Witherspoon offers orientation session
for commissioners
Sexuality in the Bible is put in perspective
Louisville, June 8, 2001
The Witherspoon Society offered a two hour program
this evening designed to give commissioners a chance to get acquainted
with others with whom they will be serving on the same committee, and
with people who will be assisting them in their work as overture
advocates or as committee liaisons.
Bible scholar says our debates reflect real
tensions in the Bible
Before focusing on the work of the committees, the
whole group of some 150 people heard a short talk by Rev. Dr. Charles
"Buz" Myers, Professor of New Testament at Gettysburg
Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, PA, and a minister member of
Carlisle Presbytery. In reflecting on how Biblical texts might be
understood as the Assembly struggles with issues of sexuality, he
asserted that neither side in the debate is really taking Scripture
seriously, because "we magnify 
the minor injunctions against
homosexual relations," giving them far more significance than they
merit as a mere "four or five or six verses out of 66 books in the
Bible, and hundreds of chapters, and thousands of verses.
[Click here for the
full text of his address.]
He noted that even those who take those verses most
literally still ignore part of them -- such as the proscriptions of sins
such as adultery, and cursing of one's parents, and sexuality relations
during a woman's menstrual period, all of which are to be punished by
death. (Lev. 20)
He added that the apparent condemnations of
homosexuality are always included within lists of various offenses, and
are never treated in isolation.
In the New Testament, he went on, Jesus never speaks
about homosexuality behavior, and Paul mentions it only once, or perhaps
twice. "We do a great, great, great disservice to Paul," who
made such clear claims for the inclusive love and grace of God, when we
use these few words of his to exclude people from the community of
faith.
Myers concluded by saying that our current
disagreement is rooted in our different readings of the Bible. But those
different readings reflect a real tension in the Bible itself: between
demands for righteousness and purity and thus for exclusion, and
affirmation of grace and inclusion and welcome. "Our denomination
is divided because the Bible is divided," he said. "Both
strands are in the Bible," and we must choose which of them will
shape our faith and our lives.
Former seminary delegate offers tips for
effective work in committees
Celeste Lasich, who served as a Theological Seminary
Advisory Delegate two years ago, and last year was Witherspoon's Wareham
Intern, spoke our of her experience to offer practical suggestions for
commissioners on how to work effectively in their committees.
Above all, she said, they should feel free to ask
questions when the work of the committee gets confused.
A simple question like "Moderator, could you
please explain what we're voting about?" can help keep everyone on
the committee in touch with what they're doing.
A commissioner might well ask during a complicated
debate, "Moderator, I want to accomplish [a particular goal]; can
you tell me how to do that?"
It's always legitimate to put questions to overture
advocates and resource people who are in the room, but who cannot speak
unless a committee member calls for their help. A well-placed question
to such a person can help add information to the discussion, correct
misunderstandings, and so help the committee do its work.
Finally, she urged commissioners to trust their own
gifts and their right to be where they are in a committee. "Leave
openness for the Spirit to work," she said, and "pray for the
members of your committee, especially those you disagree with. Use your
own best judgment, but don't be afraid to ask for help."
And getting acquainted
After these brief presentations, the commissioners
spent time around tables in their committee groups, getting to know one
another and talking about some of the issues they will be pondering over
the next three days or so.
This observer's impression was that many serious
conversations were going on.
The circle around one table was seen with
heads bowed in prayer while the conversations bubbled at tables all
around them. Our hope is that two hours spent in this kind of talk can
help commissioners gain power and wisdom that will lead our church
forward through these challenging times.
