Speaking of Presbytery Meetings

I've not commented here in a few weeks, primarily because its been a very busy few weeks. However, since I was speaking of Presbytery meetings, there's another one I want to comment on.

As some know, I have a few contacts over at the better PTS in Pennsylvania, and I know a few people who graduated this past year and are now either ordained or going to be. At this past presbytery meeting, one second career seminarian friend was given his orals, and approved by the COM as the new Pastor/Head-of-Staff at 1st Presbyterian of Pittsburgh.

At a previous meeting, two young men who went from college to seminary, were OK'd for ordination, and were installed as the founding co-pastors at a new NCD in Pittsburgh targetted at those attending the many colleges and universities in Pittsburgh.

In all cases, these new pastors are evangelical and articulate in their beliefs, as are many of the new Presbyterian graduates coming out of PTS. However, was this what was seen in the local newspaper, and on Presbyweb.

No ... it was that an attempt by a local church Session to try to put words to what they feel is the only correct response to the question

Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?

And, of course, the newspaper phrased it as a change to gay ordination standards, and featured the name of a local, progressive pastor who brought the last attempt to the GAPJC. While many seemed sympathetic to the idea, the thought of another church legal battle gave many pause.

So again, instead of talking about the good things happening in the church, only the hot button issue is talked about.

And so it goes ....