Loss and Loss

Just got back from a meeting that left me feeling a bit angry and sad.

Today our presbytery met to enact the next set of procedures to deal with a congregation that has decided to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA). The pastors and less than 60% of the membership have apparently decided that they just can no longer abide within a denomination as heretical as the PCUSA.

Here's a basic accounting of events leading up to today's meeting: In June of last year, the General Assembly accepted and approved a couple of items that set at least one of the pastor's teeth on edge. So, for the better part of a year, their Session of eleven members (plus the pastors) secretly discussed their "problem" and what to do without including the rest of the congregation. Then in October, they notified both the congregation and the presbytery that they would be taking a vote in December as to whether the congregation would seek dismissal to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church or stay in the PCUSA.

There were several (at least 4) informational meetings planned. Representatives of the presbytery were present at each meeting. Various materials were available from both the Session and the presbytery. A variety of issues were discussed. Then came the meeting where the majority present voted in favor of leaving the denomination. There was also a significant minority who voted no.

So, why am I angry and sad? Let's get the anger out first.

This is not the first congregation in the PCUSA in the past year or so that has decided to leave the denomination. I've had a 90 minute drive to do some thinking about this, and I hope I have gotten some perspective on it.

I don't think I'd have a problem with this if the entire congregation or 100% of those present and voting decided it was time to leave. If that were the case, I'd almost be inclined to say, "Let them keep their property and go." In that situation, it would seem that God is indeed calling that group of Christians into another denominational relationship. The same group of people who have given their lives, money, blood, sweat, and tears would be the ones who had discerned and affirmed that call. No one would feel abandoned or betrayed by such a decision.

However, that's not the case here. For this congregation, Pastor Johnny/Joany-on-the-Spot accepts a call to serve, works with the congregation, and then decides that there's something fishy about the denomination and s/he can't stay. But wait! There's this group of people who've called me to work with them. It's a ready made group to support me, if we can all just leave together. Oh! And icing on the cake, we can just take our property with us. VOILA! In just a few easy steps, we have a new relationship with a new denomination and can all bow down to the theology-of-ME.

What gets forgotten is that Pastor Johnny/Joany-on-the-Spot wasn't there in the beginning when the presbytery began the church, wasn't a part of putting together a congregation or procuring a building, didn't walk hand-in-hand as this congregation started from nothing and gave blood, sweat, tears, finances and faith to the establishing of this thriving congregation.

Admittedly, at the time this congregation began, the PCUSA didn't exist. However, the current pastor also wasn't present when this congregation made a conscious decision to become a part of the PCUSA when it did come into being. Part of what infuriates me is the blithe discarding of those who are committed to remaining a part of this denomination. This is a fairly young church, and some of those who are against the change are charter members. Even if this was an older church where the charter members are all in their graves (and their souls before us in the Kingdom), I would still be loath to discount the desires of those who wish to stay in the denomination.

Look - I don't have a problem with the pastor deciding to leave based on what s/he has discerned as heresy. I don't even have a problem with those who believe that the pastor is correct leaving as well. What I do have a problem with is the expectation that the property, a tangible part of the heritage of the congregation's hard work, is a part of the package.

If you feel that you can't stay within the denomination, fine! But then, also do the hard work of starting from scratch that the original members did as they brought the congregation into being. Let those who still want to remain in the denomination keep what they've worked for and move forward. Remember, it was the denomination which brought the congregation into being in the first place, and worked with it to help provide a facility for it to grow. You wouldn't be where you are today without the denomination. No one should be able to effectively "steal" a congregation just because they have a problem with the denomination. I'm still puzzled as to why it's not possible to stay in the denomination and work to change things, but then that's another rant.

I hope you can see why I'm sad. I feel great sorrow for those who are in the position of losing so much. Even if the property stays within the presbytery for those who voted against the decision to leave, they will have lost much. This kind of situation involves division of friends, perhaps family, loss of relationship and trust, a sense of betrayal, anger, hurt, disappointment in self, abandonment, just so much pain. I feel great sorrow for those who are leaving, as well. They too will be losing much, even if they don't realize it at the moment.

*very deep sigh* Why, oh why, do we inflict such pain upon one another?