Pres of Mackin

1995-10-21·Sermon

PRESBYTERY OF MACKINAW V
OcToBeR 21-22
Joun M. BucHANAN

InrRopucTORY COMMENTS:

Wwe ket brvzoeo \ ak6nq 3

“FRIGHTENED

-WE’ RE WORRIED) ABOUT OUR MEMBER

DECLINE
_—_——

-AND THE FACT THAT THOSE OF US WHO
— aan nal

REMAIN SEEM LESS AND LESS WILLING TO
Ded

TRUST GOVERNING BODIES AND
PROFESSIONAL STAFF WITH MISSION,
al

POLICY, PROGRAM AND MOSTLY WITH OUR
ee

—

art feele like were \eccwmn
MONEY. ~ CAMs ats | -

-AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT IN

REGARD TO ONE OF THE ZSSUES AHEAD OF
—_— =_
Us, WE COULD BE A DIVIDED Caveen — (bereft, »
Litpeeny -- Giweetr IN THE NOTUTOO™
DISTANT FUTURE.

qua==ae

I HEAR RUMORS -- AS YOU po -- THAT SOME
pe

HOPE FOR A SPLIT, ---
PE FOR A Sobol.

-THAT WE WILL BE A BETTER, MORE
Wy rl

VIABLE CHURCH IF THEY SIMPLY GO

AWAY.

-THE PRESBYTERIAN Lay ComMMITTEE

(PLC) To THE PCAJOR THE WLTHERSPOON
ee

AND MORE LIGHTS TO uCcC.
: een

SOME ARE EVEN SAYING THAT THE QEAL, IS
ee

\ee
wo’ DONE .-- AND THAT NATIONAL ASSETS ARE
. WO cy som _ ese
\ “ > rest
he an Tae we ALREADY CARVED uP . .C&
eek ~ o—
ew
we

"DoES THE LOSER GET THE BUILDING IN

LOUISVILLE?")

My GUESS IS THAT NOBODY WILL LEAVE -7~
ony, .

THAT AFTER RE-IMAGINING EVERYBODY_IS ON
To

hk ~
ge” (THE WHIMSICAL CYNIC IN ME ASKS _- dts
L_ CYNI

lad DAW
qet Ghack aud,

BOARD AND WE "RE STUCK WITH EACH OTHER. ~ Wan be-

eau wi as 4 ct can. Wait “hum gah =

o~ A OAT |

So.A MAJOR QUESTION “1. ALL OF US IS --
ce

\ "How ARE WE GOING TO BE A_FALIHEUL CHURCH

IN SPITE OF SOME ISSUES ABOUT WHICH WE
—_,. em

HAVE DEEP, STRONG, AND FUNDAMENTAL

_—_e

DISAGREEMENTS?

AND A SUB-SET OF THAT QUESTION -
ime. El a.

-ARE THERE WAYS FOR US TO BE WHO WE

WANT TO BE/(BASED ON SOME COMMONLY-
Wine
HELD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WEREEH IT

MEANS TO BE A -- NATIGNAL CHURCH AND
a,
A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -| AND AT THE

SAME TIME TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER, TO
a ee

sza,oave,\ ro BE A

COMMUNITY OF FAITH THAT IN SOME WAY
: ee

REDEMPTIVE POWER OF THE GOSPEL WE

ne]

CLAIM AND HAS CLAIMED US.

Seer ETT

THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE AND WHY

OTHERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE GATHERING
a Seem «eee

IN SIMILAR EVENTS.
ee

I THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME ~~ ‘PRRERE

AEM-NGQwEXRERELSE

OM. cen Hous allel Apper touce drurwew ay

J HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED BY FIRE, AND

HAVE ACCUMULATED A LITTLE EXPERIENCE.

hs ASsenary

hi
COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY )

As MODERATOR OF THE GENE

CouncIL -~ In 1994, any Moers THE 52

OVERTURES ABOUT RE-IMAGINING.

AND THEN AS A MEMBER OF THE

an CoMMITTEE ON )

ACHARGED TO WORK WITH THE

MODERATOR'S

RECONCILIATION

PLC To EST SH BOUNDARIES FOR THE WORK

OF THE PLC,

Bur, MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS A PASTOR
OF FOUR CONGREGATIONS WHICH’ IN SOME WAYS
REPRESENT THE BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL,

Fa
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND/POLITICAL DIVERSITY

OF THE PRESBYTERI FAMILY.

<a MY PROPOSAL THIS EVENING IS THAT WE
resem

4
THINK, FIRST BIBLICALLY AND THEOLOGICALLY
— Big

ABOUT THIS MOMENT IN TIME,

UNDER THE ;

upric, "A STRONG WorbD

From THE Mrpp OF THE Roap", AND A LOOK

AT A PASSAGE, AcTS 15, WHICH MAY BE

HELPFUL TU,

THAT WE THINK TOGETHER
EME

‘CALLY AND

_praguatiertin -

POLITICALLY AS A CHURCH.

ee
Tur -- THAT I SHARE WITH YOU
| acai
SOMETHING OF THE METHODOL HICH
wm ADO Gh
ALLOWED 55 STRANGERS TO HANDLE THE DEPTH

ba |

AND PASSION OF THE 52 OVERTURES FROM
OVE
AROUND THE CHURCH STIMULATED BY RE-
IMAGINING, AND TO PRODUCE _A DOCUMENT AND A
ee,
CLIMATE THAT WAS HEALING AND RESTORATIVE
ee, i AMIR

AND FULL OF HOPE.
we

THAT WE ALLOCATE..SOME TIME_TO_ROL

Dine ea

UP OUR SLEEVES |avo TO TALK WITH ONE

ANOTHER |PERSON TO person ,| HEART TO HEART,

BROTHERS AND SISZERS WHO IN JESUS_CHRIST,
za

HAVE BEEN RECONCILED TO GOD AND THEREFORE
ememicommmm |. «sauna

TO ONE ANOTHER -- AND WHOSE EVANGELISTIC

Se |

MISSION IS GIVEN TO US BY OUR LorD -~- WHO

oe, eel

£5 te PRAYED _FOR THE ONENESS, OF His DISCIPLES ~
_
ror 0

THAT THE WORLD MIGHT KNOW THE

GOSPEL.

Acts 15:1-20

soar

THe CouncIL aT JERUSALEM

—WNRSV -

THEN CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS CAME DOWN

cles
wl beet

eve d sce eeuts

DISCUSS THIS QUESTION WITH THE APOSTLES
AND THE ELDERS. | SO THEY WERE SENT ON
THEIR WAY BY THE CHURCH, AND AS THEY
PASSED THROUGH BOTH PHOENICIA AND
SAMARIA, THEY REPORTED THE CONVERSION OF
THE GENTILES, AND BROUGHT GREAT JOY TO
ALL THE pevtevers. | WHEN THEY CAME TO
JERUSALEM, THEY WERE WELCOMED BY THE
CHURCH AND THE APOSTLES AND THE ELDERS,
AND THEY REPORTED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE
WITH THEM. \ BuT SOME BELIEVERS WHO
BELONGED TO THE SECT OF THE PHARISEES
STOOD UP AND SAID, "IT IS NECESSARY FOR

THEM TO KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES.”

THE APOSTLES AND THE ELDERS MET

FOGETHER TO CONSIDER THIS narren.| AFTER

THERE HAD BEEN MUCH DEBATE, PETER STOOD
UP AND SAID TO THEM, ("MY BROTHERS, YOU
KNOW THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS GOD MADE A
CHOICE AMONG YOU, THAT I SHOULD BE THE
ONE THROUGH WHOM THE GENTILES WOULD HEAR
THE MESSAGE OF THE GOOD NEWS AND BECOME
BELIEVERS. [ano Gop, WHO KNOW$THE HUMAN
HEART, TESTIFIED TO THEM BY GIVING THEM
THE HoLy SPIRIT, JUST AS HE DID TO US; HE
HAS MADE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN THEM AND
us. | Now THEREFORE WHY ARE YOU PUTTING
Gop TO THE TEST BY PLACING ON THE NECK OF
THE DISCIPLES A YOKE THAT NEITHER OUR
ANCESTORS NOR WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BEAR?
ON THE CONTRARY, WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL
BE SAVED THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LorD

JESUS, JUST AS THEY writ." )

THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY KEPT SILENCE, AND
LISTENED TO BARNABAS AND PAUL AS THEY
TOLD OF ALL THE SIGN AND WONDERS THAT Gop

HAD DONE THROUGH THEM AMONG THE GENTILES.

