There was a time when I thought that the way to get things done in the denomination at every level was to amass as much power as one could in order to win. I now realize that our polity is designed to enable us to engage in a process of discernment. We are commissioned to participate in the governing bodies as ones who are seeking God's will for the church and world. This implies listening to one another as well as articulating our own points of view. It means not making up our mind before we have a chance to engage in dialog. It means being open to the Spirit to lead us to new truth.

The Task Force has made every effort to put Jesus Christ at the center of its work and to ponder the meaning of being his living body. This is the only way for the denomination to find a way through the issues that threaten to divide us. As the Task Force has said, Jesus Christ is our peace, our unity and our purity.

As Moderator I would encourage the church to follow the example of the Task Force in putting Jesus Christ at the center of our denominational life. I will be an advocate for presbyteries, Sessions, and congregations forming groups to study the preliminary report of the Task Force and to read scripture and pray together for the Spirit's guidance as we seek Christ' will for the PC(USA).

Presbyterians throughout our history have found it helpful, indeed necessary, to be engaged in an ongoing dialog regarding the "essentials of Reformed faith." This exercise keeps us close to the Scripture and in conversation with our creedal heritage. Because we "see through a glass darkly" every human attempt to capture the mystery of God's truth in creeds and doctrines is inadequate. Thus, historically, we have resisted naming the "essentials" of Reformed faith, but have sustained a passion for dialog regarding what we believe and why. Reformed Christians have consistently agreed that living in the tension between God's truth and our limited understanding is preferable to absolutizing any human dogma or "essentials."

Again, the Task Force is modeling an excellent approach. In asking the church to study this matter, pray together, and engage in open and honest dialog, it encourages us to open ourselves to each other in the conviction that in the process of prayer and Bible study and dialog we will be led by the Spirit. If we take this process seriously, the potential will be great for developing understanding and trust.

The work that has been done on the paper Families In Transition along with the work we will do on it at the General Assembly, in my opinion, will become an important and positive contribution to the national debate on this subject. The paper strongly affirms marriage as the ideal foundation for the Christian family. It also asserts that God works through all kinds of families. Thus, it recognizes and offers support and encouragement for families of various configurations. What a good thing for the PC(USA) to support, encourage, and offer guidance to all of those who seek to create loving, safe, nurturing, caring, homes in which children may develop and grow to maturity. We serve a God who in Jesus Christ is revealed as one who loves all children. The church can do no less than to love all God's children and find practical and concrete ways to stand with and support their parents.

The Great Ends of the Church puts it so well: we are called to be an "exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world." As an embodiment of the Kingdom, Jesus stood with the poorest of the poor and embraced the weak and powerless. In his life, death and resurrection he demonstrated that love is stronger than hate and non-violence is the only appropriate and effective response to violence. He showed us that true greatness, true strength, is to serve rather than to be served. As individuals and as a church we are called to follow Jesus as we seek to embody as he did, the values of the Kingdom.