¹   Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
²       Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!

³   If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
⁴   But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.

⁵   I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
⁶   my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

⁷   O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
⁸   It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

From the Mission Year Book

Authority, obedience and conscience: new challenges, new tensions

January 22, 2021

These are the strangest of times. As of this reading, things will likely be different than they were a month ago.

How much so? I cannot guess. But as a retired minister now serving as a spiritual director, I can say the anxiousness felt by the pastors I see will continue.

These pastors have been putting in long hours, figuring out new technologies and imagining innovative ways to be the church. Adding to the pressure of having to master new skills are the session showdowns that can happen when ruling elders and pastors might disagree on how to move the church forward. Ruling elders might not be feeling the holiness of virtual worship. They will put up with doing church differently for a while, but they aren’t going to wait for the “all clear” from their state before insisting on returning to church life before COVID-19 safety precautions existed. Which leads to the question: What is the relationship, in this new time, between faithful obedience and faithful conscience?

The Westminster Confession of Faith, drawn up in 1646, says that “God alone is Lord of the conscience” (Chapter 20, Question 2). The Barmen Declaration, written in 1934 in response to Hitler’s influence on German Christians, proclaims that “Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and faith” (II.8.11).

“God alone is Lord of the conscience” is a hallmark for Presbyterians, meaning that faithful women and men, as they seek to follow Jesus Christ, study and interpret Scripture together in making decisions for the church. This Presbyterian governance of shared decision-making works most of the time. But now we have sessions needing to discuss seismic shifts in how church is done. When does a pastor take a stand?

In the “Book of Order” we find perspective, but perhaps not definitive guidance. G-3.0201 says, “The session shall have responsibility for governing the congregation and guiding its witness.” However, G-2.0501 says that pastors are to “discern the mind of Christ and to build up Christ’s body through devotion, debate and decision.” Pastors are also to “participate in governing responsibilities, including leadership in the congregation” (G-2.0504).

If paradox is the essence of truth, we are there. Session members are elected to lead the congregation, not the pastor. Ruling elders are to rule, but pastors — also called teaching elders — are to teach. Teaching with authority, though, is not always easy, especially when the pastor is new to a church or younger than most of the elders. Studies show that the saints in the pews keep getting older, while the saints in the pulpits will likely keep getting younger. Still pastors, with many of the tough decisions that needed to be made, are finding themselves compelled to stand their ground. But the stand must be based in prayer, Scripture, and a commitment to faithfulness to God and not just one’s self.

A statement issued by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Theology and Worship at the start of the recent pandemic also states that at a time of high anxiety “pastors and other congregational leaders have an important role in setting an appropriate tone for the church’s response.” The statement continues: “Leaders can model a response that is faithful, gracious and wise — trusting God in all things, remaining calm in a time of distress.”

In my own ministry, some 20 years ago, I faced a moment of truth when my capacity to keep everyone happy collided with my deep conscience. The issue was over sexuality, and session and I spent six months debating nothing else. We lost members. We lost giving revenue. Yet the session worked together. We came out the other end a new church. I most certainly was a different pastor.

Everyone will walk this walk uniquely, but remember you are not alone. The “cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) is with you, and we rejoice that “nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Brief Statement of Faith; Rom. 8:38–9).

 David Butler, Honorably Retired as Minister in the PC(USA) 2012, Member of John Knox Presbytery, living with his wife on a farm in Montello, Wisconsin

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Monica Buonincontri, Board of Pensions
Cherrie Burch, Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

Most gracious God, we seek your help to multiply the resources of those who struggle daily to meet the needs of their families. It is your power that can overcome the challenges faced by the many communities. Give us the strength to stand beside them. Amen.

¹   Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in their hearts;
there is no fear of God
before their eyes.
²   For they flatter themselves in their own eyes
that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
³   The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit;
they have ceased to act wisely and do good.
⁴   They plot mischief while on their beds;
they are set on a way that is not good;
they do not reject evil.

⁵   Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
⁶   Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your judgments are like the great deep;
you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.

⁷   How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸   They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹   For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

¹⁰  O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your salvation to the upright of heart!
¹¹  Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,
or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹²  There the evildoers lie prostrate;
they are thrust down, unable to rise.

From the Mission Year Book of Prayer

The metamorphosis of the caterpillar transforming itself into a butterfly reminds many Christians — Emma Reed of First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach in Virginia, among them — of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The 17-year-old Girl Scout wanted younger Sunday school and preschool students at her church to see the same connection, and so she constructed a teaching tool they can visit when in-person worship resumes — a butterfly garden.

Reed, who belongs to Troop 163, completed the butterfly garden and accompanying instructional materials as part of her Girl Scout Gold Project Award.

“It is very common to see young children watching hours of television every day or even carrying around their own electronic device,” she said. “But allow me to pose this question: How often do you see kids wanting to run around the backyard or go on an outdoor adventure?”

Modern society “raises children to be comfortable with technology, not dirt,” she said. “It is extremely important to teach kids to be comfortable with nature at a young age because humans are, in fact, part of nature. Personally, I am a huge fan of nature — going for a hike or swimming in the ocean are activities I would do any day. I am also a huge supporter of educating young kids on the great outdoors.”

In addition to constructing the butterfly garden, Reed’s project includes educational posters, felt board and drawing activities on the butterfly life cycle for Sunday school students as well as preschoolers at the church’s Beach Day School. “I sincerely hope that my project will spark interest in these kids to want to learn more about butterflies, gardens and anything about nature,” she said. “As important as it is to get young kids involved in the outdoors, it is just as important to bring the whole community together in these endeavors.”

The butterfly garden’s spot is intentional, she said. “Due to the current COVID circumstances, my church has not been open for services when the kids and families would normally be able to enjoy the garden,” she said. “However, several adults who have guided me during my project have said they greatly enjoy it!”

Once in-person worship is again offered at First Presbyterian Church, the garden should become a gathering spot for worshipers as well as butterflies, which of course can take advantage of the plants despite the pandemic.

New to her position as pastor at the church, the Rev. Dee Dee Carson said she’s grateful for Reed’s gift.

“As the new pastor at First Presbyterian, I arrived to a beautiful, completed butterfly garden, but I know there was a lot of work and adaptation that happened prior to my arrival,” Carson said. “Emma did a great job of adjusting her plans as she assessed our grounds and determined what was best for the church and for her project. She moved her location several times before finding the right spot, and she has done a beautiful job of incorporating a vision for our children into her plans.”

“Her garden will help our Sunday school classes and students at our day school learn about butterfly life cycles for years to come,” Carson said. “It will also give us a chance to help children think about Jesus’ resurrection in creative ways as we help them understand the beauty of the Easter story just as they understand the beauty of a butterfly. What a gift Emma has given us!”

Reed said the butterfly garden was moved a couple of times for maximum effect.

“The garden is located in the churchyard at a convenient location where parents and grandparents are able to visit it with their children after a Sunday service,” she said. “I think this butterfly garden will help bring our church community closer to nature. … I highly encourage other churches to adopt educational green spaces for their congregations as well.”

More about Reed’s project is available on the church’s website here.

“I hope the congregation will be able to enjoy the butterfly garden,” Reed said, “and learn about the butterfly cycle as well as remember Jesus and all that he went through for us.”

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Dana Bryant, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Lucy Bryant, Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

Come, Holy Spirit, empower us to be the hands of Christ in our communities. Grant us the joy of your presence, and may we continue to make a difference — for Jesus to everyone we encounter! In his name we pray. Amen.