Pastor's Message for March 2006
Back to Basics: Who Are We Presbyterians?
For the past four years, a task force has been at work in our Presbyterian Church, seeking to "lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in spiritual discernment of our Christian identity in and for the 21st century..." The Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and the Purity of the Church" (PUP) has sought to find ways that Presbyterians may address the divisive issues that our denomination is struggling with - issues such as our understanding of Christ as Lord, how we view and interpret the Bible, and our teaching and practice about sexuality and ordination. The title of the task force is from the ordination vow affirmed by all ministers, elders, and deacons: "Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?"
PUP has spent much of its time on discernment: how do we, as individuals and especially as a faith community, discern God's will for us and the Spirit's leading? It has sought to develop a way of living together that also honors the honest differences we have as members of the Presbyterian Church. In other words, how can we live together in peace and unity while there are opposing points of view on what constitutes the purity of the church? In this regard, the task force has studied and practiced ways of decision-making that minimize "win/lose" outcomes and maximize "win/win" outcomes reached by collaboration . . . and by God's grace.
But the starting point for PUP and for us all is our identity as Presbyterian Christians. Yes, we are Christians first and Presbyterians second, but how important to know who we are and what are the important gifts, perspectives, and traditions that Presbyterians bring to the whole Christian community. And so the report begins with "Discerning Our Christian Identity in and for the 21st century," and here proposes six strong affirmations that we would do well to keep in our hearts and heads as we live our faith:
1) As Presbyterian Christians, we are a people whose identity is centered in the love of the triune God.
It all begins with God's love, known most fully in God's revelation as Father and Creator, in the person and work of Jesus Christ the Son, and in the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit.
2) We are a people whose identity is rooted in God who adopts us through grace.
God makes an everlasting covenant, first with the Hebrew people, and then, through Christ, Gentiles are "grafted" into this covenant. But it all happens by God's grace alone, not by human accomplishment or merit.
3) We are a people whose identity is expressed through the proclamation of the Word.
We are a "people of the Book," who learn who we are through the witness of the scriptures, the "unique and authoritative" book for showing us God's nature and purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ.
4) We are a people whose identity is sealed in the waters of baptism.
Baptism initiates us into the church - shows us our true spiritual family and assures us we have been claimed by Christ as "part of the family." We have a home.
5) We are a people whose identity is nurtured in the sharing of bread and cup.
The Lord's Supper is our spiritual food that sustains us for the long and sometimes difficult journey of life in faith. Every time we partake, we are nurtured in ever-deeper understanding of ourselves as God's reconciled people.
6) We are a people whose identity is strengthened through discernment and service.
We are chosen by God not for an elevated status in the world, but to serve the world as Christ served those in need in his time. We are,
in other words, Christ's hands and heart and feet and lips in the world today, truly "the body of Christ." But to serve faithfully, we need to continually seek God's purpose - and that brings us back to discernment.
In this Lenten Season, as we seek to prepare ourselves spiritually to re-live God's saving drama that reaches its climax in the Cross and Resurrection, let us think of who we are in contrast to what our culture says we should be . . . and readily seduces us to be. And may we celebrate our identity as Presbyterian Christians who seek God's truth together in love and grace.
Faithfully,
Rev. Floyd W. Churn
PS. The report of the Task Force on Peace Unity, and Purity of the Church can be found in its entirety and downloaded at the Presbyterian Church website, along with many other helpful resources for discerning our calling.
Go to http://www.pcusa.org/peaceunitypurity/finalreport.htm
See all posts on Pastor's Message