tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229812562024-03-12T20:21:55.216-07:00Full Court PresbyCritical look at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger435125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-7790769135659077562009-12-01T08:38:00.001-08:002009-12-01T08:38:33.539-08:00Thank you!Dear Readers,<br />Thank you for following this blog. Within the next twelve months I will be involved in a “project” that is in a country that is VERY unfriendly to Jesus’ followers and any type of evangelism effort is against the law. This “project” is with a previously “unreached” people group. There have been a couple of people who have given their lives to Jesus as a result of this project. So that my presence will not hind this important Kingdom work, I will be deleting the content of any of my church-related blogs. All blog content will be deleted before January 1, 2010.<br /><br />I pray that you will draw close to Jesus this Advent.<br /><br />Additionally, please pray for the efforts to reach the wonderful folks of this people group. <br /><br />God’s blessings upon you!!<br /><br />LanceUnknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-45519495418146030762008-12-23T08:57:00.000-08:002008-12-23T09:02:35.750-08:00Preparing for Christmas in a “winter-wonderland.”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SVEZoLCG7TI/AAAAAAAAAlA/gUpjoACKQwg/s1600-h/DSC_0316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SVEZoLCG7TI/AAAAAAAAAlA/gUpjoACKQwg/s320/DSC_0316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283032015829396786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SVEZnrbK65I/AAAAAAAAAk4/3X_xuA2EPyw/s1600-h/DSC_0240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SVEZnrbK65I/AAAAAAAAAk4/3X_xuA2EPyw/s320/DSC_0240.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283032007344581522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SVEZnGJIedI/AAAAAAAAAkw/Qb7dgdmN_ls/s1600-h/DSC_0050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SVEZnGJIedI/AAAAAAAAAkw/Qb7dgdmN_ls/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283031997336811986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SVEZmwtWx7I/AAAAAAAAAko/1LOs6tL-EY4/s1600-h/DSC_0135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SVEZmwtWx7I/AAAAAAAAAko/1LOs6tL-EY4/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283031991583164338" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Parkland Rave, Penhill Watermellon, Pinelands Pixie, and Powder Gull. Check out my dahlia web site (<a href="http://thedahliaguy.com/">The Dahlia Guy</a>) for the complete set of photos and more dahlia information.<br /><br />Western Washington is under an unprecedented layer of snow and ice. The airport is filled with people that have had their flight canceled-Christmas hopes and dreams are on hold. Gas stations are running out of the “stuff” that our cars run on. Power has been out. <br /><br />Our family is experiencing the travel crunch. Our daughter will finally make it home tomorrow (Christmas Eve day) from the mission field in the Sahara Desert after getting caught in the airline “mess” with her connecting flight here in the US. My dad will arrive on Christmas afternoon-another weather casualty. Oh well, everyone is safe and we will have a great celebration of the Savior’s birth.<br /><br />Flexibility is the name of the game.<br /><br />Our church is located just off of state highway 161—just before the top of a LARGE hill. The small “street” that leads to our parking lot is steep, steep, steep. This past week, cars with studded tires couldn’t make it up the hill. Those that did make it up (four wheel drive vehicles) had to worry about the descent of the hill and being able to stop before sliding out onto the highway. Events have had to be rescheduled or canceled due to safety concerns.<br /><br />It is suppose to snow tonight and tomorrow morning—Christmas Eve day. It will turn to rain by mid day and freeze before Christmas Eve worship.<br /><br />The barn where we hold our late-night service is just a half mile from the church. A four wheel drive vehicle is currently needed to negotiate the road into the barn and the parking area. It is going to be a mess on Christmas Eve.<br /><br />Mary and Joseph experienced a “mess” on that first Christmas. I cannot even imagine what the trip to Bethlehem would have been like for a pregnant Mary. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to give birth in a barn—away from immediate family and friends. Flexibility was the name of the game.<br /><br />We will have a great Christmas—even if we have to “alter” our original worship and family plans. We are celebrating the birth of our Savior! Praise be to God! Emmanuel—God with us!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-45489357122719491652008-12-10T09:38:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:26:54.128-08:00“Out of the box” thinking needed—part 3.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SUAJ4595etI/AAAAAAAAAkg/2RHe3rK7QbE/s1600-h/DSC_0036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SUAJ4595etI/AAAAAAAAAkg/2RHe3rK7QbE/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278229636515986130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SUAJ4QmUEXI/AAAAAAAAAkY/V5L4uSB6eWk/s1600-h/DSC_0156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SUAJ4QmUEXI/AAAAAAAAAkY/V5L4uSB6eWk/s320/DSC_0156.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278229625411211634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SUAJ4HD0yZI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/sKSoIGuKRy0/s1600-h/DSC_0098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SUAJ4HD0yZI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/sKSoIGuKRy0/s320/DSC_0098.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278229622850636178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SUAJ3tDmXLI/AAAAAAAAAkI/iVRLoBLyAek/s1600-h/DSC_0235.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SUAJ3tDmXLI/AAAAAAAAAkI/iVRLoBLyAek/s320/DSC_0235.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278229615870368946" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Narrow’s Tricia, Nanakazi, Oretti Adele and Pam Howden. Check out my dahlia web site (<a href="http://thedahliaguy.com/">The Dahlia Guy</a>) for the complete set of photos and more dahlia information.<br /><br />This series of posts is looking at creative ideas for meeting the needs of those in, and around, our congregations and communities during these difficult economic times. The ideas I have suggested to this point are:<br />• Idea #1: Host a community garden at the church.<br />• Idea #2: Free lunches for seniors two or three times a week.<br /><br />The third idea came from an observation from our Thanksgiving dinner delivery team. We work through a local, high need, elementary school. The school sends out a notice that there is assistance available for families in need. Families respond to the school with information on the family: number of people, ages and what the kids would like for Christmas. Our delivery teams noticed a new tendency—families sharing housing during these difficult economic times. Homes where we expected one parent with two kids might have had another parent (a sibling, for example) move in with his, or her, children. This living situation makes it cheaper for both families. This brings me to idea #3.<br /><br />Idea #3: shared housing.<br /><br />Lavern and Shirley (fictitious names representing real people) were two elderly women at Evergreen when I was first called to be the pastor of the church. These elderly ladies each lived in mobile homes and had very little in the way of money. Lavern had recently moved into a “new” double-wide mobile home because her son and moved in with her. Finances were still very tight. Shirley began to have some “balance” issues—she fell a couple of times. Things were getting to the point where Shirley could not live alone—she could not afford to move into a retirement home. Lavern and Shirley came up with the idea of shared housing. Shirley helped out with the payment on the mobile home; Lavern helped Shirley with things some things that she could not do on her own. The living situation worked well until Shirley’s health took a serious turn for the worse and she had to move into a nursing home.<br /><br />Shared housing could be one way of coping with these challenging financial times. Our churches have people that have “empty” rooms in their homes. Maybe, just maybe, these rooms could be opened up to those in the church family that are in need. Many seniors live by themselves in larger houses. Is it possible that they could share their housing with a friend in need?<br /><br />Just a thought.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-91531789561897853932008-12-09T08:27:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:38:09.361-08:00“Out of the box” thinking needed—part 2.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/ST6di-JbxoI/AAAAAAAAAkA/-m3R-hsFdCw/s1600-h/DSC_0245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/ST6di-JbxoI/AAAAAAAAAkA/-m3R-hsFdCw/s320/DSC_0245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277829037448480386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/ST6dhGCElhI/AAAAAAAAAj4/FAA_C-ADP1o/s1600-h/DSC_0135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/ST6dhGCElhI/AAAAAAAAAj4/FAA_C-ADP1o/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277829005205345810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/ST6dgDTOttI/AAAAAAAAAjw/U3OqFJDYc8I/s1600-h/DSC_0577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/ST6dgDTOttI/AAAAAAAAAjw/U3OqFJDYc8I/s320/DSC_0577.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277828987292137170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/ST6debAcVRI/AAAAAAAAAjo/vpitSq_Xtqc/s1600-h/DSC_0166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/ST6debAcVRI/AAAAAAAAAjo/vpitSq_Xtqc/s320/DSC_0166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277828959296050450" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Mingus Tony, Miss Rose Fletcher, Ms Kennedy and Nanna’s Kiss. Check out my dahlia web site (<a href="http://thedahliaguy.com/">The Dahlia Guy</a>) for the complete set of photos and more dahlia information.<br /><br />After taking some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday---I’m back!<br /><br />“Lance’s Lectern” is my column in our church’s monthly newsletter. My December column was very different than a “typical” December column. Yes, I did comment on Advent and Christmas. Yet, the bulk of the column was about the current economic crisis in America (and the world). It has been said that “the cream rises to the top.” Now is the time for Christ’s followers (and the church) to step up and make a difference.<br /><br />What can Christ’s followers and his church be doing to assist the folks in our communities that are hurting. “Out-of-the-box” thinking is encouraged! This is a time for brainstorming—no negative comments about suggestions will be tolerated! (Note: I know that people all around the world need assistance—right now I am just focusing on our neighbors.)<br /><br />Idea #2—Free lunches for seniors two or three times a week. Children from lower income families receive free or reduced lunches and breakfasts at school. There is no senior center (or any other organization) offering free lunches for seniors. You may ask, “Why free lunches?” or, “Why for seniors?” Many seniors are on fixed incomes. Many others have had their retirement accounts decimated in the past few months. Senior are being faced with buying food or paying for heat. Offering free lunches for seniors will address both of these needs—food and heat!<br /><br />What are your ideas?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-32772889404543342492008-12-03T09:24:00.000-08:002008-12-03T09:29:29.513-08:00“Out of the box” thinking needed!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/STbB7vtDhYI/AAAAAAAAAjE/4AbWO09gQy8/s1600-h/DSC_0060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/STbB7vtDhYI/AAAAAAAAAjE/4AbWO09gQy8/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275617245672998274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/STbB7fFNZbI/AAAAAAAAAi8/P_THVHrzvzk/s1600-h/DSC_0399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/STbB7fFNZbI/AAAAAAAAAi8/P_THVHrzvzk/s320/DSC_0399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275617241210906034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/STbB65EYC6I/AAAAAAAAAi0/w5SH4MrdTtY/s1600-h/DSC_0598.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/STbB65EYC6I/AAAAAAAAAi0/w5SH4MrdTtY/s320/DSC_0598.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275617231006862242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/STbB6k70AeI/AAAAAAAAAis/xaZaQBAaAro/s1600-h/DSC_0127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/STbB6k70AeI/AAAAAAAAAis/xaZaQBAaAro/s320/DSC_0127.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275617225602236898" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Kream Kerkrade, Lilac Time, Markie Re, and Midnight Moon. Check out my dahlia web site (<a href="http://thedahliaguy.com/">The Dahlia Guy</a>) for the complete set of photos and more dahlia information.<br /><br />After taking some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday---I’m back!<br /><br />“Lance’s Lectern” is my column in our church’s monthly newsletter. My December column was very different than a “typical” December column. Yes, I did comment on Advent and Christmas. Yet, the bulk of the column was about the current economic crisis in America (and the world). It has been said that “the cream rises to the top.” Now is the time for Christ’s followers (and the church) to step up and make a difference.<br /><br />Each region of the country has its own economic challenges. However, there are some things that remain the same. They are:<br />• Lines at food banks are longer than they have been in years.<br />• Retirees are going back to work because their retirement funds have been decimated.<br />• Food bank shelves are very bare—donations are down.<br />• Ministries and agencies that help people who are behind in paying bills are strained to critical levels.<br />• Businesses are laying off employees.<br />• Restaurants are empty.<br />• The list goes on and on and on.<br /><br />Evergreen is helping more families than ever for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We get our “families” from a local school. The kids all receive free or reduced breakfasts and lunches due to family income level. For Christmas, we provide at Christmas dinner, presents for everyone in the family and food for breakfasts, lunches and some dinners for the entire school break. It is a HUGE project! It is worth every penny that it costs. Yet, this is not enough—it should be just the beginning.<br /><br />The time has come for our churches to begin thinking outside of the box. How are we going to meet the ever expanding needs in our community?<br /><br />There are two fronts that we need to be aware of. These fronts are:<br />• Front #1: People in our congregation—There are people in our congregations that are struggling financially. We need to provide a safe setting where people can freely talk about their current economic situation. We need to let them know that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. The book of Acts is filled with examples of Christ’s followers selling their possessions to help other believers who are in need. These passages should cause us to ask, “What can I do to help the needy who are in my church?”<br />• Front #2: People in my community—Each of our communities is filled with people who are struggling financially. Some of these folks have never been in such a position before. These folks need a social safety net at a time when such services are overwhelmed. The Bible is filled with calls to assist those in need. These passages should cause us to ask, “What can I do to help the needy in my community?”<br /><br />This week I would like this blog to be a place for people to post their “ideas” for how to make a difference. “Out-of-the-box” thinking is encouraged! This is a time for brainstorming—no negative comments about suggestions will be tolerated!<br /><br />Idea #1 from Evergreen—We are going to host a free community garden this year. A family in our church has a small business (three greenhouses) that sells flowers and vegetable plants. Last spring they sold out of their entire supply of vegetable plants. People who never had a garden were longing to learn how to grow and preserve their own food. Most of these folks were wishing to do this for economic reasons. We are planning on setting aside a portion of our property for the garden. Our local water company is providing the water line and meter (free of charge) so that we will have water for the garden. We will offer classes on gardening and food preservation.<br /><br />More ideas in the coming days.<br /><br />What are your ideas?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-43742068271805457442008-11-21T09:23:00.000-08:002008-11-21T09:28:12.714-08:00Presbytery Approves New Discernment Process!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSbvpGTX1AI/AAAAAAAAAbo/U40yrjH9Vnw/s1600-h/DSC_0378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSbvpGTX1AI/AAAAAAAAAbo/U40yrjH9Vnw/s320/DSC_0378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271163903229285378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSbvo3i6jSI/AAAAAAAAAbg/TO2iOFP76hU/s1600-h/DSC_0367.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSbvo3i6jSI/AAAAAAAAAbg/TO2iOFP76hU/s320/DSC_0367.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271163899267943714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSbvohDn9LI/AAAAAAAAAbY/G91pbqGje7k/s1600-h/DSC_0641.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSbvohDn9LI/AAAAAAAAAbY/G91pbqGje7k/s320/DSC_0641.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271163893231121586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSbvoB9I_6I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/cWxOniohdBo/s1600-h/DSC_0309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSbvoB9I_6I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/cWxOniohdBo/s320/DSC_0309.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271163884882427810" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Kelvin Floodlight, Kenora Spirit, Kenora Wow and Kidd’s Climax.<br /><br />The Presbytery of Olympia approved the following policy document at yesterday’s presbytery meeting. This was the second “reading” of the document. The task force is still looking at writing a fourth section that will deal nets-and-bolts of the process for departure.