Marshall McLuhan once wrote, "The medium is the message." That is certainly often true for the church. The way we live together and treat one another is a powerful witness to the world about the power of the Holy Spirit to transform human life.

Our Book of Order gives us a tremendous challenge with its ringing affirmation that, "The Church of Jesus Christ is a provisional demonstration of what God intends for all humanity" (G-3.0200). We are called to show God's love to the world by the way we live our life together in the Christian community. In these days when we deal with issues around which there is great division in the Presbyterian Church, this is a very important reminder.

The recent gathering of the executives of our synods and the senior executive officers of our Assembly agencies issued a Pastoral Letter to the Presbyterian Church (USA) which expresses this concern beautifully. I am pleased to commend it to you:

 PASTORAL LETTER TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)

Over the years, executives from agencies of the General Assembly and the executives of the sixteen synods have held regular meetings. We have no charter as a group-no official status as a body. We are, simply, servants of the church who share a love for Jesus Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA). Our group, minus several whose schedules did not permit their attendance, held its semi-annual meeting November 19-21, 1997.

Our gatherings always include time for worship. The biblical reflection at this meeting was centered on the fourth chapter of Ephesians. God spoke to us through Paul's words as he begs us "to lead a life worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1b-3).

A substantial part of our discussion focused on the manner in which the church is currently dealing with matters of fundamental importance to the life of our denomination. We are concerned about the elevation of rhetoric and characterizations that are being used by many-from all theological perspectives =96 who, acting out of firmly held convictions, are saying and doing things in ways which make those with whom they disagree feel diminished and alienated. We believe that the tenor of the debate is distracting the church, as part of the body of Christ, from our mission and witness for the Lord.

We do not deny the sincerity or commitment of those who feel so passionately called to their positions-or that fundamental precept of our understanding that "God alone is Lord of the conscience" (Book of Order G-1.0301a). We pray, however, that all of us will be able to open our hearts and minds to the variety of gifts and perspectives that the Holy Spirit has nurtured within the people of God. It is time to pray for one another, corporately and individually, so that we can "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven [us]" (Ephesians 4:32).

We write this letter out of a profound love for the Presbyterian Church (USA). We commit ourselves to pray for, support, and walk with each other, and all those with whom we share ministry, as the church seeks to discern God's will for our life together. Please join us in these efforts so that our ongoing witness in the world may increase in faithfulness, even as we sort through the issues which lie before us.