Last week in Pinetop the Presbytery of Grand Canyon
met for what was, arguably, a defining moment in our journey toward becoming a
reconciled and reconciling presbytery. With apologies to Charles Dickens, it
was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but at all times God in Jesus
Christ was present, and the Holy Spirit led the presbytery toward momentous
change.
It was the best
of times… Friday witnessed a moving worship service led by
the Rev. Tom Berry preaching on Acts 2:42-47 in which we were reminded that our
unity is found around the Table of our Lord Jesus Christ. Friday also witnessed
the examination of three candidates for ordination, each unique and each gifted:
Robert Felix, Jennifer Fraser and Kelsey Woodruff. All three candidates spoke
eloquently regarding their understanding and commitment
to the Reformed faith and were unanimously approved for ordination.
It was the worst
of times… Friday also witnessed the dissolution of the Alpine
congregation and the dismissal to ECO of the Springerville congregation. The
Administrative Commission (AC) reports from George Prohaska and Ed Spence
detailed a long history of disconnected relationship between these
congregations and the presbytery that led to the feeling by both the AC and the
congregations that a parting of the ways was needed. Yet even this action,
which caused me sadness even though I agreed it was the right thing for us to
do, was seasoned with God’s grace, as leaders from both congregations
acknowledged their own sadness as well as thanked the AC and the presbytery for
their gracious and generous terms of dissolution.
It was the best
of times… Saturday morning saw vigorous conversation in small
groups regarding the question of how the presbytery might best create a
leadership initiative aimed at congregational renewal. The Leadership Team is
applying to the General Assembly for a Presbytery Transformation Grant and six
topics were suggested for conversation – evangelism, missional ministry,
leading through change, multi-cultural ministry, ministry to millennials, and
initiating congregational renewal – with opinions and recommendations solicited
from all present. This leadership initiative points us toward a reconciled and
reconciling future in which we may learn the ways of theological friendship
through support and encouragement of one another in the sharing of best
practices for ministry.
It was the worst
of times… Saturday morning also saw the successful approval
of the new Gracious Dismissal Policy, which will be needed in the coming year
as we walk with seven churches through the discernment process that may lead to
dismissal. Yet even in this action, the guiding hand of God was known. In
March, I publicly set a goal of 80% approval for the revision of the Gracious
Dismissal Policy, a goal that was met overwhelmingly by a vote of 85-1. My
interpretation of this vote is that there is broad recognition that (a) though
we wish our cultural and congregational contexts were different, the reality is
that some of our congregations will be dismissed in the next year to pursue
ministry among a different denomination, (b) this reality, though eliciting
sadness and grief from folks both within these congregations and throughout the
presbytery, will require a commitment to exemplify the best values of living in
Christ to which we can aspire, and (c) this road we are traveling is at once
difficult, necessary and yet open to God’s grace.
It will be
the best of times… My prayer is that we will be surprised
by God in ways we cannot today imagine as we journey together, even a journey
which will lead to our departing from one another. As Tom Berry so eloquently
reminded us, around the Lord’s Table we discover a unity that makes us the
family of God. What this means in specific detail is anyone’s guess; that it
means our God, who is Sovereign in love, will somehow win the day is my abiding
confidence.
Grace to you today and always,
Brad Munroe
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