<br /><br />Following the document I will briefly comment on some aspects of the meeting.<br /><br /><br /><br />DISCERNING GOD’S LEADING TOGETHER<br />Presbytery of Olympia<br />Discernment and process for Presbytery and Congregations <br />Considering Withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church (USA)<br />PREAMBLE: As we consider issues of denominational affiliation, we recognize and affirm that our indivisible unity is dependent upon our relationship through the Lordship of Jesus Christ, not the result of voluntary association (see also Book of Order, G-4.0200, the unity of the church).<br />SECTION ONE --- DISCERNMENT<br /> Consideration by presbyteries and congregations of a church’s withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PC(USA)) must begin with agreement upon principles of discernment. Spiritual discernment is a focused effort to sort out the will of God, distinguishing God’s Spirit from other spirits that may be influencing us, such as the spirit of tradition, legalism, anger, loyalty, self-will or control. Discernment of God’s Spirit requires intentional prayer, careful study, and deep listening to God and to each other. <br /><br />Let us be led by the words of St. Paul: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1-5) <br /><br /> We, the members of the Presbytery of Olympia, will seek to honor Jesus Christ, Scripture, the Book of Confessions, and the Book of Order through respectful process and open dialogue. The premise upon which our process is built is that when we approach discernment together with intentionality, sincerity, openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and through the authority of the Word of God, the will of God will be revealed. <br /> Discerning God’s Leading Together guides congregations and the Presbytery, working in partnership, toward answering the questions, “Is God leading this particular congregation to disaffiliate from the PC(USA)?” And if so, “how can that be accomplished in a way that honors Christ’s mission in the world and that seeks to strengthen both the congregation and the Presbytery”?<br /> The ultimate goal of the Presbytery will be to discern whether God is calling a congregation to reconciliation and continued relationship with the PC(USA), or to withdrawal from the denomination. This discernment will be accomplished in a spirit of pastoral consideration, not by formal confrontation. The following process outlines the principles we will use as a presbytery, and that will be used by our congregations, to respond to situations where our congregations are considering withdrawal from the PC(USA). <br /> We will seek to respect both freedom of conscience and the essentials of Reformed Faith and polity as expressed in The Book of Confessions and the “Form of Government,” subject always to Scripture and the movement of the Spirit. We will work in good faith toward a mutually agreeable solution, but ultimately the decision reached through this process should reflect what would best serve not ourselves, but the cause of Christ.<br />SECTION TWO --- STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES<br />1. Faithful departures. A congregation discerning that it must leave the PC(USA) may be faithfully following the will of God for that particular church body. <br />2. Commitment to avoid litigation. In fulfillment of Resolution 04-28, adopted by the 218th General Assembly, we recognize that the exercise of the process to “divide, dismiss, or dissolve churches in consultation with their members” (Book of Order, G-11.0103), if accomplished by litigation, “is deadly to the cause of Christ . . . and our witness to Christ in the world around us.” Therefore we will carefully follow the principles of consistency, pastoral responsibility, accountability, gracious witness, openness and transparency.<br /><br />3. Open Communication. We affirm the right of Pastors and Elders to discuss options for responding to the actions of the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly.<br />4. “Early entry” conversations. Pastors and/or Sessions which begin intentional and sustained discussions about separation from PC(USA) will invite Presbytery participation through the General Presbyter and the Care Team representative, or other Committee on Ministry designee. The General Presbyter would also be expected to make pastoral contact with any congregation that is understood to be struggling with its future in the PC(USA).<br /><br />5. Congregational Gatherings. Whenever any congregational gatherings involving withdrawal considerations are held, Presbytery representatives will be invited to participate and speak.<br /><br />6. Presbytery teams. To ensure adequate communication between the particular church and the Presbytery, teams will be formed as needed. These are as follows:<br /><br />A. For the Discernment Process (Section Three) a Discernment Team will be formed, comprised of balanced representation from the affected congregation and COM appointees [representation detailed in Section Three]. The Discernment Team will assist and support the congregation as it discerns the future of its affiliation with the PC(USA) and will ensure that the Council is apprised of ongoing conversations and discernment. People trained in conflict resolution will be available throughout the process. <br />B. If the process proceeds to final negotiations over terms of separation, the Presbytery shall elect an Administrative Commission as its representative, with clearly defined responsibilities established by vote of the Presbytery. COM is encouraged to nominate members of the Discernment Team to be considered for the Administrative Commission. <br /><br />7. Presbytery – congregation contacts. Presbytery has a responsibility to ensure that all active members of a congregation are involved in any discernment process.<br /><br />8. Commitment to negotiate. If a congregation and its leadership faithfully follow this policy and reach the conclusion that separation from the PC(USA) is the will of God, then the Session and Presbytery will negotiate in good faith to reach a fair, just and reasonable dismissal agreement.<br /><br />9. Trust clause. All property in the PC(USA) is held in trust for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (Book of Order, G-8.0201). Decisions about property will be made around future ministry and mission concerns for both the congregation seeking dismissal and the PC(USA).<br /><br />10. Faithfulness to past members’ intentions. <br /><br />11. Media contacts. Presbytery and the Session will work together to create a media plan, designating who will provide information to the media from the Presbytery and the Session, and committing to work in concert on such contacts in order to maintain a witness to Christ in the world.<br /><br />12. Case-by-case application of principles. This policy establishes principles for discernment in situations where withdrawal from the PC(USA) is being considered. Each situation will be uniquely addressed on its own merits, using the principles set forth in this policy.<br /><br />13. Book of Order. This policy is expressly subject to all existing provisions of the Book of Order. No statement herein may be interpreted to contradict any specific provision of the Book of Order. Further, in the event that the principles stated in this policy are not being followed, Presbytery may invoke other Book of Order process as needed.<br /><br /><br />SECTION THREE --- DISCERNMENT PROCESS<br /><br />1. Pastor(s) or Session(s) of congregation(s) which are considering the possibility of separation from the PC(USA) are encouraged to pray and openly discuss with one another the issues confronting their individual congregation. When they begin intentional and sustained conversations concerning separation, they shall meet with the General Presbyter and a representative appointed by the Committee on Ministry (COM) to initiate communication between the congregation and the Presbytery.<br /><br />2. To affirm the connectional nature of our relationships, those who are considering these matters are encouraged to hold shared discussions with other Pastors and Sessions for communal discernment.<br /><br />3. If further conversation about disaffiliation is desired/appropriate, the Session will invite COM to appoint two representatives to seek resolution and to advise the Session on the implications of considering disaffiliation. The COM appointees will apprise the COM of the ongoing discernment of the Session.<br /><br />4. The Session, in conjunction with the COM appointees, will arrange one or more congregational gathering(s) to invite the members into a time of discernment, education and prayer.<br /><br />5. If the Session determines that the congregation desires to continue a process of discernment, the Session and the Presbytery will work together to form a Discernment Team (DT). The team will be comprised of the two COM appointees and two representatives chosen by the Session. The DT will be responsible for recommending a discernment process to the Session. Progress is to be reported regularly to COM.<br /><br />6. The DT will meet with the Session and its Moderator as ongoing discernment progresses. If desired by either Session or the COM representatives, they will also meet with the congregation in appropriate gatherings. At any time during the discernment phase, a person trained in conflict resolution may be requested by the DT. Possible topics for conversation include the following:<br /><br />• Reflecting on Scripture together and praying<br />• Rooting the identified issues in Scripture and our Reformed Tradition, as reflected in the Constitution of the PC(USA).<br />• The nature of discernment<br />• Exploration of church polity including implications of the Trust Clause for both the congregation and also the Presbytery and denomination<br />• Exploration of constitutional ways of influencing the polity of the PC(USA)<br />• Options and ramifications of options before the congregation<br />• Strategies for listening to any clearly identified factions within the congregation; in most instances, the decision to withdraw is a personal one, not a corporate one.<br /><br />7. When the DT has determined that all pertinent issues have been addressed, including identifying the reformed body to which the congregation would be dismissed, and that disaffiliation may be God’s will for that particular congregation, the DT will invite congregation members to gatherings that “afford to all persons to be affected by the decision fair notice and an opportunity to be heard on the matters at issue” (G-9.0505b1).<br /><br />8. The DT is required to be present at the gatherings and to serve as a resource for the congregation’s questions. They are also tasked with making sure that all members have an opportunity to voice their concerns. The DT will determine how many members wish to be dismissed to the identified reformed body, how many wish to remain part of an ongoing PC(USA) congregation, and how many are undecided at this time. The DT will report to the COM whether an Administrative Commission will need to be appointed to carry the work forward.<br /><br />***<br /><br />The meeting was an excellent example of what is happening in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).<br />• Early in the meeting a 90+ year old pastor gave a wonderful account of how the PCUSA welcomed him into the fold when he left the denomination where he was a pastor. He stated that he felt the PCUSA was a loving place and that he would only leave the PCUSA when Christ called him home.<br />• During our time of dealing with the “proposed” new policy, another pastor gave an eloquent presentation on why he wished we did not spend time on the original policy in May or on the current revision of that policy. He felt that these efforts were keeping us from doing the work of Christ that desperately needs to be done.<br />• At the end of the meeting (during Miscellaneous Business), a wonderful pastor who had just retired for the second time, stood before the presbytery and said that the denomination which he was ordained into had left him. He instructed the Stated Clerk to remove his name from the rolls of the presbytery.<br /><br />The depth of the brokenness of the PCUSA weighs heavily upon me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-72555570442744250012008-11-19T09:44:00.000-08:002008-11-19T09:56:33.882-08:00A critical look at the 17th synod model.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSRSs-th61I/AAAAAAAAAbI/Jrqq0rfZfbU/s1600-h/DSC_0085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSRSs-th61I/AAAAAAAAAbI/Jrqq0rfZfbU/s320/DSC_0085.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270428396632009554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSRSsV1VHBI/AAAAAAAAAbA/cW_lPSh1cfA/s1600-h/DSC_0182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSRSsV1VHBI/AAAAAAAAAbA/cW_lPSh1cfA/s320/DSC_0182.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270428385658870802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSRSsOCgx9I/AAAAAAAAAa4/p719_kSmLl0/s1600-h/DSC_0326.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSRSsOCgx9I/AAAAAAAAAa4/p719_kSmLl0/s320/DSC_0326.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270428383566677970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSRSrhlYMyI/AAAAAAAAAaw/9WwjPq9ccAo/s1600-h/DSC_0624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSRSrhlYMyI/AAAAAAAAAaw/9WwjPq9ccAo/s320/DSC_0624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270428371633320738" /></a><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Kasasagi, Keewatin Pioneer, Keith H and Kel Kel.<br /><br />Presbyterians for Renewal (PFR) is proposing that the PCUSA create a 17th synod. This synod would be a non-geographical synod that evangelical churches and presbyteries could join. This synod would have its own set of ordination standards.<br /><br />The positive side of the PFR proposal:<br />1. It would provide a “place” in the PCUSA for evangelical congregations who disagree with the current denominational stance on the ordination of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT">LGBT</a>persons. <br />2. Congregations/presbyteries would still have access to the millions/billions of dollars in the Presbyterian Foundation.<br /><br />The negative side of the PFR proposal:<br />1. The 17th synod model does not address the root cause of the ordination standards debate—the authority and interpretation of scripture. There is no agreement on the person of Jesus: born of a virgin, did miracles, bodily resurrection, etc. There is no agreement that the only way to God is through Jesus—period. There is no agreement on the nature of God. The list of disagreements could go on and on. How can the churches of this 17th synod continue to be a part of a denomination that has moved away from orthodox, biblical Christianity?<br />2. The 17th synod model sacrifices biblical truths and teachings to the un-biblical position of unity at all costs.<br />3. The 17th synod model would necessitate a total reworking of the PCUSA’s structure—and thus, will never happen. The General Assembly would have to be modified to create a one headed monster with two bodies. How would the PCUSA create a curriculum that would be used by both branches of the denomination? How would the Washington D.C. office speak effectively for both branches of the denomination? How would mission be accomplished when one branch may want to support mission efforts that the other branch would view as heretical? How would the General Assembly and the General Assembly staff be divided to meet the needs of all PCUSA constituencies? The 17th synod model would necessitate a total reworking of the PCUSA—from top to bottom. It is never going to happen.<br />4. The 17th synod model would necessitate a reworking of our seminaries. The PCUSA does not “own” a single seminary. There are seminaries that are related to be PCUSA—they are totally independent. Would the seminaries have two sets of faculty—one set from the liberal/progressive camp and one set from the evangelical camp?<br />5. In the 17th synod model, how would pastors move from the 17th synod to any other synod or from any of the other 16 synods into the 17th synod? There are many churches that are made up of evangelical and progressive membes and not join the 17th synod. How would an evangelical pastor receive a call to such a church from the 17th synod? Would it be possible for a liberal/progressive pastor to become the pastor of an evangelical congregation in the 17th synod?<br /><br />In summary, I do not understand how a person/pastor/church can believe that the PCUSA is doing “things” that are absolutely forbidden in scripture and still allow people and the denomination who are advocating the unbiblical positions to be in authority over them. Such a position is unbiblical and unacceptable.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-65314049759026299652008-11-17T09:01:00.000-08:002008-11-17T09:11:36.266-08:00Presbyterians for Renewal—Their Plan Forward.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSGkYZZ4svI/AAAAAAAAAao/zu0jsOIWVnk/s1600-h/DSC_0229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSGkYZZ4svI/AAAAAAAAAao/zu0jsOIWVnk/s320/DSC_0229.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269673778043466482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSGkYAHdnqI/AAAAAAAAAag/B8NRpgvKP0M/s1600-h/Jax+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSGkYAHdnqI/AAAAAAAAAag/B8NRpgvKP0M/s320/Jax+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269673771255307938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSGkX8isrzI/AAAAAAAAAaY/zw8p2cK98Do/s1600-h/Jayleene+G+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 293px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSGkX8isrzI/AAAAAAAAAaY/zw8p2cK98Do/s320/Jayleene+G+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269673770295799602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSGkXow2gNI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/12CuBs7HQYs/s1600-h/DSC_0285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SSGkXow2gNI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/12CuBs7HQYs/s320/DSC_0285.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269673764986454226" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Islander, Jax, Jayleene G and Kari Quill.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pfrenewal.org/">Presbyterians for Renewal</a> (PFR) has been an important renewal group within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). PFR has been instrumental in reaching out to pastors of smaller congregations through it’s <a href="http://www.pfrenewal.org/ministries/wee-kirk">Wee Kirk</a> Conferences. PFR has also been a group that has labored to keep G-6.0106b (the “fidelity and chastity” section) in the Book of Order.