New Wineskins Association of Churches Convocation IV 'Prepare for the storm,' participants urged By Parker T. Williamson Senior Correspondent The Layman Online Friday, November 2, 2007 FAIR OAKS, Calif. – "When the "perfect storm" struck the Andrea Gale with waves that topped 100 feet, its skipper and crew learned the hard way that decisions made earlier in calm waters would be their undoing." The Rev. Dr. William Stephens, senior minister of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers, Fla., set forth that illustration as he urged the New Wineskins Association of Churches to prepare for turbulent engagements with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Stephens pointed to the year 2006 as a critical year in which revisionist forces in the General Assembly undermined the denomination's ethical standards by rendering them optional. The assembly's action against Scripture and the denomination's constitution created a deal breaker for many Presbyterians, including Stephens' 1,500-member congregation that will vote in February on a proposal to leave the denomination. Stephens and his church session are preparing their people for stormy times. "I know of no better place to turn than John 15 when the storms of life approach us," Stephens said. The passage to which he referred is Jesus' vineyard metaphor. "Jesus is telling us that first we must get the relationship right. … He is the vine and we are the branches. We relate to the Father through the Son. We make that choice in calm water, and when the storms come, God will produce the fruit." The key is to stay connected, he said, to "abide in the vine." Stephens said two realities emerge from that connection, obedience and joy. They are the fruit of our abiding in the vine. The fruit of obedience When obedience begins to flow through us, he said, we can expect three results: (1) "It may get lonely." Stephens said that, after his session decided to call a congregational meeting to vote on dismissal from the denomination, former "colleagues and friends in the presbytery" appeared before his people to tell them why he was "leading them the wrong way." (2) "You may be misunderstood by some." Recalling the counsel that Job received from his wife during their calamity, Stephens said that those who remain obedient to the Lord's claim on their life can expect their decision to be misinterpreted, often by those who are closest to them. (3) "It may get costly." Looking across an audience that included representatives of congregations that have been dragged into court by presbytery officials and ministers whose livelihood has been threatened, Stephens asked, "Any precedence for this?" Hundreds of Presbyterians who represent churches preparing for the struggle nodded appreciably. To them, he said, "For those of us here today there will be a cost when we pursue what we believe is the faithful path. It may be the largest office, our pension plan, or accumulated years of ladder climbing. Costly, I guess, but does it not pale in comparison with those who have gone before us and given their lives?" Tall steeple timidity Stephens shared his sorrow over a recent meeting of "tall steeple clergy," a euphemistic title given to ministers of the denomination's largest congregations. He recalled their meeting with Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick in which most were vocal in their opposition to denominational policies and programs that his office represents. The majority even suggested that Kirkpatrick not run again for the office of stated clerk since he had lost his moral authority. The tall steeplers were virtually unanimous in stating their estrangement from the denomination. But after Kirkpatrick left, Stephens reported, the group conducted a straw poll to see "who was in and who was out." Noting that only one fourth said they had decided to leave, Stephens said, "I guess the New Wineskins Association is just too costly for them. Have we forgotten whose we are and why we are here?" Stephens is not the only mega-church pastor to express his disappointment with the timidity of his colleagues. The Rev. Dr. G. Henry Wells, senior pastor of Fair Oak's 2,286 member Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, compared many of his property-rich mega-church colleagues with the rich young ruler. "They are afraid to pay the price," Wells said. "They first said 'stay, fight and win,' and then 'stay and fight,' and now 'stay and wait.' What are they waiting for?" The fruit of joy "It is interesting to note," said Stephens, that in the Gospel of John the nearer Jesus comes to the Cross, the more frequently the word "joy" appears." He listed three "joy stealers" that Christians would do well to avoid. (1) One joy stealer is disconnectedness. "Jesus warned us that, apart from the vine, we can do nothing," Stephens said. "Remember the story of Mary and Martha. Mary chose the better thing because she kept her focus on the vital connection. The proof that Martha is disconnected is that she asked the wrong question of the Master. The disconnected pray for the wrong things." (2) Another joy stealer is disobedience. "Joy and guilt never swing together on the same swing," Stephens said. "We must confess our sins and forgive those who sin against us. It is through confession and forgiveness that we get reconnected and experience joy." (3) A third joy stealer is distraction. "Billy Graham reminded us that mountain tops are great for the view, but fruit grows down in the valleys," he said. "Many of us get caught up in leading Holy Land trips, redesigning the church parlor, building budgets, reorganizing staffs - all of which may be good things, but not the main thing." Antidotes Stephens listed three antidotes to the joy stealers that have given him hope and increased his joy: ( 1) Abiding in the vine. "This means time spent with God," he said. "It is as we sit at Jesus' feet that He provides an anchor for our soul and gives us joy." A singular characteristic of the New Wineskins Association of Churches is the amount of time it spends on its knees. Frequently, its leaders declare that they wish to be not one step behind nor one step ahead of the Holy Spirit's leading. Scripture and worship comprise the great majority of their meetings, and business sessions are interspersed with calls to prayer for divine guidance. (2) Faithfulness. Stephens recalled a building campaign that was conducted in his former Bakersfield, Calif., church. Professional fundraisers advised that the amount of money they sought to raise was probably unobtainable. After a time of prayer, the session went forward with the campaign, and the goal was exceeded by 10 percent. "It was the faithfulness of our people, shown in their willingness to sacrifice, that made the difference," he said. "I make it a practice not to know what my members give," he said. "But during our campaign completion celebration, I knew." Stephens said that, when the results were announced, some members applauded politely. Some clapped vigorously. Some had tears in their eyes. "I knew from looking at them who had made the sacrifice. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the joy, and theirs were tears of pure joy." "Today, I am witnessing another sacrifice," Stephens said. He recalled that when the New Wineskins Movement was just getting started, he was asked to serve on an eight-person strategy team that ultimately paved the way for a New Wineskins Presbytery within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. As denominational retribution came down upon them, Stephens said he learned very quickly what faithfulness and sacrifice means, and "the joy that comes from it." Stephens said that, as the strategy team did its work he discovered "eight persons that I would go into war with. … Being on that strategy task force has cost us, but I believe we would all say that there is no price too high for faithfulness. We have been blessed." (3) Focus. "Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He knew why he came and what he was here to do, and nothing would get in his way." Stephens said he saw this kind of clear focus in the New Wineskins Association of Churches, which he described as "a quickened step, square jaw, focused determination." That kind of clarity, he said, results in the joy of knowing who you are and where you are going. "Storms are coming," said Stephens, now the resident of a hurricane state. "The decisions we make in the sunshine matter to us and to those whom we serve. Keep your focus on the main thing, which is not about power, politics or property, as some would suggest, but about Jesus Christ. He alone is our hope, strength and joy. If we stay connected to Him, He will produce the fruit that gives Him glory." The Rev. Parker T. Williamson is editor emeritus of The Layman and The Layman Online.

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