My afternoon workshop couldn't have been more different from the morning, or more uplifting, if it tried. I spent my afternoon with Tod Bolsinger, pastor of the San Clemente Presbyterian Church in southern California and also Moderator of the Middle Governing Body Commission for our denomination. Tod has also been, along with Steve Yamaguchi, an architect of the new design for Los Ranchos Presbytery. He has got to be one of the sharpest minds and best leaders in the PCUSA today.
Tod was talking to us about leadership in times of adaptive change. I am glad to say that this workshop was ALSO packed.
A short primer on these terms: "Technical change" is, for example, the need for a new light bulb in your reading lamp. The light bulb is burned out, you change it, and life goes on. Adaptive change, however, might involve coming up with a new form of illumination altogether. In other words, adapative change is less concerned with changing the light bulb than it is with changing YOU.
Tod told the group that his power point from today's presentation will be posted on his blog - I think all you would need to do to find it would be to Google "Tod Bolsinger" and see what comes up. I strongly commend it to you.
I am coming away from this conference convinced that change does indeed need to occur in the PCUSA, and in our presbyteries - but the needed change has nothing to do with a new denomination. Frankly, I think another new denomination is not too far removed from changing that burned-out light bulb in your reading lamp. We need to be about changing US. As Gil Rendle says in his book which I have oft quoted to you, a lot of what happens in the wilderness is change in the one experiencing it: Jesus went through 40 days of it before the beginning of his ministry; Moses found some commandments during his wilderness experience, as well as manna by day and light by night.
Not only is God going to provide for us while we experience this denominational wilderness, we are going to be changed and strengthened by it. I am convinced of that. We will NOT come out the same on the other side of this as we are now. But I hope that you will stay with me while we experience together what God is up to. Whatever it is that we cannot now see, it's going to be wonderful.
I'm about to get on the plane back to Albuquerque. Let's talk more about this when I get back.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Ready to join the EPC?
This morning, I went to that workshop called "Thinking about joining the EPC?" I wanted a chance to hear and see what was going on with those who are actively headed another direction. And I wanted to attend as one not branded as an "EP" and kept segregated from other attendees. The room was packed, and I was astounded at the preponderance of anglo males in the room. No more than 10% of those in the room were women or people of color. I wonder what's up with that.
The leaders were the pastor of First Prez in Orlando, FL, who have already begun a process of "gracious separation" from the PCUSA, and the pastor of Bel Air Prez in Los Angeles, whose journey has taken him through the EPC and back into the PCUSA. Honestly - and I checked this perception with another colleague who was there - the conversation was far less about the EPC - the denomination split off from the PCUSA in the 80s called the Evangelical Presbyterian Church - and far more about the "NRB" - the New Reformed Body being constructed by those in the Presbyterian Fellowship.
A number of questions were asked about the status of women's ordination within the EPC - as in, if we transfer, will our women elders still be considered ordained, and can our women pastors come with us? I learned that 8 of the 11 EPC presbyteries will permit ordained women, and if your geographical presbytery will not, your church may join the next geographically contiguous presbytery that will welcome them.
Some talked about the process for becoming an EPC congregation. At one time, all a church had to do was to fax over some papers, and it was done. Now a process has been developed within the EPC for receiving churches, and there is now as much a question of "do we want you" as there is "do you want us." I understand that not only pastors but elders are quizzed regarding the Westminster Confession, one's adherence to it, and any scruples one might declare against it. Those who cannot adhere firmly to it are encouraged to join another denomination.
There is also a fear among some in the EPC that too many PCUSA congregations will join them and - how shall I say this - muddy the waters; i.e., require concessions of the EPC which they are not ready to make.
The editor of the Presbyterian Layman, Carmen Fowler, explained that the EPC has a "fast track process" which will admit pastors or churches who are in danger in their current settings, all in about two weeks. She offered to provide the phone number of the EPC's Stated Clerk to any pastors or churches which felt so threatened.
In the course of this meeting, we also learned from one involved with the Fellowship that "we will be ready to receive congregations into a new denomination at our meeting in January."
Holy mackerel! What is up with the level of fear? What is going on that would cause pastors or congregations to dive out of one denomination and into another? Why can't we just talk honestly with each other about things which are so important to us? It just makes me sad.
