vicemodblog

Is being Presbyterian > being Christian?

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I know you must be wondering "What in the world is Byron going to post now?" First, let me say a few things. I have been a part of the Presbyterian Church since I was seven years old. Apart from my Catholic upbringing the first six years of life and a year spent attending Seabrook Baptist Church in MD, I know nothing else but what it means to be Presbyterian/Reformed. In addition I am very proud of being Presbyterian and believe that we still have something to offer the world at this particular time in history. However, it grates my nerves to hear people suggest that I should "re-instill Presbyterian pride" with everyone I meet. Undoubtedly these individuals have a love and concern for the denomination which I do not question. However as I have experienced life a Presbyterian over the years, one can see the perception of how being Presbyterian is greater than being Christian. Some examples -

*People often joke that we are more familiar with the Book of Order than the Bible.

*We refer to ourselves (as well as others) as the "Frozen Chosen", meaning that our services are devoid of life and spirit.

*Rodger Nishioka in the book The Roots of Who We Are tells the fictional story of a young person inviting her friend to a church youth event. She could not get her friend to go until she said "You don't even have to bring your Bible!"

*I attended the opening worship service at a General Assembly some years ago. The music, liturgy and preaching was excellent. As I was leaving, an older woman that I had known turned to me and said that it was up to me as a younger person to teach the younger generation that was coming up after "what it means to be Presbyterian", meaning that we should stick with traditional hymns, no spontaneous expressions in worship - or anything contemporary, for that matter - and keeping the service short.

These and other examples tend to keep us from allowing God's Holy Spirit from changing and reforming us. Sometimes we have such a strong tendency to hold onto all things Presbyterian that we lose sight of Jesus Christ in our midst.  I believe we are called to this denomination not for the sake of preserving in stone the traditions or the institution itself but following God's guidance to do a new thing. 

I am a member of my Presbytery's Committee on Preparation for Ministry. We ask those who are meeting for their final assessment to become certified and ready to receive a call for a short reflection statement responding to the Constitutional Questions for Ordination. One young woman who recently came before our committee responded in a way that resonated with me;

" . . . While I am loyal to the PC(USA), I am a follower of Christ before I am Presbyterian. The Reformed Tradition has certainly shaped my understanding of Scripture, but it is the witness of Scripture that has most fully taught me who Jesus is and who I am called to be as his disciple."

I think she has the right perspective in inviting others into a relationship with Jesus Christ in today's society. And I hope we catch on.

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Getting the Moderators' on the Social Media bandwagon

 

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Last week I was in Louisville to attend the Moderators' Conference for the second consecutive year. This conference is hosted by the Office of Middle Governing Bodies with Jill Hudson who serves as the Coordinator. All incoming Presbytery and Synod moderators are invited to learn information in a variety of workshops and plenary sessions. This year's theme was "Blessings and Burdens: Where Technology and Church Life Converge", focusing on the importance of using technology as a vehicle for ministry. I found out while there that the even-numbered years the Office of the General Assembly sets the theme and odd-numbered years the Moderator of the General Assembly sets the theme. Since Moderator Bruce's main interest is in using technology, that seemed to be a natural theme. Unfortunately he could not co-lead the plenary sessions with Carol Howard Merritt due to death in his family. So Melissa DeRosia, a wonderful and talented young adult pastor and General Assembly Mission Council member and I led the plenaries with Carol. The three of us had fun in teaching the moderators about the present technological culture we live and and I learned a lot myself. We also found out that the degree to which everyone was familiar with computers - let alone social media - was varied. Some were right there with us and others were not regular computer users. I thought it was a real learning curve for all of us. I do believe that the greater emphasis was on the fact that even if you are not using social media/networking, you must realize that others in the pews are and it can be a tool in reaching others.

Outside of the plenaries, I had a great time getting to know the various moderators in social settings. A group named Moderators of Presbyteries and Synods was created on Facebook for further contact and collaboration. I also want to thank Randy Hobson for his technical work. Even when things did not go as planned he kept a level head and encouraging spirit! All in all it was a great event and I hope that all of the moderators will get on the social media bandwagon!

