An
Inkling
Six area
congregations started on this path together, seeking to depart from the PCUSA
for a new denomination. Given the way
our Presbyterian Constitution works, with Presbytery having oversight of
congregations and final say on our property, it’s felt like a vulnerable place
to be. So it has been a blessing to have
some partners to walk with on this slippery part of the path. We’ve prayed with and for each other, and have
sought to steady each other as we’ve walked.
Now
there is news in the paper this morning that New Hanover Church, one of the
six, was told on Sunday that their Session is being replaced, and that the
property will be for the minority portion of the congregation that wants to
stay in the PCUSA. You can read the news
account yourself at: Times Dispatch report.
I have
my own opinions about who was right and wrong, wise and foolish in this. But there is much I don’t know, and I’m sure
no one knows the whole story, not even the New Hanover or Presbytery
leaders. So judgments, and certainly
condemnations, are best left to the One who does know the full story. Gratefully, quotes in the paper show both
sides speaking with a good measure of grace about each other.
This
has all put me to pondering on this slippery part of our path of faith. How is it that our earnest efforts to follow
the Lord put us on parting paths at points?
There are many human explanations.
But somehow the Lord superintends all of this. Indeed, Jesus said that his coming would
bring division. See Luke 12:49-53. The sadness of all such parting must be
tempered by our trust in the One whose ways (and grace!) are beyond our own,
and will finally bring us together.
All
along St. Giles folks have asked me whether we would lose our property, and
I’ve told them, “No, I don’t think so.”
Our straw poll meeting three weeks ago lends credence to that
supposition (278 yes, 8 no, and 7 abstentions).
But after sixteen months in this process, we are just now getting to
talk with Presbytery about such things, and we’ll have to see. New Hanover Church has reminded us that we’re
in a vulnerable place, which as far as I can tell from scripture, is not a bad
place to be when you’re trying to follow Jesus.
The Beatitudes come to mind. If,
in his providence, we, too, lose our physical place, we can trust that his
blessings will hold.
Scripture
is clear: God will be glorified. We’d all like to think that he would be
glorified because of us and not in spite of us. But clearly
it is always some of both – which only adds to his glory.
Pray
for those at New Hanover Church – both those departing and those
remaining. Pray for the Presbytery, and
for the Administrative Commission working with St. Giles. They have a hard task. And pray for your Elders. They feel a great weight of responsibility as
we try to follow Jesus on this slippery part of the path. Those are all prayers that you can know the
Lord will answer in ways wiser than we know to ask!
Blessings,
Keith