The leaders were the pastor of First Prez in Orlando, FL, who have already begun a process of "gracious separation" from the PCUSA, and the pastor of Bel Air Prez in Los Angeles, whose journey has taken him through the EPC and back into the PCUSA. Honestly - and I checked this perception with another colleague who was there - the conversation was far less about the EPC - the denomination split off from the PCUSA in the 80s called the Evangelical Presbyterian Church - and far more about the "NRB" - the New Reformed Body being constructed by those in the Presbyterian Fellowship.
A number of questions were asked about the status of women's ordination within the EPC - as in, if we transfer, will our women elders still be considered ordained, and can our women pastors come with us? I learned that 8 of the 11 EPC presbyteries will permit ordained women, and if your geographical presbytery will not, your church may join the next geographically contiguous presbytery that will welcome them.
Some talked about the process for becoming an EPC congregation. At one time, all a church had to do was to fax over some papers, and it was done. Now a process has been developed within the EPC for receiving churches, and there is now as much a question of "do we want you" as there is "do you want us." I understand that not only pastors but elders are quizzed regarding the Westminster Confession, one's adherence to it, and any scruples one might declare against it. Those who cannot adhere firmly to it are encouraged to join another denomination.
There is also a fear among some in the EPC that too many PCUSA congregations will join them and - how shall I say this - muddy the waters; i.e., require concessions of the EPC which they are not ready to make.
The editor of the Presbyterian Layman, Carmen Fowler, explained that the EPC has a "fast track process" which will admit pastors or churches who are in danger in their current settings, all in about two weeks. She offered to provide the phone number of the EPC's Stated Clerk to any pastors or churches which felt so threatened.
In the course of this meeting, we also learned from one involved with the Fellowship that "we will be ready to receive congregations into a new denomination at our meeting in January."
Holy mackerel! What is up with the level of fear? What is going on that would cause pastors or congregations to dive out of one denomination and into another? Why can't we just talk honestly with each other about things which are so important to us? It just makes me sad.
Day Two begins
Didn't get to write last night after Day One because the Internet here has been bogged down. Not even my non-hotel Verizon connection would work. Guess that tells you the kind of electronic traffic that has been coming from Minneapolis. I hear that we even "trended" on Twitter yesterday - and if you want to follow all the tweets, you can do a search on #mn2011 and read all the color commentary you like.
Yesterday was a VERY long day. There may be some who are energized by what they are hearing; by mid-afternoon I needed to nap. Staying connected, honestly, is hard work.
There is plenty of snarkiness to go around, on all sides. I will spare you that. I heard a SURPRISING amount of goodwill toward the leadership at General Assembly and all the effort they are making to be present and to stay connected. I hear that there has been general confusion around the tables, some of which may solidify today. In general, if everyone here can agree on anything, there has been agreement on the fact that the PCUSA needs to be more missional in its work. I'm proud to say that Santa Fe Presbytery, thanks to the good leadership of Moderator Rob Woodruff, has been ahead of the curve on that one.
Unfortunately, because the EP-types have been cordoned off in a room separate from other attendees, it has been hard to hear much of anything outside circles of people like me - and that's not why I came to this meeting. That has been a disappointment. The level of distrust surrounding presbytery leaders here astounds me.
For the Santa Fe watchers among us, I had a Harry Chronis sighting yesterday! He looks great and seems very happy in his new call. I also had a terrific breakfast with Glenn Perica from Farmington this morning. Glenn is a prince. I have yet to see anyone from Sierra Blanca here.
Those In Charge, who are calling themselves "The Seven Dwarfs," have presented four "tiers" of options for those wishing to consider something different. They range from Tier 1, which is basically Missional Church in my estimation, to Tier 4, which is the New Reformed Body (NRB) already well underway. Tiers 2 and 3 are two different levels of "presbytery within a presbytery; I really have only heard enthusiasm about that from Mission Presbytery folks at this point.
It seems to me that this meeting has been far less about dialogue and input than it has been about making an announcement, frankly. And that has been confirmed to me by some. This Fellowship of Presbyterians is more of an association; there is a New Reformed Body - read denomination - in the making. And at times I feel that we are here to receive the sales pitch for that. There is a meeting to be held in Orlando next January which will likely debut that yet-to-be-named body.
My friend Mike Cole, EP for New Covenant Presbytery in the Houston area, was involved in helping prepare a survey for pre-gathering use. He was telling some of us last night that that the general answer to the question "What would you like a new denomination to look like?" was, frankly, "Like the PCUSA." And that's exactly where I am.
