The PC(USA) is about to convene the 221st meeting of its General Assembly. Commissioners are busily preparing for the week by reading and studying the many overtures that have been presented to them by Presbyteries around the country.
Some of overtures and recommendations are administrative in nature (budgets and so forth), but many are requests for the church to speak about important questions of our day: Political (such as Israel-Palestine), Ethical (abortion and end of life issues), and Theological (the definition of marriage and reconsideration of the Belhar Confession). Commissioners will be asked to hear input from many people and advocacy groups. They will read and pray and debate. Clearly, on some issues, there will be considerable energy and emotion on all sides. Thus, there is great potential for contention, hostility and division. Because of that, two of our seminaries (Columbia and Austin) have issued “A Witness to Christian Love.” (link here for more info) in an effort to encourage the commissioners in their work.
While I applaud the actions and intentions of the seminaries in encouraging us to not be divisive, I do have a small but (I think) important quibble with part of the statement from Austin Theological Seminary. Their offering asks the Assembly to exercise mutual forbearance, defining it this way: “We think that “bearing with one another in love” should discourage us both from pressing too quickly for changes not widely supported across the church and from opting too readily for actions that would further the schism already taking place in our fellowship. ”
It seems to me that they are suggesting that the primary question for discernment and decision is one of “what is the church ready for?” This is the wrong question to ask. I would propose that the better question is this: What is God ready for us to do?
Because… honestly… when is the church ever ready for what God wants us to do? From Moses to Peter and the Jerusalem council (Acts 10-15), God frequently calls us to things for which we do not feel ready… sometimes even calling us (like Peter) to do things that we believe violate God’s will. Yet, scripture assures us that as we respond in obedience to God’s call, we are made ready in the doing. It seems that God knows more about what we are ready for than we do.
So, as I pray for the commissioners to this General Assembly, my prayer is that they will treat one another well, and that they will listen with open hearts, open minds and open spirits to those that share testimony and thoughts. But most of all, I pray that they will strive to know what the Living Lord requires of us right now, and then have the courage to obey, saying “not my will, but thine, O Lord.”
Note:
Picture can be found at: http://advicedoctor1.tumblr.com/post/1167963936/answers-are-easy-its-asking-the-right-questions
Thoughts & Images from the Heart 
Well said Rebecca. Thank you for all you do for the God’s church and CP.
“Change and decay, in all around, I see, O Thou who changest not, abide with me.” Henry Francis Lyte. Of course, this is not good liberal think, is it? And, also, “I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, etc.” (Is. 42:16) and following and Heb 8:8 all lead to the answers we seek. Austin Sem. seems to be leading in a much more biblical sense than does the crew of the sinking Presbyterian ship of “state”. That being said, there was hostility, rancor and distrust even among the closest followers. Yet, they did yearn to follow Christ and not just their own human nature. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb 13:8) That is the Christian’s guiding light and none other will suffice.
Nicely done
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I’m not convinced that mutual forebearance and attempts to avoid schism and division are not themselves a key part of God’s will. We witness to Christ by how we handle divisive topics, and a refusal from any “side” to attend gently and carefully to another “side” mimics much of what we see wrong with our national government – even among our congressional leaders who are people of faith, each side seems certain God is solely on their side. Could it not be that God is calling the church to demonstrate another way?
Rebecca! You really have it right.