 Commentary The pied piper of moderators By John H. Adams The Layman Online Sunday, June 27, 2004
For many, Ufford-Chase, an elder who dropped out of Princeton Theological Seminary after one semester, may have appeared to be the surprise winner Saturday night of a two-year term as moderator of the 216th General Assembly. He defeated two tall-steeple ministers, albeit from different sides of the aisle.
Meanwhile, his competitors – David McKechnie, pastor of the 4,500-member Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston, and K.C. Ptomie, pastor of the 1,800-member Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tenn., both polished pulpiteers – couldn't keep pace with the charismatic Tucson, Ariz., layman. When it came to the tough question, Ufford-Chase made two things clear: Yes, he believed in the ordination of practicing gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered Presbyterians and, no, he wouldn't lobby on either side over the denomination's constitutional "fidelity/chastity" standard. "It is not reasonable from this night forward to share that opinion," said Ufford-Chase, a member of a More Light congregation. "We have one vision. We are called into the world to be evangelists and to do justice." But he didn't carry the ball by himself. His nominator, Patricia Mason, a 65-year black minister in the Presbytery of Pittsburgh, gave him an electric introduction. "He is only 40 years old," she said. "When was the last time that we had a moderator who was only 40 years old? Whom do you know that is in the Presbyterian Church whom God has anointed like that at 40 years ago? Our church is in decline. You know the numbers. It is time we tried something new. We send missionaries, but we don't go. Rick goes." Ufford-Chase is a product of different theological streams. Once a member of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, a leading evangelical organization on America's college campuses, he has had a long-time relationship with John Fife, the pastor of his congregation in Tucson. Fife was a leader in the sanctuary movement and received a felony conviction for harboring illegal aliens. With BorderLinks, Ufford-Chase goes into Mexico regularly to work with a group providing meals and counseling to impoverished children. He favors an open border. While he gave little inkling of what he thinks about Scripture or the denomination's Reformed theology during his five-minute speech or while answering questions from the commissioners, Ufford-Chase, a former river guide, did say he hoped to inspire future generations of Presbyterians to "get in the boat with Jesus." He made it clear that he intends to initiate a youth movement in the denomination. "I have been asking every one of young people, if I'm elected, don't wait more than 24 hours to send an e-mail to Valerie Small and let her know where you want me to meet with you," he said. Valerie Small works in the denomination's Office of the General Assembly and handles travel arrangements for the moderator. Unlike Ufford-Chase, Ptomey and McKechnie seemed to have some tough moments. For Ptomey, who preaches unity in diversity, the moment came when he described a controversial issue that came before his session. One of the elders noted that the session's decision could lead to the loss of members and asked the other elders if any of them would leave. Ptomey said another elder whom he did not mention by name – he was John Boone – was a member of the Presbyterian Lay Committee. He applauded Boone for being upset by his fellow session member's question and declaring that he would remain a member no matter what. On the other hand, Ptomey said, his congregation also has people who are loyal to the Covenant Network, a liberal group that seeks repeal of the denomination's "fidelity/chastity" ordination law. What he failed to mention, but was well publicized before the election, is that Ptomey himself is a member of the Covenant Network board. McKechnie's moment came when he was asked why his congregation was a part of the Confessing Church Movement of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He said he had counseled against becoming part of the movement, but that the session believed the membership wanted to join. In any event, McKechnie said he supports the three confessions that Jesus is Lord, the Bible is the Word of God and that God calls Christians to holy lives. |
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