Brian Wells comments on the continuing campaign of Paul Rolf Jensen against "anyone considered theologically impure." He urges those in "the Great Middle" of the church "to understand the folly of trying to appease the reactionaries with G-6.0106b."

[7-21-03]

Without knowing precisely when, progressives long ago predicted exactly where Paul Rolf Jensen et al would go next. If these bullies stay true to form, the season of litigation against a "provocative" few will become a flood of threats, investigations and witch trials against anyone considered theologically impure. Even if all new charges are ultimately rejected (and recent history suggests otherwise), the damage will be immeasurable.

If ever the Great Middle might come to understand the folly of trying to appease the reactionaries with G-6.0106b, surely it is now. If any trusted they would refrain from using this loaded weapon along with others to their most destructive potential, surely none can any longer. Another decade's worth of outreach and education is unlikely to teach this lesson to GA commissioners and presbytery voters more effectively than Jensen is doing now. What year since Definitive Guidance has offered more motivation, momentum or a better "climate" for striking this injustice from the BOO? So it's all the more regrettable how diligently some historic allies worked to kill chances for a vote this year. Even setting aside the lack of theological merit to their arguments, it's time that those who insisted on saving us from our perceived political and tactical naïveté begin the healing by acknowledging that their timing was as poor as their actions were patronizing.

Instead, Covenant Network stands by its "reluctant" accomplishment in killing this year's vote, and leaves us waiting for it to forecast a sufficiently improved "climate." Presumably then we'll have its permission to ask for another vote on this unjust affront to the commandments from Christ "above all others." Meanwhile, our unity is damaged, our cause lacks the focus a pending vote would give, and the Church fritters away its time choosing between pursuit of some unattainable "middle way" or fretting over how to word the next call for "forbearance and patience." In the interim we frogs become that much more accustomed to the pot's ever rising water temperature, and to arguments that it will cool down as soon as militants like Rev. Van Kuiken and others stop being so provocative as to declare openly what the rest of us do quietly or euphemistically, while pretending otherwise in public. Courage of conviction is all well and good, it seems, but the current climate makes it impolitic to practice except in moderation.

Beyond just crying over spilt milk, which admittedly I haven't been able to stop doing since GA, I'm praying that Covenant Network will have a change of heart, reach out to the Three Sisters and work together to rebuild our shattered trust. Let's agree not to cancel each other out the next time around. Let's define what climate, if not this one, will enable us all to call for justice to come out and play. Let's decide that just as Covenant Network's moderating voice plays a critical part in inviting the whole Church to move toward justice, so does debate, votes at GA and presbyteries, and personal acts of conscience. And let's have all the boards communicate regularly and, when possible, cooperate and coordinate, for Christ's sake and our own!

But if we don't reach consensus on our own, Jensen may bring that lesson home to us anyway. As charges of "being unchaste," heresy and forsaking our vows are brought in ever greater numbers, including against leaders of Covenant Network, we may find sudden agreement about just how poor the climate has become. We may finally agree on the need to act decisively, immediately, and in concert.

Whatever may bring that about, I pray it does so before any more are investigated, tried or defrocked - and while there's still time for us to do something about it.