On Being Presbyterian: Missional, Connectional, Theological

I hear the question all the time, “Why be Presbyterian?” Oh, the question is posed in various ways, such as, “What good is GA?” or, “Why does presbytery make us do [fill in the blank]?” or, sometimes it is not a question but an exclamation, “I wish they would just leave us alone!” I often, even usually, find this exclamation humorous when I hear it because, when it is spoken to me, the nefarious “they” is actually “me,” given that I work for presbytery!

The sub-text of the question in all its variants is a reflection of our wider culture’s trend toward hyper-individualism, a movement toward embracing an atomistic identification of self versus other that bends in the direction of greater and greater fracturing of the bonds that unite us. We see it in business, we see it in politics (goodness know, we see it there!), and we are even beginning to see it in sports. We see it in the church as a kind of “functional congregationalism.”

The Reformed faith’s response to this trend toward atomizing our lives in ever more fractured expressions is to claim, first, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, to claim, second, that we are united by common bonds of theology (c.f. The Book of Confessions) and mission (c.f. The Great Ends of the Church), and to claim, third, our freedom to be who we are as individuals even as we embrace one another in community (c.f. God alone is Lord of the conscience…). Simply put: the Reformed faith refuses to turn from the Scripture’s message: we are created in such a way that we need one another.

I have been reminded of our connectional bonds of late. In de Cristo, dozens of pastors, elders and members have come out of the woodwork to support one of our churches in crisis; Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has filled the gap in amazing ways and the Board of Pensions has done what the Board always does: made good things happen. In Grand Canyon, dozens of pastors and elders have given enormous amounts of time, effort and energy throughout the year to work on Administrative Commissions to attempt the arduous work of engaging in difficult conversations with churches seeking dismissal, and doing so with grace, perseverance, the occasional “Charlie Brown scream,” and integrity. [And lest we forget, each of these churches have had their elders engaging in the same work, too.]

As I reflect upon the many ways we need one another, my prayers turn toward our mission partners ministering on reservations, with immigrant communities, and with student and young adult populations. I reflect upon the ways our mission partners are changing lives for Jesus Christ through tireless effort and the grace of God expressed through Holy Spirit. They need our help! Each of our mission partners are financially fragile; each needs us even as we need them, for they are our hands and feet that bring good news to those whom Jesus was sent to liberate (c.f. Luke 4).

This stewardship season, please remember our presbytery mission partners in your congregational and personal giving. Let us join together, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, fulfilling the Great Ends to which we are called, honoring each other in freedom even as we embrace one another in community.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe