Comments for An Open Letter to Our Next Moderator and Stated Clerk at http://pres-outlook.com , comment 1 to 4 out of 4 comments http://pres-outlook.com Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:41:49 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/guest-commentary/7449-an-open-letter-to-our-next-moderator-and-stated-clerk.html#comment-4140 I agree with Mr. Moss. In the re-writing, organization of the F(orm) o(f) (G)overnment, there is great possibilities and opportunities we can pray for the Spirit's presence to see that each congregation is ultimately responsible for the polity above the congregation - they are teaching, reprooving, correcting the next generation of Christians and those who answer God's call to service, ministry, preaching, etc. How are we as a congregation? The Catholic Church in town prayed for 20 years for vocations but did nothing to encourage young men to the priesthood or young women to serve as nuns. Now they have received a priest who is so green the older members have left the parish. How has your congregation encouraged young men and women into service to God as pastors, elders, deacons, Sunday class leaders, teachers, etc.? Have we just left them out to dry? I say, dig in to the white papers currently circulating, October 2008, around the denomination and in Presbyterys. If the congregations do not take action to know God in their midst, to carry God from their building into the world, Why would we expect the polity above the congregation to make any significant change? - lexmel Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:06:08 +0100 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/guest-commentary/7449-an-open-letter-to-our-next-moderator-and-stated-clerk.html#comment-3987 I believe Stephen Moss is right on target. The new moderator and Stated Clerk will certainly have an influence, but these men men cannot turn things around by themselves. The first step to solving a problem is to admit you have one. So far I have not heard anyone in a leadership position acknowledge that they and their porgrams have failed and failed miserably. - Bob Gant Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:00:57 +0100 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/guest-commentary/7449-an-open-letter-to-our-next-moderator-and-stated-clerk.html#comment-3979 I would like to see quality leadership and qualified commissioners return to General Assembly. These days we spend so much time and energy making sure our commissioners meet gender, ethnic, and other criteria that we often neglect to consider what I believe to be the most important commissioner qualification: experience. We need more folks like Rev. Moss as commissioners and leaders. Folks who make decisions based on experience and not emotions. - Tony Thu, 29 May 2008 10:16:47 +0100 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/guest-commentary/7449-an-open-letter-to-our-next-moderator-and-stated-clerk.html#comment-3978 I truly and deeply appreciate the Rev. Moss's sentiments and wise counsel. Pair this open letter with the Rev. Joe Small's recent essay on restoration of Presbyterian polity in relation to presbyteries, I truly see God at work and believe our future Constitutional officers should take serious the counsel of these two esteemed teaching elders for the good of the whole communion (see http://www.pcusa.org/mgbconnect/pubs/travail.pdf). As someone who studies organizational and leadership development, the national expression of our church, as well as presbyteries, right down to the congregations, would all do well to take some time and reclaim our identity, articulate clearly and unashamedly our core values and practices, and root our selves in the mission of the Triune God at work in the world and within our context. The revision of the FOG is a technical change, a band-aid, to a deeper problem which really needs more discernment and participation of all the saints in the pews. Furthermore, it may not be a bad idea to return to smaller presbyteries, to help engender trust and have the communal building we desperately need, as well as move the FOG back to its original Constitutional magnitude and apostolic provenance (be it a slightly revised 1789 version or even a 1945 of the PCUSA or PCUS. . . I am cool with any of those because they both were more missional than what we have now). - Christian Dominic Boyd Thu, 29 May 2008 07:56:17 +0100