An
Inkling
Wow
– suddenly life is different! For nearly
two years we’ve been in the thick of seeking dismissal from the PCUSA to a new
denominational home, the ECO. Tuesday
the Presbytery voted to dismiss us, though not without some heated debate, and efforts
by some to change the settlement agreement we had worked out with their negotiating
team. But gratefully, in answer to so
many prayers, the vote was nearly 3 to 1 to dismiss us with the terms we voted
upon as a congregation last month.
So
we’re in a new day. But it is a day with
its own challenges. Let me suggest to
you several that come to mind.
First,
we have to learn how to identify ourselves without the foil of the PCUSA. For years, when we have been challenged by
evangelical friends about being part of the PCUSA, we have responded, “but
we’re different.” Now we are different –
literally. And we can no longer use that
foil as an identifier, for which it was never really adequate anyway. Now we must “identity ourselves” in Christ as
a Reformed congregation, in Richmond, in 2013.
We get to do so in partnership with ECO congregations, a far more
healthy partnership for us.
Second,
we must seek the Lord for healing in our hearts. The dismissal process has been brutal at
points. Add that to many years of
tensions with our former denomination, and the effect on our hearts has not
been good. For example, in my own heart
I will be seeking God’s forgiveness and healing for some deep cynicism about my
sisters and brothers in the PCUSA. I
suspect that your heart may need similar cleansing. As we both repent and forgive, may God heal
our hearts, that they may bear fruit fitting for his Kingdom, rather than the inevitably
sour fruit of bitter hearts.
Third,
we must pay for this. We’re having to
borrow $250,000 to pay Presbytery. The
justice or injustice of that is now God’s to judge, not ours. It is the way that has been opened for
us. I suggest that we approach it as a
privilege to sacrifice for what we believe God has called us to do. It’s not exactly rare for disciples to be
called to sacrifice! Now God has given
us that privilege. We must answer his
call.
And
finally, we must not forget our sister congregations still in the dismissal
process: Third, Christ, and Crestwood
departing for ECO, and Spotsylvania departing for the EPC. In our urgency to get on with life, we must
not forget those who have been our partners thus far. By God’s providence, we are the first ones
out. But that only frees us to shift our
focus from praying for our own deliverance to praying for our partners! We will be prompting such concerted prayer in
various ways. Stay tuned.
As
I said: suddenly life is different! And
in a good way. Let’s see where the Lord
takes us now.
Blessings,
Keith
