COVENANT NETWORK

September 19, 1997
Fourth Presbyterian Church

Welcome to Chicago and Fourth
Presbyterian Church and on behalf of Bob Bohl,
thank you for being here to launch the Covenant

Network of Presbyterians.

From June 29, 1996 until June 14, 1997, it
was my privilege to serve as Moderator of the
208" General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.). It was the honor of my life.

The year included the requisite travel
overseas to bring greetings and encouragement
to Presbyterian Mission partners and personnel
and, of course, extensive travel within the
United States.

t will never forget the daily experience of
the vitality of this church. In the midst of all the

handwringing about the demise of the mainline
and our continuing membership decline, | kept
encountering faithful Presbyterian people

engaged in creative ministries of proclamation,

compassion, justice, peace-making.

| encountered and experienced a church
that has managed to include a rich theological
diversity over the years: a church that is home
to self-affirming liberals and conservatives and

lots and lots of people who live in the center.

| encountered and experienced, daily, a
deep affection, a love for the Presbyterian
Church that transcends ideology or respective

positions on this or that.

And so, everywhere | went, | talked about
unity — about the fact that as | read the First
Letter of Paul to the Corinthians and the Letter
to Ephesians the unity of the church, in spite of

its diversity, is one of the gifts of the Spirit: that

there is an evangelical imperative about unity:
that we are called, in the name and for the sake

of Jesus Christ, to hold on to one another.

Everywhere | went | encountered people
whose deep commitments to a particular
position on what was then called Amendment B
and is now part of the Book of Order, was more
important than anything else which seemed to
be defining the shape and nature of the church
and the church’s mission. And so, | was taken
to task, vigorously, by opponents of Amendment
B who told me my silence — my refusal to
condemn the Amendment as sinful and unjust
and exclusive — was cowardly and shameful.
And | was taken to task, vigorously, by
proponents who told me my personal position
and my refusal to condemn those who were
opposing the Amendment before and after it
was approved by a majority of presbyteries,

was unfaithful to my office.

And everywhere | went | encountered men
and women, on both sides, who were and are
concerned about their church, its unity and
health and prospects. “Teil us that we’ll be all

right,” they said.

1 did not expect to be here. | did not
expect Amendment A. | expected that if | had
any role at all in a post-moderatorial year, it
would be to try to convince my brothers and
sisters who were opposed to Amendment B that
we could find a way to live with it: that our
church would always attempt to honor the faith
positions of conscience of its members and
officers and congregations. My file of
responses to letters from Presbyterian pastors,
elders, deacons and members threatening to
quit because of Amendment B — my attempt to
persuade them to stay — is the thickest file in the
drawer. I’m still receiving them and I’m still

answering them.

What | did not anticipate was the heat of
the rhetoric. | have been accused of
manipulating the Assembly, scripting the
preachers — including Fred Buechner and
Joanna Adams. Can you imagine what Joanna
would say if you tried to script her? And from
friends who | respect and love, | have heard

objections to my role in this new endeavor.

So let me be clear. Unapologetic, but
clear. [| did not expect to be here. | do not
particularly want to be here — although it is
good to see each of you. | have my hands quite
full as pastor of this church which is what ! love
to be and to do.

iam here because | believe what
happened at the 209" Assembly was not only
surprising and unexpected, but a way out of the
divide — which, regardless of the Presbyterian
plurality, exists in our church, in many

congregations and sessions. I’m here because |

believe the new Amendment gives us a chance
to live together as brothers and sisters in
Christ. I’m here for the same reason | ran for
Moderator — namely because | believe the new
Amendment says a good and right and morai
word and at the same time extends to one
another the gentieness and forbearance, the

humility and love of Jesus.

Paul wrote,

“| beg you to lead a life worthy of the
calling to which you have been called, with all
humility and gentleness, with patience, learning
with one another in love, making every effort to
maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of

peace.”

i’d like now to introduce members of the

Executive Committee and National Committee.

Thank you for being here: for investing
your time and resources and your hope. I’m
particularly grateful to the Reverend Gerry
Anderson, pastor of Glen Ellyn Presbyterian
Church, who will speak for the Coalition: his
presence is important. I know Gerry to be

thoughtful, articulate, a friend in ministry.

May God bless our time together. May
God use ail of us - for the strengthening and the

unity of the church.

INTRODUCE:

Joanna Adams, Trinity

Eugene Bay, Bryn Mawr