Houston Chronicle Ad

If I were going to pay $8,000-$12,000^* for a half page ad in the Houston Chronicle I think I'd want to talk about something else; like maybe the hundreds of people suffering tonight in Joplin in the wake of this nation's deadliest tornado in 50 years; or those still recovering in Arkansas; or Haiti; or Japan. I think I'd use my advertising power to communicate a different kind of message to a world, that sadly, cares less and less what the church has to say about anything let alone what the latest revision to our church constitution is.

I'm not very proud tonight to be a Houstonian Presbyterian follower of Jesus Christ. I may just stay home tomorrow and hope than none of my non-church going friends read the newspaper today. How in the world is that newspaper ad a conversation starter about the good news of Jesus Christ?

I'm not very proud tonight be a conservative evangelical follower of Jesus Christ. The real kicker is, I agree theologically with the Layman. I agree that God's design for human sexual intimacy is in the context of a lifelong covenant of marriage between a man and woman. I believe that our culture is tremendously confused when it comes to what constitutes good and beautiful sexual relationships. I believe there are a myriad of ways sin leads us away from God's good and beautiful design. And I believe that Jesus Christ purchased redemption from each and every one of those ways on the cross.

But I would much rather others be confused about my stance on homosexuality than that they would be confused about my love for Jesus Christ. In fact, I really don't think God is sitting in heaven right now wringing his hands over lifelong monogamous relationships just because they happen to be homosexual. I gotta believe there are other concerns topping God's list. Perhaps one of them is how irrelevant the world perceives the church? Perhaps one of them is why the church is squabbling using the world's language of power and politics rather than communicating with the language of love, mercy and grace?

"All to Jesus I surrender. All to Him I freely give."

 

^*I have no idea how much the Layman paid for the ad. I just read on "Yahoo! Answers" somewhere that a half-page ad in the Sun Times is about $9,000.

little hassles and eternal glory

All I wanted to do was pick up my laundry and head home for lunch.

Simple. Right?

It wasn't until I was parked in front of Don's Cleaners that I realized I had used the last check in the checkbook yesterday for my haircut. 'No problem,' I thought, 'I'll just run over to the ATM and pick up some cash.' (My wallet was empty too and Don does not take plastic.) I get to the ATM and the guy in front of me is doing his semi-annual banking. When he was finally finished and it was my turn, the ATM didn't work anymore. I tried to get my $20 but whatever the guy in front of me had done broke the ATM!!! How does that even happen??? 'No problem,' I told myself again. 'I'll just go inside to the teller and get my cash,' except there's only one teller and the couple in front me is from some business and their transactions are also taking forever! Finally, the teller from the drive through came over and at last I got my Andrew Jackson.

Then it was back to the cleaners.

I picked up my laundry.

By now I'm twenty minutes past when I told my wife I'd be home for lunch.

As I was driving home, now thoroughly irritated my mind flashed to the passage I'd read this morning: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17). Now, I'm pretty sure that Paul is talking about things bigger than empty checkbooks and mal-functioning ATM's. But what if it includes this stuff? What if in the minor irritations and little hassles of the day God is actually preparing us for an eternal weight of glory? What if what seem to us like moments of disruption and chaos in our day are really God-events training our spiritual beings for eternity?

Youth Sunday Bragging

May I brag for a moment about my congregation? Today was Clear Lake Presbyterian Church's annual "Youth Sunday." This is the weekend that youth take over and lead all the parts of the worship service. This includes the call to worship, offering, sermon, and of course, the music. I have to admit, I always sort of hold my breath when it comes to youth Sunday, especially at our traditional 11:15 worship service. Our 11:15 worshippers are used to organ, choir, hymns, and clergy robes. But on youth Sunday they get drums, guitar praise choruses, and jeans!

Once again, my congregation proved no reason to hold my breath. When the youth band started into their second song ("Marvelous Light" by Charlie Hall) I could hear the eighty-five year old gentleman behind me singing along. It was obvious he'd never heard the song before – but he was sure giving it his best shot, singing as loud as he knew how; "Your love it beckons deeply, a call to come and die. By grace now I will come And take this life, take your life…"

I began to weep.

