Seeking the open arms of Christ

Submitted by Darcy Metcalfe, youth director, Calvary Presbyterian Church, Logansport, Indiana

We have a 19-year-old woman who comes to our evening service and resides at the homeless shelter down the street. I have had the occasion and privilege to pray with her and get to know her a little better. Through our conversation I learned that she has been physically abused for much of her life and ended up running away from her abusive father. She confided in me that she never learned how to read and that she had always felt rejected by society and her family. 

At one particular evening service, our head pastor, who is a person in God that I have the utmost respect for and am honored to serve with, served communion. He explained that if you were not baptized you could not receive the Eucharist. I was not aware this was in the Book of Order and was immediately taken aback. I glanced over at this young lady and her eyes were welling with tears. I asked her what was wrong, and she said, “I thought I was accepted here, but I feel like I'm being rejected all over again. I can't even take communion with you.” Through our previous conversations, I knew she had committed her life to God, loved Jesus and was planning on being baptized after the next new members class. I pulled her aside and explained in my personal opinion it was just a rule that needed to be changed and it had nothing to do with God's love or acceptance of her. I told her we loved her and God loved her just as much as the pastor or anyone else in that room. 

I would have never been aware of this mandate in the Book of Order if I had not had the opportunity see it hurt someone first hand. I truly pray that the PC(USA) change this stipulation in order to serve more fully as the open arms of Christ.

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