AFTER THEY FINISHED SPEAKING,

REPLIED, [ne BROTHERS, LISTEN TO ME.
SIMEON) HAS RELATED HOW GOD FIRST LOOKED
FAVORABLE ON THE GENTILES, TO TAKE FROM
AMONG THEM A PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME. | tazs
AGREES WITH THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS, A

IT IS WRITTEN,

"AFTER THIS I ran
AND I WILL REBUILD THE DWELLING OF

DAVID, WHICH HA

FALLEN;

FROM ITS RUINS I WILL REBUILD IT,

A STRONG WORD FROM THE MIDDLE.-OF THE

ROAD a
OcToser 21, 1995

MACKINAW PRESBYTERY
JOHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR
SCREPTURE

16: 12-15
CTS 15: 1-11

"ON THE CONTRARY, WE BELIEVE THAT WE
WILL BE’ SAVED THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE
LorDAJESUS, JUST AS THEY WILL." (NRSV)

ONE OF MY FAVORITE POETS IS THE LATE

Puyitrs MCGINLEY. | AND ONE OF MY
FAVORITE PHYLLIS MCGINLEY POEMS IS
CUTE

ENTITLED, LAMENT FOR A WAVERING

VIEWPOINT:

"I WANT TO BE A TORY

AND WITH THE TORIES STAND,

ELECT AND BOUND FOR GLORY
WITH A PROUD, CONGENIAL BAND.
OR IN THE LEFTIST HALLWAYS

I GLAPLY WOULD ABIDE,

But FROM MY YOUTH I ALWAYS

CouLD SEE THE OTHER SIDE.

"HOW COMFORTABLE TO REST WITH
THE SAFE AND ARMORED FOLK
CONGENIALLY BLESSED WITH
OPINIONS STOUT AS OAK.
ASSURED THAT EVERY QUESTION
ONE SINGLE ANSWER HATH,

THEY KEEP A GOOD DIGESTION

AND WHISTLE IN THEIR BATH.

"BUT ALL MY VIEWS ARE PLASTIC,
WITH NEITHER FORM NOR PRIDE.
THEY STRETCH LIKE NEW ELASTIC
AROUND THE OTHER SIDE;

Ano I GROW LEAN AND HAGGARD
WITH SEARCHING OUT THE TAINT
OF HERO IN THE BLACKGUARD

OF VILLAIN IN THE SAINT.

"AH, SNUG LIE THOSE THAT SLUMBER
BENEATH CONVICTION’S ROOF.

THEIR FLOORS ARE STURDY LUMBER,
THEIR WINDOWS, WEATHERPROOF.

But I SLEEP COLD FOREVER

AND COLD SLEEP ALL MY KIND,

BORN NAKEDLY TO SHIVER

IN THE DRAFT FROM AN OPEN MIND."

CTr1mMES THREE, SELECTED VERSE FROM THREE

DeEcapEsS, P.207]

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT you,\ BuT I_FIND
eee a —a

THAT LIFE IS A LOT LESS COMPLICATED IF I

DON'T HAVE AN OPEN uzno. | IN FACT, LIFE
ee

IS SIMPLIFIED CONSIDERABLY IF I CLOSE MY
ee)

MIND FO THE MYRIAD OF OPTIONS OPEN TO ME

ON A MYRIAD OF TOPIcs. | IT Is

COMFORTABLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU
as [i

BELIEVE,\ WHERE THE BOUNDARIES OF TRUTH

re ————y
Lre [aN ABOVE ALL ELSE WHAT IS MORAL AND
ne

IMMORAL senavior.| IT rs TEMPTING,| NO
SST

eS Sa
MATTER THE roprc\, TO RETREAT TO THE
NEAREST CERTAINTY | AND HOLD ON_FOR DEAR

LIFE IN MATTERS OF SEXUAL MORALITY,

rouarics,| CERTAINLY RELIGION.
~<a
Soe,

Ln Face Ware is Nn alwoscern aun
Nye Luuted \wnger fur Cerboninin , dy,

Crob “gud avsote dnt, for au
educ Yods ais weed is Cte

Mad O'
ee re\igim Cuesn ¥ Oru de Chet, Maybe

vy Weed <p get ¢ Wy au.
Cie Wody Bile Tush - shoduds — shridm dew
Conta Gat, As Bide OBA - breallony fie -

THE TROUBLE IS, THERE SEEMS TO BE
Wittnaeett Stree

SOMETHING ABOUT RELIGIOUS FAITH THAT

SORDICRNSL, ee

CHALLENGES ALL CERTAINTIES , /soneruzne

ABOUT BELIEVING IN A LIVING Gob THAT

CALLS US wD APO A POSTURE OF OPENNESS/JTO A
WILLINGNESS FO BE SURPRISED| TO BE
STARTLED WITH (WHERE IN Gop’s NAME, WE
FIND OURSELVES” GOING ‘\. GR WHO, IN

Gop'S NAME, WE FIND GURSELVES

Le |

ASSOCIATING WITH L.. OR hus? ry, Gop's

NAME, WE FIND OURSELVES BELTEVING.

THAT DYNAMIC IS THERE FROM THE
eR, Leena

CHURCH THE WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.

IN THE TOWNS AND CITIES WHERE THE
A SE

DISCIPLES OF JESUS VISITED THE
—_w-

SYNAGOGUES TO TELL THE story, ( TarNes

a re

WERE TAKING A SURPRISING TURN. | MORE AND

MORE GENTILES WERE RESPONDING POSITIVELY

TO THE GOSPEL, BELIEVING rr, \askrNe TO
— _— —

BE BAPTIZED AND TO BECOME PART OF THE
Eh [na

CHURCH. { THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
pee <Wiivecus
EVERYONE KNEW WHO, THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
WERE. \GENTILES WERE THE UNCHOSEN.
WHAT PERPLEXED THE DISCIPLES WAS
=m, pee
THE SIMPLE FACT THAT GENTILES WANTED IN
_Z,

THE CHURCH,\ WHICH THEY HAD BEEN ASSUMING

WAS AN EXCLUSIVELY JEWISH operatzon\ As
eee

OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN CHANGE IS OCCURRING,

SOME WERE PROBABLY ALLOWING THEM IN:

yw
oh vaAy
5°

OTHERS WERE NOT. \ suo IN THE MIDDLE OF

THE CON VERSY, THE ACTS OF THE
= Leal
S —C RELATES A PECULIAR BUT VERY

INSTRUCTIVE STORY. | F's ABOUT A GENTILE

NAMED CORNELIUS AND A JEW NAMED PETER.

PETER HAS A VISION WHICH COMPLETELY

OVERTURNS HIS FORMER NOTION OF WHAT IT
‘URNS_} ER NOTION |

MEANS TO BE FAITHFUL TO Goo. \ THe VISION
ASSURES HIM THAT THE GOLD CATEGORIES OF
Eo
CLEAN AND UNCLEAN, RIGHT AND WRONG, ARE
ee

NOT azsouure.| AS A RESULT, PETER AGREES
eT i Sener

TO BAPTIZE CORNELIUS, THE GENTILE.

