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More on the "essential
tenets"
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| Pastor
Blair Moffett responds to the "survey" on "essential
tenets of the Reformed faith."
[2-28-02]
In January, 2002, some officers of the Witherspoon Society
received a letter from the editor of ReFORM magazine, soliciting
suggestions for what should be declared as "essential tenets"
of the Reformed faith. On Janiuary 23, 2002, we posted a response to the
letter,
explaining our reasons for not offering a reply to the letter.
We have just received a copy of another response to
that solicitation, from the Rev. Blair Moffett, pastor of First
Presbyterian Church of Stamford, Connecticut. He offers an understanding
of our ordination questions, and of the whole notion of
"essentials," that we find helpful.
January 16, 2002
The Rev. Mary H. Naegeli
ReFORM Editor
1965 Colfax St
Concord, CA 94520
Dear Ms. Naegeli:
Thank you for your invitation to respond to the
question of "essential tenets." I agree that this is a
discussion of great importance for the church, and not just at times of
dispute.
You say in your letter that "no governing body
has yet identified these essentials." I disagree. Every time a
governing body makes a judgment about membership or about ordination, it
articulates in that instance what it finds essential to the faith.
The nub of the question is precisely how a particular
faith conviction acquires the label "essential." Our
ordination questions provide a very deliberate ambiguity: "Do you
sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith
as expressed in the confessions of our church.?" Copying that text
just now I noticed for the first time that the word
"confessions" is not capitalized. I take that to suggest that
the confession of the Reformed faith is not even bound to a particular
document such as The Book of Confessions that is part of The
Constitution. In other words, the essential tenets are "in there,
somewhere"!
This ambiguity has caused some folks no end of
frustration. Why can't we have a list of the really important things?
Your upcoming issue offers some palliation in the form of the "top
ten" favorites of those polled. But I argue that this is not what
the Constitution means by "essential." The great genius of our
form of government is expressed in several ways:
First, the "essentials" are not
propositional truths but the results of a process of discernment derived
from the relationships and responsibilities described in our covenant
with God and with one another.
Second, the "essentials" are not absolutes,
defined once and for all. Rather, they are specific judgments rendered
in particular cases by governing bodies. Oddly, this means that the
"essentials" may be different, even contradictory, from case
to case. This, too, is highly frustrating for those who value
consistency and tidiness. But it has the advantage of placing humble
discernment of the leading of the Spirit ahead of arbitrary forms.
I will look forward with curiosity to discover what my
fellow Presbyterians value. As you prepare this issue, I would encourage
you to think editorially about how our tradition resists being put into
lists. Maybe you could engage someone to address the question of why,
after 270 years since the Adopting Act, the Presbyterian Church still
has no quick-reference list of the essential doctrines.
Your brother in Christ,
R. Blair Moffett
Do you have thoughts
to add to this discussion?
Please send a note, and we'll share them here!
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog
for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship and activism,
Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the voices of
feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy, students,
exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers and
devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God in
whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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Witherspoon’s Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’s
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views, or initiate
a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical reflections on
everything between summit to shore, including kayaking, climbing,
religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture,
travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New York City and the
Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive New York City
Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the Witherspoon
board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian Church in
Flushing, NY. |
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John
Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently serving as
pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., blogs
about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized and
disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and lightening
up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
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