Commentary: A minister’s
report on the 219th GA
By Hector Reynoso, Guest commentary, July 28, 2010
My name is Hector Reynoso, minister commissioner from Mission Presbytery …
Sometime last year I was asked over the phone if I wanted to be a commissioner to the General Assembly, I said yes at the moment, thinking that I would still have to pray about it and if I decided not to I would call with plenty of time and let presbytery know. When Mission Presbytery voted to approve the commissioners I was not able to be there, nevertheless, my name was approved. As time went by I forgot that I had agreed to be a commissioner, until I received an e-mail reminding me that I needed to go to San Antonio for training.
As I was in prayer in my office on a Friday morning, a little less than two months before the General Assembly, the phone rang. It was Rev. Julia Leeth who called in order to ask if I would stand with her as her vice-moderator for the GA. An answer was needed as soon as possible. I spoke with my wife and the session of our church and we decided to accept God’s call. I did not really desire this, nor had I ever thought about it but if God was opening the door I felt strongly that I had to walk through it. This is what I preach, therefore, this is what I had to do.
At the GA, while I was in prayer, during the day of the moderator’s election, I had a very strong sense that the Lord had not brought us to the GA to be elected. When election night came, Julia was not elected as moderator. Nevertheless, we came in second, out of six candidates. Losing the election was a great blessing since I gained about 100 friends from one day to the other. Having participated in the elections with Rev. Julia Leeth opened the door for me meet and get to know many advisory delegates, young adult advisory delegates (YAADS) and commissioners that were there to stand for Christ. We prayed together, worked together and stood together for Christ.
In standing for vice-moderator it was clear and evident where I stood and what my convictions were. This soon put me at odds with hundreds of people, many who identified themselves by wearing a multicolor scarf, like a rainbow. People wearing these scarves were in all committees, as commissioners, moderators, advisory delegates, YAADS and observers.
In my conversation with several of the commissioners I had met, I learned that many felt intimidated by the abundant presence of all those wearing a scarf. I mention this because I felt intimidated as well, but soon found out that I was not alone. The scarf, I soon found out, meant that they were supporters of all the overtures that supported the ordination, marriage and full inclusion of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. It soon became evident that this group was the majority, not only in numbers but also the “theological majority.”
The time came and all committees presented their reports for the plenary; most reports presented for the approval were the ones endorsed by the GLBT community. I must gently state that by the time of the plenary I was feeling twice underrepresented and twice oppressed. There were hardly any Hispanic commissioners present, and with all the due respect most of the assembly was Euro-American, “white,” plus, by now it was obvious that I also belonged to a theological minority as well.
The time of the plenary came and one by one pretty much all items supported by the GLBT community were approved: continuing with an inclusive translation of the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belhar Confession, new form of Government, the removal of the famous Amendment B, redefining marriage (this one did not pass), Board of Pensions (BoP) benefits for same-sex couples, etc. I was witnessing the church of Christ losing all votes by a landslide. I was compelled to speak at the plenary during the debate for ordination standards for I could no longer remain silent. Speaking at plenary immediately made me receive the cold shoulder from many, but also the love and support of a few Biblically-faithful, Christ-centered Presbyterians.
I tried to speak again the next day. However, when I stood in line, quickly someone “called the question” and all debate was ended. I tried again during the BoP discussion and the “question” was called again promptly. The third time I decided I would ask a question instead of speaking for or against an issue. To my surprise, the person in charge of handing me the yellow paddle argued with me for about 45 seconds and would not give me the paddle. Not until others started wondering what was going on is that I received the paddle and was able to ask my question. I went back to my seat and sometime later some protesters came marching in. Since I was not able to get to the microphone again, I was not able to be heard again, for this reason I am extremely grateful to The Layman for providing a venue for me to be heard.
Needless to say, nearly all the overtures that the GLBT community sponsored and supported were approved, except for the marriage one. Thursday morning a motion to reconsider the redefinition of marriage was presented and defeated. Later in the day the whole plenary was disrupted by a group of protesters. This caused panic, further intimidation and further distrust. The protesters came in being filmed by cameras and carrying signs that said, prayer, ordination, marriage and BoP. This was completely out of order. Yet their entrance was somehow allowed. I will never understand the reason for those that interrupted the plenary; the GLBT community almost got everything they set out to accomplish, if anything, this hurt their own cause. It was announced that the protesters had no agenda or affiliation … I gently say …their agenda was clear and obvious.
I am grateful that I was able to express my dissent in writing and also filling out a protest form. All churches will have to pay up to a 1 percent increase to the BoP in order for the BoP to provide benefits to same-sex partners. All other overtures approved require a vote by presbyteries except this one. This one is imposed on all Presbyterian churches nationwide and we have no option but to comply; at least we can count on two years before it gets put into effect. I strongly believe that this resolution violates our Book of Order as well as the Book of Confessions which still affirm that Christian marriage is between one man and one woman. Furthermore it puts a financial burden on congregations in an already financially difficult economy.
As a Hispanic, member of a “racial ethnic” minority, I am deeply offended by the constant argument that the full inclusion of the GLBT community is an issue of justice. Over all it is very offensive that the GLBT community continues to use the theme of discrimination towards minorities and women as support for what is being asked for. The reality is that very few racial ethnic Presbyterians are asking for this, yet it is presented as if the majority of racial ethnic Presbyterians were in support. I lovingly, yet with conviction affirm that homosexuality is a sin, being of a different color, speaking a different language, being from a different culture, or gender is not.
But please allow me to speak about justice just a bit. The General Assembly was almost 100 percent Euro-American (white). I was part of the Bills and Overtures Committee and one of the issues that came up during our observation of other committees was the lack of minorities in all General Assembly committees as well as their lack of participation.
Let’s talk about justice … for a moment, please remember Rev. James Lee’s speech during the plenary presenting some of the real issues for the African American Presbyterian community. Please allow me to talk about justice … and unfortunately this o
ne affects me personally. The church I pastor has been struggling to pay the Board of Pensions for more than six months now. We have had to cash some small CDs that we had in order to be able to pay; we have had to cut expenses here and there as well. By the end of the year or beginning of next year, unless a miracle takes place, we will most likely not be able to pay the Board of Pensions any more. I know for a fact that I am not the only racial ethnic pastor in this situation in our nation. The BoP resolution is indeed an issue of justice. Many churches, regardless of ethnicity or culture, are facing having to let their pastors go because of finances and now they will have to pay an increase. It is indeed an issue of justice.
I had the privilege of meeting some wonderful and faithful, Christ centered young adults at the GA. For these few mighty warriors (both male and female) I am grateful and hopeful. Nevertheless, my heart aches in seeing that the majority of young adults present at GA seemed to have no Biblical or theological foundation yet their advisory role tends to decide nearly all issues. It is amazing to see the correlation of their votes and the actual commissioner’s votes. It was constantly stressed that they are the present – not the future – of our denomination. We must remember that they are both, and this summer they were advisory delegates but in a couple of years they will be back as commissioners. With love I stress that our denomination needs to do a much better job in the discipleship of children and youth.
I love the Lord, I love His church, and I love the world. It is out of love that I have decided to write this report.
Truth be told … I forgot I had agreed to be a commissioner, also, I never asked to stand for vice-moderator of the GA. Now I find myself standing for Jesus, defending His church and the faith of His church. I find myself like those people rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem during the times of Nehemiah … with one hand working for His kingdom and with the other defending the faith.
My name is Hector Reynoso, pastor of El Principe de Paz in Mercedes, Texas, and I stand for Jesus Christ and lovingly challenge His church to stand with Him as well.