Moderator candidates answer Layman questions Freda A. Gardner |
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Friday, March 26, 1999 Each of the four candidates for moderator of the 211th General Assembly has responded to a request from The Presbyterian Layman that they briefly answer questions about Scripture, organizational funding, and demonstrations on the floor of General Assembly. 1. Briefly summarize your understanding of the nature and authority of Scripture. With our denomination I believe that the Bible is the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ. Empowered by God’s Spirit we find in and through the Bible a relationship with God and with others as we learn about God’s people and, particularly, about God’s incarnated self, Jesus Christ. Because the Bible witnesses to the Living Word of God we are called not to worship the Bible but the One the Bible proclaims. Because God is always more than our thoughts or words can imagine or describe, the Bible is constantly fresh, freeing us to see more clearly the triune God. In Christ we are constantly challenged to let ourselves be grasped by the truth of God’s intent for all humanity and to be transformed into doers of that truth. The church has, more than once, interpreted the Bible to say whatever the church wanted to hear at a particular time. To say that the Bible speaks to us is to recognize that in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ even our own sense of the Biblical teachings may be called into question. People of faith are called again and again to realize that the God of the Bible is far greater than they had supposed, far less provincial, and always affirms the freedom to be God’s people. 2. Should the PCUSA provide funding and staff for organizations and agencies that promote beliefs and behaviors that contradict our confessions and constitution? Time and again Jesus was confronted by those who thought they were in sole possession of the truth. Jesus did not avoid them but went into their midst, heard them, and, when it was required, said, “You have heard it said…but I say to you…”. Christian people have long survived among groups whose convictions were alien to the Christian faith as they knew it. Today our church has a history of engaging in open and honest conversations with people who hold different understandings of God’s will and ways and of the ordering of the life of the body of Christ. The ecumenical church includes denominations with different priorities and perspectives. Ecumenical endeavors at the local level are finding ways to live out the Gospel in spite of divergent views. It seems clear that the way ahead for Christ’s church is with open and honest acceptance that there are differences among us that, if allowed, could stand in the way of a concerted effort to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with our God. The fear that hearing or reading a “different-from-our-own” conviction will destroy faith or draw one into another’s camp does not take into account the depth and breadth of faith experience that PCUSA staff and members bring into the encounter. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are always strengthened when our faith is challenged. Only by hearing and discussing can we hope to find ways to unite in addressing a world that cries out for what God in Christ has promised us. Yes, we should be represented at those tables to join together with people from other traditions, countries and continents to be about God’s work in creating a new heaven and a new earth. 3. If you were elected moderator, how would you respond to a request from individuals or an organization to hold a demonstration on the floor of GA in order to protest or influence a GA decision? Passionate belief or hard-won convictions often cry out for expression that goes beyond the rules and procedures of any body or group. It is difficult for people who feel strongly about something to stand by and watch others make decisions that will affect them. As long as our church has General Assembly meetings which are open to the church (and anyone else), we should probably come to an agreement about where and when other-than-commissioners can give expression to their concerns. Many have expressed distaste for singing or poster-bearing outside the Assembly meeting room or even inside the facility itself. Not everyone who has a concern can get even a few minutes at committee hearings. If this is as big an issue as some seem to be indicating, then I think that the decision should not be left up to the moderator but instead a policy should be suggested and approved for a trial period. Such a policy would indicate in general terms where groups might gather, in sight of entering and departing commissioners, to give expression to their concerns. Time as well as space might be indicated. We want people to be heard. Commissioners are not voting as representatives of particular constituencies but as God directs them. They should not fear or be overwhelmed by demonstrations and some guidelines would alleviate that concern. Gardner, an elder, was endorsed by New Brunswick Presbytery. |
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| Moderator
candidates answer Layman questions Frank Diaz Charles W. Kim Walter J. Ungerer |
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| The Presbyterian Layman March/April 1999 | ||
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