by
Sylvia Dooling
I have a special place in my heart for committed and active lay people. I
presume that’s because God has called me, as a layperson, to use the gifts
he has given me in active lay leadership. Pastors and lay people working
together as the ‘priesthood of all believers” is a value that runs deeply
through our Presbyterian ethos. So, it should come as no surprise that I
have been attracted to the work of the Presbyterian Lay Committee.
For many years I just read their newspaper. I was curious about the issues
they saw as important. Then, as a regular General Assembly observer, I
watched on several occasions as they defended their right to exist as a
‘special interest group” within the denomination. Before I ever met any of
them personally, I was impressed by the way in which they behaved when the
spotlight of scrutiny was directed on them and their ministry. I found them
to be committed, strong, and gracious people exactly what God calls us to be
as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Over the last four years, as I have been involved in the leadership of
Voices of Orthodox Women, I have had the opportunity to meet and know some
of the people whom I had previously watched only from afar. (Let me preface
what I am about to say by observing that the folks that I’ve come to know
certainly don’t need a ‘fan club.” Nor, do I guess that they expect one.)
Where many accept positions on boards because they recognize them to be
places of ‘prestige” and ‘honor,” the women and men of the Lay Committee
are under so such illusion. They know that in accepting positions on the Lay
Committee, they may be ignored or even be subject to open hostility. What is
perhaps ‘the unkindest cut of all,” however, is the fact that many who
agree with most of what is published in _The Layman_, and who know that if
it weren’t for the Lay Committee’s courage their voices would probably have
been silenced long ago, will wrap their skirts around themselves and move to
another seat rather than suffer the embarrassment of being publicly
identified with any of ‘those” people.
My experience, however, has been very different. And the reason that I am
speaking about this in public is that I believe that for me to be silent is
to be guilty of not loving my brothers and sisters in Christ enough to speak
on their behalf. Do I always agree with the Lay Committee’s decisions or
positions? Of course not! But, they don’t always agree with mine, either.
Every once in a while my phone will ring, or I will receive an e-mail, and
like the people who find the staff of ’60 Minutes” waiting for them when
they get to work, I realize I’m in for a vigorous and perhaps an
uncomfortable discussion. But what’s wrong with that? As we speak in an open
forum on various concerns that arise out of our life together as members of
the Presbyterian Church, we are not always going to agree with one another.
In some cases, our words will cause pain and angst. So we need to be
challenged to think carefully about the stands we take. It’s been said that
‘steel sharpens steel.” That’s how I see my relationship with the Lay
Committee. We are brothers and sisters in Christ who confess that we are
committed to being Christ’s disciples. That being the case, we have the
responsibility to hold each other’s feet to the fire.
In addition to holding each other accountable on occasions, it’s been my
experience that individuals from the Lay Committee have been present for me
during some occasions where I’ve stood in a ‘lonely place.” They have been
there quietly supporting and praying for me. Does this sound like ‘militant
fundamentalists” to you? These are dedicated Presbyterians who have been
called to all walks of life attorneys, business people, artists, ordinary
and extraordinary individuals who are seeking to be obedient to Jesus Christ
and his church.
The Lay Committee has offered me the opportunity to use my mind and to think
carefully about the issues they raise. Do they have an agenda? Yes — the
reformation of the PC(USA). With that in mind, I read their reports through
those lenses. I also read other reports printed by those with other agendas.
I read looking for hard evidence. I read with a critical mind. But without
the Lay Committee’s dedication to offering the news from their point of view
I would not have all the light on any given issue.
Martin Luther wisely said that the only time the church is free of
controversy altogether is when the truth is not preached. Controversy and
factions have always been present in the church. Paul says ‘Indeed, there
have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among
you are genuine.” For me it’s more important to test the factions in the
PC(USA) and to pray for them than it is to demonize them. Given time, the
truth will outshine that which is false. I am grateful for my friends at the
Presbyterian Lay Committee for their willingness to keep the light on in the
PC(USA).