PresbyMEME…

Neal Locke has a PresbyMEME going around and I was tagged.

Here are the questions:

1. What is your earliest memory of being distinctly Presbyterian?
2. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend LESS energy and time?
3. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend MORE energy and time?
4. If you could have the PC(USA) focus on one passage of scripture for a entire year, what would it be?
5. If the PC(USA) were an animal what would it be and why?

Now here are my answers:

1. What is your earliest memory of being distinctly Presbyterian? I don’t really have one. I was raised in a non-denominational Bible church, went to a Southern Baptist College, a multi-denominational seminary…and ended up at a Presbyterian Church. My earliest memory would probably be becoming a member at Bel Air a few years ago. But I really don’t consider myself Presbyterian.
2. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend LESS energy and time? Wow! Where to begin. But I will agree with many others who posted on this topic and say the ordination process. I think it is completely outdated, and they have failed to think forward on this issue. It’s not a surprise that that PC(USA) is the fastest dying denomination around. This is an important issue for me. After being “under care” for over two years I officially withdrew my name from from the ordination process a little over a month ago. I can tell you more about this later, but the means just don’t justify the ends in my opinion. I’m just one of many friends that I know who have been pulling out of the process as well.
3. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend MORE energy and time? They should spend more time thinking how they can re-structure, or do away with their outdated, hierarchical organizational chart. The structure of the PC(USA) is an antiquated model, and it continues the process of separating the ordained from the rest of the staff in unhealthy ways.
4. If you could have the PC(USA) focus on one passage of scripture for a entire year, what would it be?
   John 15:15 Great verse. I think that part of the problem with the PC(USA) and its structure is that the system is not set up to allow us to be friends and to work together. Rather it often creates an adversarial environment. Rather than fostering a system of servant leadership, it promotes a hierarchy of haves and have nots.
5. If the PC(USA) were an animal what would it be and why? I think it would be a dog that keeps chasing its tail. It goes around and around in circles and never looks up to see where it is going.

Extra Credit: Jesus shows up at General Assembly this year, what does he say to the Presbyterian Church (USA)? I think that he wouldn’t be allowed into the General Assembly to speak since he was not ordained. He would be instructed to follow the steps for ordination and maybe after a few years he could be part of the club.

I don’t come across as cynical in this do I?

I tag Don Coleman and Lars Rood.