On the 60th anniversary of ordination of women, two women — Teaching Elders Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston — have been elected as Co-Moderators of the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
It’s the first time the assembly has elected a moderator team made up of two women. It’s also the first time the assembly has elected co-moderators.
In the first ballot, Anderson and Edmiston received 432 votes, while the other slate of co-moderator candidates – Teaching Elder Adan Mairena and Ruling Elder David Parker received 136 votes.
Both women spoke during the time allotted for opening statements.
“There are 104 weeks between now and the 223rd General Assembly,” said Anderson. “We are committed to using those weeks well, for the glory of God.’’
Edmiston said that she was told that this was a horrible time to stand for co-moderator, because churches were leaving the denomination and Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons was retiring. However, she admitted, that is what moved both of them.
“This is the time that the Spirit shows us what God can do, because we cannot do it,” she said.
In fact, she called it the perfect time: A week after the shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orland; the day after the first anniversary of the shooting at the African American church in Charleston, and in the year of the 60th anniversary of the ordination of women. “We hope to become co-moderators who talk about things,” she added.
The first question posed to the candidates during the 30-minute question and answer session came from Commissioner Gale Watkins who spoke of the 101 churches dismissed from the PCUSA in 2014 and the 104 churches dismissed in 2015.
“2016 seems to be more of the same,” he said, then asked what the candidates would say to congregations wishing to be dismissed from the denomination.
Edmiston spoke of here grief when a Japanese-American church was dismissed from her presbytery, adding that she believes in “gracious separations that are indeed gracious.”
Anderson said that as much as she would “like every congregation in our big tent to stay, sometimes God is calling a church away.” She said that “if God can be glorified” dismissal could happen.
The second question to the candidates was a short one: “Is Jesus the only way to salvation?”
“Yes,” said Anderson.
Edmiston drew attention to John 14, where in verse 6 Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“Yes is the right answer,” she said, “there is also some interpretation that goes along with that. … I have some friends that do not claim Jesus as Lord and Savior but they are more in line with that Jesus teaches than some Christians. I’m really thrilled that God is the one that sorts that out.”
Answering the same question both Mairena and Parker stressed that Jesus was the way for them personally, but not for everyone.
All four candidates spoke of the need for racial reconciliation within the denomination and the country.
Related article: GA Co-Moderator Candidate: Many in the PCUSA Are Not Too Idealistically Different From the Orlando Shooter
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Don’t be fooled by these two, the gracious separation of the Japanese-American church was for show, everybody else has paid through the nose.
The other co-moderator, Anderson thinks that those who are moderate to conservative are no different than the Orlando shooter.
Can’t wait to what’s next.
I also think that the answer to “Is Jesus the only way” by three of the four was very telling.
Basically boiled down to “Yes, for me but maybe not for you”.
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However, as Scripture is supposedly the authority where we derive our basic theology then they got the answer wrong as Christ did not say:
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“I may be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one (except those who have other opinions) comes to the Father through me.”
Never be surprised when a left leaning political entity does things which are both left and political. The election of the Anderson-Edmiston binary is indeed a ideological-political statement by the entity. Their writing and points of view were well known and in the public domain for all. A statement wanted to be made, and it was very easily done as it seemed.
Their responses to questions on churches departing shows that for them, the systemic collapse and implosion of the denomination is in essence a non-issue, or an accepted part of the general narrative, and of little or no consequence to their agenda. And much like their ordination, their election and agenda has very little to do with service or sacrifice, and much to do with power and control. Who has it and who exercises it, and for whom. What message that sends to small church nation and small church denomination is anybody’s guess. Their tenure it seems will be played out in social media and their blogs of their liking, and their pet issues. They seem to have little use or interest in peace, reconciliation or unity of the body, and much interest in furthering their own agenda. Speaking very well to their self-absorbed and insular organization. As far as their grasp of Christology or the substitutionary atonement of Christ. Was it really an issue, and why does it matter? Again it is not central requirement to their goals and agenda. Hence not a matter for the GA, PCUSA to concern itself with or was a factor in their election.
It breaks my heart to see the demise of my denomination through Apostate thinking. I pray that the leadership in PCUSA return to scripture and not to self.