Synod of Southern California and Hawaii

PC(USA) CONFERENCES
(link)

Recently added: PCUSA's 2012 Calendar

OTHER CONFERENCES

CMEP 2012
Advocacy Conference
June 18-19
Washington D.C.
LINK

OTHER VOICES

Selected by Synod Executive Doska Ross

GA 219 Moderator
Cynthia Bolbach
facebook page
"Always Being Reformed"

GA 219 Vice-Moderator
Landon Whitsitt
website • facebook • blog

GA Stated Clerk
Gradye Parsons
blog

GMAC Director
Linda Valentine
blog

Rev. Tod Bolsinger
blog
Moderator of the Middle Governing Body Administrative Commission

IN THE NEWS

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach has a growing community outreach: "Come and See . . ."

At Immanuel hurch in Los Angeles students find their voices through photography at Photopiece.

MORE RESOURCES

In this issue of the Presbyterian Historical Society Newsletter learn how PHS exhibits are coming to congregations through web and traveling displays.

Eight Leaders Urge Congregations to Rethink Leaving the PC(USA)
The letter, signed by eight Presbyterians, including Ruling Elder Cynthia Bolbach and Teaching Elder Landon Whitsitt, the moderator and vice-moderator of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) among others, is available through Presbyterian News Service. A video link is included with the letter.

Abuse Prevention
The Insurance Board (this firm handles insurance needs for many of our churches) is offering a new resource. Please mouse over the link for a full explanation.
Safe Conduct Workbench

DOSKA'S CORNER
Some Thoughts

Finding the Will of Christ – Discerning in Groups

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January 23, 2012
One of the gems of our wonky Presbyterian polity is, “Presbyters are not simply to reflect the will of the people, but rather to seek together to find and represent the will of Christ.” Another gem follows, “Decisions shall be reached in councils by vote, following opportunity for discussion, and a majority shall govern” *.  What a joy to see how these two principles of discerning together get played out over and over in our life in the church! The decisions that result are always better for the input of those around the table, amending, suggesting, pushing, deleting, questioning, prodding, substituting, adding, editing, replacing, perfecting.  And then, voting.

Right after the New Year the stated clerks and executives of the eight presbyteries in this synod gathered with Tod Bolsinger, moderator of the Mid-Council Administrative Commission, to discuss some of the ideas that are being proposed by that group.  It gave us an opportunity to listen to their current thinking while also challenging some of the assumptions being made. The AC has been diligent in making themselves available to any of us who want to share our thoughts and opinions on their work- a perfect embodiment of “discussion” in the Form of Government quote. We all pray and believe that this input will help the AC to hone their recommendations so that the church is improved by their work when it is brought to GA for vote next summer.

The next week, in another venue, I watched as two different administrative commissions worked for hours to come to conclusions about a very difficult and challenging situation in a church in the synod. In both cases the “discussion” – the input of the various members - was crucial to the outcome so that it reflected the best thinking of the diverse groups.  All this, we hope and expect, will be to the benefit of the church. When these recommendations come to the congregation, council, and presbytery involved for vote, those bodies in turn will have the chance to further improve the ultimate action, to God’s glory.

As I write this reflection, I am flying back from the gathering called The Fellowship of Presbyterians in Orlando.  Here was another example of our polity principle at work, as over two days and nights a new iteration of what it is to be Presbyterian was played out.  Although there were more talking heads than I would prefer, there was also opportunity for questions and concerns to be raised. One result of this meeting will be that some congregations may choose to go to a newly formed Presbyterian denomination called the Evangelical Covenant Order, an idea that was originally anathema to me.  After listening for these two days, I have come to believe that this new denomination may be a good thing, maybe even a God thing, that will allow congregations and individual pastors who cannot in good conscience stay in the PCUSA to find a new home that honors the best of who we have always been as Presbyterians – people who debate, argue, discuss and listen with the understanding that God speaks to us through the voices of our sisters and brothers, even those with whom we disagree.

A second result of this Orlando meeting is that other congregations and individuals who are unhappy with the current Presbyterian polity may be able to find a more comfortable connection through membership in the Fellowship of Presbyterians as an addition to their presbytery membership. This is a new way of relating to one another and one that will require much from us so that the challenging details may be resolved in the best way.  I am grateful to be part of a church that encourages discernment through conversation, discussion, dialogue, especially in times of disagreement. Please join me in praying for Christ’s will to be made manifest as we struggle to go forward together on this journey.

*F-3.0204 and F-3.0205