Back Home

After a bit of a traveling frenzy and a family health emergency, I've been back at work about a week and a half now. No longer do I need credentials to get to my work space. The docket controlling my time isn't found on PC-Biz. Affinity groups are no longer seeking my attention. Instead, this is what was waiting for me upon my return:

• Families in distress, either due to medical emergency, job loss, or ongoing situations
• Three letters: VBS!
• Staff members who wanted to talk about such theologically nuanced issues as painting bathrooms and waxing floors.
• Two funerals, and a wedding -- all in the same week!
• Planning for the ice cream social.
• Casting this November's dinner theater.
  
• Discussing the Christmas mission project
  
• Studying upcoming sermon texts.
  

If, as Tip O'Neill is reported to have said, "all politics is local," then these are the top issues confronting my congregation in the next sixty to ninety days. This is where Jesus is calling me to get into the boat. And I guess that means, as important as General Assembly is to our church, we really need to keep our eyes on the issues at home. That does not mean the broader issues of the church are any less important. But it does suggest that the strength of our denomination is not at the top of the structure, but at its base. For it is from congregations that the church learns how to push forward. We must rise every day, with the words of the doxology on our lips and reminder that the "Great Ends of the Church" are a mandate for local and global mission. The Great Ends of the Church are, by the way:

• The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind.
• The shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.
  
• The maintenance of divine worship.
  
• The preservation of the truth.
  
• The promotion of social righteousness. And,
• The exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

Let's strengthen the base.

Out To The Lake

Jesus, it seemed, had no desire to be safe.

Even in the face of a horrendous thunder storm, he turned to face the storm. He asked the disciples "Where is your faith?"

Gradye Parsons, newly elected stated clerk of the General Assembly, reminded us of that story during his stand for clerk. Gradye's telling of the story was one of the more moving memories of the assembly. It is, he said, a story he uses as a reminder of his calling into ministry. And, he said, the reminder is always that Jesus is calling us to get into the lake.

The assembly's actions just may give him reason to rely more faithfully on that story.

As you may have heard, the assembly took many actions -- over 400 -- but perhaps only three of them will ever be remembered. Those actions, which are better summarized on the denomination's web page, are all related to issues of ordaining homosexuals. The constitution itself has not yet been changed. That will require a majority vote of Presbyteries, and may or may not happen. In any case, it seems we are out in the lake at the moment.

As I reflect on GA, I have several thoughts. I'm struck by how hard it is to come to consensus around such a difficult issue when the only option is "win-lose." I do not fully think this is the most grace-filled option, but then I'm not sure what other options are readily available. We cannot continue to confront this -- and other controversial issues -- with a "war room" mentality where we rely on stategies, caucuses, and lobbying to "win the day." We must, instead, find a way to confess the faith anew in this time and place. Trusting in Jesus, we must turn toward the storm. Trusting in Jesus, we must turn toward each other and discover new ways of practicing discernment.

A second thought: our work as commissioners was not over as the gavel adjourned the meeting. We are, indeed, floating in the storm.

Claudio Carvalhaes, Assistant Professor of Worship and Preaching at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, wrote a paraphrase of Psalm 118 for the GA devotional booklet. You can find a copy at www.ThoughtfulChristian.com, but here is a snipet:

"Sometimes, out of my distress here at GA,
I called on God, and God answered me.
The Lord reminded me that God has set me
in the midst of a diverse church, a broad place.

With God on our side to help us,
We should not fear...
In the name of the Lord,
I will not cut off those who do not agree with me;
Here at GA I was pushed hard,
and I pushed hard, too.
But in the name of God we did not cut ourselves off from each
other and from the loving bond of Christ."

Claudio's paraphrase concludes:

Save us, we beseech you, O God!
Oh God, we beseech you,
give us success in our unity!
Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of our Lord.
The Lord is God,
and God has given us light!
You are our God.
And as your church,
we will give thanks,
we will do justice,
we will love kindness,
and we will walk humbly with you, O God.