<br /><br />The 218th General Assembly of the PCUSA has caused PFR (as well as most renewal groups in the PCUSA) look at if, and how, the PCUSA can move forward. Historically, PFR has been in the “stay, fight, win” camp. “Stay, fight, win” is the philosophy of staying in the denomination, fighting for biblical faithfulness and standards and eventually winning the battle. News flash—PFR has moved away from it’s “stay, fight, win” position.<br /><br />Paul Detterman, Executive Director of PFR, was making a swing through the Northwest while holding regional gatherings. He met with a group from the Presbytery of Olympia, on October 28th. Tacoma was not one of his scheduled stops. We had just over an hour to hear what he had to say and to ask him a few questions. Here is a summary of the information he gave us (written and verbally).<br /><br />PFR has a four step process AND a vision for a restructuring of the PCUSA.<br /><br />Step One: “preparing hearts and minds to participate in what God is doing in and through us” – Step one is designed to return Christ’s followers to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, reading scripture, worship and fellowship.<br /><br />Step Two: “offering faithful witness to God’s transforming power and love in our current context” – PFR is offering resources to be used to educate individuals, congregations and presbyteries on sexual and biblical morals/theology/ethics. They are also providing information on a range of topics (along with talking points) to help frame a biblical witness to presbyteries and congregations.<br /><br />Step Three: “reshaping the PC(USA) to provide a way for evangelicals to do ministry with integrity” – Concerning the Presbyterian Church and the 218th General Assembly, PFR’s says, “It is clear that the PC(USA)’s confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ and commitment to our Reformed confessions has weakened to the point that we can no longer assume a common framework of conversation.” Their document says that PFR is working on how to move forward. (PFR has come up with their way forward and I will discuss it in just a moment.)<br /><br />Step Four: “moving beyond impasse and political posturing into God’s mission & future” – PFR is calling individuals to “reorder” their lives for the sake of the gospel. PFR is calling congregations to open their arms to welcome all people so that they can experience the transforming power of God’s love: “relationships healed, addictions cured, sins forgiven and hope restored.” PFR is calling upon seminaries to change their vision and purposes. PFR is calling upon presbyteries to change their focus and begin fulfilling the Great Commission.<br /><br />It would be nice if these four steps were to become a part of the fabric of the PCUSA, it’s members, congregations, presbyteries, synods and General Assembly. These four steps were framed BEFORE PFR came up with their “plan.” So… let’s take a look at the PFR plan forward.<br /><br /><br />THE SEVENTHEENTH SYNOD MODEL<br />The <a href="http://www.pcusa.org/links/">PCUSA</a> has around 11,000 congregations that are organized into 173 presbyteries (“district governing bodies”) and 16 synods (“regional governing bodies”). Evergreen Presbyterian Church is a part of the Presbytery of Olympia—it stretches from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and from the King County southern boundary to the north edge of Vancouver, Washington (churches in Vancouver are in the same presbytery as churches in Portland since they are so connected to Portland.). The Presbytery of Olympia is a part of the Synod of Alaska-Northwest. The Synod of Alaska-Northwest covers Alaska, Washington and the upper “panhandle” of Idaho and is composed of the following presbyteries: Alaska, Yukon, North Puget Sound, Seattle, Olympia, Central Washington and Inland Northwest.<br /><br />Let me begin by saying what PFR IS NOT proposing. PFR is not proposing what has been called the “two synod model.” The two synod model was first proposed several years ago. In this model, the PCUSA would be divided into two synods (basically, a progressive/liberal synod and an evangelical/biblically conservative synod. Every congregation would decide which synod it would be a part of. The criticism of this model is that it would cause serious harm to congregations as they decided which synod they would belong to. Ordination battle have been waged in our presbyteries and at the General Assembly levels—not at the local church level. The two synod model is not advocated by PFR.<br /><br />PFR is recommending that the PCUSA should create a new, non-geographical synod. The new synod would have a different set of ordination standards than the rest of the PCUSA. This new synod would be an “evangelical” synod. Churches (and presbyteries) could choose to become a part of this new synod. The only churches that would have to deal with this issue are the ones that choose to do so.” This new structure would necessitate some major changes in the PCUSA structure: a new Book of Order, new ways to amend the denomination’s constitution, two sets of ordination standards, new ways for the denomination to communicate to the world the stances of the denomination, etc. Many (if not most) of the details of the 17th synod model have yet to be worked out.<br /><br />Here is the bottom line: PFR is trying to find a way for evangelical congregations to stay in the PCUSA. End of story. <br /><br />Paul Detterman, and others in PFR’s leadership, are holding regional gatherings and introducing the 17th synod model.<br /><br />Tomorrow I will give my critique of the 17th synod model.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-88818333348833066632008-11-14T09:47:00.001-08:002008-11-14T09:54:55.646-08:00New Wineskins Convocation V – Final Thoughs.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SR26qzi-KdI/AAAAAAAAAaI/U2NEEPJLJH8/s1600-h/DSC_0568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SR26qzi-KdI/AAAAAAAAAaI/U2NEEPJLJH8/s320/DSC_0568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268572383647508946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SR26qX4jljI/AAAAAAAAAaA/7VSH1bq_18I/s1600-h/DSC_0207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SR26qX4jljI/AAAAAAAAAaA/7VSH1bq_18I/s320/DSC_0207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268572376221849138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SR26qDyqrdI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/-GMbBLa1008/s1600-h/DSC_0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SR26qDyqrdI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/-GMbBLa1008/s320/DSC_0116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268572370828438994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SR26pkg5q5I/AAAAAAAAAZw/ExYVvhFlaqA/s1600-h/DSC_0282.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SR26pkg5q5I/AAAAAAAAAZw/ExYVvhFlaqA/s320/DSC_0282.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268572362432424850" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Horse Feathers, Hot Number, Hy Debut and Insipic.<br /><br />The New Wineskins Association of Churches Convocation V is in the history books and I am back at Evergreen Presbyterian Church getting into the daily pastoral grind. I have put off writing this “final thoughts” piece until I have had some time to give it the attention it deserves. So here goes…<br /><br />Thought #1: The PCUSA made a HUGE mistake by blowing off the New Wineskins Convocation. To the best of my knowledge there was not a single PCUSA dignitary at the convocation. Our General Assembly moderator went to the Presbyterian Coalition meeting. He was even allowed to address the Coalition assembly. Hunter Farrell was at the Presbyterian Global Fellowship meeting. Where were those in leadership of the PCUSA? Fact: The majority of churches that are a part of the New Wineskins Association of Churches are faithful churches with the PCUSA!!!!! These churches do not like the direction that the denomination has been going and they are experiencing a sense of abandonment, betrayal and loss. So, where is their (our) denomination when these/our churches are hurting? I can tell you where they weren’t—they weren’t in Cleveland at the New Wineskins Convocation!! Shame, shame, on the leadership of the PCUSA. It is almost as though the denomination wants these churches to leave the denomination.<br /><br />Thought #2: Worship was the central component of the Convocation. Worship services were held a various times during the day. The music was inspirational (see my one exception on a previous post). The pray was humbling. The preaching was inspirational.<br /><br />Thought #3: Every component of the Convocation was surrounded with prayer. A team was praying every moment that the Convocation was in session. Individuals needing prayer could go to this prayer room to have people pray for them, their church, or what ever the prayer need might be. Those desiring to pray by themselves could pray in prayer room or out in the prayer garden. During worship services, people were encouraged to pray while seated, kneeling, laying prostrate before God or any other way that God was leading them. We had time to pray for those regions in the world where Christians are persecuted. We prayed for missionaries. We prayed. We prayed. We prayed.<br /><br />Thought #4: Where were the news outlets of the PCUSA? Reporters from across the denomination were in Minneapolis for Covenant Network meeting. (New news article <a href="http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08827.htm">here</a> and <a href="http://www.pres-outlook.com/news-and-analysis/1/8115.html">here</a>) Why did these “news” outlets choose to skip the New Wineskins Convocation?<br /><br />Thought #5: The New Wineskins Convocation was not a political meeting. Yes, the New Wineskins Presbytery of the EPC did hold their official meeting. However, I hold fast to my belief that the Convocation was not a political meeting. The Convocation was about local churches becoming “outward focused” (missional) in their ministries. There were no speeches about defeating the proposed amendment to the PCUSA constitution to remove G-6.0106b from the Book of Order. There were no speeches about leaving the PCUSA. There were no speeches about putting forth amendments to the Book of Order at the next meeting of the General Assembly of the PCUSA. The Convocation was about reaching the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Thought #6: There was a spirit of solidarity that I have only experienced a couple of times in all of my 20+ years of ordained ministry in the PCUSA. Within the PCUSA and within our presbyteries, there are MANY beliefs about sins, salvation, Jesus, God, morals, the interpretation of scripture, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, the virgin birth, etc. There is no sense of solidarity within the PCUSA or my presbytery. The sense of solidarity at the Convocation was overwhelming. The only other times that I have felt this way are when I gather with a group of “like-minded” pastors in my presbytery. Over the past few months we have gotten together several times. The sense of solidarity we experience is rejuvenating and inspiring. It was tremendously refreshing to experience this sense of solidarity at the New Wineskins Convocation.<br /><br />Thought #7: Next year, I will try to take more leaders from my church to the New Wineskins Convocation VI. I have tried to keep my church’s leadership at “arms-length” from the garbage that goes on at the national level of the denomination. The New Wineskins Convocation would be an excellent example of how the church should function locally, nationally and globally.<br /><br />Thought #8: Get out of your office when writing your sermon!! For almost two years I have been writing my sermons at my favorite coffee shop. I arrive at The Oasis just after it opens and work for a couple of hours before heading to the office—it reminds me that the church needs to get out from behind its walls and be among the people of our community. One of our speakers confessed that he writes his sermons while at the food court of a local mall. He seeks to be among people who don’t know Christ when he is writing his sermons so that he is constantly reminded of those who need Jesus in their lives. It also serves as a reminder to use language that is understandable by everyone—not just church folks.<br /><br />Well, that’s about it. Next week I will looking at Presbyterians for Renewal’s plan for how the PCUSA should move forward. Have a great weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-2719143772207628412008-11-11T19:57:00.000-08:002008-11-11T20:07:01.470-08:00New Wineskins Convocation V – November 11th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRpWQeUEyvI/AAAAAAAAAZo/usBsjFSvO1Q/s1600-h/DSC_0083.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRpWQeUEyvI/AAAAAAAAAZo/usBsjFSvO1Q/s320/DSC_0083.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267617555178375922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRpWP5Uwr4I/AAAAAAAAAZg/OCy6rP3YF6U/s1600-h/DSC_0198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRpWP5Uwr4I/AAAAAAAAAZg/OCy6rP3YF6U/s320/DSC_0198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267617545249140610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRpWPmI7OoI/AAAAAAAAAZY/Ql3lxqrULuM/s1600-h/DSC_0245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRpWPmI7OoI/AAAAAAAAAZY/Ql3lxqrULuM/s320/DSC_0245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267617540099226242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRpWO9uThcI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/QHJL-AwKO-0/s1600-h/DSC_0084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRpWO9uThcI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/QHJL-AwKO-0/s320/DSC_0084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267617529250153922" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Hamilton Lillian, Helen’s Carl, Hillcrest Fiesta and Hillcrest Liam.<br /><br />Today was the final day of the New Wineskins Convocation. Today’s most significant learning time for me was the time in the Church Planting seminar. The learning did not end when the seminar concluded. Following the seminar I had an extended conversation with Bill Meyer (Chairman of the Joint Commission of the New Wineskins and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church) on the topic of church planting. (Note: Thanks Bill—and I do have his permission to use his name)<br /><br />The PCUSA (the denomination of which I am a part) has failed miserably in church planting (known as “new church development” in PCUSA lingo). We fail because we start so few churches. As dollars at the presbytery level shrink so does the church planting. Another reason for the failure has to do with the goal of the project. The goal should never be to “start a church.” As soon as the church has been “started” the goal has been reached. Too often, it is at that point where the focus of the new church turns inward—building a building, paying a huge mortgage, etc. The goal of church planting should be to “reach people for Jesus Christ.” This outward focus must be a part of the DNA of the new ministry that is being started.<br /><br />Bill suggested that the church planter needs to forget everything they have learned about “being a church.” A church mentality says, “We need a youth program.” or “We need to start a Sunday school.” The small new ministry can not create these programs that can compete with churches that are already doing those things well in your area; besides, it is those who are already “churched” that are looking for these types of programs. Those who do not know Christ are not looking for a Sunday School or youth group program—they are not even on the person’s radar. Bill suggests that most energy and effort needs to be focused on looking outward—encouraging people to spend time with those who do not know Christ. These are the people that the church plant is seeking to reach.<br /><br />The seminar pointed out that it is important for a church plant to be in a location where the community is growing (this is not to be confused with missions that are established in low income, high crime areas where the needs are so great). This new ministry must be formed with people who are “outward” focused. Most American Christians are not outward focused. One poll asked Christians a question that went something like this: “Should the church’s primary focus be to those who don’t go to church or to you and your family?” Eighty nine percent of the people said that the primary focus should be me and my family. What a tragic answer. It is no wonder that most Christian churches in the US are declining in size.<br /><br />It is my belief that the PCUSA, the EPC and the New Wineskins Association need to be intentional in starting new churches. It is almost impossible to “turn around” a declining church. The resources and effort should be placed in starting new churches. The best way to form these new ministries is to have larger churches “birth” daughter churches. This process in involves a significant core group going to start the new ministry. They bring with them financial resources and enthusiasm.<br /><br />Church planting MUST become a priority!<br /><br />Check back tomorrow for my final thoughts on the Convocation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-85960888826030953472008-11-10T20:00:00.000-08:002008-11-10T20:09:14.091-08:00New Wineskins Convocation V – November 10th.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRkFKO8aS5I/AAAAAAAAAZI/pFFpIk0BKXs/s1600-h/DSC_0336.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRkFKO8aS5I/AAAAAAAAAZI/pFFpIk0BKXs/s320/DSC_0336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267246912554814354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRkFJyD2cQI/AAAAAAAAAZA/MogfpbGZa1c/s1600-h/DSC_0072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRkFJyD2cQI/AAAAAAAAAZA/MogfpbGZa1c/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267246904801390850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRkFJdqB5QI/AAAAAAAAAY4/w9m-pUlMXc4/s1600-h/DSC_0218.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRkFJdqB5QI/AAAAAAAAAY4/w9m-pUlMXc4/s320/DSC_0218.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267246899324380418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRkFJOUab0I/AAAAAAAAAYw/8aAR-x1blZY/s1600-h/DSC_0266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRkFJOUab0I/AAAAAAAAAYw/8aAR-x1blZY/s320/DSC_0266.