The Bitter and the Sweet

 

I have come to find out that called presbytery meetings in general are not really good things. Today was a bittersweet one. We had a called meeting to consider three items of business. The first was to appoint an administrative commission to a a church that is struggling financially in a neighborhood that has changed. There was a task force that worked with them and they also house a Hispanic new church development that has as many if not more attendees than the host church. When the report from the Presbytery Task Force was read, I thought everything was OK - until a few members of the church spoke and talked about the proposed Administrative Commission coming in to shut down the church and intimated that it would be given to the Hispanic congregation. After further discussion and clarification of the Administrative Commission's role we voted to approve the Administrative Commission. I must mention that the Administrative Commission is not there to "shut down" the congregation. It will assist them how to get back on their feet financially.

The second item dealt with the approval of an appointment of a Administrative Commission to assist a mid-sized congregation in the wake of an interim pastor who rescinded his ordination in the PCUSA and left for another Presbyterian denomination. In this whole process which has evolved over some time, one elder from session rescinded their ordination vows and two deacons followed the interim pastor along with about five families that is known so far. As the presbytery reported what led up to this situation, the interim pastor in question mentioned that due to the recent actions of our denomination, the interim could no longer serve faithfully in our denomination.

The Bitter and Sweet of the whole deal:

The Bitter - during the first items although I felt the desire of the congregation in question to remain on its own without help from the presbytery, I could not help but hear the fear of what is passing away to what is becoming new. This church is no longer surrounded by the neighborhood of its founding and is mostly Latino in inhabitants and/or businesses. Although they were proud of having the Hispanic fellowship in their building, it was definitely apparent that they wanted to maintain two distinct services. I won't repeat what was said by the speakers from the church but it was not real welcoming and seemed patronizing in a sense in my opinion. Not to deny the feelings of the exisiting church members but I kept thinking what does this mean for our church with the changing of the racial demographics in our country?

The Sweet - Although there was (and still is) some unsettling going on at the second church, it was evident that the session has become stronger and willing to accept the presbytery's help in its matter because that is not always the case. When divisions like this occur it is always sad to see the fallout that can happen. I also have to point out that their current staff is an Associate Pastor who is very strong and pastoral and another Associate Pastor who has been only ordained for a year in their first call. Talk about baptism by fire!! I praise God for this church's work and resolve in trying to deal with this matter.

In life we all have to deal with the bitter and the sweet. Praise God that God is evident in both!

Comments

[Craig Nygard]

Byron, thanks for the useful summary for those of us who did not attend.

[Craig Nygard]

Byron, thanks for the useful summary for those of us who did not attend.

[Craig Nygard]

Byron, thanks for the useful summary for those of us who did not attend.

[Steve Lindsley]

As a former member of New Hope Presbytery, I'm curious to ask about names and churches! But I won't. Thanks for reminding us at the end that God is indeed present in both the bitter and the sweet. Something that is indeed too easy to forget.

[Anna Pinckney Straight]

Good reflections- I had many of those thoughts, too. Nice knowing that I wasn't alone...