-- and so treat each other with the love and respect that Christ would use.  And that when we leave this place, we should remember that our job is to love Christ's sheep-- the lost, the lonely, the unloved; the poor, the hungry, the sick; the oppressed and the unloveable. 

Later in the day, I spent some time in a presentation of the FOG report-- sort of a retelling of how and why the redesign of the Form of Government came about, what changes were being recommended, and so forth.  Then I spent some time at the exhibit hall, gathering free stuff (always good!) and later went to the plenary session in which nominations were made for the office of stated clerk of the GA.  The stated clerk won't be elected until Friday. Nominees are Rev. Grayde Parsons (formerly of Holston Presbytery, and selection of the nominating committee), Rev. Winfield Casey Jones, Rev. Edward Koster, and Rev. Dr. William Tarbell.  As with the moderator slate of nominees, there isn't a lot of racial, ethnic, or gender diversity in this group.  Just an observation. 

So I'm here, I made it, I'm at GA.  I was supposed to arrive around noon local time yesterday, but because of some glitch with paperwork at Delta (having to do with maintainance of the plane, I think) I missed my flight in Salt Lake City and so didn't get here until late afternoon.  Once I got checked into my hotel and took a minute to cool off (it was hot hot hot when I landed) I headed down to the convention center to check in with the Assembly and see what was going on and who I could find. 

Once I was registered-- acquiring a cool event tote bag and some light-rail passes along the way-- I decided to check out the exhibit hall.  The exhibit hall has displays from all sorts of organizations and vendors, from Living Waters of the World to the Fair Trade Market.  I ran into Donna  Hoppestad, the New Vision Marketing coordinator for the Presbytery of East Tennessee.  So far she's the only one from PET that I've seen, but I'm sure the rest of them are all here somewhere. 

I found something to eat and then found my friend Chris, who is a minister in the Presbytery of Cincinnatti.  Chris and I met in Hebrew at Louisville Seminary and bonded over our ER rotation during CPE at Univ. of Louisville Hospital, and have stayed in touch ever since.  So I sat with Chris and another woman I knew from my seminary days, for the evening business meeting.  The business of the evening was to elect a new moderator, who will serve for the next two years.  I mentioned the choices in a previous entry, and it was interesting to hear their nominators speak about their reasons for nominating these particular people-- and then to hear the candidates themselves speak was great.  Each candidate had good things to say about being the body of Christ, each candidate seemed to have their own strengths and passions; and in the end the commissioners elected Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow. Bruce is the pastor of a new church development in San Francisco and is of Filipino heritage.  

Something  you might not know if you've never been to GA:  Election of the moderator is a pretty political process.  I mean, I've seen articles in Presbyterian literature about who the candidates were and some background information about the; but apparently there is a lot of strategizing by the candidates and their supporters about how to get a candidate elected.  It seems that it isn't too unusual for teh candidates to accost commissioners and visitors to GA with flyers about themselves and their (for lack of a better word) platforms.  I was a little disappointed to find this out, because I take pretty seriously the idea of letting the Spirit work within each individual commissioner to bring about the election of the person who God intends for the leadership of our denomination; and somehow that kind of politicking doesn't seem to fit into spirit-led voting. Somehow the idea of a particular candidate's supporters standing around developing tactics for getting their person elected seems, well, pretty secular; somehow having to run a gauntlet of candidates before going in to vote is too reminiscent of having to make your way through the mess of candidates and campaigners who post themselves outside of polling places on election day.  I guess I just believed that the ideals of "no commissioner shall be coerced to vote in a particular way" and "each commissioner shall vote as led by the Spirit"  applied to all levels of the denomination and not just presbyteries and sessions. 

Anyway, today is the opening worship service and later there will be a "meet the moderator" reception.  We'll all try to make nice and work together as we settle down to the real work of the GA.  Praise God that we're all different, that we're all unique human beings, and that our humanness doesn't keep us from being known and loved by each other-- and by God! 

As I am counting down to GA I'm trying to figure out what I'll be doing.  I'm an alternate commissioner, which means that I'm the back up to one of the commissioners.  You know, like the first runner up to Miss America-- if the commissioner becomes unable to perform his or her duties, I will take on the role and responsibility of GA commissioner from the Presbytery of East Tennessee! Frankly, I'd just as soon remain an alternate so I can learn more about taking part in GA before I have any real responsibilities.

So what will go on at GA?  Well, from what I can tell, a lot of committee meetings-- 3x a day for 2-3 hours at a time-- and some plenary sessions. One of the first tasks undertaken by the assembly will be to elect a new moderator (more on that later.)  That will happen on Saturday night. On Sunday, the primary gathering will be the opening worship service, which I am looking forward to a great deal.  Coming from such a small congregation, it's pretty exciting to think about worshiping with thousands of other people!  During the week there are exhibits to look at, gatherings of the different seminaries of the PC(USA), other worship services, meet-and-greets with the stated clerk candidates and others, face-to-face meeting time for churches looking for a new pastor and pastors looking for a new church...and for your FREE time, there are arranged sight-seeing tours of the San Jose area.  I don't expect to be bored-- in fact, I expect to be exhausted!

I love my denomination.  I am (mostly) proud to be a member of a mainline denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and I am greatly looking forward to participating this way in the life of the church.  We have our differences and our problems, but it means a great deal to me to be a part of this part of the body of Christ.  Please pray for our denomination, that we will decide that whatever our differences, creating the kingdom of heaven on earth will only happen if we work together.