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267246895207182146" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Gerrie Scott, Ginger Willo, Glenn Valley Cathy and Gloriosa.<br /><br />Today was the second day of the New Wineskins Convocation V. We heard major presentations by:<br />• Rev. Marcelo Robles, Pastor, La Mision, Buenos Aires, Agentina.<br />• Rev. Dr. Eli Morris, Associate Pastor of Urban Ministries, Hope Presbyterian Church, Cordova, TN.<br />• Caroline Kurtz, Associate Director, Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship.<br /><br />In addition to these presentations there were workshops on the Westminster Confession, Church Property Issues and Developing Missional Leadership in the Local Church.<br /><br />Key things that I learned about the missional church are:<br />1. The missional church is a suffering church—it lifts high the cross of Christ and suffers for it, it becomes a suffering church as soon as it focuses on serving Christ, the missional church leaves the place of safety and security and follows where Christ leads.<br />2. The missional church is a disciple making church—it listens to the Word, accepts it, puts it into practice, is transformed by the Word and then the new disciples share their faith with other people.<br />3. The missional church is a missional “fellowship” – it reverses the world’s values, empowers the weak and views the poor as its neighbors.<br /><br />Eli challenged us with three main concepts:<br />1. The church should be a launching pad and not a landing strip—the landing strip model is where the person goes through the week and ends up just making it to the church on Sunday—the landing strip. In the launching pad model a person comes to worship and is launched into the week by the Holy Spirit. <br />2. The church should be the first place the mayor calls when he needs help—this can only happen when the church is so involved in the community that the community’s leaders know the church.<br />3. If your church was to close today, would the community miss the church and why? I was introduced to this challenge at the Purpose Driven Presbyterians meeting this year. It is still just as challenging!!<br /><br />During the lunch break (it wasn’t really a break) we gathered in regional groups. I was in the group that represented Washington, Oregon and California. The first thing that I noticed was the discontent with the PCUSA that was rampant in the room. Several of the church had recently left the PCUSA and joined the New Wineskins Presbytery of the EPC. I was shocked to learn the Sunset Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon, was just released by their presbytery last week!! Sunset is a very large, evangelical church in Portland. A smaller church in their presbytery was also released at the same time. I became aware of another shocking development on the west coast but will refrain from blogging about it until I get additional details and make sure that that the info is public information. There was not a single church represented in that room that I would consider firmly with the PCUSA!<br /><br />My biggest criticism of the Convocation has to do with worship. It is quite obvious that the people planning worship are from very liturgical churches. There have been HUGE choirs, small ensemble groups, a harp, and of course, the pipe organ. The couple of times they “dabbled” in contemporary worship were pathetic. Our little church of 100 people has a worship team that truly leads the congregation in worship and could have done a better job. Why they have not tried to present the best of liturgical worship and the best of contemporary worship is beyond me. Their half-hearted attempt at contemporary worship is embarrassing.<br /><br />All-in-all, day two at the convocation was very good. I look forward to day three.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-20047981782506387142008-11-09T19:49:00.000-08:002008-11-09T19:59:09.535-08:00New Wineskins Convocation V – November 9th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRewnWDKT8I/AAAAAAAAAYo/g484XExFGrI/s1600-h/DSC_0166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRewnWDKT8I/AAAAAAAAAYo/g484XExFGrI/s320/DSC_0166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266872479213309890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRewmjus4sI/AAAAAAAAAYg/jM9EmvFet5E/s1600-h/DSC_0128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRewmjus4sI/AAAAAAAAAYg/jM9EmvFet5E/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266872465705722562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRewmKk8iHI/AAAAAAAAAYY/j-c_AvdBhNw/s1600-h/DSC_0385.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRewmKk8iHI/AAAAAAAAAYY/j-c_AvdBhNw/s320/DSC_0385.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266872458953918578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRewlm8sZfI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/M4Jm-jaa614/s1600-h/DSC_0138.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRewlm8sZfI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/M4Jm-jaa614/s320/DSC_0138.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266872449389848050" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These are all dahlias that I grew this past summer. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Fuzzy Wuzzy, Formby Gold, Fleurel and Fire Mountain.<br /><br />The New Wineskins Convocation V began tonight just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. Worship and prayer are going to be major components of the convocation. Worship included time to pray for those countries and Christians where oppression is a way of life. My small prayer group was able to pray for my daughter’s ministry to Muslim women in an “undisclosed” Muslim country.<br /><br />Dean Weaver, one of the founders of New Wineskins, gave a presentation that was designed to bring “newcomers” up to speed on the history of New Wineskins and to set the stage for the next two days. He summed things up by saying, “It’s not about leaving; it’s not about staying; it’s about realigning to reach the world for Christ.”<br /><br />The New Wineskins Association of Church is composed of 176 congregations. Some of the congregations are in the PCUSA. Some of the congregations are in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). And, it sounds like there are some congregations that are not a part of the two mentioned denominations. The realignment transcends denominational ties. The realignment is about congregations joining with other congregation that hold the same essential tenants (that are actually spelled out—how revolutionary!) and ethical imparities (also spelled out) in ministry and mission.<br /><br />One may ask, “Why is there a need for realignment?” All one has to do is attend one of these gathering and the answer to that question become apparent. These is something powerful about joining with like minded followers of Christ, worshipping together, praying together, working together, ministering together and holding one another accountable. It is unlike any other Presbyterian gathering that I have been a part of.<br /><br />Another question you may be asking is, ‘Why is Pastor Lance at the New Wineskins Convocation?” First, the congregation I serve is not a member of the New Wineskins Association of Churches. Evergreen Presbyterian Church would have no problem with the essential tenants or ethical imperatives of New Wineskins. Joining New Wineskins has not been a priority over the past couple of years—we have had more pressing issues to deal with. Second, Evergreen Presbyterian Church did not pay for me to attend this convocation—I am paying for it myself. I was going to take “vacation” for this trip but the session wanted me to use some of my study leave. Third, I do not know how long I will be in the PCUSA. Actions of the 218th General Assembly have serious affected my future with this denomination. One possible option for me is to stay in the PCUSA but to align with a group (such as New Wineskins) for ministry and mission. I want to see how pastors and congregations live this option out. Another possible option would be to stay within the PCUSA “if” the Presbyterians for Renewal can get their new “synod” model passed. I will talk about this in a future post. Another option for me is to leave the PCUSA and join the New Wineskins Presbytery of the EPC. I want to see how pastors and churches have made this transition. Fourth, I want to see how the area networks (the main backbone of New Wineskins) actually work. I want to see what the leadership of New Wineskins has to say about their future dreams and plans.<br /><br />Check back each day for my impressions of the New Wineskins Association of Churches Convocation V.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-32352384311068461112008-11-09T12:10:00.000-08:002008-11-09T12:16:40.155-08:00Five "sola" statement final post<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRdFBNEdhRI/AAAAAAAAAYI/fDloi7edPvs/s1600-h/DSC_0615.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRdFBNEdhRI/AAAAAAAAAYI/fDloi7edPvs/s320/DSC_0615.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266754176223642898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRdFAuvqqpI/AAAAAAAAAYA/AY3Y1jxxXfw/s1600-h/DSC_0183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRdFAuvqqpI/AAAAAAAAAYA/AY3Y1jxxXfw/s320/DSC_0183.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266754168083360402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRdFAIT-JBI/AAAAAAAAAX4/whIbosd4Nr4/s1600-h/DSC_0176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRdFAIT-JBI/AAAAAAAAAX4/whIbosd4Nr4/s320/DSC_0176.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266754157766648850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRdE_iBWoXI/AAAAAAAAAXw/-9_CDgyAWfQ/s1600-h/DSC_0123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRdE_iBWoXI/AAAAAAAAAXw/-9_CDgyAWfQ/s320/DSC_0123.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266754147488014706" /></a><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Fern Ridge Magi, Fascination, Fairway Pilot, and Devon Blaze.<br /><br /><br /><br />Five statements that have shaped the church came out of the Reformation. These statements have been referred to as “the five solas.” These five statements sum up the major issues of the Protestant Reformation. The five statements are:<br />• Sola scriptura<br />• Sola fide<br />• Sola gratia<br />• Solus Christus<br />• Soli Deo gloria<br /><br />It is my belief that many (if not all) of the former “mainline” denominations are at the beginning stages of a new reformation. The five “sola” statements are central to those reformations. Today, we will continue our examination of these “sola” statements.<br /><br />Soli Deo gloia is the Latin phrase for “Glory to God alone.” All of life (for the follower of Christ) is to be lived for God’s glory. It would seem as though this would not be an issue within the Presbyterian Church. Well, think again. The Possibilities Task Force of our Presbytery could not even agree on the nature of God. They can’t even agree on God’s nature!!<br /><br />The PCUSA needs a Reformation for today! We must return to the five “sola” statements of the first Reformation if we are to have a future together.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-35460262286832230042008-11-05T08:28:00.000-08:002008-11-05T08:33:49.871-08:00"Sola" statements -- continued.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRHKj1EaFzI/AAAAAAAAAXo/n0M_WIlGoSw/s1600-h/DSC_0113.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRHKj1EaFzI/AAAAAAAAAXo/n0M_WIlGoSw/s320/DSC_0113.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265212156262618930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRHKjkUY7dI/AAAAAAAAAXg/PU6p0pXEFU0/s1600-h/DSC_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRHKjkUY7dI/AAAAAAAAAXg/PU6p0pXEFU0/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265212151766248914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRHKi89WxBI/AAAAAAAAAXY/QaA57o38Ptg/s1600-h/DSC_0251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRHKi89WxBI/AAAAAAAAAXY/QaA57o38Ptg/s320/DSC_0251.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265212141200655378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRHKiijZ45I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/rYF3V1tRMoQ/s1600-h/DSC_0060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRHKiijZ45I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/rYF3V1tRMoQ/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265212134112486290" /></a><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Davenport Honey, Dark Prince, Danun Cupid and Cream Kerkrade.<br /><br /><br /><br />Five statements that have shaped the church came out of the Reformation. These statements have been referred to as “the five solas.” These five statements sum up the major issues of the Protestant Reformation. The five statements are:<br />• Sola scriptura<br />• Sola fide<br />• Sola gratia<br />• Solus Christus<br />• Soli Deo gloria<br /><br />It is my belief that many (if not all) of the former “mainline” denominations are at the beginning stages of a new reformation. The five “sola” statements are central to those reformations. Today, we will continue our examination of these “sola” statements.<br /><br />Sola gratia means “by grace alone” – salvation by God’s grace. There is nothing that we can do to merit God’s grace. This statement is rooted in the biblical doctrine that says that humans have a sinful nature. Sin permeates each and every human. Period. End of story.<br /><br />Too many pastors, churches and Christians no long believe that humans have a sinful nature. You many ask, “What is the big deal about believing that humans are by nature good?” If humans are by nature good, then it would be possible to meet God’s righteousness mandate on our own—without God. That moves us away from the doctrine of sola gratia.<br /><br />Many have said that the PCUSA has reached the “tipping” point. The PCUSA’s view of scripture is one thing that has brought us to the tipping point. The time has come to move back to sola gratia.<br /><br />The move to solus Christus will demonstrate how far the church has moved since the Reformation. But here is the problem, the words may remain the same, but the definitions have been changed. Let me take a few paragraphs to explain.<br /><br />What does a person mean when they use the name “Jesus?” People say they “believe in Jesus” – but which Jesus is it?<br /><br />The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) “believes” in Jesus. When the Mormon missionaries come to your front door they will talk about their belief in Jesus. They will try to show that they are a part of mainstream Christianity. Are they? The answer is “NO!” The LDS church teaches that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers. Their father, God, was once a person just like you and me. Through his faith and good works he was able to become a God after his death and was given a planet (earth) of which he was to be the God and was to populate with his spirit children. The LDS church believes that God, literally, had sex with Mary. The LDS church ‘believes” in Jesus—it is just a different Jesus.<br /><br />The Muslim faith believes in Jesus. The Muslim faith teaches that Jesus was a great prophet. The Bible is one of the “holy books” in their faith. And yet, they do not believe that Jesus is God, rose from the dead, died for our sins, and provides the only way for us to be in relationship with God.<br /><br />The Jehovah’s Witness church believes in Jesus—but not the Jesus of the Bible. The Baha’i Faith believes in Jesus—but not the Jesus of the Bible. The list could go on, and on, and on.<br /><br />Now, let’s look closer at the PCUSA.<br /><br />What does a person mean when they say, “I believe in Jesus?” Do they believe in the virgin birth? The bodily resurrection? The miracles? Do they believe that Jesus is the only way to God? Do they believe that we need to be in relationship with Jesus? Do they believe that apart from Jesus a person will “go to hell?”<br /><br />The number of pastors who have an unbiblical definition of Jesus is astonishing. When a church calls a person to fill a pastoral opening they may be getting a person who has drastically departed from an orthodox view of Jesus—and the church may not know it! It is too bad that we have to dig deep to find out what “definitions” are used for church/Christian terms.<br /><br />The doctrine of solus Christus is the foundation of the church. Solus Christus means “by Christ alone.” Salvation by Jesus Christ alone—what a concept!! There are pastors in my presbytery that do not believe that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ. There are churches in my presbytery that believe that people can get to God/heaven/eternal life by means other than Jesus Christ. These erroneous views spring from incorrect views about the person of Jesus and the Bible. <br /><br />Many have said that the PCUSA has reached the “tipping” point. The PCUSA’s view of scripture is one thing that has brought us to the tipping point. The time has come to move back to solus Christus.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-47554325532230523772008-11-04T09:06:00.000-08:002008-11-04T09:18:26.311-08:00Sola series--part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRCB-wOnvVI/AAAAAAAAAXI/cGP5MTI4TEQ/s1600-h/DSC_0115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRCB-wOnvVI/AAAAAAAAAXI/cGP5MTI4TEQ/s320/DSC_0115.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264850879494208850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRCB-KBGViI/AAAAAAAAAXA/7JWznK1g0uA/s1600-h/DSC_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRCB-KBGViI/AAAAAAAAAXA/7JWznK1g0uA/s320/DSC_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264850869236946466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRCB9_mGJxI/AAAAAAAAAW4/9cWhUo_kT0U/s1600-h/DSC_0106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRCB9_mGJxI/AAAAAAAAAW4/9cWhUo_kT0U/s320/DSC_0106.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264850866439333650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRCB9VBPZ5I/AAAAAAAAAWw/AYXJnV19xY8/s1600-h/DSC_0143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SRCB9VBPZ5I/AAAAAAAAAWw/AYXJnV19xY8/s320/DSC_0143.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264850855010461586" /></a><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Comet, Chilson's Pride, Cheyenne and CG Highlight.