 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

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As we begin to celebrate the traditions of Thanksgiving Day - fun, family, food and football - I hope that you will take a moment to remember and give thanks for all the wonderful things God has done. Many people have lost jobs, homes and loved ones. Some are dealing with depression, sadness and grief. Others are just happy to be alive, breathing and standing upright. Whether we are joyous or dispirited, the apostle Paul reminds us in I Thessalonians 5:16-18 =

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (NRSV)

I pray that you will have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving, remembering not only to give thanks today but every day!

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Hanging out with my peoples!

 

Last week's trips were sort of a homecoming in many ways. The first trip was to attend the Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center Association (PCCCA) Annual Conference at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, AR. I consider one of the many people in ministry who began the journey of the call to ministry through camps and conferences - I was one of four Summer Lead Counselors for the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii Camps and also served as the Summer Camp Director for Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center. Although I had heard of their annual conference this was my first time attending and I have to tell you that I had a great time! Upon arriving at the Little Rock airport, I was met by Ruth Hicks, the Stated Clerk of Boise Presbytery (and who I just saw the previous week while in Idaho!) and her husband John and visited the Heifer Project International Museum. What a great place! After a wonderful dinner at Boscos, I was taken to Ferncliff. The next day I was the Order of the Day during the Plenary time and I spoke of my experiences of being Vice-Moderator. Then later on that afternoon I was the leader of a workshop ("Round Table Discussion with the Vice-Moderator") where we had a great small group conversation. Worship was wonderful under the direction of Worship Leader Rev. Anne Russ, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in North Little Rock and the always strong and powerful Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson! I had the opportunity to reconnect with people that I have not seen in years and met many others. Joel Winchip introduced me as "one of the family" and I truly appreciated the warm hospitality given me. Most of all, I had the greatest time playing the card game "Class Struggle" until 3 a.m. in the morning! It was a fun conference and I hope to attend another one in the future.

Craig Bell (Director of Holston Camp) and me.

 

Joel Winchip (Executive Director of PCCCA) and me.

Yesterday I made my family and I made our way over to Covenant Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC under the direction of my good friend and colleague, Rev. Jimmie Hawkins. Rev. Hawkins and I came into New Hope Presbytery at the same meeting 13 years ago and Davie Street (where I currently serve) and Covenant have a sister relationship as we are the only two African-American Presbyterian Churches in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) area and our members know each other. I was asked to preach for their 116th Church Anniversary Worship Service and it was a great occasion! They had a wonderful dinner after church and we had a time of great fellowship. One of the concerns of the African-American Presbyterian Church is that we are dying off. But I can tell you that this congregation is thriving and seeking to do great things with God's help!

Me and Rev. Jimmie Hawkins in the Pastor's Office.

Covenant Elders Susan McLaurin and Ike Robinson with me in the middle.

Next trip: Friday, November 20 - Sunday, November 22 for the Moderators' Conference in Louisville, KY.

The Peaks, an installation and a monastary in Idaho

Oops! - I have not had the opportunity to update you on my latest Vice-Moderator trips. A few weeks ago I traveled to Martinsville, VA to preach and present at the Eighty-Second Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the Peaks. The theme of the meeting was "Connectionalism" which explored what it means to be Presbyterian. I preached a message from Deuteronomy 6:1-9 emphasizing the need to pass on what we know to those behind us to be faithful in a new world and made a 20-minute presentation on my experiences as Vice-Moderator with a time of questions and answers. I had a great time reconnecting with many friends and made new ones. Thanks to my friend Nancy Dawson, Presbytery Executive of the Peaks for the invite!

On the afternoon of November 1st, I was a member of the Presbytery of New Hope Installation Commission to install The Rev. Scott Phillips as the Presbyterian Campus Minister at North Carolina State University. Scott and I have known each other since our days at Whitworth College and we have seen each other at various events throughout the years. My responsibility was to give the Charge to the Students and Supporting Congregations. I told them to first of all pay the man for his work ;-) Then I charged the students to play and pray with him and his family in this new journey. I was glad to be a part of this special day and please join me in praying for him and the students art PCM of NC State.

