(Photo: Curt Karns, Exec; Antonia Panaya, Youth Advisory Delegate from Gambell Presbyterian; Rev. Tom Letts, Minister Commissioner from Trinity Presbyterian. Not in photo: Beulah Nowpokahok, Elder Commissioner from Gambell Presbyterian)
I was interested in the difference in tone between this General Assembly and the 218th General Assembly (2008) and the 219th (2010). There was a definite sense that this General Assembly did not come to do battle with one another, but seriously sought to find ways to discern God’s will as clearly as possible.
There were certainly enough weighty and important issues for this General Assembly to vote on, and to differ with one another on. They voted…
• on the wording of the paragraph describing ordination standards, including the famed “fidelity and chastity” wording (voted to make the change eliminating that wording—see my earlier blog entry).
• on whether or not to make an authoritative interpretation of the constitution with regard to civil unions (voted not to make the authoritative interpretation).
• on whether to change the definition of marriage from between a man and woman to between two people (voted not to make the change).
• on whether or not to move forward toward adding the Belhar Confession, developed in South Africa as a response to Apartheid) to our Book of Confessions (voted to keep the process moving toward accepting the new confession).
• on whether or not to recommend a replacement of the entire Form of Government section for the Book of Order—claiming to be shorter, less regulatory, and more empowering of diverse ways to respond to local needs (voted for the replacement, it now goes to presbyteries for their vote).
• on whether to denounce Caterpillar company for knowingly profiting on unjust uses of its products to harm Palestinians (yes) and whether to advocate divestment from Caterpillar (voted no) or to continue dialog with the company (voted yes).
• On a report on the Middle East that was modified in committee through a process that many (USA Presbyterians, Jewish and Palestinian participants) called miraculous, finding ways to move back from strident, relationship-damaging language to more respectful, yet pointed language on Israel and Palestine.
With all these weighty topics, it was interesting that the General Assembly was less interested in rocking the boat and more interested in moving into the future together. Again and again participants pointed to their awareness of the spiritual nature of what they were doing, and of the need to find common ground to move forward together. This was a different GA.
Not that this GA was always consistent in its peacemaking. Those who wanted sea-change language largely did not get it and went home unhappy. And certainly, the change in the ordination standards paragraph ruffled a lot of feather. However, in general the body did work to find middle ground, and embodied a group that valued mutual respect and wanted that for the whole church. I found the meeting refreshing.
Personally, I thought the debate on ordination standards surfaced the major theme of the GA. More than one person spoke of the need to focus on the Form of Government change rather than same-sex relationships. They pointed out that issues concerning same-sex relationships tend to “suck all other air out of the room” for presbyteries and congregations so that they cannot give adequate consideration to other important topics. Right now, the argument went, we are at a time for asking how we understand our purpose and calling as Christians, as congregations, as middle-governing bodies and as a denomination. We are at a different time in history and we must open ourselves to new discernment of our identity and our purpose. The New Form of Government asks us to take this question seriously, and so we must give our greatest attention to it for a while.
No one was saying that same-sex relationships are unimportant. However, we all know that a legislative vote does not eliminate the division on the topic within our churches. Voting 53% to 46% to change the ordination standards may result in changed wording, but it won’t decide the issue. No matter what happens when the presbyteries vote on the change, we can be sure that the question will come back again in some form at the next General Assembly.
The 219th General Assembly seemed to be asking us to take seriously how to do more than just battle with one another within the church. We need to recognize that we disagree and will disagree on some things. But we also need to recognize that we were saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) for the good works God prepared beforehand for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). In my opinion, we are in a time right now to stop focusing on distrust and attacks within the church, and to focus on discerning next steps in our common mission together.
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