<br /><br /><br /><br />Five statements that have shaped the church came out of the Reformation. These statements have been referred to as “the five solas.” These five statements sum up the major issues of the Protestant Reformation. The five statements are:<br />• Sola scriptura<br />• Sola fide<br />• Solo gratia<br />• Solus Christus<br />• Soli Deo gloria<br /><br />It is my belief that many (if not all) of the former “mainline” denominations are at the beginning stages of a new reformation. The five “sola” statements are central to those reformations.<br /><br />Sola scriptura means “by scripture alone.” Reformers believed that scripture alone is where God reveals everything people need to know in regards to faith, truth, morals and living. Getting the Bible translated into the common language of the people became very important.<br /><br />The Roman Catholic Church (at the time of the Reformation) believed that scripture alone was not sufficient in regards to faith, truth, morals and living. The Roman church felt that church tradition, Papal authority and the biblical interpretations of bishops and priests were to be added to scripture when determining faith, truth, etc. The Roman church actively discouraged people from reading scripture—the church thought that it could be dangerous (The Index of Forbidden Books of Pope Pius IV in 1559).<br /><br />The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has moved away from sola scriptura. The 218th General Assembly is an excellent example of this move away from scripture. The Reformers would never have imagined a denomination that openly encouraged celebrating the holy days and festivals of the Muslim faith (or any other religion, for that matter). The Reformers would never have imagined how the denomination openly ignores scripture and what it says about sex outside of marriage (heterosexual and homosexual). The PCUSA seems to believe: scripture + justice issues +culture=> what we need to know in regards to faith, truth, morals and living.<br /><br />Many have said that the PCUSA has reached the “tipping” point. The PCUSA’s view of scripture is one thing that has brought us to the tipping point. The time has come to move back to sola scriptura.<br /><br />Sola fide means “by faith alone.” We need to look at the need for “justification” as the starting point for learning about sola fide. Justification is God’s act of declaring a sinner holy. One might ask, “Is there a need for justification?” Human sin is universal. Period. End of discussion. Then there is the truth that God’s judgment is inescapable. Period. End of discussion. Each human is in need of God’s justification!<br /><br />The Roman church believed: faith+works=>justification. An individual needed to have faith in the Jesus of the Bible—his life, death and resurrection. This faith was not “enough” for justification to occur. Upon confessing one’s sins to a priest or bishop, a person would be given certain “things” to do—for example, saying some “Hail Marys,” lighting candles, etc. Failure to complete the appointed actions would mean that God would not forgive their sin. The Protestant church believed: faith=>justification and works. God gives us the ability to have faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus Christ. Our faith in Jesus Christ is all that is need for God’s justification. Our works flow out of the new life we have in Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Today’s definition of “faith” is very different than the definition that was used in biblical and Reformation times. Back then, faith was not “subject” centered—it was “object” centered (J.I. Packer). “Subject” centered means that the individual is the focus of faith. “Object” centered means that Jesus Christ in the focus of our faith. To have faith in Jesus Christ is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ that leads and directs our life.<br /><br />On the surface, it would be easy to say that most all Presbyterians believe in sola fide. Unfortunately, that would be incorrect. I believe (and it is my contention that Presbyterian Panel surveys bear this out) that most “people in the pews” and elders believe in sola fide (as defined in scripture and the Reformation). There are many pastors (and church leaders) who believe that everyone will be in heaven—after all, God is love. There are those who believe that all we have to do is “love” people. There are those who do not believe in the Jesus of the Bible: Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, did miracles during his earthly ministry, died on the cross for our sins, bodily rose from the dead—conquering death, showed himself to his followers following the resurrection, and then ascended into heaven. Too many in the PCUSA DO NOT have faith in this Jesus.<br /><br />Many have said that the PCUSA has reached the “tipping” point. The PCUSA’s view of faith is one thing that has brought us to the tipping point. The time has come to move back to sola fide.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-69677016156382804682008-10-13T15:36:00.000-07:002008-10-14T07:58:47.592-07:00The PCUSA ordination battles feel like a couple going through a divorce.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPPF47bc8I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/WKgvaIAVPoM/s1600-h/DSC_0412.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPPF47bc8I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/WKgvaIAVPoM/s320/DSC_0412.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256772890159444930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPPF1ErfVI/AAAAAAAAAWY/T7-Ep-z_fa0/s1600-h/DSC_0439.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPPF1ErfVI/AAAAAAAAAWY/T7-Ep-z_fa0/s320/DSC_0439.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256772889124502866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPPG_UAZPI/AAAAAAAAAWg/xkXXXRVgQ3c/s1600-h/DSC_0165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPPG_UAZPI/AAAAAAAAAWg/xkXXXRVgQ3c/s320/DSC_0165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256772909053011186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPPHGwlMBI/AAAAAAAAAWo/JYWJdo744a8/s1600-h/DSC_0255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPPHGwlMBI/AAAAAAAAAWo/JYWJdo744a8/s320/DSC_0255.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256772911051911186" /></a><br /><br />First, a dahlia update before the post. The dahlias in the order they appear: Bristol Stripe, Cafe au Lait, Calamity Shane and Camano Sitka.<br /><br /><br />Now... on to the post.<br /><br /><br />Over they years I have known many couples that have had marriage problems. There were many causes of these marriage problems. Money, or lack of money, can cause marriage problems. There were those marriages where one person was a Christian and went to church and the spouse was not a Christian and did not go to church. There was the husband who "forgot" he was married the Monday after the honeymoon and went out drinking with the "guys" after work for hours--totally forgetting that he was married and had a wife waiting for him at home (that marriage lasted less than a year).<br /><br />There were those marriages that had problems due to marital unfaithfulness. There was the pastor that fell in love with the church pianist and kicked his wife out of the house. There was the wife having an affair and flaunting it in her husband's face (she told him that she liked having sex with the other guy and she was going to keep on doing it, when ever, and where ever she could). There was the man who had had dozens and dozens of affairs. There was the man who wanted a divorce (because of an affair) but didn't want his name to appear in the newspaper as the one filing for divorce so he left a woman's panties in the laundry. The list could go on and on.<br /><br />Some of the marriages mentioned above were able to survive the challenges--many were not.<br /><br />Troubled marriages can survive when the couple is "heading in the same direction" -- that is, they hold the same goals and beliefs--they are able to agree on key items of their beliefs. Compromise is a prerequisite.<br /><br />The PCUSA's ordination wars feel like a marriage that is failing. The "marriage" can be saved if both sides are willing to compromise. But, is compromise possible? One side believes that there is nothing wrong with sex outside the bounds of a marriage of one man and one woman. These folks believe that it is a "justice" issue and thus cannot compromise. The other side believes that such sexual practice goes against God's clear teaching in scripture and is sin and thus cannot compromise. Both sides firmly hold their beliefs. There can be no compromise from these two positions.<br /><br />The marriage is doomed to fail!<br /><br />This past General Assembly reminds me of the couple where the man left the panties in the laundry to try and force the woman to file for divorce. Our Book of Order still contains the prohibition of sexual activity outside of the bounds of marriage between one man and one woman for ordained persons. Now enters the new strategy--change the rules by bypassing the Book of Order-- adopt a new "Authoritative Interpretation." To adopt a new Authoritative Interpretation" is like telling the other side--"feel free to leave if you want." They tried (and succeeded?)changing the "rules" without having to get a majority of Presbyteries to agree. Those putting the Authoritative Interpretation forward had to know what the effect would be. They aren't stupid!! They want the Evangelicals to leave the PCUSA so that they can do what they want.<br /><br />Can the PCUSA be saved? Some say "yes." Some say "no." Only time will tell. All I know is that marriages fail when the partners hold differing opinions about key issues. Do those in the PCUSA have enough "agreement" on key points that they can stay together as one denomination.<br /><br />The Presbytery of Olympia's General Council has put together a "Possibilities Task Force" to see how, or if, we have a way to go forward into the future together. This group is made up of people from all across the theological spectrum. The group tried to find common ground at one of its meetings. They couldn't agree on anything!! Not even the nature of God! I believe that this task force mirrors the PCUSA. We do not have a bright future if we cannot even agree on the nature of God.<br /><br />Are we headed for "divorce?"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-47348186044892540262008-10-13T15:11:00.001-07:002008-10-13T15:13:43.105-07:00Sahara Desert sand storm.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPHoid6ujI/AAAAAAAAAWI/7aX0G609E1M/s1600-h/desert+sand+storm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SPPHoid6ujI/AAAAAAAAAWI/7aX0G609E1M/s320/desert+sand+storm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256764689332484658" /></a><br /><br />As I have mentioned, our daughter is serving with a mission team in the Sahara Desert. Here is a photo of the sand storm that hit their region last week. Her Muslim friends are use to having sand storms--but nothing like this!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-16669066870211028342008-10-13T15:06:00.001-07:002008-10-13T15:08:48.533-07:00sorry about not posting...Pastoral duties have kept me swamped (funeral, wedding, illness in the congregation, etc.) Will start posting again tomorrow.<br /><br />LanceUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-82751614705849459652008-10-02T14:45:00.001-07:002008-10-02T15:10:31.423-07:00"Jubilee" sources...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOVF279MAtI/AAAAAAAAAVo/yHJdr1nWSBg/s1600-h/DSC_0502.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOVF279MAtI/AAAAAAAAAVo/yHJdr1nWSBg/s320/DSC_0502.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252681350507135698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOVF27SEKOI/AAAAAAAAAVw/-w8pFy2bP8U/s1600-h/DSC_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOVF27SEKOI/AAAAAAAAAVw/-w8pFy2bP8U/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252681350326266082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOVF3drv-iI/AAAAAAAAAV4/IDhLhY3Scyc/s1600-h/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOVF3drv-iI/AAAAAAAAAV4/IDhLhY3Scyc/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252681359560800802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOVF3rlqVwI/AAAAAAAAAWA/cR2QO2tsjJQ/s1600-h/DSC_0205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOVF3rlqVwI/AAAAAAAAAWA/cR2QO2tsjJQ/s320/DSC_0205.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252681363293361922" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I tried to publish a color-coded version of the "Jubilee" document. Will keep trying...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-8909525281137741862008-09-29T09:56:00.000-07:002008-09-29T10:01:33.755-07:00Jubilee!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOEJmvvYMrI/AAAAAAAAAVI/0LpZUPZToLo/s1600-h/DSC_0464.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOEJmvvYMrI/AAAAAAAAAVI/0LpZUPZToLo/s320/DSC_0464.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251489201745572530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOEJmmA_vWI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/5Vcpb8IyLTk/s1600-h/DSC_0486.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOEJmmA_vWI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/5Vcpb8IyLTk/s320/DSC_0486.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251489199135112546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOEJm8FoTkI/AAAAAAAAAVY/j-VPOy3u9cI/s1600-h/DSC_0350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOEJm8FoTkI/AAAAAAAAAVY/j-VPOy3u9cI/s320/DSC_0350.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251489205060128322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOEJnR8e5zI/AAAAAAAAAVg/8uTDilS_xkM/s1600-h/DSC_0198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SOEJnR8e5zI/AAAAAAAAAVg/8uTDilS_xkM/s320/DSC_0198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251489210927343410" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog…<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Previously, I posted a copy of “Discerning God’s Leading Together: A Process of Working with Congregations Considering Withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). A session of a church within our Presbytery has presented an alternative document for our Presbytery to consider for replacing the previously mentioned document and policy.<br /><br />Before posting the proposed document, it is important to understand the rational behind the proposed change.<br />1. When our Presbytery approved its current policy no one envisioned what would happen at the 218th General Assembly. The wholesale trashing of 2000 years of church teaching and tradition regarding sexual activity is unprecedented in church history. (It is over 3000 years when one considers the Torah and Jewish teachings.)<br />2. Our Presbytery’s current policy does not foster an atmosphere for open, honest communication.<br />3. Too many churches and Presbyteries are ending up in the civil courts as congregations seek to leave the PCUSA.<br />4. The 218th General Assembly passed a directive to work pastorally with congregations that are seeking to leave the denomination.<br /><br />The new document was patterned after the Beaver-Butler Presbytery process for dealing with congregations that are looking at leaving the PCUSA. The General Assembly web site lists the Beaver-Butler process as one of the processes that Presbyteries can use. There were changes to the Beaver-Butler process to reflect our Presbytery’s organizational structure and needs.<br /><br />God is not glorified when his church ends up in the civil courts. A congregation leaving the denomination feels a lot like a divorce. Some divorces are nasty. Some divorces strive to be fair and just, but they recognize that they can no longer stay together. The new document strives to honor Christ and be a witness to the unchurched as congregations and Presbyteries deal with the difficult issues facing us today. The document keeps the Presbytery and congregation out of the civil courts.<br /><br />The proposed document is called “Discerning God’s Leading together: The Jubilee Process.”<br /><br />Here it is…<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />DISCERNING GOD’S LEADING TOGETHER:<br />THE JUBILEE PROCESS<br />Presbytery of Olympia<br /><br />A Process of Working with Congregations Considering Withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)<br /><br />Spiritual discernment is a focused effort to sort out the will of God, distinguishing God’s Spirit from other spirits that may be influencing us, such as the spirit of tradition, legalism, anger, loyalty, self-will or control. Discernment requires intentional prayer, careful study, and deep listening to God and to each other.<br /><br />Hear the words of St. Paul: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1-5) <br /><br />We, members of the Presbytery of Olympia, will seek to honor Jesus Christ, Scripture, The Book of Confessions, and the Book of Order through respectful process and open dialogue. The premise upon which our process is built is that when we approach discernment together with openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit and through the authority of the Word of God, the appropriate process to follow the will of God will be revealed. <br /><br />The Jubilee Process guides congregations and the Presbytery, working in partnership, toward answering the questions, “Is God leading this particular congregation to disaffiliate from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?” And if so, “how can that be accomplished in a way that honors Christ and strengthens both the congregation and the Presbytery?” <br /><br />The ultimate goal of the Presbytery will be to discern whether reconciliation and continued relationship with a particular congregation is God’s will, or whether withdrawal from the PC(USA) is the path that God desires. If disaffiliation is discerned to be God’s will, then the Presbytery will seek to further discern the appropriate process for separation. The following process outlines the steps we will use as a presbytery and as individual congregations, pastors and Sessions to discern together the will of God for the churches of the Olympia Presbytery. <br /><br />We will seek to respect both freedom of conscience and the essentials of Reformed Faith and polity as expressed in The Book of Confessions and the “Form of Government”, subject always to Scripture and the movement of the Spirit. We will work in good faith toward a mutually agreeable solution, but ultimately the decision reached through this process should reflect what would best serve not ourselves, but the cause of Christ. <br /><br />Finally, we will seek to follow the Commissioner’s Resolution (04-28)—On Urging a Gracious, Pastoral Response to Churches Requesting Dismissal from the PC(USA) as passed by the 218th General Assembly of the PC(USA) on June 27, 2008. The Resolution condemns secular litigation as “deadly to the cause of Christ, impacting the local church, other parts of the Body of Christ and ecumenical relationships, and our witness to Christ in the world around us.” (#2 of Resolution 04-28). Therefore the process of the Olympia Presbytery and its congregations will seek to avoid legal action, except as a last resource. This includes actions against property and assets of the individual churches, as well as against the leadership of the churches. <br /><br />“Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical; and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern the commonwealth unless by way of humble petition in cases extraordinary; or by way of advice for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magistrate.” Westminster Confession of Faith, 6.176<br /><br /><br /> The principles of GA Resolution 04-28 are as follows:<br /><br />Consistency: <br /><br />“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18<br /><br />The Olympia Presbytery process will be consistent among the churches. We seek to bring the same principles of justice to one another, regardless of the differences in theology, property, leadership, and location.