Carlos Wilton
By Carlos Wilton
I love our new Form of Government – most of it. It’s lean, efficient, and places our historic principles of Presbyterian governance clearly at the foundations, building upwards from there. Because of the way we had to vote on it up or down, though – as a single package – I made the decision to support it, even though I had serious reservations about one aspect. Still do.
My reservations are about the swapping of the term “minister of the Word and Sacrament” for “teaching elder.”
It’s not a total swap: the book uses “teaching elder” throughout, but allows for “minister of the Word and Sacrament” as an alternate title (G-2.0501). In the several years we’ve been living under our present Form of Government, I’ve seen us benefit from its simple, intuitive structure in more ways than I can count. I’d never go back to the unnecessary, cobbled-together complexity of the old one.
I dutifully use “teaching elder” in technical discussions about polity. When I teach Presbyterian Polity at Princeton Seminary this fall, I’ll use it. But there’s a part of me that winces every time I hear the term, or even say it.
It’s not that there are no advantages to “teaching elder.” Laid alongside “ruling elder,” the term highlights our central principle of the parity of ministries: in presbytery, synod and General Assembly, equal numbers of teaching elders and ruling elders call the shots. It’s a vital check-and-balance that helps define who we are as Presbyterians.
Read more at http://monmouthstatedclerk.blogspot.com/2013/08/alternative-presbyterians.html
3 Comments. Leave new
One of the most important aspects of nFog, not mentioned by Mr. Wilton, is that it furthers the process of making presbyteries more powerful, at the expense of weakened sessions and congregations. Of course, with the continuing decline of the PCUSA — brought on in part by unwise decisions such as the adoption of nFog — there will be fewer congregations, sessions, and church members for presbyteries to exercise control over.
I am pretty much in agreement with Mr. Wilton on this. The nFog BOO is refreshing. Does it strengthen Presbyteries? Perhaps, but a presbytery is made up of the local clergy (TE) and Ruling Elders (RE) from its churches, ideally in equal numbers. The presbytery is the body that examines candidates before ordination, it makes recommendations for local missions, it meets with churches experiencing difficulties (and no, not all difficulties are denominational related), and it provides a place fellowship and worship in the spirit of Christ. Many times I have heard a RE remark after attending a Presbytery meeting for the first time, how the worship and singing were so inspiring. I think it also needs to be stated that a Presbytery is what makes us Presbyterian. An independent Presbyterian church (yes, I know some exist) is nevertheless a contradiction in terms. It’s like being married to yourself.
Over the years I have worked with strong sessions, and with weak sessions. I don’t think presbytery had anything to do with that happening. It’s who the local church elected. In recent years, however, I have seen many sessions getting stronger, and while I won’t give all the credit to the new BOO, I think it is part of it. Many newly elected elders are taking their faith commitment, and duty on the session more seriously than some did 10-15 years ago. I think the new BOO gives greater authority to the work of the session as well.
Hey, that’s the greatest! So with ll this brain power AWHFY?