Being a Presbyterian, I take my responsibility as a presbyter very seriously. I lament when I have to miss a presbytery meeting as they used to inspire me. However, today's meeting felt like I was back in the corporate world, meeting for the sake of meeting. Reviewing budgets that were going to pass regardless because no one except the presbytery staff had enough background on the total budget to not let them pass. We even increased a debt limit for a retreat center in this economic environment! My only point being -- we were meeting and doing business that felt like it was simply a formality.
On the car ride home I asked my elders what they thought. One said, "I could have skipped the morning but things got lively there for a moment after lunch. That was interesting."
What the elder was referring to was a motion brought forth suggesting NCP presbyters 'try' a new format to presbytery meetings. Instead of conducting business as a formality, how about if we were to engage one another in Bible study, discussion, and worship??? Our votes on important, controversial subjects might take on a new tone and meaning. We might be in relationship and experience something of what we preach about.
Hello, was that the Holy Spirit blowing through the room?
Some wanted to refer it to "Council" to decide. Right, take the decision making away from the people who actually have to suffer through the meetings-as-a-formality.
Looking forward to November.
3 comments:
I'm with you. Someone sitting down asked me (as I was standing with my "Can't We All Just Get Along Group" making that motion): "What would council do if we referred it to them?" And I said, "Nothing."
"No seriously," he said.
"I am serious." I said. And so it goes. One day, we'll get past the corporate thing and actually be a community together.
My first Presbytery meeting was in 1979 as a layperson - every since then people have been saying Presbytery meetings need to be different, much along the lines of today. That's nearly 30 years of moaning. To say today's motion was "new" is balderdash.
Death.
Resurrection.
that's about it for me.
It would be nice if everyone would comment on the NCP/friends groups, folks keep asking me what others are saying
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