Opening worship By Paul Jensen The Layman Online Monday, June 21, 1999 FORT WORTH – More than 10,000 Presbyterians gathered Sunday in the Fort Worth convention center arena for the opening Worship Service of the 211th General Assembly. As the program began, ushers marched in with dozens and dozens of brilliantly colored banners from presbyteries across the nation. In contrast to the previous year's service, this year saw a return to a more traditional liturgy. The Rev. Douglas Oldenburg, outgoing General Assembly moderator, both designed and led the service, which was held in the same room in which less than 12 hours before, his successor had been elected. The service was held on Father's Day. However, perhaps recognizing the overture seeking to require the use of inclusive God-language, God was referred to as "Father" at most eight or nine times throughout the two-hour service, always in hymns, prayers or a recited creed. Oldenburg's sermon, "Together in God's Grace," focused on the tensions in the PCUSA, and presaged, even lamented, divisive floor battles to come during the assembly. He called on the assembled worshipers to put aside the deep divisions in the church, and celebrate the diversity of theological opinion in our denomination, calling it as much one of our "assets" as he said is our "racial and gender diversity." "Much divides us today," preached Oldenburg, "we are not of one mind on many significant issues...I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called; that's my plea and my prayer." Recognizing the differences of opinion in our denomination on the most basic issues, he proclaimed that "Frankly, I don't want a church filled only with people just like me". While calling on Presbyterians throughout the country to "remember that only God is God," he nevertheless made no mention of sin or God's commandments. Instead of decrying sin, he decried passion, saying that "History is filled with evidence that devout, Bible-believing Christians" have been proven to have been "dead wrong" in their convictions. "If we can't demonstrate unity in our diversity in our church, how can we expect the world to do it?" Oldenburg asked. Holding up as an example two speakers at a "Unity in Diversity Conference" he had helped organize (and which many evangelicals boycotted) he praised Scott Anderson, a gay man, and Joe Rightmeyer, his opposing speaker, who defended inconsistent philosophies regarding the ordination of homosexuals while respecting and honoring the other. In conclusion, Oldenburg exhorted the worshipers to tolerate everyone, regardless of their beliefs and behavior, to avoid stridency, and to "listen carefully to those who challenge your comfort zone," by finding room in the denomination for all, regardless of their differing creeds. |
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