Moderator hosts issues discussion
at Covenant Network event
By Edward Terry, The Layman, November 15, 2010
HOUSTON – In addition to being honored with a special reception on the opening night of the 2010 Covenant Network of Presbyterian’s National Conference, the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Moderator Cynthia Bolbach had the opportunity to host a small-group workshop discussion on issues facing the denomination.
She fielded questions on topics including: the PCUSA’s proposed new Form of Government (nFOG), dialogue on the Middle East, positive developments throughout the denomination and having respectful dialogue on the issues.
Discussion during the 75-minute session included:
- Bolbach discussed three of her primary goals for her term as moderator: 1. Renewing the focus on ruling elders as spiritual leaders in the PCUSA; 2. How the denomination can effectively organize itself in the 21st century (she lifted up the efforts of the new 21-member Middle Governing Body Commission and its charge to think boldly and creatively on the roles of presbyteries and synods); 3. Go back to the report by the Theological Task on Peace Unity and Purity (PUP) on how to deal with disagreements in the church. “How do we figure out ways to reach across the aisle and talk to each other?” she asked.
- Her opinion on dialogue surrounding the Middle East issue. Bolbach admitted that she was a novice on the issue heading into her campaign for moderator of the 219th General Assembly (GA). “I really thought we had the prospect of Armageddon on the floor of General Assembly,” she said. “I don’t know exactly how it happened … the people involved in that committee that had to deal with that (Middle East) report managed to find common ground. You think the passions on the ordination debates run high, it’s nothing compared to the passion in terms of Israel and Palestine.” She spoke of the new Middle East Monitoring Team, to which she and past moderator Bruce-Reyes Chow recently appointed members. Its first meeting is in January, she said.
- When asked why she stood for moderator, Bolbach said she’s a strong believer in stewardship of time, talent and money, and moderating just happens to be one of her talents. “I think one of the skills I have is to enable people to come together and talk and discuss and come to an outcome of an issue,” she said. “I saw this as the ultimate challenge.” She said she sought the blessing of the nFOG task force, of which she was a member, before announcing her run. She thought it would be useful in raising the profile of the proposal, which is now being voted upon by the denomination’s 173 presbyteries.
- When asked to explain why she supports nFOG, Bolbach said it establishes a new mindset and basically returns the Book of Order to a constitution rather than a rule book. “That might have worked 30 or 40 years ago,” she said, adding that the Book of Order has been amended more than 300 times since 1983. “Presbyteries face different problems and different issues and they need to have the flexibility of doing things in different ways. I think that this form of government gives them the flexibility and more importantly says to the presbytery, think creatively about what your presbytery ought to be doing. … To me it’s more of a mindset change.”
- Workshop participants also took the opportunity to share concerns and ideas with Bolbach, including the need to communicate and celebrate the good things that successful congregations are doing. Bolbach mentioned an idea to include such good news items in churches’ annual statistical reporting. One participant shared the success of a ministry on Broad Street in Philadelphia that has experienced tremendous growth outside the usual structures and formulas.