I read with gratitude and thankfulness about the recent decisions issued February 11 by the GAPJC over ordination standards. 2 years after PUP, and many cases later that tested its scope, the GAPJC has ruled that no ordaining body (session or presbytery) has the right to ordain a candidate who is in violation of constitutional standards, including the "Fidelity and Chastity" standard expressed in the Book of Order (G-6.0106b). With these new GAPJC rulings, standards for ordination in the PC(USA) continue to reflect the clear teaching of Scripture on issues of sexual conduct and the plain meaning of our constitution. Praise God!
This is clearly what I and others have been saying all along: the PUP report and the scruples allowed do NOT extend to behavior, however, it has always been obvious no one understood that. There was so much fuzziness on how to apply this report. I was one of over 25 pastors who objected publicly to the PUP report and this was why. Now we have been redeemed. And so has the PC(USA) in this matter.
After PUP came out, as a member of CPM, and in my discussion with the former Moderator of our presbytery's CPM about this issue, I vehemently but in love argued with him in several calls, emails and blogs of the necessity to examine behavior AND belief in light of PUP. I was told we should not go there unless we had reason to. We handled the examinations simply by asking if the candidate had any scruples with any of the standards, without really talking about what the standards are. We did conduct an extensive review of the "essentials of reformed faith," but never launched a discussion together as an examining body about standards of conduct on sexual behaviors. Therefore we had no standard to agree upon. And I'm sure there are those on CPM past and present, who have lobbied against the fidelity and chastity standard. Some on the committee know of churches who have violated the standard. Some have turned blind eyes to it themselves. Shame on us. Shame on me. I should have brought it up. But I didn't.
I was a coward to lay myself out in front of my brothers and sisters over this - many of my colleagues were being thrown in the pit over it. I confess, I have been a wimp in my presbytery, which has not been graceful in its confrontations. So I am grateful to have the GAPJC now on my side of the fence with many, many others who have struggled for a voice on this matter. Maybe I'll have the courage to speak up in love now and question the candidates on behavior and on their pastoral care to sexually broken people. A pastor needs to pastor to this brokenness, not shove it under the rug. I want colleagues in ministry who love the broken among us, and still have the courage to stand for holiness when confronted with sexual - call it what it is - SIN. Apparently the GAPJC agrees, even if they can't use the word, sin.
I'l take it as they ruled. Thanks be to our Holy God for these holy decisions.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
First Thoughts Daily Scriptures February 12, 2008
Morning: Psalm 146:1-10
Genesis 37:12-24
1 Corinthians 1:20-31
Mark 1:14-28
Evening: Psalm 91:1-16
Everything you want to know about the evil side of human nature you can see play out on the playground of any school in the world: watching bullies pick on the little guys, who were minding their own business. My kids all had some sort of encounter with bullies. Sometimes, they were the victim. Other times their friends were. In every case, everyone was afraid of them. So most kids watched the tactics play out from behind the fence until a teacher broke it up - maybe.
But once in awhile, a kid like Rueben in the Joseph story, would risk the wrath of the bully, and talk him into backing down, and some terrified kid was spared from a bloody nose or worse. Until the next time...
Bullies come in all sizes, shapes and entities. People, systems, institutions, governments, groups. Whenever the stronger wields power over the weak for the good of the strong, you have a bully in your midst. The so-calIed strong by position, or knowledge, in number, wealth, popularity. The strong who have claimed position and dug in, gathering others to stay behind them, lest he turn on them. Strong who draw lines in the sand for self-protection. Joseph in the Genesis account was the brother who tried to cross the line and initiate reconciliation in hope and love, but the brothers were plotting his death. And ALL his brothers were responsible for his plight - even the ones who remained silent. Sounds familiar.
I can't help but think of all that's happening on the PC(USA) play ground right now: churches and sessions and ministers are getting thrown in the pit to be left for dead by their own brothers and sisters, for minding their business, and following their conscience, for trying to uphold what is good and pure and holy against the waywardness within the family. Bullied into complying with a broken system that alienates them, with administrative commissions made up their brothers and sisters who have spent more energy and time plotting evil than reaching out. Losing their property, their sessions and their voice as they shout from the bottom of the pit for help and no one is listening.