WELL,) WHEN THE CHURCH LEADERS BACK IN

JERUSALEM GET WIND OF WHAT HAPPENED,
‘iter, SEs

PETER IS CALLED ON THE CARPET. \He

EXPLAINS HIS DREAM. \ HE TELLSWCHE_CHLLR,

el
LEADERS THAT GOD APPARENTLY I5
Sa a

INTERESTED IN GENTILES IN ADDITION TO

too =

AGREE_TO THIS NEW

JEWS, AND THEY

DEVELOPMENT

NOT LONG THEREAFTER, TWO

MISSIONARIES BY THE NAME OF PAUL AND

Se Del

BARNABAS ARE AGGRESSIVELY RECRUITING
gE
GENTILES IN Aurzocn. | A DELEGATION FROM
en. tel Pn
JERUSALEM MAKES A SITE _YISIJ TO THE NEW
PROJECT AND THEY ASK A VERY DELICATE
We
avesrron ...\"You ARE CIRCUMCISING THESE

erly
NEW CONVERTS, AREN'T you?" |= Kor & parties

pleasaut gronect, plpyou shy - Cone ee rae

IN ONE OF THE UNDERSTATEMENTS OF Uae eG mate
So ery

ened

yu \WAdAw
ALL TIME, ACTS SAYS,\"THERE WAS NO SMALL 2
Wrdont
“

“

DISSENTION AND DEBATE." THIS TIME PAUL

ae ao maw

AND BARNABAS ARE CALLED ON THE CARPET

wae SRT

pew *5
,A
+... AND THE RECORD OF THAT CHURCH
le

MEETING SOUNDS A LOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENS

eerie. Dn rs

WHENEVER CHRISTIANS GET TOGETHER. FOR
De al

OFFICIAL COUNCILS, CONCLAVES, AND
Cee,

enrrunmuy

CONFERENCES OR GENERAL ASSEMBLIES.

PETER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS OWN CHANGE
[Ea

OF HEART. | PAUL AND BARNABAS EXPLAIN
ee me EEE,
en,
THAT GoD'S SPIRIT DOESN’T SEEM TO KNOW
PI he
OR CARE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
Dd rite

JEWS AND GENTILES.

AND THEN JAMES PROPOSES A

yi =
COMPROMISE: |A STRONG WORD FROM THE
|

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BOTH POINTS OF VIEW

ARE INTELLECTUALLY pEFENszaLe. \ THE

CONSERVATIVES ARE DEFENDING A GOOD AND
emnetaee. omit AS

VENERABLE TRADITION, \A BEAUTIFUL AND
(cere

‘SEneiitieinaieeey

JUST AND ENDURING FAITH THAT HAS CARRIED

THEM THROUGH TEMES OF PERSECUTION AND

EXILE aus | me LIBERAL NEED TO KNOW THAT

INVOKING A PART OF THE TRADITION THE

CONSERVATIVES Si ME _ FORGET, NAMELY

THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD NOT ONLY DOESN’T

PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO HUMAN RULES AND

REGULATIONS, BUT SOMETIMES SEEMS TO
=e PETG

CHANGE OR TO CHALLENGE THOSE RULES AND
a

REGULATIONS WHEN

Gop'S REAL PRIORITY, WHICH 1S FOR PEOPLE

J mE

TO LIVE GRATEFULLY AND FAITHFULLY AND
ees

[Ee

RESPONSIBLY WITH GOD AND WITH THEIR
enmetiges S

NEIGHBORS «
be

So IT'S NOT SIMPLY THE GOOD
ee
LIBERALS AGAINST THE REACTIONARY
eee Sa
CONSERVATIVES: [OR THE STALWART
ee eee te
CONSERVATIVES AGAINST THE WEAK-KNEED

Se |
Lrsenaus)|{tr's A DIFFERENCE OF BASIC

CONVICTION -- OF TRUTH rrseLr.\ SOMEONE

HAS TO WIN AND SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE --

UNTIL JAMES STANDS UP,
ee,

—

POLITICS Is couprowrse:\ evenyaony

knows_rHar.\ From HENg

DAILY MACHINATIONS OFTHE CHICAGO CITY

COUNCIL, POLITICS 1S THE SOMETIMES NOBLE

AND ALWAYS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY ART OF

MOSTLY, IF YOU WILE’ NOT GIVE,WHAT YOU

}
GET IS CONFLI RIZATION,
a passant

$
wher wud os
c

THERE IS A NEW BREED OF POLITICAL
ey
PHILOSOPHER WRITING TODAY “- SAYING THAT

THE FUTURE OF OUR REPUBLIC DEPENDS ON A

a
RENEWED ABILITY TO BE OPEN,\ TO RELEARN
OpeN\ TO RELEA

THE ART OF conpronrse | CORNELL WEST
asic aa~,€ — ‘

ARGUES FOR A CENTRIST POLITICAL VISION

WHICH HONORS THE CREATIVE ENERGY OF THE

se WITHOUT TURNING £TS BACK ON THE

ABILITY OF GOVERNMENT TO STAND WITH AND

EMPOWER THE POOREST AND MOST MARGINAL OF
TE

CITIZENS.

JEAN ELSHTAIN, UNIVERSITY OF
eT

CHICAGO PROFESSOR IN DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL,

PRESENTS A SIMILAR SCENARIO FOR OUR
aL

NATIONAL FUTURE.

T HAD THE PRIVILEGE THREE WEEKS AGO
eo

et
TO BE @@ ISRAEL AND WHILE THERE TRAVELED
— Leal
Cily of - NY:
To IBILIN TO VISIT PROPHET ELIAS
omen if reece «|

COMMUNITY COLLEGE,|& CHRISTIAN

aia
INSTITUTION IN A PALESTINIAN cxty} TO
MEET WITH ELTJAS Cuacour.|| CLERGYMAN,

PRINCIPAL OF THE COLLEGE, AUTHOR AND

ARTICULATE SPOKESPERSON FOR PALESTINIAN-
eee
Catizem sme
CAUSES,BUT AS PART OF THE NATION OF
m5

ISRAEL, CHACOUR IS DETESTED BY MILITANTS
ad et

Ee,
ON BOTH SIDES, ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN.
ed oem
REFLECTING ON THE STATE OF
a
NEGOTIATIONS DURING THE WEEK THE QSLO II

AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED AT THE WHITE HOUSE

HE SAID HE WAS PLEASED THAT BOTH SIDES
i

Senate ad

WERE EQUALLY UNHAPPY. \ IT WAS A
a

a_i

SURPRISING REFLECTION BECAUSE MY FIRST

‘inves,

REACTION WHEN I HEAR EVERYONE CONDEMNING

THE poke A THAT IT MUST BE_FLAWED

AND WILL NEVER work. | Nor $o, CHACOUR

aoe i
+ ures © f
saxo. \ THE REALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IS
pteridine

WHEN ONE SIDE IS REALLY HAPPY -{ WHEN

ONE SIDE THINKS IT HAS WON AND ACHIEVED
enue

La nel
ALL ITS OBJECTIVES.\ IN TERMS OF THE
ext it
HOPE FOR PEACE, THE BEST SCENARIO FOR
a

BOTH SIDES TO BE EQUALLY unnaper. |

UNLESS YOU KNOW HOW TO COMPROMISE,
eet

ALIENATION, AND MAYBE VIOLENCE.

26 \ers\

WHAT YOU GET IS CONFLI 1, | POLAg ZATION,

UNTIL SOMEBODY LIKE JAMES STANDS UP

AND SPEAKS A STRONG WORD F LE
ee

OF THE ROAD.

IF THE LIBERALS WILL AGREE TO A FEW
bans ee

SMALL POINTS, MAYBE THE CONSERVATIVES
al —

WILL_ GIVE ONE MAJOR POINT.
ee

IF THE GENTILES CHRISTIANS, WILL
AVOID IDOLS ,AND BEHAVE THEMSELVES
SEXUALLY , AND BUY THEIR MEAT FROM THE

RIGHT BUTCHERS, THE JEWzSE WILL

COMPROMISE ON CERCUMCISION.

THE pegL_rs_vone. | A LETTER IS

COMPOSED AND SENT UP TO ANTIOCH WITH THE

“
TERMS EXPLAINED AND EVERYBODY IS HAPPY...’

coon A

AND CHANGE HAPPENED PEACEFULLY AND THE
——— seen nd

FREEDOM OF GOD'S SPIRIT, ALONG WITH THE
ae rar al

IMPORTANCE OF THE TRADITION, WAS
ad

HONORED.
a,

fern

AND I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE A 48H OF

OPENNESS |

PERSONAL COURAGE AND A GRACIO

US SPIRIT

STOOD UP AND SPOKE A STRONG WORD FROM
=e

THE CENTER. \}AND THAT WHOLE DYNAMIC IS A
VERY IMPORTANT MODEL, I BELIEVE, FOR
=e

CHRISTIAN FAITHFULNESS IN OUR TIME.
ena

AT ITS BEST, OUR OWN RELIGIOUS

TRADITION HAS BEEN STRONGLY cenrrrst,\.
=e bn

MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD APPROACH TO THE MAJOR
oo

f
ISSUES OF FAITH AND use. \r S$ NOT

ALWAYS A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE ... BUT
ee

IT IS WHERE IN Gop's ECONOMY, I AM

eee

CONVINCED, WE ARE CALLED TO BE.