<br /><br /><br />Pastoral Responsibility: <br /><br />“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Psalm 78:70-72<br /><br />“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Isaiah 40:11<br /><br />“'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?” Ezekiel 34:2a<br /> <br />"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11<br /><br />From the Questions for Ordination of Ministers, Elders and Deacons: “Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?”<br /><br />The Jubilee process will “highlight the presbytery’s pastoral responsibility” (GA Resolution 04-28). The Olympia Presbytery will seek to make decisions with integrity of heart, gentleness, careful tending of the flock with a sacrificial spirit of friendship, and will be subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit.<br /><br /><br />Accountability:<br /><br />“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” 1 Cor. 4:2<br /><br />”For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2<br /><br />“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17-18<br /><br />“Wherefore the ecclesiastical power of the ministers of the Church is that function whereby they indeed govern the Church of God, but yet so do all things in the Church as the Lord has prescribed in his Word. When those things are done, the faithful esteem them as done by the Lord himself.” 2nd Helvetic Confession, 5:160-.163<br /><br />“For a governing body, accountability rightly dictates fiduciary and connectional concerns, raising general issues of probperty (G-8.0000) and specific issues of schism within a congregation (G-8.0600). But full accountability also requires preeminent concern with “caring for the flock.” (GA Resolution 04-28)<br /><br />The Jubilee Process will include steps of accountability of both the Presbytery to itself and its congregations, and also of those congregations to the Presbytery. We recognize that, above all, we are accountable to the Word of God and to the Lord. The Process will seek to discern faithful steps to honor the trust given to the Presbytery for the care of the properties of the member churches, acknowledging that the trust given is a sacred responsibility to further God’s kingdom, not to enable the PC(USA) to indiscriminately separate congregations from their church properties and assets.<br /><br />Gracious Witness:<br /><br /> “And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” Zechariah 7:8-9<br /><br /> “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” Titus 3:9<br /><br />"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35<br /><br />“At all times and in all places the rule is to be observed that everything is to be done for edification, decently and honorably, without oppression and strife. For the apostle testifies that authority in the Church was given to him by the Lord for building up and not for destroying (II Cor. 10:8)” 2nd Helvetic Confession 5:165<br /><br />“The church thus orders its life as an institution with a constitution, government, officers, finances, and administrative rules. These are instruments of mission, not ends in themselves.” The Confession of 1967, 9.40<br /><br />“It is our belief that Scripture and the Holy Spirit require a gracious witness from us rather than a harsh legalism.” GA Resolution 04-28<br /><br />In all steps in the Jubilee Process, as well as in all decisions made concerning specific issues, the Olympia Presbytery will seek to be a gracious witness to the churches and their flocks, as well as to the communities surrounding the churches. As discernment progresses, mercy, compassion, edification, love and encouragement will be priorities over rules and regulations. “Foolish controversies” and “quarrels about the law” will be avoided, as they constitute harsh legalism, not gracious witness. Above all, we will remember that the Presbyterian Church (USA) and its institutions are instruments of mission, “not ends in themselves.”<br /><br />Openness and Transparency:<br />“Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.” Proverbs 8:6-7<br />“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” Proverbs 27:5<br />“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” Mark 4:22<br />"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:10<br />Too often processes involve closed meetings and secretive discussions and decisions. An atmosphere of distrust prevails, leading to a lack of open and honest communication. The Presbytery of Olympia commits to openness and transparency within its own committees and council as well as among the churches. It is further resolved that it shall be the policy of this Presbytery that no Minister of the Word and Sacrament, Elder or Deacon shall be subjected to any form of discipline under the Book of Order for any speech that is not contrary to the Word of God, whether that speech is given to individual congregations or Sessions or to the whole body of the Presbytery. Informing groups of people regarding practices and policies of the institutions of the PC(USA) shall not be considered inappropriate nor subject to discipline. Likewise, informing congregations, Sessions and Presbytery members of options available to congregations who are considering disaffiliation with the PC(USA) and entertaining discussion on such options shall not be abridged nor punished in any way. “Speech” shall include written and oral communications, as well as participation or membership in any group or association of Christians of the Reformed faith. Protecting the rights of speech for Ministers of the Word and Sacrament, Elders, and Deacons will lead to a building of trust, and to the ability to join all parties together for the goal of discerning God’s will for the congregations of the Olympia Presbytery.<br />Lastly, the mission statement of the Presbytery of Olympia states: “The Presbytery of Olympia exists to serve Christ through supporting and strengthening congregations and clergy and offering its life in worship, service and witness.” The Jubilee Process will enable the Presbytery to honor this statement as it comes alongside congregations who are discerning God’s direction in their relationships with the PC(USA). May Christ be honored as we go forward in this journey.<br /><br />SECTION ONE – INITIAL DISCERNMENT PROCESS<br /><br />Colossians 3:12-14: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.<br /><br />Presbyterians affirm that discernment for pastors and congregations involves a tri-fold revelation of God’s will. The Spirit speaks through the pastoral leadership of each church, through the voices of the congregation and its Session, and also through the body of the Presbytery. We affirm that our highest calling is to the mission of the Kingdom of God, not to the maintenance of any particular institution. We sadly recognize that because of matters of conscience, congregations occasionally may find it necessary to separate from the institution with which they have been affiliated in order to accomplish their mission. These situations require prayer, total commitment to following the will of God, and bearing with one another with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”<br /><br />Therefore, in order to distinguish God’s will in the matter of disaffiliation, and to honor Him and each other, the following initial process is adopted:<br /><br />1. Pastors and Sessions will pray and openly discuss with one another the issues confronting their individual churches. Where appropriate, they are welcome to hold shared discussions with other Pastors and Sessions for communal discernment.<br />2. If further discernment is necessary, then after prayer and a majority vote in a called or stated meeting, the Session will invite its PCCT representative to give guidance in a possible resolution and/or on the implications of proceeding further with the process. The PCCT representative will inform the COM of the ongoing discernment of the Session.<br />3. If resolution is not accomplished, the Session will invite the COM to form a Presbytery Discernment Team (PDT). This Team will consist of the PCCT representative, another representative chosen by the COM from its membership, a representative from the Presbytery Council chosen by the Council, and a representative chosen by the Session. Additionally the Team will be chaired by a person specifically trained in conflict resolution by a Presbytery-approved entity (i.e. a Certified Interim Pastor). <br />4. The PDT will initially meet with the Session and the Moderator separately. While the Moderator is absent from the Session meeting, he/she will appoint a qualified person to moderate the meeting. The purpose of the initial meetings will be to discern whether the Session and its leadership are unified in their discernment, as well as to give opportunity for the raising of concerns by either.<br />5. The PDT will report the results of these initial meetings to the Presbytery through the COM and the Council.<br />6. The PDT will continue to meet with the Session and its Moderator as ongoing discernment progresses. Possible topics for conversation include the following:<br /><br />• the nature of discernment<br />• rooting the identified issues in Scripture and our Reformed Tradition<br />• exploration of church polity including implications of the Trust Clause for both the congregation and also the Presbytery and denomination<br />• exploration of constitutional ways of influencing the polity of the PC(USA)<br />• options before the congregation<br />• strategies for listening to any clearly identified factions within the congregation<br />• reflecting on Scripture together and praying<br /><br />7. The PDT will not determine the outcome of the discussions, but will work to assure that all issues have been adequately addressed before they are brought before the congregation. In addition the PDT will assure that the Presbytery, through its COM and Council are fully informed as the discussions continue.<br />8. In the case of lack of resolution of the issues during the time of initial discernment, the Presbytery and the church will enter into negotiations for disaffiliation, using the process outlined below.<br /><br />SECTION TWO: THE JUBILEE PROCESS<br /><br />If it becomes necessary to negotiate the church’s separation from the PC(USA), the following steps will be taken. Throughout the process, both the Presbytery and the church agree that:<br /><br />• The Trust Clause will not be used to shackle churches to the institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) if the congregation has followed the discernment process and truly feels God’s leading to depart.<br />• It will not be used as a means of taking civil action against a congregation in keeping with 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 over issues of conscience (G-1.0300).<br />• The Clause is a visible example of the inter-connection between the Presbytery and its congregations, and should be an opportunity to witness unity to the world, not a tool to cause division and disagreement.<br />• The Trust Clause will not be used by the Presbytery to initiate civil litigation against a congregation faithfully following the Initial Discernment and/or Jubilee Processes.<br />• The Presbytery recognizes that “the church” is not buildings nor assets, but is the body of believers—the people of each congregation.<br /><br />1. When a congregation’s Session and Pastors, with the participation of the PDT, have determined that all issues have been addressed, and that disaffiliation appears to be God’s will for that particular church, a special Congregational meeting will be called. The purpose of this initial meeting will be to hear from the membership their own discernment and desire either to disaffiliate or to remain part of the PC(USA). Though a quorum for Congregational meetings is set by the Book of Order at 10%, in order to fairly hear the voice of the church, it is expected that 50% of the active membership will participate in the meeting.<br />2. At the meeting it is allowable to conduct a non-binding written ballot vote to discern how many members, should the way be clear, would desire dismissal from the PC(USA).<br />3. If a minimum of 75% of the attending members vote for dismissal, the PDT will begin to negotiate terms of dismissal with the congregation through its Session, Pastors and Finance Committee.<br />4. During negotiation if an impasse is reached between the Presbytery and the congregation, both agree to submit to binding arbitration. The arbiter will be a practicing Christian and a member of the American Arbitration Association or the Peacemaker Ministries. The arbiter will be agreed upon by both parties, and both agree to submit to his/her decisions without exception. The costs for the arbiter will be divided equally between the Presbytery and the congregation.<br />5. As negotiations proceed, both parties will be mindful of reaching an honorable and equitable settlement which recognizes the responsibilities towards all involved—the members who wish to leave the PC(USA), those who wish to remain, and the Presbytery of Olympia and its mission. In cases where a financial settlement is part of the dismissal agreement, that settlement will be based on fairly and proportionately meeting those responsibilities.<br />6. As a primary responsibility, both the congregation and the Presbytery will seek to meet the spiritual needs of those members desiring to stay within the PC(USA).<br />7. At the conclusion of the negotiations, a Congregational meeting will be called to vote on the possible dismissal and agreement with the negotiated plan. At least fifty percent of the current active membership must attend the meeting. An affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent will be required to pass the dismissal motion.<br />8. The final step of the Jubilee Process will be the ratification of the disaffiliation agreement by the Presbytery of Olympia and the voting to grant dismissal. In the case of a negative vote of Presbytery, the process of Binding Arbitration will be followed.<br /><br /><br />SERVICE OF COMMISSIONING<br /><br />Should a particular congregation and the Presbytery of Olympia discern together that the best course of action should be that the congregation withdraw from the PC(USA), and once the details of the separation agreement are decided, ratified by the Presbytery and settled, a service of worship will be held to celebrate our common life in Christ and pray for the well-being and effectiveness of both the congregation and the Presbytery. Those departing the PC(USA) will be commissioned by the Presbytery to further their work for the Kingdom as they go forward in ministry. The service will be jointly planned by a planning team comprised of three people appointed by the Council of the Presbytery and three people appointed by the Session of the church. All congregations of the Presbytery of Olympia shall be invited.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-53090212337132930702008-09-27T08:43:00.000-07:002008-09-27T08:50:07.825-07:00A One Post Break—Today is For Our Daughter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SN5V8OvFEHI/AAAAAAAAAUo/y-8zhYZyvUs/s1600-h/DSC_0195.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SN5V8OvFEHI/AAAAAAAAAUo/y-8zhYZyvUs/s320/DSC_0195.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728708796649586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SN5V8REoYBI/AAAAAAAAAUw/IY4HgxP8cpo/s1600-h/DSC_0213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SN5V8REoYBI/AAAAAAAAAUw/IY4HgxP8cpo/s320/DSC_0213.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728709423915026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SN5V8rN1SUI/AAAAAAAAAU4/kkrM2ziCU3Q/s1600-h/DSC_0057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SN5V8rN1SUI/AAAAAAAAAU4/kkrM2ziCU3Q/s320/DSC_0057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728716441831746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SN5V857saqI/AAAAAAAAAVA/WsXzL-EUYEk/s1600-h/DSC_0220.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SN5V857saqI/AAAAAAAAAVA/WsXzL-EUYEk/s320/DSC_0220.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728720392284834" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog…<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our daughter (who for security reasons will remain nameless) woke up this morning on the mission field—once again. She has a passion for people groups that have not had the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus. Since graduating from college she has been on the mission field twice before—with the same group. She spent five months in China helping to open a new mission effort to reach an unreached people group on the Tibetan plain of China.<br /><br />Her true mission passion is for the unreached Muslim groups in North Africa. After China, she spent almost three months in the Sahara Desert in a Muslim refugee camp teaching English. I cannot go into details for “security” reasons. While she and her team mate were in the camp, the very first person from this people group accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord! They baptized this person the day before they left the camp.