The Rev. Laird Stuart
"Where there is no vision, the people
perish," according to
Proverbs in the King James Version. What vision do you offer to our
church in these difficult days? And what vision should our church be
offering to our society as a whole?
I hold a vision of a denomination affirming its essential loyalties: to
Jesus Christ, to the mission of Jesus Christ, to each other, and to our
Reformed Tradition. Our loyalty to Christ needs to be continually
affirmed in word and action. Our loyalty to the mission of Jesus Christ
calls us to proclaim and to practice his love and justice. Our loyalty
to each other, especially in these times, requires of us a shared effort
to repair our denominational life. We have been involved in intense
struggles. We are tired and in some cases deeply wounded. We need to
restore our life together so we can be stronger for the challenges of
our mission. Our loyalty to the Reformed Tradition is crucial for us now
because it is from this tradition that we can recover the theological
resources to inform our debates, to repair our life together, and to
renew ourselves for mission.
Since a majority of our presbyteries have failed
to approve Amendment A, some have suggested a "moratorium" on
any actions related to sexuality and ordination. How would you deal with
such suggestions? If there should be such a moratorium, what form should
it take?
I believe we need a halt to both legislative and
judicial battles. We should resist attempts to change G.6106b. We should
resist open defiance of G.6106b. We should also resist efforts to
enforce G.6106b. At this time, we need what Micah calls us toward:
humility before God, kindness to each other, and a commitment to
justice, a justice which includes us all.
In l997 I took part in the conversation which
created "A Call to Sabbatical." We chose the word
"sabbatical" instead of the word "moratorium"
because we believed it expressed more than a need to stop fighting. It
also called us to an effort to listen together to God's will for us.
There is an urgent need now for us to wait upon the Lord. One of the
basic messages of our biblical faith is that God delivers us. God can
bring us to places and experiences we cannot create ourselves. We need
to listen, together, for God's Truth which will surely guide us beyond
our discontent and fatigue. The Theological Task Force can also help us
to develop not only a better understanding of our divisions and mistrust
but also a better appreciation of the strengths and resources we have
for our mission and witness for Christ in the years to come.
The movement of Confessing Churches is seen by some as promising the
salvation of the Presbyterian Church, while others view it as a serious
threat to our church's unity and mission. Some are concerned about the
rise of a 'parallel church' through this movement, with the apparent aim
of displacing the structures, programs, and personnel that now strive to
serve the whole church. How would you deal with the Confessing Church
movement?
The Confessing Church Movement is part of us,
part of our denomination. They have raised the issue of confessional
standards and reminded us we are a confessional church. I attended the
Confessing Church Conference in Atlanta this year. There were many
different voices but it was gratifying to hear repeated affirmations of
loyalty to our denomination.
If I have the opportunity to serve as Moderator,
I want to continue and broaden this theological discussion. My hope is
to convene theological convocations on our seminary campuses where
clergy and laity alike can engage in theological reflection on the
issues which have been dividing us, such as the nature of biblical
authority, the saving work of Christ, the nature of the church, and the
characteristics of a faithful life. At this time in our denomination's
life, those of us who love this denomination need to engage in this
important theological reflection together.
The attacks of September 11th have had a profound effect on our society
and our church. What do you see as the role of the PC(USA) at this time
in our nation's history? In particular, how should we deal with
extremism that is rooted in religious traditions, and with our own
nation's increasing reliance on military measures to "solve"
large and very complex problems?
Christ calls us to peacemaking. One of the Great
Ends of the Church is the Promotion of Social Righteousness. The
Theological Declaration of Barmen calls us to obedience to Christ over
all other powers, even nations. The Confession of l967 reminds us the
essential work of Jesus Christ was reconciliation.
The attacks of September 11 call us to various
actions. We have every right to deplore terrorist attacks. We also have
an urgent need to learn much more about other religions. We need to
address the injustices that breed the desperation and ill-will which
make violence attractive. If we can also affirm with people of other
faiths a rejection of the extremism, we will open the way for compassion
and communication. A friend of mine recently remarked that the opposite
of violence is politics. The way to overcome violence is by engaging in
the dialogue, the search for understanding, and the work of
reconciliation which is the only way to build community and what
Reinhold Niebuhr called the "tolerable harmonies" that make it
possible for peoples and nations to live together.
Web site: http://www.calvarypresbyterian.org/lairdstuart/
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