General Assembly staffer urges Presbyterians to ignore their differences
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, September 21, 2000
MONTREAT, N.C. – “It seems that there is a dividing wall of hostility (pause) over sexual issues.”
With that attention-getter, Don Campbell, director of Congregational Ministries of the Presbyterian Church (USA), began preaching about a “dividing wall of hostility” in the denomination.
But his conclusion, drawn from Paul’s letter to Ephesus, was that Jesus Christ has already broken down the dividing wall and that Presbyterians should live as if there is none. “Live as if” was the title of his sermon.
Campbell did not weigh in on either side of the major issues that seem to polarize Presbyterians: the ordination of self-affirming, practicing homosexuals and the upcoming national referendum on a General Assembly proposal to prohibit Presbyterian ministers from conducting wedding-like ceremonies that bless homosexual couples.
Rather, he said, “Both sides believe they are right,” he said. “Both sides believe God is on their side. Both sides believe they are fighting for God. Therefore, the other side is the enemy.”
Campbell said the dividing wall is apparent in other relationships. He said he recently talked to three couples, all facing divorce, and attended one wedding. He concluded that the dividing wall scored 3-1.
“But I see a sign of hope,” he said, citing the upbeat reports of Moderator Syngman Rhee who told the General Assembly Council that in his travels across the nation he has found Presbyterians remarkably united in faith and mission.
“If we believe Jesus Christ became like us, lived among us, died for us, rose from sin and death, gives us new life and broke down the dividing wall of hostility,” then Presbyterians should live as if there is no dividing wall, he said.
“The fact is, the wall is down,” he said. “To live as if the wall is down makes a difference.”