PCUSA

The MCC Challenge to Presbyteries

3 Comments / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), GAPJC Decisions, MCC Report, PCUSA, The Missional Church, Theological Reflection / By /

The reinvigoration of presbyteries is a central vision within the Mid-Councils Commission Report. One does not even need to read between the lines to recognize that presbyteries are going to be required to step up to new realities, with less help coming from “above” and more responsibility for what happens “below.” But as the locus of support for congregations, presbyteries have the important calling of fostering creative ministry, facilitating networking, and otherwise fanning the flame of good ideas within its bounds. This will all work if presbyteries can be truly supportive of their congregations in a relational way. If, however, […]

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Flattened Bureaucracy without Synods: Necessary, Safe, Effective?

2 Comments / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), MCC Report, PCUSA, The Missional Church, Theological Reflection / By /

Oh, where to start? The Report of the Commission on Mid-Councils covers a lot of territory, theologically and practically. Since my calling is to “bring the Word to life,” it is interesting to me that little biblical study is reflected in the Report. I have no doubt that the Commission undertook study of the Scriptures, but its task was particularly focused on denominational concerns. With precious little in the Bible to offer direct guidance on matters of church structure, we are left only with allusions to exodus, exile, and the Kingdom of God. Nevertheless, the vision of the church promoted

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A Road Map of the Mid-Council Commission Report

2 Comments / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), PCUSA, The Missional Church / By /

The Report from the General Assembly Commission on Mid Councils (Report) is the product of eighteen months of labor, and it shows, in many respects. Unfortunately for the average presbyter, the report is too long for casual reading (103 pages including Appendices and End Notes). Yet, its potential as a game-changer for the PCUSA requires diligence in study and wisdom in application before it is considered at General Assembly. My aim in upcoming posts is to equip my readers for thoughtful discussion of its contents, to appreciate the richness of some of its background, and to alert all to the

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Digesting the Mid-Councils Commission Report

Leave a Comment / New Form of Government (nFOG), PCUSA, The Missional Church / By /

The Mid-Councils Commission Report came out over the weekend, and I am digesting it. A few brief comments today, and then I will elaborate on some specific areas of importance as the week goes along. There is much in this report to be very excited about. The topic of missional leadership is dear to my heart, the subject of a class I will be teaching at Fuller Seminary starting next week. As I have been reading the report, there are many sections I think would be excellent conversation starters in the class, “The Missional Church and Its Leadership.” The paper

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Has the PCUSA Ever Had Moral Authority?

2 Comments / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith, GAPJC Decisions, Marriage Definition, Moral Authority, New Form of Government (nFOG), Parnell v. San Francisco, PCUSA / By /

“Dr. Mike” commented this week: “Your article implies that the embattled PC(USA) actually had moral authority at some time in their history? When was this? As I look at its history, the PC(USA) has never had unity or harmony. Seems to me its entire history has been marked with one compromise with the world after another.” This question raises the issue of how one would perceive and measure the moral authority of a church. If a church is not experiencing unity or harmony, does that automatically mean that the church has lost its moral authority? Dr. Mike is quite right

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The Pastoral Dilemma When the Church Loses Moral Authority

2 Comments / Moral Authority, PCUSA / By /

This week I am addressing questions raised in comments about my post on the moral authority of the PCUSA. The first is a question about church membership: “Peajay” asks, “But if the PCUSA has, as you write, ‘lost its moral authority,’ what is a minister or member to do? On what basis can one continue to recruit new members to such an organization? Since every Presbyterian congregation is part of this organization, and contributions to every Presbyterian congregation are, at least in part, contributions to the whole organization, how does one invite people to increase their partnership in that mission?”

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The Moral Authority Jesus Had in Mind

6 Comments / Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith, Moral Authority, New Form of Government (nFOG), PCUSA, Theological Reflection / By /

The letters poured in yesterday in response to my last post, “The PCUSA has lost its moral authority.” My midweek schedule here is piled on with presbytery, two classes I am teaching, and various extras, so I cannot write a long post today. But there are several questions that deserve thoughtful answers, and this will be my project the rest of the week, one at a time. As a seedbed, though, it would be good for us to start with the basis for moral authority, out of which grows the implications for what the church is to do.  A church

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The PCUSA Has Lost Its Moral Authority

42 Comments / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), GAPJC Decisions, Marriage Definition, New Form of Government (nFOG), PCUSA / By /

The news is reported in The Layman that the Rev. Brian Merritt has defied PCUSA law, most recently upheld by the GAPJC in the Spahr case, and married a lesbian couple in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. Last week, the Rev. Brett Webb-Mitchell revealed in a blog entry on Huffington Post that for years his executive presbyter shielded him from ecclesiastical prosecution: “There were a handful of Presbyterian pastors who were out LGBTQ people before we Presbyterians amended our constitution. The reason no formal complaint was brought against me was because I was part of a Presbytery where powerful people

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Keep Calm and Carry On

3 Comments / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), Board of Pensions, Marriage Definition, PCUSA / By /

 It sounds very English, doesn’t it? “Keep calm and carry on.” In fact, this was the message of propaganda posters printed for distribution throughout England as World War II was befalling Europe. You can hear more of the story from a YouTube video. To the person of faith, this poster is a succinct summary of God’s message during tribulation, “Do not fear; do not fret. Trust in the Lord and do good” (from Psalm 37). Sometimes we need the reminder when things go topsy turvy around us, which is how many evangelicals in the PCUSA feel the present moment. The

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Evangelicals Are in a Pickle: BOP and Personal Conscience

1 Comment / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), Board of Pensions, Marriage Definition, PCUSA / By /

Evangelicals in the PCUSA are in a pickle. One week ago the Board of Pensions announced its decision to expand Benefits coverage to same-sex partners of Plan members. A lot of soul-searching has ensued, if my mailbox is any indication, and I have attempted to work through the issue for my own benefit here on this blog. My “research” has included correspondence or conversation with the Corporate Secretary of the BOP, Andrew Browne; Rev. John Huffman, a member of the subcommittee that took up the question; and with various “renewal network” folks watching the situation. I have also read the

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