Presbyterian Happenings

Hey friends,

If you're of the PC(USA) persuasion you've probably seen by now somewhere on the internet or elsewhere that a little over a week ago we passed Amendment 10-A. In case you haven't, and because other people are better at explaining it than I, this link has some good FAQs. Also here are comments from CNN and the New York Times. Basically though, the change adjusted ordination standards to allow for the inclusion of LGBT folks into ordained ministry.

This post, I think, is going to be more about my processing of the reactions that followed the 87th vote than it is on my actual opinions about the issue. But, in the interest of making this at least somewhat personally invested, I feel like I should tell you that I'm glad it passed. Really glad, actually.

Of course there have been reactions all over the spectrum to these happenings. Folks over at More Light Presbyterians are super stoked about it, while others call it "yet another tragedy." I think it's hard to remember, when you're so emotionally invested in an issue, to consider the people on the other side. I went with a couple of my fellow Nashville YAVs to a presbytery meeting and after the presbytery had voted on (and passed) 10-A, a man stood up and mentioned that he had been on "the losing side" before, and knows that it's not fun. (Or something to that effect.) And that makes sense. I mean if it hadn't passed and I had been surrounded by people celebrating that, I probably wouldn't feel awesome.

So, I don't know. After listening and reading and digesting all of these reactions, I really think I've found the most meaning in the ones that don't even support a particular side of the discussion and instead call for appreciating our differences. For example, after the amendment passed, 24 former moderators of the denomination signed this letter encouraging unity. You know, whether you're excited about 10-A or not, maybe we can all still be friends? I was recently at a gathering during which one person commented: "I may not have voted for Obama, but I didn't move to Canada either." And I think that makes a lot of sense. Another blog on 10-A reads: "We are united in Christ through our baptism, not our opinions. We are adopted into this family, this crazy, cranky, contentious, sometimes and unexpectedly beautiful family."  That same blog, though, says that maybe it's ok for some people to leave. Sure, the numbers aren't exactly stellar right now, but I can see the merit in not trying to force people to stay. I know there are plenty of family analogies in the world, but maybe that's because they make sense! Families disagree, families fight...maybe that one relative cuts everybody else off. But you know what? That family can still be a family. Hopefully, they can still sit down at the dinner table (or maybe a committee meeting?) and love each other. I also do not think it does any good at all to be in a Church with just people like ourselves. The key is for both sides to realize they have room to grow. Which can be really really hard for a lot of people (myself included). The nay-sayers must push themselves to be more open-minded, while the people voting yes must challenge themselves to remember that there are some people pretty upset with and scared for the church right now, and they need some love too.

Really I'm not sure exactly how to condense the thoughts floating around in my head, and I'm pretty sure I just keep typing myself in circles. But I also wish I was courageous enough to have this conversation with more people face-to-face. I don't have the slightest clue why I can type things here that I'm too scared to say to a good friend. But I can. That's not to say I haven't had my fair share of "Oh yay 10-A passed!" conversations with people who I know agree with me. But I feel like sometimes I'm just too scared to stick up for it when I know a really intense conversation could come out of it. It's the Peacemaker in me I suppose (enneagram anybody?), but it's super frustrating sometimes. My mind says what I believe, but in an effort to avoid confrontation I end up mumbling my way through some as-neutral-as-possible statement. Then I just end up frustrated and embarrassed that I couldn't stick up for it, if for nothing else than the people I know who care about it even more deeply than I. So anyway. Maybe people will read this and find this part cowardly and maybe a little bit ridiculous. But it is what it is, and for some reason I can say that here.

All of this is to say that I'm excited and hopeful for the PC(USA). While I don't think this discussion is anywhere near over, I'm thinking this is a pretty big step for us. A good big step. Granted, I don't know exactly where that step is going, or how long it'll take to process...but the fact that the question got asked in the first place, and that there are enough people voting yes in presbyteries out there to have a majority? That means there are a lot of people out there who are for making our denomination even just a little more welcoming. And that's a lovely feeling.

So that's that. If anybody wants to force me into a confrontational (or friendly) conversation feel free to, but I just probably won't be the one starting it...

Love,
Allison