By Heidi Hall, Ministry Matters
The pastoral letter from Presbyterian Church (USA)’s leadership shot through our ranks in the minutes after last week’s deciding presbytery vote approving same-sex marriage —undoubtedly written weeks in advance as the totals rolled in from across the U.S.
“We encourage the congregations … to continue to be in conversation about marriage and family,” it read. “We hope that such ‘up/down’ voting does not mark the end, but the continuation of our desire to live in community.”
Fat chance, I thought.
How do we keep talking about an issue so divisive that about 300 congregations have left for other denominations since a 2011 vote approving openly gay clergy? How do we keep talking when pastors say they’re fearful that leadership will renege on a promise never to force them to marry anyone?
It seems I’m wrong. Observers with vastly more experience say the conversation absolutely will continue, because it must.
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Maybe the time has come for us to acknowledge that we need a Savior. We are human and subject to sin and temptation. We need to get down on our knees and ask God to forgive us. He will through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Here is what no one in the PCUSA wishes to deal with. You cannot base a religious organization on a congregationalist view and practice on ministry behaviors and, at the same time, maintain an episcopal understanding of property and power dynamics.
Both concepts of polity and practice are mutually incompatible theologically, philosophically and in practically. Its like different types of matter existing in the same time and space. One system or method of practice will come to dominate the other, while the latter falls out of practice. My guess is that in a few years a future GA will change “may” to must or “proscribed” and that is that.
The PCUSA is the only religious denomination in western history going through a systemic-structural decline, and, a classic theological based schism as well. The PCUSA will contract by about 30-35% in the number of churches over the next 5-7 years. Part of that will be formal church defections, leavings, but the majority will be simple church death related broad based population decline, churches that close due to economic stresses or issues in the local community. Regardless, the great progressive-liberal victories is that which is celebrated by less and less going forward. At some point economies of scale will force it into some union with either the UCC, CC (DC) or some other like minded minor sect.
But really, what is there to talk about? One side, if we can think of it as that, changes the denomination in what the other side thinks is both significant, and objectionable. It doesn’t matter for the moment who is morally or theologically right. If it’s important enough to the side that objects to the change, then it ought to leave, either individually, or by the congregation. It isn’t as though the PCUSA provides the only way to worship God. The only ones who have a need to stay and talk are those that could never bring themselves to leave the denomination, or those who really don’t care about the change, or those who depend on the PCUSA for their job or their power. On the other hand, a right-thinking denomination would say, “We made a change that you think is both significant and wrong. We will not go back. Therefore, if you feel the need to go, and you will still be worshipping God with your property, take it and go. We didn’t contribute to it. We’re sorry to lose you, but go with our blessings.”