Monday, December 17, 2007

How to Handle the Troubles in PC(USA)?

I have been reflecting on Pastor Lyn's blog on PCUSA Troubles back on Aug 10, 2007 again. The latest trouble with Heartland, called my attention to her blog again. She is not interested in PC(USA) just serving Jesus. So I decided to try and organize the different viewpoints on how to respond to the troubles. For more resources see New Wineskins paper. First what are the troubles:
  • Confusion
  • Idolatry
  • Wrangling
  • Peace, Unity and Purity
  • Bureaucracy
  • Religious Pluralism
  • Crumbling Standards
Second, how does one respond? Moderation is often taught in the Bible and yet Revelation, speaks of spitting out the luke-warm. I wonder where Pastor Lyn stands in this range?

Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD)

  • Emulate the three monkeys: Do nothing, Say Nothing, Hear Nothing
  • Do Nothing: do not attend Presbytery or New Wineskins, or Confessing, or other groups.
  • Say Nothing: no matter what PC(USA) does, do not interfere.
  • Hear Nothing: Do not read Layman, or any blogs on the troubles.
Indifference: Go about Jesus's work, ignore the troubles.
  • Jesus threw out the money changers, etc. - Should be a house of Prayer.
  • Jesus criticized the leaders for poor leadership.
  • Too much time on troubles, not enough for Jesus.
  • The often quoted, "...then they came for me"
  • If do nothing to correct a wrong, I am guilty of enabling the wrong do-ers.
Stay and Fight: Try to bring PCUSA back to bible.
  • Be salt to PC(USA).
  • I was born Presbyterian and I want to die Presbyterian! (nevermind that PC(USA) is was born in 1983 and is only partially related to the two previous denominations.)
Leave PC(USA)
  • Jesus telling the Apostles to shake the dust from their feet.
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3 comments:

  1. PresbymanDecember 17, 2007 at 5:13 PM

    In fairness to Pastor Lyn (someone I remember fondly from seminary), she has to live in that Presbytery. They have shown they can be brass-knuckled brawlers. I can understand the necessity of discretion.

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  2. JimDecember 17, 2007 at 9:54 PM

    Yes, I do understand, fear also rules in my presbytery - Eastern Oklahoma.

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  3. willDecember 19, 2007 at 9:41 AM

    I would add to your list of 'troubles' two items:

    Secular political activism - particularly without the agreement of the members, and notably without the support of any Scripture.

    System wide corruption. This goes beyond bureaucracy - an inefficiency would be tolerable. It is a catastrophic failure of employees, offices, permanent committees, at many levels of the denomination to follow minimal standards of ethical conduct, and to follow their own rules. There isn't really a remedy for this that I can see. Most Presbyterians will deny it exists - take, for example the comments section in the blog post you mention.

    ReplyDelete