The more he sang the more I could not.

I was too choked up.

You see, somewhere lodged deep in the DNA of the oldest members of this precious congregation is an awareness that faith is to be passed on. Our faith in Christ only makes sense if it is given away to the next generation just like it was given away to us. Our oldest members are pleased to have teenagers leading worship because they recognize in these kids' newfangled songs and unfamiliar music is the same old familiar gospel. Faith is being passed on. It's taking root. Jesus is changing lives. Still. And that's something worth bragging about.

FAQ Regarding Yesterday's Vote in the PCUSA

Here is a FAQ sheet distributed by the Presbytery of New Covenant regarding the change to our denomination's constitution:

Frequently Asked Questions
The Change in Ordination Standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

1. How is the change in ordination standards happening?
It appears likely that during the week of May 8 a majority of the 173 presbyteries will have approved a change in language for ordination standards recommended by The General Assembly in 2010. In all, since the General Assembly meeting, 55% of the total number of commissioners voting in presbyteries is approving the amendment.

2. Specifically, what language is being changed?
The following old language will be replaced by new language:
Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W‐4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self‐acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
The new language (Amendment 10-A):
Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G‐1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G‐ 14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W‐4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.

3. What does the change in ordination standards mean?
The ordination standards have changed from “living in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” to “joyfully submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.” This removes a national standard categorically prohibiting the ordination of persons in sexual relationships outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

4. What does the change in ordination standards represent?
The Presbyterian Church (USA) has shifted the authority for applying its ordination standards from the national level to the local presbytery and session level. This represents a de-centralization of the church and puts more discernment in the hands of people at the local level.

5. May congregations now ordain people who are openly gay?
The previous standards were never based on a person’s orientation, but on their behavior. The new standards do not list specific behaviors that automatically exclude someone for consideration for ordination. Each examining body is responsible to look at all possible factors to determine if someone is being called into ordained ministry.

6. Specifically, what was changed?
The primary change is the removal of language requiring those ordained “to live either in fidelity in the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” It also adds language referring to obedience to Christ, and indicates that fidelity to church standards is judged case by case by the examining body.

7. What practical changes will we see?
If pastors, elders, and deacons who are ordained in one area move to another location, they shall be examined by that ordaining body before being able to take up their office. That body may choose to apply ordination standards differently from the officer’s previous body.

8. Is the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians mandated?
No, it is not required, but it is no longer prohibited by specific Constitutional language.

9. Will a congregation be required to change anything?
A congregation cannot be forced to ordain or receive pastors or elders or deacons of whom they do not approve. The congregation retains the right to determine who will serve as officers.

10. May a congregation continue to consider sexual activity outside marriage between a man and a woman as impermissible for its officers?
Yes, as long as the application is on a case by case basis. The authority for ordaining elders and deacons is fully vested in the local congregation. The new language calls the ordaining body to be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying ordination standards to individual candidates.

11. May a congregation or presbytery now ordain or install a sexually active homosexual?
Yes, if after a thorough examination, the congregation or presbytery believes the person to be called by God to serve as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament, elder or deacon and not to be living in violation of the church’s ordination standard, its Confessions, or Scripture.

12. Does the new language give candidates who are sexually active outside the covenant of marriage between a woman and a man the “right” to be ordained?
Nobody has a “right” to be ordained. Ordination is based on a sense of God’s call as confirmed by the ordaining body.

13. May a presbytery continue to function with the standard of “fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” when examining candidates for ordination?
Yes, as long as the application is on a case by case basis. The new language calls the ordaining body to be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying ordination standards to each candidate.

14. Is a presbytery required to receive, by transfer of membership, an ordained sexually active gay or lesbian minister?
No, each presbytery determines which ministers to receive into its membership.

15. May questions about a candidate’s sexuality be asked or are such questions forbidden?
All questions are allowed during an examination. The acknowledgment of being sexually active outside the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman does not automatically disqualify a person from being ordained.

16. Is a congregation required to call a pastor who is openly gay or lesbian?
No.