So it is now time to face the storm. We will debate, we will push hard, we may even be pushed harder. As that storm swirls around us, will Christ say to us "Where is your faith?"

Let us give thanks, do justice, love kindness, and learn new ways of walking humbly before our God.

Deep and Wide

Our work continues in San Jose as Presbyterians come together in a time of discernment, seeking the mind of Christ for our church's worship and mission.

None of us thought this would be easy, but then discernment is never an easy task. Discernment means reaching across divisions, encountering each other and God in spite of our human proclivity to only look at what we want. As I wrote earlier, I was particularly moved when the moderator of the committee on which I served (Church Polity) closed our committee's work with a time of mutual forgiveness. We don't talk much about mutual forebearance anymore--but it is a cornerstone of our faith as Reformed Christians.

The meetings yesterday began to scratch the surface of our discernment this week. Included on yesterday's docket were a range of appointments, reports, and celebrations. Mixed in that was a recommendation to develop a new curriculum for youth on human sexuality (someone quipped that we're always talking about money, sex, or power). There was significant debate about wording regarding an ecumenical statement calling for improved communication with the Muslim community. Click on www.pc-biz.org and you can find details about all reports--but beware, navigating this maze can be hard!

A couple of items worth mentioning:

• Worship on Wednesday featured our ecumenical guests, and included an outstanding address by Archbishop Elias Chacour of Galilee, of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Chacour has spent his ministry working for peace between Arabs and Israelis, embodying what he calls his unique "DNA" as an Arab Christian living in a Jewish state. Reminding the Assembly of the words Jesus, who called his disciples to find him in Galilee, Chacour invited the Assembly to become peacemakers. "We are waiting for you in Galilee," he said.
• Rev. Byron Wade, an African-American pastor from Raliegh, NC, was confirmed as the vice-moderator of the 218th General Assembly. Byron and I both grew up in Southern California, and attended neighboring colleges at about the same time. During a reception the other evening, we both agreed we had met at sometime in the past! According to the PC(USA) news site, Byron says the election of young pastors as moderator and co-moderator "represent a 'huge change,' in the national life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “Seeing younger people in leadership is a positive experience for both young and old in the church,” he said. An African American and an Asian “represent what the church can become... As the Spirit of God leads us, we can help propagate the faith, helping people in and outside the church develop a living relationship with Jesus Christ. We will find new ways to do that, and that’s exciting.”
• A call from the assembly's committee on youth was particularly iteresting to me. The committee, one of two committee's practicing intentional communal discernment this year instead of traditional parliamentary business, recommended that copies of a video, Soul Searching, be sent to each Presbytery's resource center. The video highlights the results of the National Study of Youth and Religion, which is familiar to members of Woodlawn Chapel because of the conversations led by colleague Rev. Ed Zumwinkel over the past several years. Sometimes, it's nice to know we're somewhat cutting edge!
• Finally, the church committed itself to an emphasis on evangelism as "deep and wide," broadening the church by telling the story of faith and increasing in spiritual depth. This is also familiar to our ministry at Woodlawn--and has been the exact , nearly verbatim, conversation topic in many our groups and meetings recently. I wonder what God is saying to us?

I need to get back to the business. You can follow the business yourself by clicking on www.pcusa.org/ga218

Midweek Update

It has been a couple of long, busy days. Most of this week has been spent in committee meetings, arguing over the finer points of Presbyterian life and practice. For complete news updates, I'd recommend visiting the Presbyterian website.

Let me share with you a few short impressions before I unplug for the evening. Here, then, is my assembly top-ten for the middle of the week:

1. It's very cool when the newly elected moderator of your denomination leaves a comment on your blog! (Thanks, Bruce!)
2. The amazing surprise of this week has been how many people I know. Many, many old friends (well, let's say long time friends) and I have crossed paths. I've lost count, but I think I'm well into the dozens.
3. The work is very hard, but people do take it seriously. Fortunately, they do not lose their sense of humility, either. Tonight, as we finished a day of heated debate on our committee's report to the assembly, our committee leadership led us in a short prayer of confession. Each side of the room stood and confessed our sins to each other, and received the gift of forgiveness from each other. That is a practice well worth preserving.
4. Meals with large groups can be exhausting, but they do open the possibility for table fellowship with one another in ways I'd miss by having lunch by myself.
5. Worship at General Assembly is always a highlight. Imagine 4,000 Presbyterians receiving communion together -- simoutaneously. The music was great, the prayers meaningful, but perhaps most moving was when an 11-year old baptized member of First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, CA led us in the invitation to communion. The young man's presence was incredible, and moved me deeply.
6. Presbyterians have deep convictions, but are almost always willing to listen to each other and support each other when given the opportunity.
7. My daily commute into the convention center has been by light rail. Since our hotel is about three miles from the convention center, this has sometimes meant we've had a few minutes or more of hang time. Not always convenient, but it has left me with a sense of what light rail might be able to achieve in my hometown.
8. Our movement across downtown often looks like a body in motion. But that is what we are: a body of Christ, commissioned to be in motion, serving each other in Christ.
9. The voices of our Youth Advisory Delegates were well received in my committee, contributing to the progress of the discussion and reminding me that they, too, are stakeholders in this body in motion.
10. David Lamotte, a folk singer and peacemaker, provided my greatest moment of the assembly so far. Recounting the story of Rosa Parks, Lamotte reminded us that "saving the world" does not always involve major steps. Parks, he told us, was available to change her world because sometime she had been invited to a NAACP meeting by her husband. The point? Someone had to first invite Parks' husband to a meeting so that she could come. The rest, they say, is all history.

The depth of the assembly takes shape tomorrow as we reconvene the plenary. I'll try to post something midday.

A Long Night, and a New Day

Late last night, the Rev. Bruce-Reyes Chow was installed as the moderator of the 218th General Assembly.



Bruce, as he prefers to be called, was elected on the second ballot from a field of four candidates, which included a Chinese-American pastor, an organizer of a ministry to homeless persons, and an elder from Nebreska. Bruce's election followed an long day of orientation for commissioners to this year's assembly.



This year's election really does signify a new day for the church. Later this week, commissioners will also vote for a new General Assembly stated clerk. Today, we will gather under Bruce's leadership. At 38, and the pastor of Mission Bay Community Church, new church development in San Francisco, Bruce represents a new generation of leadership for the PC(USA). His church has often been cited as one of the most exciting new church developments (NCDs) in our denomination, particularly because of its outreach to youth and young adults. In many ways, Bruce is himself the face of a new day--the grandson of Filipino and Chinese immigrants, a lifelong Presbyterian, and a frequent blogger and Facebook user.



During the nominations Saturday, Bruce brought honesty and energy to the process. He refused to duck hard questions while showing great energy and passion for leading a diverse, often divided, church. Bruce writes, "I am fully convinced that the PC (USA) is in a time of joy-filled transformation. People are excited about ministry, they are engaged in the mission field and folks are committing their lives to the calling of Christ with great passion, thoughtfulness and optimism."



Following his election, Bruce showed us the way forward. Surrounded by members of his church, family and friends, he was installed as moderator. The prayer of installation was led by his mother and 11-year old daughter. It is a signal of a new day in the PC (USA)

How To Spot A Presbyterian

Travelling these days isn't as much fun as it used to be --unless you're going to General Assembly.

My trip to San Jose was relatively painless by today's standards, just a 20 minute departure delay. In an attempt to survive the tedium, I began searching for signs of other Presbyterians making their way (here comes the pun) to San Jose.

Turns out they're not too hard to spot.

The first Presby I spotted was a real gift: she was carrying a tote bag from a previous conference. Others were also easy to find. Some wore t-shirts from camps and conferences, some were reading reports, and others, well, they just looked Presbyterian! (Straight down to the backpacks.)

Yes, I think Jesus did say, "By their luggage ye shall know them."

Ok, so much for the humor. One of the functions of attending GA, it seems to me, is finding each other. So far tonight I've run into no less than half a dozen old friends. In some cases, these relationships go back decades. Interesting, none of us really wanted to talk church politics. We were, instead, much more concerned about relationship.

