Into the FOG of the PCUSA

Into the FOG
Well, the day started without breakfast again–but I was so excited to get the day going, I didn’t even worry about it. You know I am having fun, when I can skip because. My fun is that I really feel God’s Spirit running through me. A fire of revival is starting in me like I haven’t feel before. I believe that revival will start in this denomination (at least it is starting in me). Alleluia

The Polity committee deliberated the issue of creating a FOG (Form of Government) taskforce (which I testified against). The first 15 minutes of the committee was taken up by Clifton Kirkpatrick, the Stated Clerk of the Church, who used his bully pulpit to tell the committee how important it was to pass the FOG taskforce. The next 15 minutes was given to Mark Tammen (professional Pharisee) who did the same thing. Then the ACC took 10 minutes to reiterate the same thing. Most overtures get an advocate that gets to speak 5 minutes, but the OGA (Office of the General Assembly) gets as much time it wants. The moderator of free rain of the committee. Frustrating Listening to the comments of committee members, it sound like most didn’t have an understanding of historic Presbyterian Polity, yet alone have read the Book of Order. The main argument of the OGA is that our polity has hinder our evangelism and church growth. So somehow our declining denomination is the result of our polity. Hogwash, perhaps it is the our church doesn’t proclaim Loudly that Jesus is Lord and live in the orthodoxy and orthropraxy. Anyway, the Taskforce was approved, which means it 2 years they will present a rewritten Form of Government to be approve by the 218th GA and then the presbyteries. So there is time to pray and defeat it.

Abrahamic Heritage
The main thrust and concern with Overture 07-01 was defeated and pretty easily. It took the committee awhile to handle this overture, but they eventually delete the points that we worship the same God as Jews and Muslims. The also didn’t affirm that we had a common Abrahamic Heritage. What they did pass was that we need to work together with Jews and Muslims for peace, justice and righteousness. Tolerable, but I still contend that our basis for peace and justice in this world is the righteouness of God. Jesus is the source of reconciliation and justice in this world. We start by proclaiming Jesus as Lord and then serve his mission of justice and love in this world. Oh well

G-6.106b (Ordination)
I got to the Church Orders committee just in time to see them vote 30-28 to disapprove deleting our ordination standards and erasing the authoritative interpretations. Which means the committee is recommend (albeit by a close vote) to the plenary floor not to delete our Fidelity and Chastity Standards. This is great news, however, it will still be a close vote on the floor next week.

Lost some ground, on the Definitive Guidance, the motion to remove some language from the 1978 Definitive guidance passed by 1 vote, however the committee did pass to send out the original definitive guidance to presbyteries for study.

PUP Report
It looks pretty bleak with the PUP report. Recommendations 1,2,3 were accepted, 4 had a minor change, and 5 (local option for presbyteries to ordain homosexuals) looks like it will be accepted as is (with a few minor insignificant changes). The evangelicals on the committee worked their butts off, making motions, amendments, substitute motions all to defuse the report. At one point it look like 5 would be defeated completely, but the momentum shifted. Right now the committee will deal with 5 at 1:30pm tomorrow and decide to keep the main motion or the helpful substitute motion–mostly likely 5 will be accepted.

From my perspective the taskforce and the ACC dominated the committee. From the comments on the community they did not fully understand reformed theology and polity are were rely solely on the opinions of the taskforce. The main argument that kept coming up to accept 5 was that we need to Trust. That drove me crazy because that is so anti-presbyterian. Our polity is based on one of main theological assertions of the total depravity of man. We are all sinners are not to be trusted, therefore we set up an accountability system of checks and balances in our polity.

Israel Divestment
Wow! This was a huge victory. The majority report that came out of the community removed the divestment language from the last GA action. So divestment is off the table. Even better, the minority report has even stronger language to rescind all of the last action of the General Assembly. So basically that means Israel Divestment is out one way or the other.

Social Issues
On an odd note, the social issues committee defeated an overture that would condemn suicide bombers. So apparently we are a denomination that supports suicide bomber as a act of protest. Can’t quite figure that one out.

Trinity Paper
Yikes, this is the worst news, the Trinity paper was passed with a few helpful amendments, but still is a horrible flawed and incorrect document. Sometimes, I looked around at all the people here and I can’t believe some of the comments that come out of people’s mouth and some of the issues we have to address. We have to defend the trinity amongst our supposed brothers and sisters. I thought we did that 1800+ years ago.

The Sabbath
Tomorrow this is a break for the Worship in the morning and some committees are done, but PUP will go out in tomorrow afternoon, please offer your prayers. Remember all the issues are official yet, until they are decide on the Assembly floor–right now we are just in the committees.

Revival
I am so thankful for the gifted and laying on of the Spirit upon me, and the peace in my heart. God is really blessing me amidst all the chaos and heresy. I don’t know what path God has for this denomination but I feel that he is setting me afire down a path of revival for Him and His Kingdom.