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This page is archived from the
217th GA, 2006 |
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Inclusive church? GA offered a
mixed picture |
A new observer reviews
the Assembly through the lenses of an inclusive-church activist, and finds a
mixed picture, with more to be done – especially dealing with the issue of
power
Sonnie Swenson wrote these comments
soon after the Assembly. She introduces herself thus: "I attended GA as
one under the umbrella of (but still brand new to) TAMFS. In addition to
that affiliation, I have been involved with MLP nationally and locally,
individually and congregationally, for years and years; and with CovNet as
a local chapter leader (of a chapter that has chastised the national
CovNet leadership for not being strong enough). I have also been active in
the inclusive church movement through the Lazarus Project in Southern
California. I consider my own best work to be at the grassroots level, and
the bigger and wider the scope gets, the more painful it all gets for me."
Her observations on the Assembly >>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Sunday morning Welcoming Worship during GA week was mutually arranged
by representatives from MLP and TAMFS. The cooperation and mutuality was
obvious. It was a delight to sing in the choir! There were numbers of people
from the other progressive partner organizations--the Witherspoon Society,
Covenant Network, et. al., in attendance--along with some "free agent" types
who are not a part of or who would prefer not to identify specifically with
any particular organization. It was also good to be with the good and kind
people of Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) who hosted us and joined with
us in worshiping the God we love. (In talking with one of the ushers, I
found out that this is a church where they usually have 30-35 people in
worship. Last Sunday, there were three busloads and numerous carloads of
Presbyterians under their roof.)
The daily evening worship services were significantly smaller, but
meaningful events throughout the week. They were co-coordinated and co-led
by the Rev. Janet Edwards of MLP and the Rev. Beth Wheeler of TAMFS,
chaplains of the respective groups. The personal spiritual consideration for
each day was the question, "Where was God present for you today? Where was
God farthest away?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Something I don't remember reading here is the fact that Robert Gagnon ( http://www.robgagnon.net/),
one of the key players among those who oppose us, not only served as a
commissioner to GA, but he served on the Church Orders committee – the
committee that had responsibility for the Heartland Overture and the other
21 overtures calling for the deletion of G-6.0106b. Gagnon took many
opportunities to lecture the committee with his long-winded homophobic
vitriol throughout the hearings. Even so, the committee vote to delete B was
still 30-28 on a motion to disapprove. While I wouldn't quite call this a
"virtual tie," I would call it very close – even with the other side having
their "heaviest hitter" in the game.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, it's on to San Jose, California [for the 2008 General Assembly],
where the civil situation for LGBT people is significantly better than in
Alabama, and where we have far more of our own who can be in attendance at
General Assembly.
And, sure, it is the goal of any social justice organization to put
itself out of business. And wouldn't that be great? But I don't see it
happening. Because there is always more light yet to break forth out of
God's holy Word, always more freedom to be found in service, always more
work to be done.
One particular area where this is evident is in the work of the
Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the church. The
task force had a ridiculously huge charter to begin with: "The task force is
directed to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in spiritual discernment
of our Christian identity, in and for the 21st century, using a process
which includes conferring with synods, presbyteries, and congregations
seeking the peace, unity, and purity of the church. This discernment shall
include but not be limited to issues of Christology, biblical authority and
interpretation, ordination standards, and power." (see
http://www.pcusa.org/peaceunitypurity/covenant.htm#mandate)
But the Task Force did not deal with power issues! I heard it said
multiple times at GA presentations, and on multiple occasions leading up to
GA, by a number of people who served on the task force: Oh, too bad we ran
out of time, or we would have explored power issues... Maybe, just maybe,
power should have been their starting place.
Having attended their recent national conference in Atlanta, I know that
this power issue is something being examined by TAMFS. Clearly, this is an
issue that Jesus had to deal with, and one to which we are always
called--and always WILL BE called. Justice knows no season, and justice
cannot wait, and indeed now is the time for justice; but Dr. King said in
1965: "'Let justice roll down like waters in a mighty stream,' said the
Prophet Amos. He was seeking not consensus but the cleansing action of
revolutionary change. America has made progress toward freedom, but measured
against the goal the road ahead is still long and hard. This could be the
worst possible moment for slowing down."
Like it or not, we're in it for the long haul.
– Sonnie
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