Listening to people at the pre-convocation seminar on New Wineskins opened my eyes. We had been prepared to present what we are, and what we stand for, and then take questions. All that happened was that we answered questions. Without exception, people cried out for leadership that would find a way out of our denomination. Folks are dismayed, worn down, and desperate for new wine.
Delegates and observers in the Kirk sanctuary
How will this happen? Well, nothing official will come until we’re through with our delegates’ meeting on Friday. The sense is that we will thoroughly investigate how congregations together can seek dismissal from their presbyteries. Property questions are important, but they’re not primary. Moving on in faithful, evangelical, orthodox ministry and fellowship is key.
We’ll keep praying and singing and talking. The Lord is beginning to speak in clearer tones. We’re listening…
Tom
3 comments:
I am concerned that some are rushing into a departure that is premature. Yes, I am tired of the battle. But we are to be faithful to the end. Nothing has been done in respose by the liberals to the GA decisions. We need to plan for ways to respond if they would violate essential requirements of the BOO or BOC.
Anonymous,
The liberals have been violating essential requirements of the Book
of Order for years. When challenged on a violation, it is ignored or referred to a committee which decides that an infraction has not been committeed.
Numerous Presbyterian clergy have performed same sex marriages and have essentially received an "okay" to continue doing so.
We also have ordained PCUSA clergy who do not believe in the authority of Scripture, the virgin birth, the resurrection, etc.
The Book of Order has been violated for years and the liberals have simply ignored any opposition to what they want to do.
Nobody has rushed into anything. This battle has been going on since the 1960's.
Peggy Alexander
The point I was making in my comments above is why at this moment are we deciding to leave? As you say, for years the liberals have been doing it wrong, and we have stayed and stayed and stayed. Now we receive, not approve, a weird and theologically incorrect report on the Trinity, which is non-binding on the denomination, and we have the PUP report received almost in total, but are not clear what ramifications that will have on the church since we are getting confused signals from the Stated Clerk and people in authority. Maybe it is because I am so close to retirement (1 year and 9 months, but whose counting?) that I just want to keep doing what I have been doing for 35+ years, fight the good fight at the level where I have some effect. I love being a presbyterian and I hate to think that pseudo-presbyterians are going to force us to leave and they will capture the sacred ground of our history from 1706. I would hope that we can still stand against them.
In Christ, Walter Hamer
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