ONE OF OUR FINEST REFORMED
ben |

THEOLOGIANS WAS H. RICHARD NEIBUHR,

, Cn ay

BROTHER OF THE MORE-FAMOUS Renunouo.\{W.
paemmitiottece ERIE EIREEERrman

RICHARD TAUGHT AT YALE FOR YEARS AND
Le

bec

WROTE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS OF
aa

THE CENTURY, (Gie_Meansns OF Revevarroy

IN WHICH HE WROTE THAT:
Ee,

"THE GREAT SOURCE OF EVIL IN THIS LIFE

IS THE ABSOLUTIZING THE RELATIVE,.WHICH

IN CHRISTIANITY TAKES THE FORM OF

SUBSTITUTING RELIGION, CHURCH, OR

MORALITY FoR Gob." \

PART OF WHAT IT HAS ALWAYS MEANT TO

=e Ce ee

BE A PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN IS A KIND OF

RADICAL REFUSAL TO IDENTIFY ANY HUMAN
ee ™

structure, | ENTITY, lor IDEOLOGY WITH GoDa

PRESBYTERIANS ARE SUSPICIOUS OF ANY
ee ee

RELIGIOUS ATTEMPT TO MAKE ABSOLUTE
Perera ee

ANYTHING BUT GOD ALONE. BECAUSE OF THAT
eam ei ——

HESTORIC SUSPICION OF ANY IDEOLOGY,
_——eE Dn

PARTICULARLY ANY POLITICAL STRUCTURE,

THAT CLAIMS ABSOLUTE TRUTH AND DEMANDS

ABSOLUTE OBEISANCE,\ PRESBYJERZANS HAVE A

CONSISTENT RECORD O AND

‘PERSECUTION BY, THE POLITICS | OF THE

TREME RIGHT warn Ber BEFORE ANYBODY

ELSE SAID ANYTHING, PRESBYTERIAN

OPpos tT Tonos

REFORMED CLERGY GATHERED AT BARMEN IN
aca]

1933 AND CRITIQUED NAZI IDEOLOGY FOR ITS

CLAIMS OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH AND IN THE NAME
— Er | aie al

OF JESUS CHRIST UNCATEGORICALLY

CONDEMNED IT AS rause. | AND IT IS_NO
ACCIDENT THAT THE HEIRS OF THE REFORMER
Jan Hus,IN EASTERN EUROPE, WERE SEVERELY

a ——— ore

PERSECUTED BY MARXIST DICTATORSHIPS AND
eet

THAT WHEN THE ROMANIAN REGIME WAS

CRUMBLING THE SPARK THAT SET OFF THE

—

CONFLAGRATION WAS AT A

PRESBYTERIAN/REFORMED CHURCH IN
a

TIMOSOARA.

Dal

WE HAVE BEEN, | DOWN THROUGH THE
a

_——

CENTURIES,| A STRONG VOICE.

ROM THE

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, | THEDLOGICALLY,
oe [ea

INTELLECTUALLY, SOCIALLY, AND WHEN
7
Eis

NECESSARY, OVERTLY POLITICALLY.

vA
A’ ReagiFT ESSAY IN THE CHRISTIAN

CENTURY OBSERVED THAT:

“THERE IS CONSENSUS ABOUT VERY LITTLE IN
bi
AMERICA TODAY -- EXCEPT PERHAPS THAT
THERE IS NO CONSENSUS, AND THAT WE LIVE
IN AN INCREASINGLY POLARIZED AND
VITRIOLIC CULTURE. | NO MATTER WHAT THE
Ss ee lteter

ISSUE, THE FIRST VOICES TO BE HEARD ARE

THE MOST EXTREME AND DIVISIVE, SPEAKING

THE POLITICS OF CONTEMPT THAT HAS BECOME

SO PERVASIVE." WHAT IS NEEDED, THE

Cree
AUTHORS CGweemeor, IS A RENEWED "EMPHATIC

CHRISTIAN CENTER.” ["FORMING AN EMPHATIC =
se Nee

CHRISTIAN CENTER: A CALL TO POLITICAL

Res omsrbilidy Yaw Kyle “asovor.
32

RESPONSIBILITY," KYLE A. PASEWARK AND

GarreTT E. Pau, CHRISTIAN CENTURY,

at
AuGUST 7 1994.1]
THEY MAKE A VERY HELEFUL

DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CENTER AS MERELY

Doe a | Deen ey
THE MID-POINT BETWEEN TWO EXTREMES, AND

THE CENTER AS A'susstayrve CORE OF

eee 2 i ee,
CONVICTION THAT ACTIVELY CENTERS US AS

[eee

INDIVIDUALS AND AS A SOoCcrETY.” \[P.280]

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
oo miata

MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD POSITION WHICH IS

ONLY A COMPROMISE POSITION AND WHICH
‘Serr, «a

TRIES TO GET THE TWO EXTREMES TO TALK TO

ONE ANOTHER i ang) an(""e MPHATIC CEN CENTER

THAT PD DEVELOPS AND ARTICULAT TES ITS OWN

Commitments |

AND IT IS THERE ~~ THE CORE OF

Bn
en

CONVICTION, | THE STRONG_ML

ROAD THAT HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IS FOUND -

PDLE OF THE

- THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH IN OUR
cucrune, | FUTURE OF THE NATION
CE,

ITSELF.

THESE ARE POLARIZED AND VITRIOLIC
Wile ESE
anes. | WITHIN ALL THE CHURCHES THERE
poudihchesislalinh
ARE VOICES FROM THE EXTREMES; (ATTACKING,
a tithes PRkchn Salm

ABUSING, \ MALIGNING., \SOWING susezcron [mn

THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, | THE

Roman CATHOLIC CHURCH, \rHe PRESBYTERIAN
nl eT
cnusce || AND IN THE NATION EACH DAILY
—— nn.

NEWSPAPER, IT SEEMS, FURTHER DOCUMENTS

HOW PROFOUNDLY WE ARE POLARIZED.

ee, Lee

THE WHOLE DISMAYING BUSINESS OF

OKLAHOMA CITY AND THE RIGHT-WING
—— /

bt i

MILITIAS PREPARING_TO GO TO WAR AGAINST

THE REST OF US, SENT ME TO MY _ SHELVES

—/

LOOKING FOR A BOOK WRITTEN IN THE 1960s,
enEEEn, = aT

-- THE STRANGE TACTICS OF EXTREMISM.

HaRRY AND Bonaro OVERSTREET HAD WRITTEN
te i
ABOUT THE THREAT_OF Communtsm: |rnxs BOOK
bn

WAS WRITTEN AS THE JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY
Dad ay

AND OTHER RIGHT-WING GROUPS WERE
bn na)
ATTACKING THE GOVERNMENT \ UNIVERSITIES,

CHURCHES ~- WITH WHAT SEEMSMLIKE SOME

SUCCESS.

"We ON AMERICA," \THE OVERSTREETS WROTE,

Oita
ae i le

"HAVING GIVEN EXTREMISM, AS IT WERE, A

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EXIST ~~ )HAVE

BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE ACTIVE PRESENCE

Se nae nnd

OF A FAR RIGHT AND FAR LEFT BECAUSE WE

HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY A NATION OF

MODERATES, \ EXTREMISTS OF LEFT AND

Riau, [Home-cRown AND IMPORTED, HAS BEEN

WITH US ALWAYS. \BUT THE LIBERAL-
eee

CONSERVATIVE OR CONSERVATIVE-LIBERAL

CENTER HAS BEEN THE NATURAL HABITAT OF

THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR PEOPLE. “[P.13]

THE DANGER, THE OVERSTREETS ARGUE,

IS THAT IF THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OF US IN

THE CENTER -- INTENTIONAL

STRONG SENSE OF WHY WE_ARE THERE, THE

f -- WITH A

EXTREMES HAVE MORE INFLUENCE AND

DISRUPTIVE POWER THAN WE CAN AFFORD TO

LET. FHEM HAVE.
——

PEOPLES AND NATIONS HAVE NOT ALWAYS

De ee

REMEMBERED THAT.\ THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE
pial

ALLOWED THEIR REVOLUTION TO BE CO-OPTED
a o_o,

BY LENINIST EXTREMISTS, \ AND ONE OF THE

LONGEST AND MOST BRUTAL DICTATORSHIPS
rn.

THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN WAS THE RESULT. \

—,,

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER, PARTJALLY IN FEAR

OF THAT VERY EXTREME, THE GERMAN PEOPLE

WENT TO THE POLLS AND ELECTED THE
NATIONAL SOCIALISTS,\ THE NAZI PARTY, AND
EE oe

bo Tce

THEIR LEADER, ADOLPH HITLER.

WHERE THERE IS NO STRONG CENTER, A

STRONG AND COURAGEOUS VOICE FROM THE

eee

HI00LE-OF-THE-noAD, [exTRENES OF LEFT AND
cniastnasamiud

RIGHT, WILL PREVAIL.

La el

So THAT, I PROPOSE, IS OUR VOCATION
wie D2 SETI 11th

AND IN OUR

-- IN OUR CHURCHES,
eis

COMMUNITIES,\ IN OUR LOCAL pTas| SCHOOL

ral”
ao

BOARDS| CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS ,| AND IN THE

VERING IN THE

DRAFT FROM AN OPEN MIND, '

Fel

TEMPTATION TO ABSOLUTIZE OUR OWN

TG RESIST THE
bl

convicrzons, our EDEOLOGY, \OUR POLITICAL
PARTY, EVEN OUR CHURCH AND ITS
aoe hae rr |
TRADITIONS; \re STAND, INTENTIONALLY,
oem Se
STRONGLY, FEET PLANTED FIRMLY, IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD,

ti.

THE REASON 1S THAT THE WORLD -- THE

—

CHURCH -- NEEDS US TO BE rere | Gop,
I'LL RISK SUGGESTING, NEEDS_US TO BE

THERE.

Do YOU REMEMBER THE LAST THING
PETER SAID TO THAT AUGUST CHURCH
TRIBUNAL IN JERUSALEM? | taene WAS MUCH
DEBATE AND DISSENTION, PRO AND CON,

Sein —_ £4 ism

LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE, LEFT AND
od ae

excur-\ It MUST HAVE BEEN VERY HEATED

el DY a
AND I KNOW THE IDEOLOGICAL OPPONENTS
WERE PRETTY MUCH CONDEMNING ONE ANOTHER

YY MUCH CONDEMN. lOTHEF
TO HELL | ano JUST BEFORE JAMES STOOD UP
AND DELIVERED HIS STRONG WORD_FROM THE
=e rep

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, PETER SAID SOMETHING

THAT PUT THAT DEBATE, \ AND ALL OF OUR
i | ||,

DEBATES EVER SINCE, \INTO PERSPECTIVE.
ee CY SET RL

"We BELIEVE WE WILL BE SAVED, HE SAID,
”
BY THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS:/NOT BY

OUR RELIGIOUS @9® CULTURAL TRADITION,

OUR CREEDS,| OUR THEOLOGIES, OUR

[oa

MORALITIES, NOT CERTAINLY BY WINNING
La

THIS CONFLICT ... ("WE WILL BE SAVED," HE

SAID, “BY THE GRACE OF THE Lorp JESUS --~-

JUST ag THEY) WILL."
¢> i

(ood lov “ek THAT IS THE GOSPEL ... GoD LOVES

us.\ In Jesus CHRIST, GOD LOVES AND
Pd
REDEEMS AND SAVES ALL WHO WILL ACCEPT
i t
THE qzer. | It 18 ouT OF Gop s

MYSTERIOUS, AMAZING GRACIOUSNESS.
eee IEE

WE ARE SAVED, NOT BECAUSE WE ARE

PRESBYTERIANS OR BAPTISTS OR ROMAN
oT,

Carwouzcs; [nor BECAUSE WE ARE
ero,

CONSERVATIVES OR LIBERALS, REPUBLICANS OR

DEMOCRATS’. . . melons of} te Pic | PLec/ Pre |
PPL| PPC

WE WILL BE SAVED _Csust AS THEY
‘ ee TT

WILL," WHOEVER "THEY" ARE, BY THE GRACE
rcs

OF THE Lorp JESUS ...

AL peiRRAESE-TU HIM,

cleperds m wh is

Qr-swerin yo Qustivr ss.

paRT 2 Words Sattar unt abort
er he For Sue \ wer’:
aN yer, prs. Wai red ad \n

WHERE WE ARE AS A CHURCH ‘mes
S pw See Yu
LS..WHICH SOME BRELLEVESPORESH
CRIS CH — ADOWS cecresw “4
THE VER E | Xrzsb yw ~
VIABLE Snw sa \t3

Aowuse

A THIRTY YEAR DECLINE IN MEMBERS HAS
—————

BROUGHT US TO AN ALL-TIME LOW --
— aa —s

GrapuaLy, (sznce COLONIAL TIMES)) WE HAVE

BEEN EDGED OFF CENTER STAGE AND SUDDENLY

WE FIND THAT WE ARE NO LONGER IN THE

\ W)

"MAINSTREAM"|OR MAINLINE WE ARE SO FOND
=. a SSS

Vm 4

OF INVOKING.

AS A SIDEBAR -~ I'M GOING TO START
/tcoo!,,

SUGGESTING THAT WE EXEGETE THE TERM

f MAINLINE" WITH ALL THE HISTORICAL TOOLS

AT OUR DISPOSAL ...

MAINLINE -~ A TERM WHICH REFERRED
ae.

pe,

TO THE MAIN, MAJOR RAILROAD ROUTE, FROM
ee

EAST TO West: (THE PENNSYLVANLASRADLROAD,

TO BE EXACT ... FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN A

CENTURY, FROM MID-19TH TO MID 20TH.
ua i

ee:

TRAVELING WEST, FROM PHILADELPHIA,
TOWARD THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS, SMALL
COMMUNITIES GREW UP AROUND THE PRR
TRACKS.

Arpmore, BrYn_MAwR, SWARTHMORE,

THEY WERE, AND STILL ARE CALLED THE
ite Fd

MAINLINE,

WHAT MADE THE MAINLINE ROMANTIC WAS
THE PASSENGER TRAFFIC RIDING ON A
VARIETY OF WONDERFUL TRAINS, DEPARTING

FROM PENN STATION/ GAG IN NEW

York Crry tA STEADY STREAM OF GREAT
ae peal

TRAINS, ALL DAY AND NIGHT -

LED BY THE STAR OF THE RAILS, THE

BROADWAY LIMITED, WHICH LEFT NEW YORK
CITY EVERY DAY AND PULLED INTO UNION
STATION IN CHICAGO TWENTY FOUR HOURS

LATER.

ONE MONTHAGO THE Broapway LIMITED

ty le
res ‘wo

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS.

THERE ARE VERY FEW PASSENGER TRAINS
|,

RUNNING ON THE MAIN LINE. IN ORDER TO

irecos
RIDE A TRAIN FROM New York City To

Curcaco, \you HAVE TO STOP IN PITTSBURGH
eons iy

FOR SEVERAL HOURS LAYOVER IN THE MIDDLE

OF THE NIGHT.

