Prophetic words on "O"

A prophetic statement on Amendment O

These comments were offered to the Presbytery of San Diego during its debate on Amendment O, by Francis W. Pritchard, a retired pastor with broad experience in pastoral counseling, mission interpretation, and much more. One observer, Doug Nave, calls it "perhaps the most profound and moving statement I have read since we began debating Amendment B many years ago." Sadly, San Diego Presbytery voted to approve "O," but these thoughts may be helpful to others.
[1-18-01]

Madam Moderator:

I wish to make a motion, and if it is seconded, I ask for the privilege of speaking to it.

As a substitute to the motion which is on the floor I move to strike out the recommendation and insert "Take No Action."

I've been asking myself a number of questions, and I would like to share those questions with the Presbytery.

What are we doing here? For twenty or thirty years the Presbyterian Church has been debating a series of issues relating to sexuality. These debates have occupied the attention of the Church in all levels from congregation to General Assembly and to the way our Church is presented to the world through the media of news and opinion. In these debates we have invested an impressive amount of time, thought, money, and emotional energy.

I want to know what dividends we have received from this investment of our resources.

Can we name one soul which has been saved as a result of these debates? Is there some congregation which has been better equipped to nurture the faith of its members or to perform its mission as a result of these debates? Have the ties which bind pastors and people been strengthened by these debates? Is our Presbytery a more Christly or effective court because of our participation in these debates? Have the debates created a more wholesome and mutually supporting relation between the members of the Presbytery or made the Presbytery a more productive part of the body of Christ? Has the debate enhanced the moral stature of the General Assembly?

In what way has the mission of our Church in Malawi been undergirded by this concentration on our debates?

The government of the United States has been inhibited by a bitter partisan spirit. Have our debates helped us to speak more effectively to the spiritual need of our nation? The people of the Middle East and many other parts of the world are suffering from conflicts in which religious issues play a major role. Have our debates equipped us to be more helpful to them?

Our news media and our own experience make it clear that we live in a world of urgent need. Have our debates enabled us to meet those needs in the spirit of Christ?

Can we think of one hungry child who has been fed as a result of these debates? How many homeless people have they enabled us to shelter? How many young people have been inspired with a deeper love for Christ and devotion to his service as a result of these debates? How many men and women existing on the thin edge between life and suicide have had their hope restored by this activity?

The Prophets of Israel taught us that what God requires of us is to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. Have our debates on sexuality increased the flow of justice among us? Have they made us more merciful? Is there someone whom these debates has led to a closer walk with God?

Has faith been strengthened or hope nourished or love made more pervasive by these debates? Are we better people because of them?

Paul taught us that "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control." (Gal 5:22-23) Is there any evidence that our debates have enhanced the fruit of the Spirit among us?

Is there any reason to believe that action on Proposed Amendment O will lead to a conclusion of these debates. When the vote has been taken, will we be able to sing, "Praise God. The Church has arrived at a consensus on these vexing issues. We can confidently tell ourselves and the world that the voice of Scripture has been clearly heard. The Spirit of the Living God has led us to a decision which can be accepted by the whole Church." I find nothing in the experience of the last twenty or thirty years to encourage us in that hope.

The more I think about these questions the more I am convinced that our concentration on this series of debates has brought no valuable return which is commensurate with the cost. It has not been a good stewardship of our resources. In faithfulness to our calling we ought not to continue such a bad investment into an indefinite future.

The way that the Constitution offers us to say that is to take no action on this Proposed Amendment. Then let us try to clasp hands and turn our full energies to the great ends for which God called us into the ministry of Christ's church. If we can do that, we may pray that the Holy Spirit will guide our pastors and our sessions through the issues of our time until experience and the searching of the Scriptures will make us wiser than we are today.