| Much has been said and written over these past months in the Outlook and other media outlets about the New Wineskins Association of Churches by a variety of interested and concerned Presbyterians. I was delighted to receive my brother Jack Haberer's invitation to share my perspective on things as the Co-Moderator of the NWAC. It is not my intention in this space to respond to or counter any arguments that have been given so far, there are better people than I to do that. What I hope to do is communicate some observations that may inform an understanding of our particular "missiological context" as evangelical Presbyterians in the United States of America.
Much has been said and written over these past months in the Outlook and other media outlets about the New Wineskins Association of Churches by a variety of interested and concerned Presbyterians. I was delighted to receive my brother Jack Haberer's invitation to share my perspective on things as the Co-Moderator of the NWAC. It is not my intention in this space to respond to or counter any arguments that have been given so far, there are better people than I to do that. What I hope to do is communicate some observations that may inform an understanding of our particular "missiological context" as evangelical Presbyterians in the United States of America. What does it mean to follow Christ faithfully into the twenty-first century? That is the question the New Wineskins have been asking for the last six years. While no one person or group has the complete answer to that question, we have stumbled across three things that we believe can provide a foundation for following in faith. The first foundation is theology --not just any theology, but an historic reformed and biblical belief system. An agreed upon theology creates a culture of trust. It is my observation that much of the "dialogue' that has taken place over the past few months has exposed how deeply a culture of distrust pervades the PCUSA. In fact, the issue that has caused this aspect of our culture to become so visible is the debate over a "trust clause" in the PCUSA constitution. It is a tragic irony that a "trust clause" exists because of clear lack of trust within our denomination. The assumption that chapter eight of the PCUSA Book of Order is "essentially Presbyterian" --simply does not hold true when we realize that of the nine Presbyterian denominations in the United States (who are all Presbyterian) only the PCUSA has such a property or "trust clause." When we talk of being "Presbyterian" we need to be mindful of our brothers and sisters in other Presbyterian denominations who may find our "discussions" to sound somewhat parochial and marginalizing. The nature of our discussions and the manner of our deliberations demonstrate a family system whereby "distrust" is the operative norm. Lacking any "center-set" boundaries of commonly held beliefs (i.e. Essential Tenets) we spend our time and energy on endless arguments (according to each other the worst of motives) related to the thing that we hope can hold this fragile fellowship together --polity. The New Wineskins second observation of what it might mean to follow Christ faithfully into the next millennium relates to a paradigm shift in polity. Polity, at its best, is informed and shaped by a shared theology and serves the corporate mission of the Church. An effective polity operates almost invisibly, calling no attention to itself. When polity is not based on a commonly held theology and no longer helps but begins to hinder the mission of the Church, then it is in danger of becoming an idol. The polity of distrust codifies rules and regulations in order to protect itself, allowing efforts aimed at institutional maintenance (the denomination) to supplant the Church's true mission. The question is simple; "Does our polity help or hinder the advance of the Great Ends of the Church? " Well intended students of the Church, from all across the theological spectrum, have rightly recognized the need for this paradigm shift in polity, but let us be clear that we can never restructure our way to health. Polity, whatever its shape without the solid foundation of our historic reformed theology, will never serve the mission of the Church. Even now, there is a significant move to reshape the polity of the PCUSA, that is taking place largely "under the radar screen" --in the F(Form) O(of) G(Government) --task force...but polity, no matter how it is reconfigured, can not give shape to a fellowship. It is a commonly held theology that shapes and fuels us; polity only serves to organize the mission...this leads to the third observation. What is our mission? It is the belief of the New Wineskins Association of Churches that our mission is the Great Commission, nothing less! There has been a great advance in understanding recently in what is means to be "missional." Many congregations, fed up with the "politics" of denominations are turning their attention, time and resources to be witnesses in their own Jerusalem, Judea/Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The question that the NWAC has been asking is, "How are missional congregations (particularly those who are reformed and Presbyterian) connecting with other missional congregations to do collaborative ministry and mission?" This is, quite frankly, a "transdenominational question". Here the dialogue is substantively lacking, and suggestions of how that might be accomplished are either ignored, misunderstood or ridiculed. Evangelicals (due to the culture of distrust) in the PCUSA spend more time, energy and money on the things we are against (including each other) than in genuine constructive dialogue. It is in this context that a vision has been articulated and a path offered for those who, for the purpose of the Great Commission, desire to connect with others in a biblically faithful, relevant expression of an evangelical and missional Presbyterian Church. Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver Lead Pastor, Memorial Park Presbyterian Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Co-Moderator New Wineskins Association of Churches
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