Beyond Repair

Vicky and I recently had to replace our dishwasher. The one we replaced was only five years old, but in those five years we had to repair it multiple times. We had a guy out early on to fix a bang-ga-di-bang noise. It was interfering with our ability to converse in certain places of our house—like our kitchen, breakfast nook, dining room, entryway, and living room. Other than that, it was fine. Later the tips on all the little spiky things wore off, and rust spots started showing up on our blue-light-special dinnerware. Those breakages were nothing compared to the wheels that kept falling off the bottom rack. No matter where you happened to be in our house, you knew when the wheels failed to glide properly. It sounded something like, “THIS STUPID DISWASHER!” The final blow was when the unit had an identity crisis and began functioning as a retention basin. It was as though the manufacturer built flaws into the appliance simply to infuriate us. Though we could never find the closed circuit camera that allowed the GE employees to get a good laugh, we knew it was there.

Over the course of the past several days, I’ve had the opportunity to see our denomination move through its biannual conference known as General Assembly, or GA. Yesterday, I attended my first committee meeting. The way this machine is suppose to work is that presbyters write overtures and take them to their presbyteries. (I’m aware I’ve just used three scary words in one sentence. A presbyter is someone who is either an elder or a minister at a Presbyterian church—don’t ask what that is. An overture is like a bill of legislation—you know, a motion with an attached rationale. Presbyteries are judicatories (you’re on your own) that consist of pastors and elders in a particular geographical area.) These presbyteries then vote whether or not to send the overtures to GA for adoption by the whole denomination. GA receives the overtures and assigns them to a committee. (feel free to scan this part of the blog) The committee considers whether or not to send the overtures to the floor of GA. (pause for a breath) The commissioners then consider the approved and amended overtures and decide if they will become official stances of the PC(USA).

So yesterday, I went to the committee on Church Orders and Ministries, the one focused on ordination standards. The moderator had a really nice way about him. He was kind and seemed sincere in his desire to help the commissioners. The committee itself appeared to be quite large, with 50 to 60 members. As the afternoon got underway, it was clear that not everyone was on the same page. Someone moved something that required a two thirds majority. After no small about of discussion, committee members finally figured out what was actually being moved. The committee then voted to stop working as a committee of the whole. That’s when the committee got on with its work. Huh?

A series of motions, seconds, discussions, calls for the question, and votes took place. I could only watch from the back of the crowded room. More than a few times, however, committee members were asking the moderator to explain what was going on and what the various motions and overtures meant. The moderator was constrained by parliamentary procedure not to interpret. The conversation went pro, con, pro, con. Things like understanding and listening to the Spirit appeared to take a back seat to the rational progression of a debate facilitated by mechanisms of a bygone era. It was clear that those who had been pumping parliamentary iron in preparation for GA used their muscle to turn the process down particular avenues. Lightweights were there for the ride.

I thought that maybe it was just me—after all I’m staying at a regular Holiday Inn. If only I had stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. Later in the day, however, I met up with a group of folks who had participated as commissioners in various committees. They were telling similar stories and sharing similar frustrations. Our conversation had nothing to do with any liberal or conservative biases. No matter what committee we talked about, people felt like the system was broken. One committee is focusing on the war in Iraq, the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, and among other things the ratification of the free trade agreement between the U.S. and the nation of Columbia. Thank goodness they have two days to get their work done. On each of these issues the committee’s work is to recommend a particular stance for the PC(USA). Another committee was charged with addressing a smattering of social issues including such diverse topics as global warming, treatment of prisoners, and the use of non disposable food service items. It would be one thing if the committees were comprised of people who have spent their lives in and around these particular topics. The way our system is designed, however, the committee assignments are randomly generated in order to prevent bias.

It’s common courtesy to offer a solution whenever you identify a problem. I wish I could. When it came to my dishwasher suffering from fluid retention, I had no idea how to fix that problem either. I knew what the problem was: Yucky water remained after each wash. What I didn’t know was if the solution involved replacing a valve, a switch or a tube. To me the machine was simply beyond repair.

How about General Assembly? Is it beyond repair? If the repairs are left to me alone, I dare say it is. Furthermore, I have no real solution to recommend. Smarter people than me might know how to unite a diverse people, who hold diametrically opposed, strongly held positions. Maybe there’s someone out there who can undo centuries of tradition and empower the Assembly to value godly discernment and consensus over expedience and fairness. If these people exist, I’d love to have their number. I’ll place the call and schedule the repairs.

If the GA machine is beyond repair, however, does that mean our denomination is too? Could be. More than likely some of us will come to that conclusion based on the final outcomes of this week. If ordination standards change or if they stay the same, there will be people who will be ready to throw the whole denomination into the junk heap.

I’m not as worried about whether or not the denomination is beyond repair. When our congregation voted last year to stay and make a difference in the PC(USA), I never took it to suggest that ZPC or its pastors had what it took to repair all the brokenness in our denomination. The work we’re called to goes well beyond repair work. Staying and making a difference calls us to be witnesses. I’m in San Jose first and foremost to represent Jesus. I’ll tell everyone and anyone who will listen that Jesus Christ is alive and that he's the king of kings; the way, the truth, and the life; the forgiver of my sins; the hope of the world; the one and only path to the Father. Not only am I here to speak this truth with others, I’m here to show them. It’s no different than why you’re wherever you are.

What’s at stake? At home, it was a question of not having to wash the dishes by hand. With our denomination, it’s a bit more significant. The whole world is watching—Christian and non Christian. In our own denomination, people who follow Jesus in a manner we might not agree with—they too are watching. Heck, Jesus is watching.

I might be able, by the grace of God, to effect some positive changes here and there in our denomination. After all, I did replace the caps on the spiky things in the dishwasher. ZPC brings its tool box of Christ centered discipleship, mission, and grace. I trust that God will continue to use us to his glory within the PC(USA)

I remind myself that no one is making me believe anything other than what I know the Bible teaches. No one is making me act in a way that contradicts what I know Jesus to command. (I can do that all by myself.) I believe, however, that Jesus is calling me—and ZPC—to represent. We don’t have to be anxious about today, because our God isn’t anxious. We don’t have to control the outcome of today, because our God is in control. We don’t have to be fearful, because our God is bigger than any denominational decision or GA action. I might be sad, disappointed, frustrated, and even angry. That’s how I often react to a broken world.

I guess we could always go to the church store and get a new denomination, but most of them are well worn and have problems of their own. If something's not going bang-ga-di-bang, it’s probably making a whoop-da-di-whoop noise. For whatever reason, God has us here—broken people in a broken denomination. Let’s show each other Jesus.