Reflections on 218th GA
Walk Humbly with Your God
Micah 6:6-8
Since I had never attended a General Assembly even as an observer before I had no idea what to expect. Early on I learned I was assigned to the Form of Government committee. I learned that it was nicknamed the “FOG” committee. A little background:
The 217th GA was asked to develop a new form of government that would allow the church to be a missional church. The intent was to focus on the mission of the church rather than on rules and regulations. The task force was asked to have the document sent for review and suggestions but be ready for review at the 218th GA. One of the few restrictions placed on the task force was to not alter one of the most controversial sections of the current book of order. “Amendment B” had to remain unchanged.
I was dismayed to see that a survey conducted prior to this GA revealed that only 22 of the 173 presbyteries had reviewed the document. One synod (ours) mentioned the FOG briefly during GA commissioners’ orientation. 2 synods and 72 presbyteries responded to the survey saying the document had not been discussed or studied. The remaining presbyteries did not respond to the survey.
My committee worked for many, many hours hearing testimony and setting ground rules for the committee. In the end, we recommended, and GA voted to send the document back for revision and then develop a plan to ensure presbyteries receive the revisions and vote on the new proposed form of government. There were those who testified before the committee that their church or presbytery was doing mission well with the book of order, thank you very much and don’t change anything. Others said there were too many rules and too many people spent more time with rules than with the mission on the church.
I came away believing that the proposed form of government would be easier to understand and would, in effect, state what we all know . . . that the Presbyterian church is indeed a church embracing mission.
During the 8 days I spent at General Assembly I attended worship more that I do in almost two months here.
The highlight of the General Assembly meeting for me was the sermon delivered at the Friday morning worship service. Rev Diane Given Moffet, Pastor at St. James Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, North Carolina, spoke both eloquently and passionately on walking humbly with God.
I’d like to share Rev Moffet’s words with you now.
Having the courage to walk Think of a child taking his first steps. Wobbley and unsure. A parent proudly watching, ready at the first sign of trouble, reaching out to catch the child before a fall. The Bible says that we should be like a child and I think that’s what happens. When we stumble, God is there like a parent to extend a hand to steady us or to catch us before we fall.
There once was a famous tight rope walker, John Blondon. He was the first to walk across Niagara Falls on a tight rope. He did amazing feats, each one more difficult and more spectacular than the one before. He carried a stove, set it up, and cooked a meal on the tight rope. One day, he asked for a volunteer from the audience. Someone who would be willing to be carried across. No one came forward. No one had the courage. Do we have the courage to walk humbly with God?
The pages of history are stained with the blood of those who chose God’s call and walked humbly with God. Martin Luther King who advised us to remember that it is not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends that hurt us. Martin Luther King had a commitment to God’s call to walk humbly with God.
Harriett Tubman had a commitment to freedom for all. She answered God’s call to walk humbly with God. There are many more who chose to walk humbly with God.
Rev. Moffet spoke about walking humbly and avoiding what she termed cosmetic Christianity. That is:
Works without worship
Deeds without depth
Singing without soul
Labor without love
Some times being a Presbyterian wanting change can feel like swimming upstream against the current of the main stream. We as a denomination have struggled with change, not overnight, but over time.
In 1906, the first female deacons were ordained
1930’s first female elders were ordained
In 1956 the first female minister of word and sacrament was ordained
And in 1974, the first female African American minister was ordained
Times have changed but some practices have not. We are a denomination that does not always embrace the gifts of all, that is not always inclusive.
In the Bible passage from Mathew we learn that Peter sank. Is he criticized because he sank? NO. He is praised because he had the courage to walk. Jesus reached out his hand to Peter.
Can Jesus keep us from falling? Like a parent, He reaches out with the hand of love and scoops us up in his loving arms.
Remember the tight rope walker, John Blondon I mentioned earlier? He asked again if anyone in the crowd would volunteer to be carried across. He finally did get a volunteer. Not many in the crowd knew that the volunteer was John’s manager. When John began the long dangerous walk across the falls carrying his manager he said to his manager, “Do not trust your own feelings but trust mine. You must become a part of me.”
When the walk was finished and the manager was asked why he volunteered he said “because I believed in him.” That is what we must do to walk humbly with God Believe in him and become a part of him.
Amen and Amen
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