Yesterday, May 10, the Presbyterian Church (USA) finally removed the language in its church constitution that banned faithful GLBTQ Presbyterians in committed relationships from being ordained or installed to the offices of the church. The ammenment, known as 10-A, will go into effect in July. This change that comes after nearly four decades of debate begs the question,
Who cares?
Who gives a damn what the PC(USA) does?
Is there anything more irrelevant than the internal machinations of an American Mainline Protestant denomination?
Fifty years ago, what happened in the church was big news. Now it rates little more than a wire service report and a file photo buried with the news release about filling potholes. What changed?
During the fight for civil rights in America it was the preachers who led the struggle for civil rights in the South. From Dr. King in Montgomery to the hundreds of clergy who risked their livelihood and even their lives to proclaim the Gospel message that each and every one of God’s children is due the compassion and respect of the church and society. Pulpits served as the starting line for a movement tha twould change the world. Many churches were safe havens for those working for change and daring to stand in opposition to bigotry and hate.
Today, the church is scrambling to catch up. While debates nationwide continue over the question of same-sex marriage, the reality of same-sex relationships and the role of GLBTQ men and women is rapidly becoming a non-issue for most people. With the exception of a few paleo-conservative corners in American society, the kind of exclusion and bigotry the church’s ban represented is no longer tolerated. Once upon a time the church was a prophetic voice for the world, now the world has become the prophetic voice to the church. No wonder no one cares what the church has to say!
My hope is that this change in the PC(USA) will be a wake-up call for the church. Despite the prognostications of gloom and doom, the sky did not fall, the sun did rise and God did not strike vengeance and wrath upon those of us who have worked for this essential change. Perhaps there is a message in that. It is time for the church to get back out front and lead the charge into a future where none of God’s children want for food or water, clothing or shelter, respect or dignity.
It is a new day in the PC(USA) and not only is what we have to say relevant, it is essential. Hopefully we will not waste the opportunity to keep proclaiming the radical love and inclusion of God in Jesus Christ now and forever more.
Showing posts with label public theology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public theology. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Is there not a better way to use our energy?
I was watching the news this morning as commentators continued to bloviate about whether or not it was appropriate for the President of the United States to deliver a speech to school children. Some accused the President of political manipulation and attempting to create a "cult of personality." Others declared that this was a grand gesture of leadership. Personally, I don't have a dog in this hunt. I don't particularly care if he delivers the speech or not.
What got me thinking was this...what would happen if we took all the energy and passion being spent arguing over a rather innocous and uninspired speech and put it toward ensuring that no child in this country goes to bed hungry?
I recognize that on an issue like hunger (or homelessness, poverty, unemployment, etc.) there are many different opionions about policy and how best to resolve the problem. That is a good thing. Debate is a good thing. It helps us to sharpen our vision and devise better public policy. But we waste so much of our debating energy on silly surface things that, in the long run, make little difference.
As Christians it is easy for us to sit on the sidelines in most of these debates because, afterall, Jesus had very little to say about the speaking engagements of the President of the United States! He did, however, have a lot to say about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, comforting the afflicted and caring for those in any kind of need. Jesus commanded us to speak and act on these things as well. As long as one child goes to bed hungry, the church has an obligation to speak out on their behalf and do everything in our power to make sure that the sun never sets again on a hungry child.
Our concern is not HOW the problem of hunger, homelessness etc. get solved but THAT they get solved. The church is not and should not be about party politics or left vs. right. As the body of Christ in the world we are about proclaiming the Gospel in word an deed. Part of that proclamation is reminding the world that there are issues of great need that deserve far more of our attention and energy than a politician's speeches. What is a better use of our time and energy: using children as pawns in a game of political chess or caring for them as Christ commanded us to do?
What got me thinking was this...what would happen if we took all the energy and passion being spent arguing over a rather innocous and uninspired speech and put it toward ensuring that no child in this country goes to bed hungry?
I recognize that on an issue like hunger (or homelessness, poverty, unemployment, etc.) there are many different opionions about policy and how best to resolve the problem. That is a good thing. Debate is a good thing. It helps us to sharpen our vision and devise better public policy. But we waste so much of our debating energy on silly surface things that, in the long run, make little difference.
As Christians it is easy for us to sit on the sidelines in most of these debates because, afterall, Jesus had very little to say about the speaking engagements of the President of the United States! He did, however, have a lot to say about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, comforting the afflicted and caring for those in any kind of need. Jesus commanded us to speak and act on these things as well. As long as one child goes to bed hungry, the church has an obligation to speak out on their behalf and do everything in our power to make sure that the sun never sets again on a hungry child.
Our concern is not HOW the problem of hunger, homelessness etc. get solved but THAT they get solved. The church is not and should not be about party politics or left vs. right. As the body of Christ in the world we are about proclaiming the Gospel in word an deed. Part of that proclamation is reminding the world that there are issues of great need that deserve far more of our attention and energy than a politician's speeches. What is a better use of our time and energy: using children as pawns in a game of political chess or caring for them as Christ commanded us to do?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)