ON THE ROAD FROM SAN JOSE: A NEW VEHICLE FOR A NEW DAY?

By Vic Pentz

I recently wrote an open letter, “Do You Know the Way FROM San Jose?” inviting readers to join us at the Presbyterian Global Fellowship Conference in Long Beach, August 14-16. In the letter I ventured my analysis of where we are at the moment as evangelicals within the PC(USA), given the troubling actions of the recent General Assembly.

In emphasizing a missional vision, I gave the impression to some that I believe that the political and institutional realities post-GA are not important and that the work of others to create a new system of connectionalism within our PC(USA) is not relevant to PGF’s work of missional transformation.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Ecclesiological integrity and connectional effectiveness are critical factors in our witness to the world. Regarding integrity, our denominational connections must be grounded in a common understanding of Christian faith and life, otherwise they hinder rather than enhance our ability to be Christ’s witnesses. The current state of the PC(USA) presents serious challenges to such a basis for our connections. Regarding effectiveness, in the classic Frank Lloyd Wright sense, form indeed does follow function. We need to operate within a structure that facilitates the missional transformation of mainline Presbyterian congregations, something we do not currently have.

PGF was founded in 2006 on the bedrock of orthodox Christian faith. Our thrilling vision of a global network of Presbyterians joining the “God of mission” in today’s world came from obedient surrender to the inspired, infallible Word of God. Behind the “F” in PGF has always been our dream of a vibrant connectional network expanding geographically beyond, but grounded theologically in the Reformed identity of the PC(USA). 

All this is to say, PGF is about much more than providing “skills” and “tools” to be effective Christians in postmodernity. We are a response to the God we discover in Scripture and the Confessions of the PC(USA). Therefore, while we are not the driving force behind efforts at institutional reform, as many have noted, nonetheless, we will join with others in these efforts and consider them important to the fulfillment of our core mission of transforming mainline Presbyterian congregations.

We look forward to working with Presbyterians for Renewal and others to foster a fellowship that tries to model what a faithful 21st-century network of Reformed congregations might look like. As congregations, we need to focus our financial resources where they will have their greatest impact for Christ. We need to make sure that all pastors and congregations who share our grave concerns about recent decisions have the freedom to follow their conscience and convictions while remaining here with us. The issue for evangelicals in the PC(USA) is no longer power but freedom. The levers of power are firmly in the hands of those pursuing a different agenda. The question is whether in the shadow of the dominant machinery we will be granted the freedom to invest our resources, arrange our ministries and order our life together in ways that honor God. For that, we need to bring together wise leaders who can accomplish this network building within the PC (USA) and who will create the form for missional function.

Again, PGF enthusiastically supports these efforts. We will join with others in the work of engineering the vehicle. We hope to provide the fuel of inspiration along with a map and a route we hope many will want to travel together.

Come to our Inside/Out Conference in Long Beach, August 14-16, to pray, discuss and strategize next steps, both missional and connectional.

Together we can move beyond San Jose.

Yours in Christ,

Vic Pentz

Comments

[Matt Ferguson]

As one who has been critical (too critical?) of some things within PGF let express a hearty "Hooray!" for the message in this post.

[Chris Scruggs]

Vic:

Thank you for this helpful clarification. We should all be thankful for the work that the Presbyterian Global Fellowship, PFR and the other renewal organizations are doing in difficult times. God speed. Chris Scruggs

[Robert Kellner]

Dr. Pentz, I just "discovered" your Blog and will book mark it. I agree with you, and as a former Member of Peachtree (I live in another state now), I applaud your position and stand. In contra distinction to your blog, I just read a blog from a Presbyterian minister in TN that takes the opposite position and in fact, taunts those who share the concerns of which you speak and write. I am afraid there is no turning back; I see a split and sometimes a plant needs divided or separated and then repotted to begin growth again. The canker must be pruned. I urge you to stand firm in unity with others of like mind, and consider what might be necessary, even to the point of repotting, to begin growth again and get going with the Business of the Master. Better to be on the deck than on the dock.

[renee]

Dear Vic Pentz,

I want to be able to describe the basics of how PGF sees itself in the post 218th GA context. I've selected some of your words below. Do they adequately decribe PGF's position?

Thanks!

“The options now remaining seem to be: 1) to live with the new ascendant ideology; 2) to enter into the legal complexities of trying to get permission for one’s congregation to be dismissed to another denomination; or 3) to find a way to be ‘in the denomination but not of the denomination’…The Presbyterian Global Fellowship seeks to be a parallel society living a new vision for the church within the PC(USA). In PGF we treat the PC(USA) for what it is: a relic of a Christendom that is disappearing before our very eyes… while we are not the driving force behind efforts at institutional reform, as many have noted, nonetheless, we will join with others in these efforts and consider them important to the fulfillment of our core mission of transforming mainline Presbyterian congregations.”

[Hank]

"The question is whether in the shadow of the dominant machinery we will be granted the freedom to invest our resources, arrange our ministries and order our life together..."

If the evangelicals had that power instead, would you all have granted the liberals that freedom to "arrange their ministries", etc, or would you have imposed order and discipline when _they_ strayed from what _you_ consider right?

[james quillin]

Dear Vic,

Thank you for your leadership and that of PPC over the years. I have a concern about any "new connectionalism" within our PC(USA). It has to do with connectionalism as an essential tenant of Presbyterian Polity. Here is my problem:

The denomination is one. Any act of one part is the act of the whole. It is done on behalf of and in the name of and for the whole.

If, for example, I touch you, I may not say, "I didn't touch you, only the tip of my left index finger touched you." That is nonsense. See my concern?

Scripture tells us that God's wrath is poured out not only upon those who practice sodomy and lesbianism, but upon us who approve of such persons (Romans 1:32).

The problem which you have set before PGF to solve is this, "How do we escape the judgment of God and participate in the approval of persons whom God has in judgment abandoned to the consequences of their sin?"

I am very interested in how this conundrum is handled. I imagine that I am not the first person or only person interested in PGF's solution.

In Christ,
James