TRAVELERS --| wo WANT TO GO FROM
re

New YorK to CHIcaco \- EITHER FLY, OR
al

BILES, OR RIDE BUSSES

-- OR THE GOVERNMENT’ Ss FAVORITE MODE OF

\ Wivicles , popeved by
TRANSPORTATION: INDIVIDUAL *emecmemOSiaPS | Sassi \ fed,

CRUISING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR ON THE
Pal

a
GOVERNMENT'S MAINLINE -~ THE INTERSTATE
a —_—
HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
—————

IN THE MEANTIME, THINGS ARE BUSY ON

THE OLD MAIN LINE + NOT
Ga)

TRAINS, BUT WITH FREIGHT -- THE
bina
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY COMMERCIAL LINKAGE

FOR OUR NATION,

If "MAINLINE" HAS EFFICACY AS
wee AE
METAPHOR --\ we NEED TO EXEGETE CAREFULLY
| ita eil ie aa
AND SEE WHERE IT LEADS --
LT

If THE TRAVELERS HAVE ABANDONED US
Re

IS IT BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE WRONG PLACES
ee ie

AND DOING THINGS THE oLp WAY, WHICH IS
ee } atin,

NOW ABOUT 100 YEARS OUT OF DATE --

AND ARE WE THE FREIGHT HAULERS FOR
ers

A CULTURE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT ITS ABOUT 7 AND SHOULD | MONITOR

THE TRACKS, EQUIPMENT, AND DO OUR JOB AS

en,

EFFICIENTLY AS WE _C ~« AND NOT TRY TO

BE AN AIRLINE 4

ra
re
Ra

... WHICH/IS ABOUT AS FAR AS THE 9
METAPHORICAL/EXEGETICAL EXPEDITION WILL
CARRY/ME!

‘mail

OUR DECLINE.-- OR BETTER PUT, I THINK,

OU /DISPLACEMENY) FROM THE MAINS Taamaea C/AL £
2 =r,

BEGAN-TO BE NOTICEABLE AFTER THE HALCYON
Se be]

DAYS OF THE 50's and 60'S WHEN THE

PRESIDENT OF THE USA WAS BAPTIZED IN A
WEEE

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND HELPED RAISE
Sen =e

MONEY FOR THE CHURCH, AND THE INTER-

? —

CHurcH Center IN NYC.
—

CLER

-AND WHEN OUR STATED Gia, EUGENE

CARSON Bake, /aprenReo ON THE COVER OF
.

TIME MAGAZINE -- WITH BISHOP JAMES PIKE

OF THE EprscopaAL CHURCH ANNOUNCING A NEW
ee |

ECUMENICAL INITIALLVE CALLED THE \

CONSULTATION ON CHURCH UNION.

WITH THE 60'S A RADICAL DISLOCATION
et aaa

BEGAN IN THIS TRY -k=-WHICH CAUGHT US

UP IN ITS TRAUMA AND TRAVAIL AND WE HAVE
Leila neal ~~

BEEN SUFFERING EVER SINCE.

a My PERSONAL ANALYSIS IS/LIKE THE
yur ©
<<
; PRR ag ~~ OUR BASIC PROBLEM IS THAT
yr -OF- E T
R ¢ V Wien WE HAVE TOO MUCH OUT-OF-DATE_EQUIPMENT,
?

ww a We REAL ESTATE IN THE WRONG PLACES, | AND

wh
48

MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO

RG TEENA

TRAIN LEADERS FOR THE LAST cenTury,/ AND

AN INCREDIBLE INABILITY TO DISCERN THE

re
Dae tad

SIGNS OF THE TIMES --

==,

WAL

CHICAGO IS A CASE IN POINT -- MANY
Bras ata
CHURCHES IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH HAVE

UNDERGONE VAST CHANGES --

OLD BUILDINGS, \azes MAINTENANCE,
a be Teceraminrsr

LEADERS BROUGHT IN AND ASKED TO FIGURE
Seat,
OUT HOW TO SQUEEZE ENOUGH MONEY OUT OF

THE FEW, AGING PRESBYTERIANS, TO PATCH

UP THE BOILER. Last Suud— ~ Prk -
Kiwlae & 6U%- Gi isco mM EB hy 156 Bo4n
Lett. —
AND € RING oF ROBUST SUBURBAN

CHURCHES DOING WELL --
ponent

WHAT WE DO, TO OUR prscreorr,/ 1s
\asnel Co ee ee

SIT AROUND WRINGING OUR HANDS ABOUT
eet

MEMBERSHIP Loss 1 AND DUMP ON THE

PEOPLE_AND LEADERS OF _

| bxreG

™~ a Ca eres
~7 WE LOOK = ee gee L cobb

— vib

\\ AROUND FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME -- _—

'; " CAW = (TA BAR rOeS
Ah Poles | ole wy Hew Coelamd et Cd ep wt

ALL OF THAT CAME TO A HEAD IN 1994 beg eA
IN THE RE-IMAGINING AFFAIR. Lavas use

Pa rN acre

THE CONFERENCE IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE
AUTUMN BEFORE BROUGHT TOGETHER SER 2, TOO
WOMEN AND FEMINIST THINKERS/THEOLOGIANS,

TO THINK PRAY, SHARE, SING, CELEBRATE
ener ——————————

THEIR FAITH AND THEIR IDENTITY.
ba nore

ee
HINGS HAPPENED.

VAST MAJORITY O

WAS A GREAT EVENT.

CHALLENGING, INTENTIONALLY I RRMOTANT '

PROPHETIC AND BORDERLINE PROFANE ~~

It SEEMED TO SOME, barTICULARLY
bn ol

AFTER THE FACT THAT SOME SPEAKERS WER WERE

wns. LAUGHING ABOUT

PRECIOUS CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS AND BELIEFS.
row ine

RIVIALIZING,

Liane

PRESBYTERIAN CHurcH (USA) HAD

$60,000 INVESTED AND WE SENT PEOPLE,

STAFF AND LAITY.

_ WHEN THE aaa WAS No

AND CONDEMNED BY THE AND FRIENDS THE
‘ecsecseaeae

nal
RESPONSE WAS enormous. | 52 QVERTURES.

——

AN IMMEDIATE AND DRASTIC,REDUC
Se, aa
SUPPORT AND onznousty, [PER CAPITA, --
sae

Seed =

SERIOUS EROSION OF CONFIDENCE IN
—_———

LEADERSHIP.

AT WICHITA, THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE TO
— =i

AND WROTE A REPORT THAT, FOR THE MOMENT,
ee | nae

AT LEAST GOT THE CHURCH PAST THE CRISIS.
| aie

AND AMONG THE PHRASES IN THAT

REPORT THAT CAUGHT THE IMAGINATION OF

THE WHOLE CHURCH WAS -- THEOLOGY

Matters. “D €ve™ Vttn « T* Shim 4th

A TD eck steers mm Lek FR -
oc Oe Te | Rack eff. I kau QMS ayn a aus .

Nyt tee
LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT zest MEANS - +

to Seu Thess lagy Hee We thes |

BEN JOHNSON, DEAN HoGeE, DONALD _[LLUIDENS

me gant ttt

WHO HAVE WRITTEN SO HELPFULLY ABOUT BABY

—_

BOOMERS, CONCLUDE -- “)

"IF THE MAINLINE CHURCHES WANT TO
REGAIN THEIR VITALITY, THEIR FIRST
STEP MUST BE TO ADDRESS THEOLOGICAL

ISSUES HEAD ON."

COALTER, MULDER AND WEEKS, THE RE~

—

FORMING TRADITION --

"WE BELIEVE THAT THEOLOGY IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN THE

PRESBYTERIAN PREDICAMENT."

AND LOREN MEADE, ONCE AND FUTURE:

“THE FUTURE CHURCH DEMANDS A NEW

LIBRARY AND UNIVERSITY TO THE LOCAL

CHURCH."

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED Is
atte
THAT FOR 30 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN BEHAVING

AS IF THEOLOGY DOES NOT MATTER ~~ OR AT

LEAST NOT AS MUCH AS ACTION MATTERS.

++» AND WE ARE DISCOVERING THAT OUR

THEOLOGY. ~~ OR THEOLOQGIZING.-- IS WHAT

WE PRESBYTERIANS DO BEST.

Lae

~~ IT CLARREZES WHO WE ARE AND

SRE

WHOSE WE ARE.

a ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THE
_

MOTIF THEOLOGY MATTERS HAS BEEN TAKEN UP

AS A NEW WAR CRY BY SOME IN THE..CHURCH

a ree
WHO WISH TO USE OUR THEOLOGY AND THE
emia ne

REFORMED TRADITION TO DEFINE AS
ae

PRECISELY AS WE CAN WHAT IT IS WE

BELIEVE.