<br /><br />Once again, our daughter and her team are back in the camp. Several of the Muslim young ladies are very open to talking about God and Jesus. Please keep them in your prayers. The entire team got sick the last time they were there. The team also experienced loneliness—due to isolation, difficult living conditions and so little contact with people who speak English.<br /><br />Seeing the mission updates on Presbyweb is great. Presbyterian mission co-workers do good work. Unfortunately, we do not do a good job of reaching unreached people groups! Hopefully, one day the PCUSA will once again try to bring the gospel to people who have never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus. Until then, para-church mission groups will be the front line of this particular type of outreach.<br /><br />Please keep our daughter and her mission team in your prayers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-30247568873356086932008-09-24T08:18:00.000-07:002008-09-24T08:21:55.418-07:00Why the Distrust—An Answer to our General Assembly Moderator.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNpa4k93JVI/AAAAAAAAAT4/KjHr4iKS0dc/s1600-h/DSC_0114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNpa4k93JVI/AAAAAAAAAT4/KjHr4iKS0dc/s320/DSC_0114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249608243696051538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNpa5BAjLUI/AAAAAAAAAUA/I8jtvpkOepA/s1600-h/DSC_0134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNpa5BAjLUI/AAAAAAAAAUA/I8jtvpkOepA/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249608251223518530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNpa5i8AqRI/AAAAAAAAAUI/ACjnZZ1KKQ8/s1600-h/DSC_0128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNpa5i8AqRI/AAAAAAAAAUI/ACjnZZ1KKQ8/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249608260331284754" /></a><br /><br />A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog…<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Rev. Reyes Chow posted the following comment on my blog:<br />“Thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey. Surprisingly what caught my eye on your post was this "policy" of your Presbytery that prevented you for sharing earlier. Can you share? Is there a "no-blogging" policy or is it more of a "don't air in-house stuff" kind of understanding? Or something else? Thanks.”<br /><br />First, I would like to thank the moderator for reading my blog. It is good to know that “someone” in the denomination is concerned with what is happening in the PCUSA. Second, here is my response…<br /><br />It has been said that “trust is something that is earned.” Over the years I have talked with several couples where one of the partners was unfaithful. Trust had been broken. The offending person wanted their spouse to “trust” them. Trust was hard to come by. In my opinion, trust doesn’t just “happen.”<br /><br />There is distrust at every level of the PCUSA.<br /><br />I served on the General Council (GC) of our Presbytery—filling an unexpired term and then a full term. While on GC, there were some members of the GC who were uncomfortable with worship at our Presbytery meetings. One day I show up for a GC meeting and find that a policy for worship at Presbytery meetings had been written. Who wrote in? To this day I can only speculate. After much discussion the policy was adopted (it was not unanimous) and was to be present at the next Presbytery meeting for approval. At the next Presbytery meeting the policy was indeed presented for approval by the Presbytery. Boy, did the you-know-what hit the fan. The Presbytery was so displeased with the proposed worship policy that they sent it back on the GC to have the policy redone. I was shocked at the next GC meeting. One powerful person on GC said that they didn’t care what the Presbytery said and that since it is the General Council’s policy we can do what ever we want. That thinking carried the day and the policy was adopted by the GC.<br /><br />Trust?<br /><br />Just yesterday I was in a meeting of some pastors and elders. There were a couple of members of the current GC at the meeting. They were asked, “Who wrote the current policy paper?” (Discerning God’s Leading) Neither member of council knew who wrote the paper!!! A substitute policy paper was to be presented at last week’s Presbytery meeting—coming from the session of one of our churches in the Presbytery. The day before the meeting a “comparison” document was emailed to the Presbytery delegates. The church that wrote the new document that was to be presented inquired as to who wrote the comparison document. Presbytery staff refused to tell them!<br /><br />Trust?<br /><br />Distrust at the national level is so rampant that it does not need to be restated. However, since the moderator brought up the issue I will mention one instance that involved the moderator and this past General Assembly.<br /><br />A marriage between two gay men was conducted at a “dinner” at this past General Assembly meeting. This dinner is hosted at each Assembly meeting by one of the groups that is laboring to change denomination’s policy concerning the ordination of practicing, unrepentant gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. The pastor that performed the marriage said that she could get into trouble for doing the wedding but that she would do it any way. I have questions our Presbytery staff and delegates as to whether anything was said on the floor of the Assembly about the “wedding.” They unanimously said that not one word was said at the Assembly! How is this for trust! Our highest governing body is meeting and a pastor (and an affinity group) openly break denominational policy and not one thing is done about it (or said about it) by the moderator, stated clerk or any other person in authority at the Assembly.<br /><br />Trust? Mr. Moderator, how can I “trust” you when you do not even try to enforce the rules of the denomination while you are running our national meeting?<br /><br />Other Presbyteries have tried to deal “pastorally” with congregations and pastors that are seeking to leave the denomination and have ended up in the church courts for their actions.<br /><br />Trust?<br /><br />Mr. Moderator, can you see why I have “trust issues” with my Presbytery and General Assembly?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-89841918449984741552008-09-23T08:24:00.000-07:002008-09-23T08:28:56.475-07:00Our Presbytery Policy – The Hammer!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNkK5CB1nOI/AAAAAAAAATg/ddS8yeJ1Fjg/s1600-h/DSC_0155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNkK5CB1nOI/AAAAAAAAATg/ddS8yeJ1Fjg/s320/DSC_0155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249238815590423778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNkK5ltwqVI/AAAAAAAAATo/u--qwQBxrBc/s1600-h/DSC_0132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNkK5ltwqVI/AAAAAAAAATo/u--qwQBxrBc/s320/DSC_0132.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249238825169889618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNkK5wMagLI/AAAAAAAAATw/x8I9OzUKgHY/s1600-h/DSC_0122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNkK5wMagLI/AAAAAAAAATw/x8I9OzUKgHY/s320/DSC_0122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249238827982815410" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are some more pics of my dahlias…<br /><br />Here is a copy of our Presbytery’s policy concerning church and pastors that are thinking of leaving the PCUSA…<br /><br /><br /><br />DISCERNING GOD’S LEADING TOGETHER<br />Presbytery of Olympia<br />May 15, 2008<br /><br />A Process of Working with Congregations Considering Withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)<br /><br />Spiritual discernment is a focused effort to sort out the will of God, distinguishing God’s Spirit from other spirits that may be influencing us, such as the spirit of tradition, or anger, loyalty, self-will or control. Discernment requires intentional prayer, careful study, and deep listening to God and to each other. <br /><br />Hear the words of St. Paul: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1-5) <br /><br />We, members of the Presbytery of Olympia, will seek to honor the Scripture through respectful process and open dialogue. The premise upon which our process is built is that when we approach discernment together with intentionality and sincerity, the will of God and the way of Love will be revealed. <br /><br />Discerning God’s Leading Together guides congregations and the Presbytery, working in partnership, toward answering the questions, “Is God leading this particular congregation to disaffiliate from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?” And if so, “how can that be accomplished in a way that honors Christ and strengthens both the congregation and the Presbytery?” <br /><br />The ultimate goal of the Presbytery will be to discern whether reconciliation and continued relationship are possible. It is clear that in times of great turmoil and disagreement, some may perceive withdrawal as imperative and God’s will for them. The following process outlines the steps we will use as a presbytery to respond to situations where our congregations, or leaders within are considering withdrawal from the PC(U.S.A.). <br /><br />We will seek to respect both freedom of conscience and the essentials of Reformed Faith and polity as expressed in The Book of Confessions and the “Form of Government”, subject always to Scripture and the movement of the Spirit. We will work in good faith toward a mutually agreeable solution, but ultimately the decision reached through this process should reflect what would best serve not ourselves, but the cause of Christ. <br /><br /><br />SECTION ONE – RESPONSE TEAM<br /><br />When the leadership of the presbytery becomes aware, either through formal congregational action or through informal contacts with church leaders or members, that a congregation is in serious disagreement with the governance of the denomination, the General Presbyter, Committee on Ministry Chairperson, and Presbytery Moderator will offer a pastoral visit by a Response Team. It is assumed that before this process begins the General Presbyter will have had conversation with the pastor.<br /> <br />The Response Team shall consist of one Council member, one person appointed by the Committee on Ministry (COM), a member-at-large of the Presbytery, and the General Presbyter. The purpose of this team is to engage either the session, or if necessary the congregation, or the congregation as a whole (as circumstances dictate), in a time of prayer and conversation aimed at understanding the “heart of the matter” – meaning the nature of the conflict and what Gospel values are at play -- and to identify possible steps toward reconciliation. Before meeting with the church session for the first time, team members should study “Guidelines for Communal Discernment” by Rev. V. Curtiss. Team members may be added depending on the scope of the effort, e.g., meeting with several small groups will require a bigger team than meeting with the session only. <br /><br />TOPICS FOR CONVERSATION MAY INCLUDE: <br />• the nature of discernment<br />• rooting the identified issues in Scripture and our Reformed Tradition<br />• exploration of church polity including Book of Order provision that a congregation’s property belongs to the whole church<br />• exploration of constitutional ways of influencing the polity of the PC(U.S.A.)<br />• options before the congregation<br />• strategies for listening to any clearly identified factions within the congregation<br />• reflecting on Scripture together and praying<br /><br />If the team determines that progress can be made toward reconciliation through continued dialogue, the team will make recommendations to the Council for conducting such dialogue. The team report and recommendations will be provided to the Council within one month of the initial visit and will outline any planned next steps (such as the above) to be undertaken in partnership with the leadership of the congregation, including an expected time line for the completion of the planned process. The process and time line should not exceed 120 days. If this team effort leads to resolution of the situation, no further action is required and to God be the glory! <br /><br />In the event that steps toward separation from the denomination appear to be in process, the Response Team shall report its evaluation of the current situation to both the Council and the Committee on Ministry as soon as possible. The Moderator and Vice Moderator of Council, the Stated Clerk, and the Chair of the Committee on Ministry, will meet with the Response Team to determine if a recommendation should be made to Council that an Administrative Commission should be elected by the presbytery, and recommend appropriate action [Ref. Book of Order,]<br /><br /><br />SECTION TWO -- ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION (AC) PROCESS<br /><br />When any congregation, in partnership with the Presbytery, has not been able to resolve issues using the Response Team phase of Discerning God’s Leading Together, an Administrative Commission (AC) shall be formed by vote of the Presbytery. <br /><br />If at any time the Response Team determines that the move toward separation/withdrawal is the work of a special interest group and not representative of the congregation, the team, on notice to Council, will immediately request that the Moderator of the presbytery and Stated Clerk nominate an AC as soon as possible. <br /><br />If the leadership of the congregation refuses an initial Response Team visit an AC will be nominated by the Moderator of the Presbytery and Stated Clerk and elected by the presbytery as soon as possible. <br /><br />If an AC is to be recommended to Presbytery, this decision will be communicated to the congregation concerned immediately, by letter from the Moderator to every member, and the nominees to the commission will be appointed within 15 days of that notification. <br /><br />DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES<br />The AC is guided by the presbytery-approved commission outlining specific duties and authorities for a particular situation. The AC shall keep the presbytery informed of actions taken, and shall make recommendations directly to presbytery for any actions that require presbytery approval. <br /><br />TRAINING AND COMPOSITION<br />When an AC is required for this process, the Moderator of the Presbytery, the General Presbyter, the Committee on Ministry chairperson and the Stated Clerk shall nominate seven people to be elected by the presbytery. Members of the AC may include individuals with special skills, training or experience in mediation and negotiation. At least three members of the AC, so nominated and elected, shall be minister-members of the presbytery, and at least three shall be elders from different churches in the presbytery and be representative of the presbytery as a whole; the seventh member of the AC may be either a minister or elder [G-9.0504b (3)] Members of the Response Team may be considered for the AC. After election members of the AC will be trained by a team of the Stated Clerk, General Presbyter, and a representative of the Committee on Ministry. <br /><br />ELECTION: The proposed membership and commission of this group shall be reported to the presbytery in the form of a written motion for approval and election.<br /><br />STAFF SUPPORT: The AC shall be staffed by the Stated Clerk of the presbytery. <br /><br />FINAL REPORT: The presbytery shall receive the final report of the AC, act on any remaining recommendations, and dismiss the AC at the completion of its work. <br /><br />General Rules: The following general rules apply to the selection and election of an AC: <br /><br />o An AC elected for this purpose shall not include these persons: The Stated Clerk, General Presbyter, Moderator, Vice Moderator, Moderatorial Intern, Chair of COM, or any member of the Permanent Judicial Commission. <br />o The presbytery may delegate to Council the authority to add, remove or replace members of an AC when it is apparent that some members(s) need relief or in order to bring in persons with new skills or gifts to the process. Such a replacement shall be reported to the presbytery. The presbytery may delegate to Council authority to grant permission to an AC to contact outside authorities for temporary consultation with the AC on specific matters. <br />o Quorum of AC shall be a majority of its elected and appointed members, unless the presbytery fixes a quorum at a higher number. <br />o The AC will have full authority of the presbytery to execute the limited powers granted by the presbytery (G-9.0502).<br /><br />Initially the AC should study “Guidelines for Communal Discernment” authored by Rev. Victoria G. Curtiss. Using this tool, and studying the situation in the congregation, its task will be to gather facts, seek discernment in partnership with the congregation, and recommend appropriate action to Council and/or the Presbytery. It may be given certain constitutional authority such as:<br /><br />1. to request records of the session (G-12.0102n, G-12.0304, G.13.0103k,n) (G-9.0408) “If a higher governing body learns at any time of any irregularity or delinquency by a lower governing body, it may require the governing body to produce any records and take appropriate action;”<br />2. to look at whatever records may be relevant (i.e., how money is held, title to property, insurance documents, mortgages or other loan documents, corporate officers, corporate articles, bylaws, charters – especially changes in any of these). The AC will be careful to look for recent changes or modifications to articles of incorporation, bylaws, or deeds. The presbytery is entitled to see such changes in legal documents (G-9.0408);<br />3. to determine, after reviewing the proceedings of the lower governing body or from any other information as may come to its attention, whether, <br />a.. the proceedings have been faithful to the mission of the whole church (G-9.0409a);<br />b. the lawful injunctions of a higher governing body have been obeyed (G-9.0409a);<br />4. to give directives (G-9.0410) on behalf of the presbytery;<br />a. “It is ordinarily sufficient for the higher governing body to record in its own proceedings, and in those under review, its approval, disapproval, or correction. If necessary, the higher governing body may direct the lower governing body to reconsider and correct an irregularity or cure a delinquency” (G.9.0410);<br />b. The type of directive will depend on the issues (examples: refrain from calling a congregational meeting, transferring assets, encumbering property, elect new officers, etc.);<br />5. to recommend whether the AC should return to Presbytery for authorization of additional powers; <br />6. to determine whether a schism exists within the congregation;<br />7. to determine which members represent the continuing church;<br />8. to make recommendations to the presbytery to dissolve pastoral relationships, or when requisite authority given by the presbytery, to dissolve pastoral relationships;<br />9. to assume original jurisdiction in any case it determines the session is unable or unwilling to manage wisely the affairs of its church;<br />10. to freeze the assets of the church (real and liquid);<br />11. to determine if and when a meeting of the congregation is appropriate for the purpose of voting to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.);<br />12. to call that congregational meeting, and provide the moderator and clerk for that meeting;<br />13. to report results of congregational vote to Council;<br />14. to authorize oversight of the church, its ministry and its property to a viable faction of the congregation that has been identified as the continuing church within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); or, if no “viable faction” will be continuing, to assist current and former members of the congregation who wish to remain members of the PC(U.S.A.) with membership transfer to another congregation or New Church Development; and<br />15. to propose to the presbytery the recommendation for the disposition of the property held by or for the church, and the assumption of the liabilities of the church, in the event there is no viable faction of the congregation that has been identified as the continuing church within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This will be done in ways that honor Jesus Christ, the PCUA and the newly constituted congregation. <br /><br />A. COMMUNICATION: The AC shall keep all concerned parties informed.