Belonging to an association is fine. Many congregations already do that, as with the Presbyterian Coalition or the Covenant Network. But adding on another layer of "presbytery within a presbytery" in my opinion will do nothing to further the mission of local congregations. And to form a new denomination which will do pretty much what the PCUSA is already doing? Why?
Friends, the slogan of the Reformed body of churches to which we adhere is "Reformed and always being reformed" - " by the Word of God." (many folks leave off that last part, which is actually the punchline) We are nothing if not Reformed. There's not a thing we need to do that we can't do already within the confines of the PCUSA. Any of us. Our denomination has a lot of growing and changing to do, and with God's help we can make that happen.
There was some talk yesterday about "The PCUSA has made the tent so big that there is no longer a pole in the center to hold it up." Silly me - I thought the center of the church was Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. What kind of tent pole were they conceiving?
Okay, I'm off now for Day Two. Please keep us in your prayers, that we may all continue to use energy, intelligence, imagination and love. This day is going to take every drop of it.
Yesterday was a VERY long day. There may be some who are energized by what they are hearing; by mid-afternoon I needed to nap. Staying connected, honestly, is hard work.
There is plenty of snarkiness to go around, on all sides. I will spare you that. I heard a SURPRISING amount of goodwill toward the leadership at General Assembly and all the effort they are making to be present and to stay connected. I hear that there has been general confusion around the tables, some of which may solidify today. In general, if everyone here can agree on anything, there has been agreement on the fact that the PCUSA needs to be more missional in its work. I'm proud to say that Santa Fe Presbytery, thanks to the good leadership of Moderator Rob Woodruff, has been ahead of the curve on that one.
Unfortunately, because the EP-types have been cordoned off in a room separate from other attendees, it has been hard to hear much of anything outside circles of people like me - and that's not why I came to this meeting. That has been a disappointment. The level of distrust surrounding presbytery leaders here astounds me.
For the Santa Fe watchers among us, I had a Harry Chronis sighting yesterday! He looks great and seems very happy in his new call. I also had a terrific breakfast with Glenn Perica from Farmington this morning. Glenn is a prince. I have yet to see anyone from Sierra Blanca here.
Those In Charge, who are calling themselves "The Seven Dwarfs," have presented four "tiers" of options for those wishing to consider something different. They range from Tier 1, which is basically Missional Church in my estimation, to Tier 4, which is the New Reformed Body (NRB) already well underway. Tiers 2 and 3 are two different levels of "presbytery within a presbytery; I really have only heard enthusiasm about that from Mission Presbytery folks at this point.
It seems to me that this meeting has been far less about dialogue and input than it has been about making an announcement, frankly. And that has been confirmed to me by some. This Fellowship of Presbyterians is more of an association; there is a New Reformed Body - read denomination - in the making. And at times I feel that we are here to receive the sales pitch for that. There is a meeting to be held in Orlando next January which will likely debut that yet-to-be-named body.
My friend Mike Cole, EP for New Covenant Presbytery in the Houston area, was involved in helping prepare a survey for pre-gathering use. He was telling some of us last night that that the general answer to the question "What would you like a new denomination to look like?" was, frankly, "Like the PCUSA." And that's exactly where I am.
Belonging to an association is fine. Many congregations already do that, as with the Presbyterian Coalition or the Covenant Network. But adding on another layer of "presbytery within a presbytery" in my opinion will do nothing to further the mission of local congregations. And to form a new denomination which will do pretty much what the PCUSA is already doing? Why?
Friends, the slogan of the Reformed body of churches to which we adhere is "Reformed and always being reformed" - " by the Word of God." (many folks leave off that last part, which is actually the punchline) We are nothing if not Reformed. There's not a thing we need to do that we can't do already within the confines of the PCUSA. Any of us. Our denomination has a lot of growing and changing to do, and with God's help we can make that happen.
There was some talk yesterday about "The PCUSA has made the tent so big that there is no longer a pole in the center to hold it up." Silly me - I thought the center of the church was Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. What kind of tent pole were they conceiving?
Okay, I'm off now for Day Two. Please keep us in your prayers, that we may all continue to use energy, intelligence, imagination and love. This day is going to take every drop of it.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
"Why are you here?"