IN ORDER THAT -- THOSE WHO DO NOT

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR THEOLOGICAL FORMULAS

eR,
WILL BE IDENTIFIED -- AND INVITED TO
iene ee,
LEAVE.
——

T HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WITH

THE NOTION THAT THEOLOGY IS A LINE DRAWN
Dae

Ce ]

IN THE SAND, OR A BOUNDARY, THE PURPOSE

OF WHICH IS TO DEFINE..WHO IS AND WHO IS

NOT ...

I DO NOT ADVOCATE & THEOLOGY

WITHOUT BOUNDARIES -- OUR CONFESSIONS
= ° a ee

ARE THE CHURCH'S FALTHFUL EXPOSITION OF
Meee

the Cosa

ABOUT A USE OF THEOLOGY, THE LANGUAGE OF

Ei aa

H IN EVERY AGE -\ sur I pO WORRY
li

THEOLOGY, (THE PROCESS OF THEOLOGICAL

BISCOURSE, TO DEFINE WHO GETS IN AND WHO

MUST LEAVE.

ee,

Pn tha. otter hand

WE WILL BE DISAPPOINTED IF WE HOPE

THAT THEOLOGY WILL UNITE us. | IT WON'T.

ane)

IN A SENSE, GOOD, ROBUST THEOLOGICAL

CONVERSATION DIVIDES -4 OR AT LEAST

ee | —e ee

ILLUMINATE OUR piversity.\ We DON'T ALL

BELIEVE IN THE SAME WAY. y) 5"

—_ x

JOHN BURGESS -

"A DISCUSSION OF FAITH MAY, REQUIRE
ONE TO ADMIT THAT ONE ISN'T
Weitere eco ee

ENTIRELY SURE WHO GoD 5, wiy_Jesus

DIED, OR WHETHER THE SCRIPTURES ARE

mene

RELIABLE, \ TO CONFESS TO THE a)

EXPERIENCE OF Gob'S ABSENCE AS WELL
AS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY OF ’

Gop’S PRESENCE."

OR, AS MY MENTOR, JOSEPH SITTLER
Cf
USED TO ERA ase NECESSITY IN
THEOLOGY OF |"MODESTY, BEFORE ALL THAT

DO NOT KNOW,"

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE,

AND OUR EXPERIENCE OF FAITH -- WE WELL

Muerte

NOT ALL AGREE AND IN FACT IT MIGHT BE

HELPFUL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PRODUCT

ae CT

OF ANY HONEST THEOLOGICAL DISCOURSE WILL
Ceara NEED

BE THE ARTICULATION OF DIFFERENT
[ioe
oprxzons.\ IF IT WERE NOT SO, WHY

BOTHER? | wa NOT APPOINT A Ccortece OF
Ee an:

Brsnops?") TO TELL_US WHAT AND HOW TO

_— Yur '

BELIEVE?

eosin ewe?

~Sy THEOLOGY “DOESN'T UNITE us. | WHAT

UNTIES US IS A COMMON FAITH IN JESUS
[oo

CHRIST AND THE EXPERIENCE OF

RECONCILIATION WITH GOD, |THROUGH HIM, -
=e

- AND THE ACTUALITY OF RECONCILIATION

WITH ONE ANOTHER,

IN A DIALOGUE IN THE CHRISTIAN
nrc erotica

CENTURY BETWEEN THOMAS QDEN AND LEW
ae

MupGe,| ODEN ARGUED FOR DEFINING CLEAR
— re emcee

THEOLOGICAL BOUNDARIES.

Wane
WHO gagyT TO DO THIS --

y THERE.ARE MANY

JO SAY WHAT WE
j Mute
BELIEVE WITH PRECISION) |AND TO JRE

THOSE WHO DON'T acnge/ ro Leave) (WHAT
THE PLC I$ PROPOSING/IN ITS PAPER IS
BOUNDARIES. )

MUDGE REMINDS US THAT ™4%8 VERY

Sa
HEART OF OUR THEOLOGICAL TRADITION: | THE
a a

PROTESTANT PRINCIPLE/IS THAT GOD ALONE
fata rar wrarncneererre

bs al

IS ABSOLUTE AND THAT EVERY THEOLOGY,

ECCLESIOGLOGY, MUST SUBMIT TO THE

CRITICAL INQUIRY OF SCRIPTURE AND THE
Sere. Ee

HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKING THROUGH SCRIPTURE.

WE'RE SUSPICIOUS WHEN ANYTHING GETS

“EVEN A PARTICULAR INTERPRETATION

OF SCRIPTURE,

~LuTH ~- RE-READ AND RE-
INTERPRETED ROMANS AND \ FOR THAT MATTER,
WPRETED. THAT_M

WENT ON RE-IMAGINE THE CHURCH,

COMMUNITY, gap. -|{ s0 RIRWIQHN CALVIN.

TV
C \ \o
mate yA

THE HOPEFUL OUTCOME IS THAT WE ARE

TAKING OUR THEOLOGY MORE SERIGUSLY.
“UNM, EER

LOTS OF PEOPLE CAME TO_PITTSBURGH IN

APRIL TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVES.

Snes re |

LOTS MORE CAME TO CINCINNATI BEFORE THE
G.A. TO DO THE SAME.

RE-~IMAGINING STIMULATED MORE

DISCUSSION OF ATONEMENT THAN AT ANY
ein atl
OTHER TIME IN THE PAST 100 YEARS.
IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE CHANGING AND

THAT ACROSS THE CHURCH PASTORS AND
a

PEOPLE ARE INVESTING MORE SUBSTANTIALLY

IN THE TASK OF DOING THEOLOGY.

My HOPE# FOR OUR CHURCH IS THAT THE

CENTER WILL FIND ITS yorcr, nor AS A

COMPROMISE BETWEEN VOCAL LEFT AND RIGHT,

Str 7
BUT AS THE steer (SUBSTANTIVE CORE OF

CONVICTIONS: .

IN THE MIDDLE, lhecarpess OF THE
at

Lene

ISSUE, sexuansry , ORDINATION,

al en TTT

REP 252 Nv AQWH, NrsszoNn POLIcy “+ [rHeRe

IS GREAT wrspom, \ Few DOCT@ALNAS

poszrzons,\ a WILLEINGNESS TO LISTEN AND

ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENCES, |AN ACCEPTANCE

OF DIVERSITY EVEN WHEN THAT DIVERSITY
[eo ee
CHALLENGES OUR_OWN cearanuxres, |anp AN
ABSENCE OF HARSHNESS, MEANNESS, AN
ABUNDANCE OF GENTLENESS. *CWI\LVTY «
AND ONE THING FURTHER --~ 4 OUT OF 5
al

ane
PRESBYTERIANS ...

— ~T

In 1993 A REPORT ON HUMAN SEXUALITY

CAME TO G.A. THAT GOT US IN EVERY
Sn)

——___

NEWSPAPER AND ON TELEVISION. \ IT GAVE

THE LEFT AND RIGHT_AN OPPORTUNITY TO

aaa

OPEN FIRE ~- WHICH THEY pxo. |\tue GA.
IN BALTIMORE WAS PACKED | TARO +

ALL-DAY CONVERSATION STARTED \ THE

MIDDLE FOUND ITS VOICE, oe GOT BORING | “

~ PRE$S LEFT. \ MAN SITTING BESIDE ME

a er el

THEN AN

SAID("ONLY PRESBYTERIANS CAN MAKE SEX

EE — —

UNINTERESTING.” | AND WE ARRIVED AT A

PLACE NEITHER LEFT OR RIGHT.

———

IN TERMS OF WHAT IS AHEAD + WHO
eee eelan

KNOWS ~~ BUT THE MIDDLE HAS TO STEP UP

— sy,

AND BE weaRD,\ THE LEFT AND RIGHT

ALREADY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE -~ AND IN

WHAT WAY THE OTHER SIDE IS MOWM@EEE. Ww Rone -—
7m

Peal

MY HOPE IS THAT THE CONVERSATION
—_—
INCLUDES MORE THAN 10 oR 20 PERCENT OF

mare x SS

How TO TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER WHEN

WE DISAGREE:

THERE ARE METHODS --

PASTORS QUGHT TO KNOW THEM AND
fos ancelaali
BECOME SKILLED USING THEM.