<br />1. Send a letter to session outlining task and process (wording should be measured and clear).<br />2. Send a letter to all members of the congregation outlining the task and process (measured, non-threatening, explanatory).<br />3. The team shall have “one-on-one” conversation(s) with the pastor.<br />4. Communicate often with the Council through the Council Moderator.<br /><br />B. DURATION OF WORK: It is expected that the AC will ordinarily complete its work within one year, making reports to the Council and the Committee on Ministry, and ultimately to the Presbytery for vote. If the congregation has been determined to be of one mind (no significant conflict of factions within the church), the AC may allow a congregational vote and negotiate mutually agreed upon terms of withdrawal. Final disposition shall not be ratified before six months has elapsed from the start of the Response Team process. If the AC determines there is significant conflict within the congregation, they should assume original jurisdiction. <br /><br />REACHING AGREEMENT<br />Questions to ask once a TENTATIVE agreement has been reached include:<br />Is there a new sense of hope and vision?<br />Is there consolation or desolation in the decision?<br />Is there resonance with God’s Spirit?<br /><br />If these questions produce further concern the decision is revisited. <br /><br />Terms of the agreement would be presented for vote to the Presbytery at either a stated or specially called meeting. <br /><br /><br />WORSHIP<br />Should a particular congregation and the Presbytery of Olympia discern together that the best course of action should be that the congregation withdraw from the PC(U.S.A.), and once the details of the separation agreement are decided, ratified by the Presbytery and settled, a service of worship will be held to celebrate our common life in Christ and pray for the well-being and effectiveness of both the congregation and the Presbytery. The service will be jointly planned by a planning team comprised of three people appointed by the Council of the Presbytery and three people appointed by the Session of the church. All congregations of the Presbytery of Olympia shall be invited.<br /><br />* * * *<br /><br />There are some major flaws with this policy! Today I will focus on “We, members of the Presbytery of Olympia, will seek to honor the Scripture through respectful process and open dialogue.”<br /><br />There can be no open discussions about the topics facing our congregations and denomination by sessions or pastors when the policy document explicitly states that a “Response Team” will pay a visit to a church or pastor if the leadership of the presbytery becomes aware that congregation or pastor has serious disagreement with the governance of the denomination. How is that for openness!<br /><br />Our Presbytery is having a special presbytery meeting to talk about the proposed amendments to the Book of Order. The purpose of this meeting is to talk and listen—no vote will be taken. How can I openly discuss the ramifications of the amendments when there is the threat of a Response Team paying me a visit! One church session requested that the Presbytery be set aside the policy so that open conversations could take place. General Council knew that this proposal was going to be presented to the presbytery at the meeting this past week. As soon as the motion was made to set aside the policy a motion was immediately made to take up the motion at the next Presbytery meeting! That motion was made so quickly that one second could not have elapsed! Boy did the you-know-what hit the fan!!!! For almost 40 minutes there were motions, substitute motions, friendly amendments to the motions and so on. Commissioners were frustrated beyond belief. In the end, it was decided to “stay” the enforcement of the policy until the next regular presbytery meeting. As soon as it passed, another pastor turned to me and said, “I am sure that when the stay of enforcement is over that they will forget everything you said at the special meeting!” How convenient! The presbytery will not enforce the policy until after I have an opportunity to air my frustrations with the PCUSA and then I am to “trust” that they will forget everything that I just said. I am supposed to trust that I won’t have a Response Team breathing down my neck. So much for open dialogue!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-16065848556186264202008-09-22T16:07:00.000-07:002008-09-22T16:11:55.071-07:00Full Court Presby Returns… Sort Of!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNgl7njDODI/AAAAAAAAATY/sd-ULv2XHsk/s1600-h/DSC_0142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNgl7njDODI/AAAAAAAAATY/sd-ULv2XHsk/s320/DSC_0142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248987071858817074" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNglrMijmoI/AAAAAAAAATQ/hXefTtPfy5Y/s1600-h/DSC_0120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNglrMijmoI/AAAAAAAAATQ/hXefTtPfy5Y/s320/DSC_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248986789731080834" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNgleDjFWjI/AAAAAAAAATI/K4QfjT5d3WM/s1600-h/DSC_0118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5ehmc6YKXCQ/SNgleDjFWjI/AAAAAAAAATI/K4QfjT5d3WM/s320/DSC_0118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248986563979074098" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CLANCEW%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here are some pics from my dahlia garden.<span style=""> </span>June was a bad month for the PCUSA and for my dahlias.<span style=""> </span>Fortunately, the warm August and September have caused the dahlia’s to bloom like crazy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now on to the blog…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My self-imposed break from blogging is coming to an end.<span style=""> </span>To recap, this past General Assembly and the Stated Clerk’s release on the “authoritative interpretation” regarding the ordination of practicing, non-repentant gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender persons has made it VERY difficult for me to stay in the PCUSA.<span style=""> </span>I would have preferred to use this blog to help me work through the feelings, theology and polity decisions that I will have to make; but alas, my Presbytery has a “policy” that makes it very unwise for me to do this in a public forum.<span style=""> </span>I still have not made up my mind as to what my future is with the PCUSA.<span style=""> </span>However, things are happening in my Presbytery that have caused me to return to blogging before I complete my time of study, prayer and reflection.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Presbytery of Olympia held its September meeting in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Onalaska</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Washington</st1:state></st1:place>, at Community Presbyterian Church.<span style=""> </span>The meeting was to go from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., with a 45 minute break for dinner.<span style=""> </span>During dinner I was seated by an elder that was not from my church.<span style=""> </span>This elder had been at one of our Presbytery’s debriefing sessions following GA and remembered my extreme displeasure about the Assembly.<span style=""> </span>During the dinner he turned to me and asked, “When is someone going to do something about what is happening in the PCUSA?”<span style=""> </span>He was clearly EXTREMELY frustrated with the PCUSA and this past GA meeting.<span style=""> </span>I felt his frustration and anger.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Olympia Presbytery (the Presbytery where my church is located) has around 10,000 members and the vast majority of churches are evangelical.<span style=""> </span>There are some very liberal/progressive churches in our Presbytery.<span style=""> </span>However, a vast majority of the “power” positions in our Presbytery are filled with folks who are from the liberal/progressive wing of the church.<span style=""> </span>(Does that sound like your Presbytery?)<span style=""> </span>Our General Council of the Presbytery is very concerned about the future of our Presbytery and the denomination.<span style=""> </span>The General Council has formed a possibilities task force to look how, or if, we can move forward as a Presbytery in the future.<span style=""> </span>The General Presbyter talks about how the discussions have been lively and good.<span style=""> </span>People I know on the task force have told me that they cannot agree on anything—even the nature of God!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is my belief that some Presbyteries need to step forward to help the PCUSA move beyond this mess we have been in since 1978.<span style=""> </span>Some people may end up being sacrificial lambs in the effort.<span style=""> </span>I am unwilling to keep fighting this same battle for the rest of my years in ministry.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Guess what?<span style=""> </span>It is not just evangelical Presbyterians that are tired of this fight.<span style=""> </span>A few weeks ago I sat down with one of the more progressive pastors in my Presbytery.<span style=""> </span>He, too, is tired of this endless battle.<span style=""> </span>He cannot do ministry that he would like to do.<span style=""> </span>We agree that no matter which side “wins” at a given General Assembly meeting the other “side” is going to work non-stop to “win” at the next General Assembly meeting.<span style=""> </span>Those of us in the PCUSA have to be insane to live and minister like this.<span style=""> </span>My colleague and I are looking at ways that we might encourage our Presbytery to take the lead and end this fight.<span style=""> </span>If it means that the denomination splits—so be it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Presbyterian Global Fellowship (PGF) and Presbyterians for Renewal (PFR) want the PCUSA to stay together—just not totally together.<span style=""> </span>The champion the concept that to split the church is not right.<span style=""> </span>First, the PCUSA is a denomination, not the church.<span style=""> </span>If we are truly concerned about splitting the church then those groups would work hard to unite the Methodists, Assemblies of God, Church of the Nazarene, Evangelical Lutheran Church of American, and all the rest.<span style=""> </span>Second, if our beliefs are such that we have to have “special” Presbyteries and with different “rules” then I would challenge the PGF and PFR stances for keeping the PCUSA together.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Enough for now.<span style=""> </span>Tomorrow I will talk more about what is happening in our Presbytery.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22981256.post-88549013093047848412008-07-22T09:07:00.000-07:002008-07-22T09:11:29.080-07:00Options for Moving Forward – The Wise Words of Mark Roberts and Signing Off for Now.<o:p></o:p>It is strange and bizarre to think that the pastor of a church can have an impact on the larger church by using the internet.<span style=""> </span>What a ministry tool!<span style=""> </span>Early in my blogging “career” I ran across a blog by Mark Roberts.<span style=""> </span>(<a href="http://www.markdroberts.com/">Mark’s blog can be found here.)</a><span style=""> </span>At the time, Mark was the senior pastor at Irvine Presbyterian Church, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Irvine</st1:City>, <st1:state st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>I was drawn to Mark’s blog because he wrote about a wide range of topics that face the church.<span style=""> </span>Mark was (and is) faithful to the biblical text.<span style=""> </span>Mark’s blog is fantastic. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Following the 2008 General Assembly, Mark wrote a series on the future of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) titled, “Can We, Can We All Get Along?”<span style=""> </span>Please read his four posts:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><a href="http://markdroberts.com/?p=522">Section 1</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><a href="http://markdroberts.com/?p=525">Section 2</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><a href="http://markdroberts.com/?p=526">Section 3</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> <a href="http://markdroberts.com/?p=527"> </a></span><a href="http://markdroberts.com/?p=527">Section 4</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">These posts are an accurate reflection of the ordination battles that PCUSA has been experiencing for 30+ years.<span style=""> </span>I firmly believe that those who want to ordain sexually active LGBT persons believe that the issue is a “justice issue” and that they are doing what God is calling them to do.<span style=""> </span>I firmly believe that those who do not want to ordain sexually active LGBT persons (or persons who are sexually active outside of the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman) believe that it is a matter of holiness and biblical faithfulness.<span style=""> </span>These folks firmly believe that they are doing the will of God.<span style=""> </span>These are the two main groups driving the ordination debate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Proponents of the ordination of practicing LGBT persons do not define the parameters for the ordination of such persons.<span style=""> </span>Do they believe:</p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">That only LGBT persons who are living in fidelity in a civil union should be ordained?</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">That LGBT persons who practice consensual sexual intercourse should be ordained?<span style=""> </span>If so, what about the heterosexual married person who has consensual sexual intercourse with a person they are not married to?</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">That the church should affirm marriage for LGBT persons and then only those LGBT persons who are married should be ordained?</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">That bisexual persons who are seeking to fulfill their desire for sexual gratification from males and females can be ordained?</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The actions of the past General Assembly have caused me to take a serious look at my life, calling and ministry.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Where to from here?<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This will be my last “official” post on FullCourtPresby for several months (I cannot envision this process taking less than three or four months).<span style=""> </span>I will be spending my “normal” blogging time (research and writing time) in prayer, Bible study, meditation, fasting and personal reflection—allowing the Holy Spirit to move and speak.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For those from Evergreen that read my blog, fear not!<span style=""> </span>I am not planning on leaving Evergreen or the PCUSA.<span style=""> </span>The Session and I will continue our efforts to move into the church into the preferred future that God has for our church.<span style=""> </span>The Deacons and I will continue to minister and care for our church family (the needs will be great due to the large number of folks who are in the twilight years of their time on earth.).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In my opinion, one of the biggest problems in the PCUSA is that we have pastors who are in the pastoral ministry who have no business being there.<span style=""> </span>Every few years I ask the Lord if it is time for me to leave the ministry and seek a different vocation.<span style=""> </span>God’s call on our life can change!<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, it is too easy to keep on doing the same old, same old thing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So… my break from blogging begins tomorrow.<span style=""> </span>I have already begun this discernment journey—and it has been refreshing, and challenging.<span style=""> </span>I look forward to discovering where God is leading me.<span style=""> </span>I am keeping a journal (and I HATE journaling!) of this process.<span style=""> </span>When the time is right I may share a summary of my journal through this blog.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Until then, I will be posting photos of my dahlias beginning the week of August 4<sup>th</sup>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">God’s blessings on you all! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1