PROACTIVE PRESBYTERIANS ACT
If you have decided to be a proactive presbytery in addressing prophetically the threat of division within our denomination, you have several ideas on how to take some initial steps. This is a long range intention to be Presbyterian in the best sense of the word. As a member of the Presbyterian denomination, you have decided not to sit around passively and experience the fall out of the recent disputes within our denomination. Instead, believing that God is Lord and that God has called us together as a connectional church, you have decided to draw churches together in your presbytery to probe the possibilities of what God can do among you. In a theological sense, you have decided to listen to God’s call and respond as best you can. Consider how many people of faith both in the Bible and in church history began a journey not knowing where it would lead but trusting God to guide them.
PRESBYTERIANS ENJOY GOD
If, as it says in the Westminster Catechism, the chief end of humanity is to glorify God and enjoy God forever, then it seems appropriate to celebrate what God is doing among us. If you choose to follow some of the steps mentioned in prior blogs to bring church elders together to explore our witness as a connectional church, then after several conversations, it is important to bring the different conversation groups together in a celebration–read PARTY.
The purpose of your party is to enjoy our life together as Presbyterians who are choosing to build a witness of how Christians stop hiding their light under a basket and let it shine. The beauty of the design in which you are engaged is that you are drawing both teaching elders and ruling elders together. The spiritual leadership of the church is engaged in listening to and responding to God’s call for our denomination. In future blogs in the new year I will suggest some designs for how that interaction among churches can be facilitated at your party.
In addition to celebrating in a special gathering of these churches, it is also important to affirm these efforts at Presbytery meetings so that other churches are also aware of what God might do among us. In a future blog, I will also offer some liturgical suggestions for how this can be accomplished. After all, liturgy is the work of the people of God lifted up to God in praise.
SUBSCRIBE FOR THE WHOLE DESIGN
If you are interested in receiving a PDF of the whole design that you can share with your COM or to discuss with other presbytery executives around the country, then I ask you to subscribe to this blog. When the whole series is completed, I will put it all together in a revised PDF and send it to subscribers.
I will resume the blog in the new year, normally on Wednesdays and Fridays. If there are particular issues in church and clergy life that you would like addressed, please let me know.
Have a Blessed Christmas.
A great idea for a gift to a clergy friend.