ONE DISTILLATION OF SUCH A METHOD

IS THE DOCUMENT WE PRODUCED:

SEEKING TO BE FAITHFUL TOGETHER a ? 6%

GUIDELINES FOR PRESBYTERIANS DURING

TIMES OF DISAGREEMENT.

CPrevty sasze AND SIMPLE STUFF>>

1. TREAT EACH OTHER RESPECTFULLY SO AS
—_—_——

FO BUILD TRUST, BELIEVING THAT WE ALL

DESIRE TO BE FAITHFUL TO JESUS CHRIST;

2. LEARN ABOUT VARIOUS POSITIONS ON
—aecnmeey

THE TOPIC OF DISAGREEMENT.

3. STATE WHAT WE_THINK WE HEARD AND

ASK FOR CLARIFICATION BEFORE RESPONDING,

EN AN EFFORT TO BE SURE WE UNDERSTAND

EACH OTHER.

4, SHARE OUR CONCERNS DIRECTLY WITH
INDIVIDUALS OR-GROUPS WITH WHOM WE HAVE
DISAGREEMENTS IN A SPIRIT OF LOVE AND

IN KEEPING WITH JESUS’ TEACHING.

5. FOCUS—ON.IDEAS-—AND SUGGESTIONS

INSTEAD OF QUESTIONING PEOPLE'S MOTIVES,

INTELLIGENCE OR INTEGRITY;

6. | SHARE OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF DISAGREEMENT SO

THAT OTHERS MAY MORE FULLY UNDERSTAND

OUR CONCERNS.

7. INDICATE WHERE WE AGREE WITH THOSE

OF OTHER VIEWPOINTS AS WELL AS WHERE WE

DISAGREE.

8. SEEK TO STAY IN COMMUNITY WITH EACH

OTHER THOUGH THE DISCUSSION MAY BE

VIGOROUS AND FULL OF TENSION;

9, FOLLOW THES AL GUIDELINES

WHEN WE MEET IN/DECI AKING BODIES:

10. INCLUDE OUR DISAGREEMENTS IN OUR
PRAYERS, NOT PRAYING FOR THE TRIUMPH OF
OUR VIEWPOINTS, BUT SEEKING GoD’S GRACE
TO LISTEN ATTENTIVELY, TO SPEAK CLEARLY,
AND TO REMAIN OPEN TO THE VISION Gop

HOLDS FOR US ALL.

A FINAL WORD ON METHODOLOGY -- WHEN THE

GOING GETS TOUGH Ca INCLUSIVE

Lan

CONVERSATION.

TwO DYNAMICS ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THE

baal

TOPIC YS CONTROVERSIAL.

- THE FEW WHO F DEEPEST, \OR TALK

FASTEST -1 DO ALL THE SPEAKING, \ THE REST
ele

S BACK AND ursten.\ SOMETIMES AFTER
a ————— ar Na,

ET ,

THE MEETING FEND THEMSELVES WONDERING
on.

WHY THEY DIDN'T SPEAK UP.

we ——

START TO arcue.| Now WHEN YOU'RE IN AN
~/
ARGUMENT, YOU LISTEN TO YOUR OPPONENT

ONLY _INSOFAR AS YOU HAVE TQ_IN ORDER TO

PREPARE YOUR NEXT THRUST, S ALO

SOMETIMES BOTH OF THOSE DYNAMICS
a el

OCCUR IN THE FIRST 10 SECONDS OF THE
: ees

DISCUSSION.

THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE + T CALL

IT AN INCLUSIVE CONVERSATION.

-- ALL PARTICIPATE, [ALL LISTEN
ee,

GROUND RULES:

——

(“ Cnaze or MODERATOR SAYS:

( "THIS IS VERY rwpontans,| I1 IS CRITICAL

THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THIS GROUP KNOW

WHAT EVERY OTHER MEMBER IS THINKING.

Cir IE

So, LET'S GO AROUND THE TABLE -- AND

ewe tl

EACH PERSON, IN ORDER, WILL SAY WHAT

L seinen be eee!

HE/SHE WANTS TO SAY {wat HE/SHE IS
m,,,

Pp)
FEELING AND THINKING RIGHT NOW asour weal

ISSUE AND ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS A GROUP.

La]

WE’LL CHALLENGE AND ARGUE LATER.

$62.now -- PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT EACH
eee Cy

SAYS:

WE DID IT SEVERAL TIMES AT WICHITA

~- ONCE TO BEGIN to GET EVERYBODY'S
PRECONCEPTIONS OUT.
Li

AND LATER, AT A CRITICAL TIME,

Fae

AFTER WE HAD LISTENED TO 112 \WITNZ35¢ >

AND 10 MAJOR SPEAKERS.

WE WENT AROUND THE TABLE ~~ IT TOOK

erry

2 HQURS -- AND EACH SPOKE.

neem MARTIN (Sus UB Elesays SOMEWHERE THAT

THERE ARE LEVELS OF CONVERSALTON@E., Ner TNTERPERSOMAL
Tovicavies —

PERSONAE-DISCOURSE.

a EXCHANGE oF(ZDEAS >
=> EXCHANGE OF one ‘ eer
ene

BUT THERE IS ALSO eee

PEAKER_ IN A DIEFERENT PLACE

“TRANSFORMING
BrAlo6Ue

shea SHUNES

AFTERWARD , I.E., TR

—_

THAT HAPPENED --\r7 CAN HAPPEN \-
a, ie
PERHAPS IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AROUND THE

ISSUES FACING_US.

My SUGGESTION IS THAT WE HAVE AN

intel

INCLUSIVE Convensarzon{ Woh, JanouNo EACH

TABLE.

THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS BEFORE US -

beset a a]

-~ AND THEY WILL HAVE A WAY OF BECOMING

ONE.
C1 itnas ARE MY HOPES FOR THE PC(USA)?

(=> WHERE AM I ON THE QUESTION OF THE
CY —le

2?
ORDAINING OF GAY AND LESBIAN PERSONS!
I WOULD ASK YOU EACH TO PARTICIPATE
‘Sade
“~~ EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE NOTHING TO
— —_
SAY <~ lore YOUR MOUTH AND START

es rt

TALKING.

AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RISK BEING HONEST

~~ WHEREVER, YOU ARE -~ WHATFVER

EXPERTENCE HAS FORMED YOU, PLEASE SAY

—

RS @ wcmber At PCO,

as a Chrishau Wh las *
sexu el (dew 4h, ORimnare } Wo fee
Wat even Corsiz four dirs cboupt

\ Wuuser v2 GA i
ruin a Wouse.| Pome & HL

IT.

f\we - -- pLEASE LISTEN ACTIVELY,

LEAN INTO THIS CONVERSATION, OPEN YOUR

EYES AND EARS AND HEARTS.

ie —_——_

uae be open fy WA Aras
apie A G4 Wee
do pew LB ae

a dren ¥ ¢ parte pews ,
Charo UA

AND I WILL SET IT UP,

SOT HAT ALL OTHER OPLES MAY SEEK
THE LorD --
EVEN ALL THE GENTILES OVER WHOM MY

NAME HAS BEEN CALLED,

/ says THE LoRD, WHO HAS BEEN

MAKIN# THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG

THEREFORE, I HAVE REACHED THE
DECISION THAT WE SHOULD NOT TROUBLE THOSE
GENTILES WHO ARE TURNING TO GOD, BUT WE
SHOULD WRITE TO THEM TO ABSTAIN ONLY FROM
THINGS POLLUTED BY IDOLS AND’ FROM
FORNICATION AND FROM WHATEVER HAS BEEN

af
STRANGLED AND FROM BLOOD.

Own Pad AW stury— Wis

storm or least a\Aevel dh.
Chr \hua Souk ee F m

eyLM Greuir> ty fr ol OUD Urs.

View the original scan on the Internet Archive →
Original file: Sermons/1995/102195 Pres of Mackin.pdf

John M. Buchanan

Pres of Mackin