 Rev. Scott Phillips

My last trip was an invite by my friend Rev. Marci Auld Glass, the pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, ID. She invited me to be the Keynote speaker for the Presbytery of Boise Pastor's Retreat which was held at the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome, ID, a two-hour drive from Boise. My topic was to speak on the Emerging Church and its implications for ministry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We had a small group of 10 ministers/commissioned lay pastors but we had a great time talking, sharing and praying for each other.

Rev. John Murphy, me and Rev. Marci Glass relaxing at the retreat.

I am thankful for all the invites so far and had a great time! My next trip will be in a few hours as I travel to Little Rock, AR for the Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center Association Annual Conference at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center. I'll give you a report when I return!

Go to Nicaragua!

 

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Hey! I just wanted to take this moment to encourage you to explore the possibility of going to Nicaragua in January 2010. This past January I was invited by Melanie Hardison, Associate for Enough for Everyone program of the PCUSA to travel to Nicaragua as a part of a delegation to learn more about our denomination's involvement with Fair Trade Coffee and Sweat Free T-shirts. If you have not read the blogpost of my trip experience you can read it here. I had a wonderful time spending time at CEPAD, living with farmers in rural Nicaragua picking coffee beans and learning about the organic coffee production process, and listening to the stories of the women who started making Sweat Free T's from the beginning to now. 

Production of Sweat Free T-Shirts at the Nueva Vida Cooperative.

Women sorting coffee beans at PROODECOOP Production Plant.

I definitely learned a lot about the coffee industry and how America consumes the majority of coffee in the world. I am not a coffee drinker but whenever I do drink (or eat chocolate) I only purchase and partake of Fair Trade products. And I am always mindful of the Duarte family that I stayed with and how what we consume affects their lives and other coffee farmers and their families. In addition, I had a great time with our delegation and made some great friendships!

I highly encourage you to take a look at the details of the trip and discern whether God is leading you to be a part of the delegation. The trip dates are January 16 - 23, 2010 and for more information follow this link. This trip will be a life-changing experience and it is my prayer that you will be open to God's calling for you to go to Nicaragua!

Vice-Moderator November Churchwide Letter

Monthly columns featuring GA Vice Moderator Byron Wade and Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons

Life and thankfulness

BY BYRON WADE

November 2009

Over the past 16 months, I have had the pleasure of serving as Vice Moderator of the 218th (2008) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It is a great honor and privilege to listen, learn, and witness the great things our church is doing to uphold the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

In my role, I have traveled extensively. One aspect that has not been so great is airport travel. With security measures, overbooked flights, crowded planes, and potential delays, I can never tell if I will make it to my destination. Just a few weeks ago, I left a meeting in Louisville, Ky., to return home to Raleigh, N.C. The trip included a long security line, a delayed flight due to weather that caused me to miss a connecting flight, and a re-booking on another airline through a different city. In all, I arrived home four hours later than expected.

On another level, people are facing many delays on the journey of life — financial hardships due to the present economy, the H1N1 virus or other similar illnesses, the deaths of loved ones, broken relationships, onset of depression, and more. It can make us wonder if the journey is worth the hassle.

In these times, I invite you to take assurance in the God who loves and never leaves us. God walks beside us in these situations and brings us through, so that we can give hope to others on the journey.

One of my favorite gospel songs is "I’ve Got a Testimony," by Clay Evans:

As I look back over my life
And I think things over
I can truly say that I’ve been blessed
I’ve got a testimony

As we enter into the season of Thanksgiving, I pray that you will be able to reflect upon the ways that God has brought you through the hardships, difficulties, and hassles on the journey of life and faith. Then may you give witness to others of a wonderful and gracious God!

The Reverend Dr. Byron A. Wade is Vice Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).