Task force members reflect on their meeting
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, October 22, 2003
DALLAS – The members of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity came down to the final minutes of their two-day and two-night meeting in Dallas, obviously weary but nonetheless satisfied that they were headed toward what they believe is the right direction – wherever that is.
On Friday night, Oct. 16, in the closing minutes of their meeting, they called for a time of reflection, when each member says what’s on his or her mind, whether to recap some part of the meeting or to provide some personal view of what was transpiring.
For the second straight meeting, since the 215th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) authorized the task force to close its meeting to the press, the task force conducted all of its business in the presence of reporters. There was some obvious anxiety during the discussions – and later as well after the press reported what they had said.
Most of the task force members are not used to reporters covering their deliberations. And most are not used to being in the denominational spotlight as the PCUSA waits to hear what they will say about the issues that have stirred great controversy: Christology, Biblical authority and interpretation, ordination requirements and power.
But, rather than close the doors to the press, they engaged each other in unusual candor as they discussed homosexuality and the rough and tumble of Presbyterian history in America. The material they covered were issues that invited short fuses.
But there were some second thoughts about their candor. Two members – Jack Haberer and Mark Achtemeier – were quick to respond to coverage by The Layman Online, submitting letters to the editor over statements they made that they believed could be construed in ways they did not want them to be construed.
But it was calm at the end of the meeting in Dallas. “I’d like to share some of my reflections,” said Gary Demarest, a retired California minister and co-moderator of the task force.
“One of the themes that has come to me is the constant tension between the essentials and the scruples,” he added. “I’m not willing to say we can’t articulate some essentials, but we have to leave room for some scruples. I may be more comfortable with the word tension than I am with the word balance.”
Jong Hyeong Lee, pastor of Hanmee Presbyterian Church in Itasca, Ill., praised the task force members for their historical overview of Presbyterianism in America. He also spoke gratefully of Presbyterian mission work among Koreans. Today, Presbyterianism dominates in South Korea.
Frances Gench, a member of the faculty at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va., said she found the presentations and discussions of sexuality “sobering,” but asked, “Where are our Reformed theologies? Maybe that’s part of our problem.”
Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Lowville, N.Y., said she longed for a “way to honor apparently divergent views without necessarily compromising anything.” She added, “Our level of candor seems to be increasing. I think we have a way to go, but our level of caring seems to grow.”
Lonnie J. Oliver, pastor of the New Life Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, said he had an immediate application for some of the material on homosexuality because he plans to preach a sermon on the subject in a few weeks. He did not indicate what view he will take.
Oliver noted “someone came up with a statistic” that there are more homosexual African-Americans in Atlanta than any other U.S. city and that there is a current controversy in Atlanta over a billboard that says, “It’s OK to be gay.” Later, Oliver was asked whether his sermon could be included in the task force materials. He balked, without giving a firm yes or no.
John Wilkinson, pastor of Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, N.Y., used the word “ligament” to describe American Presbyterian history: “Those parties of people coming together after being apart is so profoundly powerful – that issue of ligament that holds the body together.”
Mike Loudon, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, Fla., expressed deep appreciation to the other task force members who led segments of the Dallas meeting. “I love Frances [Gench] as a Bible study leader,” he said. Gench led a study of the book of James. “I love church history. I was energized by the presentation. We can learn so much, and we are learning so much.”
Loudon gave the task force a high grade. “I thought we did good work. I think we’re moving forward. Exactly where we’re going to end up, I don’t know. But we’re making progress.”
Mary Ellen Lawson, stated clerk of the Redstone Presbytery in Pennsylvania, said the historical study “reminds me of the pain that comes from schism.” She expressed disappointment that a paper by Robert A.J. Gagnon, who says Scripture calls homosexual practice sinful, “was a defense he made on a proposed amendment” that called for repealing the denomination’s “fidelity/chastity” constitutional ordination standard.
Scott Anderson, executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches and the only openly gay homosexual on the task force, had a different reaction to the task force’s assessment of theological papers on homosexuality.
“I appreciated the process,” he said. “So often we move to a polemic mode on this issue. At another level, … it was sort of bifurcating to me. I felt like I was perched on a light above, looking down. It makes participating in this difficult.”
Barbara Everitt Bryant, a research scientist at the University of Michigan Business School and director of the U.S. Census Bureau under former President George H.W. Bush, said her conclusion was that “conflicting views are nothing new and neither is reconciliation. The discussion was very lively but not confrontational.”
Achtemeier, an associate professor of theology at Dubuque Theological Seminary, said he looked forward to the meeting’s final act – the celebration of communion, which he called “a very magnificent part.” He also said, “I start to wonder if the church being in schism has more to do with the state of the heart.”
Jenny Stoner of Craftsbury, Va, co-moderator of the task force, described its assignment and said it could, if time allowed, spend another 10 years on its deliberations. But she was emphatic that it was not going to last that long. “I feel excited that we’ve come so far and everyone’s enriched by listening to each other.”
Joan Kelley Merritt, moderator of the Presbytery of Seattle, said, “Being here is like being in safe territory” because of the camaraderie with her colleagues – but I know that ‘never-never’ land doesn’t exist.”
Barbara Wheeler, president of Auburn Theological Seminary, said, “I think it’s been a meeting in which we were quick to listen. I’m grateful for yesterday’s session [about homosexuality], the extraordinary discipline of it.”
Demarest suggested that the task force, which has been existence for 22 months, is “well past the half-way point, way beyond the midpoint in terms of where we’re going. I feel we have been faithful. Whether we’re successful or not, that will be for others to call; whether we’re faithful, that’s for others to measure.”