Which reminds me that perhaps our gatherings serve a more humble function. Yes, the work important, almost daunting. Yes, it is critical and a time to shine as a church. But as I think of this year's assembly theme is "Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God," I'm wondering how we might think creatively about being engaged in more humble acts of ministry. (The theme, by the way, might stand to be improved. After walking today, I'd be willing to suggest an alternative, also from the Old Testament: "They shall run and not be weary!") In spite of all our pronouncements, legislation, actions and posturing, we remain humble servants who come to share in the ministry of Christ.

What might that look like?

Prior to coming to GA, I received handfuls of letters, mailings, DVDs, reports, all pleading me to vote in certain ways. A particularly interesting one came from six United States Senators. But
the most impressing letter was a handwritten note from a woman in Daly City, CA pledging to pray for me and the GA these next eight days. Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly before your God.

Let's see how that is played out this week.

The Way To San Jose

In a few days, the fun will all begin.

In all honesty, I have mixed emotions about serving my church as a commissioner to its General Assembly. I'm energized by the thought of the Presbyterian Church (USA) making a difference in God's world. I'm excited to see old friends, and to be with a lot of interesting people.

But...

I'm a common, ordinary pastor. Church politics aren't exciting to me; God's mission is. I don't get excited by debating constitutional minutia or by being a polity wonk. It's not me. It is important, I understand. But it is only important as I see it advancing our mission as a church.

So, as I dig through the mountains of paperwork, that's the question that will be on my mind.

According to Cliff Kirkpatrick, our denomination's stated clerk, these are the "top ten issues" he believes will be in play next week during the assembly. Watch to see how these unfold:

1. A revised Form of Government-- The Form of Government Task Force was created by the 217th General Assembly (2006) to propose a revised polity that would be more flexible, foundational and appropriate for a missional Reformed church in the 21st century. The task force is bringing a revised Form of Government for adoption by the assembly and recommendation to the presbyteries.
2. Partnership in World Mission --The 217th General Assembly called for a consultation between the General Assembly Council World Mission program and a variety of mission initiators in the PC(USA). The fruits of that consultation will be before this assembly in a call for an “Expanding Partnership in God’s Mission” that involves a wide variety of groups working together for the renewal of PC(USA) World Mission.
3. PC(USA) ecumenical stance and covenants-- The 218th General Assembly will take action on a number of ecumenical items, including a proposed new policy on the ecumenical stance of the PC(USA) and covenant agreements with four different churches: the Korean Presbyterian Church in America, the Episcopal Church, the Catholic Church and the Moravian Church.
4. Peace, unity and purity of the PC(USA): Several proposals concerning the peace, unity and purity of the church will be before this year’s assembly, including fresh ways to use discernment in our life together, reconsideration of some or all of the actions of the previous assembly in this area and proposals to change the constitutional standards for ordination.
5. The Belhar Confession: This assembly will be asked to act on a proposal to take the first step toward adding the Belhar Confession to The Book of Confessions. This confession grows out of the experience of Christians in South Africa and is an affirmation of the biblical call to Christian unity and racial reconciliation.
6. Middle East concerns: Before this General Assembly will be a variety of overtures and advocacy committee proposals to strengthen the PC(USA)’s witness to peace with justice in relation to both Israel/Palestine and Iraq.
7. Elections: A Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) will be elected to a two-year term, and a new Stated Clerk of the General Assembly will be elected to a four-year term.
8. Growing God’s Church Deep and Wide-- The General Assembly Council is challenging the whole church to adopt a two-year commitment to grow the church in membership, in discipleship and in diversity.
9. Domestic social justice concerns: This assembly will address a large number of social justice concerns, including the adoption of a new Social Creed, as well as the adoption of major policy papers on serious mental illness, energy and global warming, pay equity for women, homelessness and electoral reform.
10. A church for future generations: One assembly committee will do generative thinking as it focuses on the church’s ministry to and with youth to ensure a church for future generations.