DALLAS — Saying that
“a cloud is hanging over the Presbyterian Church (USA),”
General Assembly Moderator Susan Andrews urged the Theological
Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church (TTF)
on Feb. 19 to develop a model to help congregations, presbyteries
and synods engage in dialogue about divisive issues facing the
church.
“Fear, mistrust, anger and avoidance … (of) the issues
that divide us are inhibiting the creativity and energy that’s
out there (in the church),” Andrews said. “In your
interim report, please strongly urge a simple process that any
group — large or small — can use, not to argue or
agree, but to understand.”
The TTF was created by the 2001 General Assembly and charged
“to lead the Presbyterian Church (USA) in spiritual discernment
of our Christian identity in and for the 21st century.”
The task force was assigned four specific topics — Christology,
Biblical authority and interpretation, ordination standards and
power. It is scheduled to make an interim report to the upcoming
216th General Assembly in Richmond, VA, and to deliver its final
report to the Assembly in 2006.
“The dialogue we all hope for is not happening around the
church,” the moderator said. “People are usually talking
with people with whom they agree. We desperately need structured
dialogue across the lines that divide.”
One problem Andrews said she has encountered is that Presbyterians
are willing to share their thoughts about ordination standards
privately, but “will not speak publicly because they are
afraid for their jobs, for their churches, for their friendships.”
Some threaten to leave the denomination if the constitutional
ban on the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians is
lifted, while others threaten to leave if the ban remains in place.
“The bombs being thrown across the theological lines are
not ‘the provisional demonstration of the kingdom of God,’”
Andrews said, referring to one of the six “great ends of
the church.”
In her travels as moderator, she said, she has been “excited
and uplifted by the strength of the churches and the vitality
of their mission,” but has come to believe that the church
is “being hampered by the logjam of these divisive issues.”
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on you,”
she told the task force members, “but I believe the Holy
Spirit has called this incredible group of people together to
lead our church out of this.” |