That's how I see it - watching from behind the fence with others who have yet to speak up and really take on the bullying. I call it bullying because I am uneasy - yes I guess I can say afraid of some of my brothers and sisters. I guess you could call this blog, my fence. How sad is that?
And then I am encouraged by Paul's reminder in I Corinthians today: 26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
And in the gospel I meet the apostles Peter and Andrew, James and John behind my fence and we show each other our empty nets. Every last one of the disciples LEFT EVERYTHING behind as they followed Jesus:their livelihood, family, any position they had in the community. Property. Gone. And with that, Jesus told them HE would remove any unclean spirits from their midst. Jesus will reduce whatever is to what is not - and lift up the lowly. I am praying that those of you in the pit or behind the fence will find comfort and strength, for the Lord is with you. And me.
God will pull us from the pit. God promised to take care of us, with or without property or sessions or ordination. God's Kingdom is bigger than the denomination and God will deliver us from all that, if it is his will. God promised peace, unity and purity under the shadow of HIS wings, when the shadow of the church's polity becomes ominous. And God will remove the evil spirits from our midst.
Psalm 91:4Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. 15When they call to me, I will answer them;I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.16With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
Genesis 37:12-24
1 Corinthians 1:20-31
Mark 1:14-28
Evening: Psalm 91:1-16
Everything you want to know about the evil side of human nature you can see play out on the playground of any school in the world: watching bullies pick on the little guys, who were minding their own business. My kids all had some sort of encounter with bullies. Sometimes, they were the victim. Other times their friends were. In every case, everyone was afraid of them. So most kids watched the tactics play out from behind the fence until a teacher broke it up - maybe.
But once in awhile, a kid like Rueben in the Joseph story, would risk the wrath of the bully, and talk him into backing down, and some terrified kid was spared from a bloody nose or worse. Until the next time...
Bullies come in all sizes, shapes and entities. People, systems, institutions, governments, groups. Whenever the stronger wields power over the weak for the good of the strong, you have a bully in your midst. The so-calIed strong by position, or knowledge, in number, wealth, popularity. The strong who have claimed position and dug in, gathering others to stay behind them, lest he turn on them. Strong who draw lines in the sand for self-protection. Joseph in the Genesis account was the brother who tried to cross the line and initiate reconciliation in hope and love, but the brothers were plotting his death. And ALL his brothers were responsible for his plight - even the ones who remained silent. Sounds familiar.
I can't help but think of all that's happening on the PC(USA) play ground right now: churches and sessions and ministers are getting thrown in the pit to be left for dead by their own brothers and sisters, for minding their business, and following their conscience, for trying to uphold what is good and pure and holy against the waywardness within the family. Bullied into complying with a broken system that alienates them, with administrative commissions made up their brothers and sisters who have spent more energy and time plotting evil than reaching out. Losing their property, their sessions and their voice as they shout from the bottom of the pit for help and no one is listening.
That's how I see it - watching from behind the fence with others who have yet to speak up and really take on the bullying. I call it bullying because I am uneasy - yes I guess I can say afraid of some of my brothers and sisters. I guess you could call this blog, my fence. How sad is that?
And then I am encouraged by Paul's reminder in I Corinthians today: 26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
And in the gospel I meet the apostles Peter and Andrew, James and John behind my fence and we show each other our empty nets. Every last one of the disciples LEFT EVERYTHING behind as they followed Jesus:their livelihood, family, any position they had in the community. Property. Gone. And with that, Jesus told them HE would remove any unclean spirits from their midst. Jesus will reduce whatever is to what is not - and lift up the lowly. I am praying that those of you in the pit or behind the fence will find comfort and strength, for the Lord is with you. And me.
God will pull us from the pit. God promised to take care of us, with or without property or sessions or ordination. God's Kingdom is bigger than the denomination and God will deliver us from all that, if it is his will. God promised peace, unity and purity under the shadow of HIS wings, when the shadow of the church's polity becomes ominous. And God will remove the evil spirits from our midst.
Psalm 91:4Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. 15When they call to me, I will answer them;I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.16With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
One last thing. Pray for the bullies. God also seeks them to come under the shadow of His wings. It is only there that God can reconcile us all.
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