Well, it's been awhile since I wrote here - a little over a year, to be exact. In that 12-15 months, another General Assembly has come and gone. Amendments to the Book of Order have passed, and an amendment to the Book of Confessions has failed. And all of that has brought me this day to Minneapolis, where I am attending a gathering of a group which has come to call itself The Presbyterian Fellowship.
On the shuttle to the hotel from the airport, I suspected I was riding with a number of Presbyterians. So I asked, and one fellow said "Well, for now anyway." I started talking with a few people sitting around me, and it came out in conversation that I am an "EP" - which, translated for New Mexico, means that I am a Regional Presbyter. The woman who sat in front of me, who was with the leadership team for this event, asked me, "Why are you here?" Her question sounded a little more quizzical than I would have liked.
So, why AM I here? Originally, I came as a witness to this event. I want to see how the discussion goes, how things are handled, and what may come from it. I also came to support my pastors from New Mexico who are here, whose number I suspect at this point are smaller than I first thought.
I have a nice hotel room. I have already hugged the necks of two of my favorite colleagues, and I am planning to meet others shortly for a beer before dinner. But this just doesn't feel right. It so far, in fact, feels downright weird.
Why am I spending time at a conference where one of the workshops is labeled "Thinking of Joining the EPC?" Why am I at an event where I feel that I have to give and receive the secret handshake before I can speak openly with someone? Where events like General Assembly and Big Tent feel like big family reunions, why does this feel like I'm stiffening up for a fight when I approach the elevator?
I also have to confess that I'm just sad today. I still don't understand why four of the congregations in Sierra Blanca suddenly think that they can do better on their own than they can with us, why things were different from one day to the next because of changes to our Book of Order. And now today I learn that the Presbyterian Church of Mexico has parted ways with the PC(USA) for the same reason, which is going to decimate the valuable and rich border ministries we have shared with them for so long. I just don't get it.
So, why am I here? I guess I'm here because God called me. I'm here to put one foot in front of the other. I'm here living out my ordination vows to further the peace, unity and purity of the church, and to be a friend among my colleagues in ministry. I'm here on behalf of that part of God's kingdom called the Presbyteries of Santa Fe and Sierra Blanca. And I'm here because I still believe with all my heart that if we don't hang together, we're going to hang separately.
Stay tuned - I'll be sharing my thoughts over these next two days.
On the shuttle to the hotel from the airport, I suspected I was riding with a number of Presbyterians. So I asked, and one fellow said "Well, for now anyway." I started talking with a few people sitting around me, and it came out in conversation that I am an "EP" - which, translated for New Mexico, means that I am a Regional Presbyter. The woman who sat in front of me, who was with the leadership team for this event, asked me, "Why are you here?" Her question sounded a little more quizzical than I would have liked.
So, why AM I here? Originally, I came as a witness to this event. I want to see how the discussion goes, how things are handled, and what may come from it. I also came to support my pastors from New Mexico who are here, whose number I suspect at this point are smaller than I first thought.
I have a nice hotel room. I have already hugged the necks of two of my favorite colleagues, and I am planning to meet others shortly for a beer before dinner. But this just doesn't feel right. It so far, in fact, feels downright weird.
Why am I spending time at a conference where one of the workshops is labeled "Thinking of Joining the EPC?" Why am I at an event where I feel that I have to give and receive the secret handshake before I can speak openly with someone? Where events like General Assembly and Big Tent feel like big family reunions, why does this feel like I'm stiffening up for a fight when I approach the elevator?
I also have to confess that I'm just sad today. I still don't understand why four of the congregations in Sierra Blanca suddenly think that they can do better on their own than they can with us, why things were different from one day to the next because of changes to our Book of Order. And now today I learn that the Presbyterian Church of Mexico has parted ways with the PC(USA) for the same reason, which is going to decimate the valuable and rich border ministries we have shared with them for so long. I just don't get it.
So, why am I here? I guess I'm here because God called me. I'm here to put one foot in front of the other. I'm here living out my ordination vows to further the peace, unity and purity of the church, and to be a friend among my colleagues in ministry. I'm here on behalf of that part of God's kingdom called the Presbyteries of Santa Fe and Sierra Blanca. And I'm here because I still believe with all my heart that if we don't hang together, we're going to hang separately.
Stay tuned - I'll be sharing my thoughts over these next two days.
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