Jody Harrington, moderator of New Covenant Presbytery and Jeff Conway, pastor of Westminster, Amarillo, speak urgently as others listen intently as small groups process the 2008 General Assembly’s action during the “Next Steps” event hosted in early August by the Synod of the Sun. Fifty people gathered from 11 presbyteries at the Presbyterian Mission Center in Irving, Texas.
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While General Assembly (GA) topics like ordination standards, confessions of faith and form of government get a lot of attention, the proverbial elephant in the living room is denominational relevance, according to many who gathered at a synod event Aug. 11-12, called “Next Steps.”
Rev. Mark Tammen, associate stated clerk of the General Assembly helps decipher the history of Authoritative Interpreations of the Book of Order in relation to ordination standards.
Some of the 50 participants from all 11 presbyteries of the Synod of the Sun, suggested that the most critical questions that no one seems to be addressing are, “Shall the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continue to exist?” and “Does it matter whether we will survive?”
Greg Coulter, general presbyter of Eastern Oklahoma, told the gathered presbytery leaders that this “Next Steps” meeting was designed “to give you tools for taking the next steps in your presbyteries on interpreting the actions of GA.”
He asked that participants avoid using “us” and “them” language because the GA is comprised of “us” — elders and ministers elected by every presbytery. The fact that some in the room had never served as a commissioner didn’t make them different, according to Coulter.
“Simply by being here, you are one of ‘them,’” Coulter said, drawing many nods and chuckles from the room.
The intense two days of discussion, presentation and listening alternated between frustration, bordering on anger, to helplessness which was trumped by hope. The frustration centered on how poorly prepared many GA commissioners seem to be for their work. Some said the concept of listening has degraded into waiting for an opportunity to talk and persuade.
Andy Odom (Eastern Oklahoma), Melinda Veatch (Grace), and Mark Henslee (Indian Nations) listen intently during group sharing at the August 2008 "Next Steps" event hosted by Synod of the Sun.
“The political way we tend to do things in the church is what is killing us.” said Melinda Veatch, member of Grace Presbytery. She said her experience as a commissioner being lobbied by special interest groups was insulting. “If we are really there as a gathering of the Holy Spirit, then why is the political action there?”
