The Politics of Christmas

At first glance, politics and Christmas do not seem to go together. Political realities are, however, deeply etched into the story of the first Christmas: Jesus was born in Bethlehem, on the human level at least, because the Roman emperor wanted money to do what governments do; after Jesus was born, Herod decided the little Messiah was too dangerous to live and used his army to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem; as a political refugee, Jesus spent his first years hiding out from a political tyrant; and years later, he was executed as a dangerous political dissident, bearing the political title, "King of the Jews."

The Christmas story holds more gritty reality than sweetness and light. This is what makes the old, old story for me more than just a seasonal fairy tale. It is only when we look the grim realities of that world—and ours—in the face that we are prepared to hear the real good news of Christmas. It is only when we acknowledge that the world still needs a savior that we are ready to receive a gift that will not disappear after the Christmas tree is taken down.

The deepest message of Christmas is that God is finally in control of our world and sovereign over our lives and the powers and principalities of every age. Then the question is: How should we live amid the kingdoms of this world as people who know that one day Jesus Christ will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

How we live in this world will largely be shaped by who we believe will come out on top in the end. Will it be Herod or the Lamb that was slain? Matthew’s parable of the last judgment shows that the babe in the manger becomes judge of the earth, rewarding those who stand with and care for the poor, visit the sick and prisoners, and live by the ethics and values of the coming reign of God. If we believe this ending of the Christmas story, surely we will live this kind of life. On the other hand, if we believe that the powers and principalities of this world will have the last word, then we bow the knee to Herod and go along to get along.

In the midst of the Christmas craziness, let us not be seduced into thinking that the good news is "Santa Claus is coming to town!" In spite of all appearances to the contrary, the real good news of Christmas is that when all is said and done, the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and God shall reign forever and ever (Rev. 11:15).

Great Hope and Expectation

The Advent season is upon us, a season of hope and expectation. The season this year is particularly exciting for my family and me as we await the birth of another grandchild (my third!) in a few short weeks. How is it that a grandparent’s heart can expand to love and welcome each new grandchild as deeply as it did the first one? It is a marvel to me for which I am most thankful.

Indeed, Advent is a season of great expectation. Prior to the birth of Jesus, the people of God had much reason to keep their eyes fixed on the horizon. As John the Baptist, echoing the prophet Isaiah, proclaimed in advance of the Messiah’s coming, "Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low" (Luke 3:5).

So, too, do we in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have much reason to keep our eyes fixed on the horizon these days. Things are happening that, I think, will help the PC(USA) be an even greater witness to the gospel of the coming Messiah. Six months ago, commissioners to the 217th General Assembly made decisions that were filled with hope for the future of the church. Those decisions are beginning to bear fruit. For example, the Form of Government Task Force has produced initial drafts of a much-needed revised Book of Order that will enhance our mission and ministry in this 21st century. In addition, just last week, leaders of American Jewish religious movements met with Presbyterian leaders to engage in a "new season of dialogue and understanding," as the assembly invited us to do in its resolution on Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Those same commissioners voted overwhelmingly to encourage all of us to witness to the church’s visible oneness, to strengthen our covenanted partnership with each other at every level of the church, and to find new and different ways to make decisions that move us beyond a win/lose approach.

As we are learning, this kind of work is hard and slow going. But so are the even more important tasks of preparing the way of the Lord, working to help lift up the valleys and make low the hills.

It will all happen in God’s good time. And for that, I am filled with great hope and expectation. May your hearts be filled with hope as well.

Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase sends his bi-monthly letter to the church    [4-19-06]

Living Into God’s Vision of Church

Palm Sunday this year found me worshipping at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, one of the best examples of an intentional multicultural church I’ve come across during my travels as Moderator of the General Assembly.

Pasadena Church has one session and one Christian Education program. There are kids whose first languages are Korean, Spanish, and English. Three different "congregations" worship in their own languages during the ten o’clock hour. Yesterday, we had a tri-language worship service. We sang in English and Korean with a Korean-American praise band. The traditional, English-speaking choir sang beautifully and led us in hymns, and the children’s choir sang in Spanish and English. We prayed in Spanish, English, and Korean, and the sermon was trilingual—I preached in English and Spanish, with translation to Korean. It was one of the richest and most meaningful worship services I’ve experienced.

Meaningful multicultural church community isn’t easy. It takes a strong commitment to see it through, even when we don’t understand or appreciate one another. It demands the kind of trust that comes only when we may agree—like any healthy family—not to walk away from one another when the going gets tough. It takes a willingness to let go of "the way we’ve always done it" and embrace new traditions that enrich our fellowship, study, mission, and worship.

During Lent, nearly one hundred people at Pasadena Church participated in small groups for six weeks of intentional multicultural Bible study. It reminded me, once again, that the foundation for the multicultural church I believe God desires for us will be built upon a genuine desire to get to know one another. We must step beyond our discomfort and anxiety to cross borders of race, class, culture, and maybe even theological inclination in order to live into God’s vision of church found in Isaiah 56:7:

These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

Believe it! We can become that house of prayer for all peoples.

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick's bimonthly letter to the church    [4-19-06]

Important Milestones

The 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is less than two months away. Much attention is focused on major issues before the assembly—the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church, our Middle East witness, and the financial crisis facing the church. As important as these issues are, I fear that our intense focus on them will result in our glossing over important anniversaries we will mark this year—celebrations that will also be at the heart of the assembly.

2006 is the 300th anniversary of organized Presbyterian life in America. The first presbytery was organized on this side of the Atlantic in Philadelphia in 1706—the beginning of the adventure that led to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) today. Those Presbyterians who came together in Philadelphia to form that first presbytery knew well that we can’t be good Presbyterians in isolation from one another. With all of our diversity, we need one another to faithfully discern the mind of Christ for the church and to witness to God in this nation. How right they were!

As we celebrate this milestone in Birmingham, I am pleased that we will not be doing so simply as the PC(USA); we will be joined by the two Cumberland Presbyterian denominations that will be holding concurrent assemblies with us. This is their anniversary, too. It is very significant that Presbyterians who have found their way into different church structures over these 300 years are coming together in unity to celebrate our common heritage and commit ourselves to cooperative mission as we move forward.

This year we also celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ordination of the first woman elder and the 50th anniversary of the ordination of the first woman minister. We will give thanks for the wonderful blessings that the ministry of women has brought to the Presbyterian church and the church ecumenical. The affirmation in A Brief Statement of Faith that "both women and men are welcome in all ministries of the church," hasn’t always been so! Reaching this affirmation was the result of a long struggle, and we still have a long way to go before this vision is realized fully.

While these anniversaries may not be in the headlines, please don’t forget them. They mark important milestones in our faith journey together, reminding us of some of the deep core values and commitments that mark our Presbyterian identity.

[2-7-06]

I just completed an "around the world" trip with General Assembly Council member Edwin Gonzales. Here, I offer a quick snapshot of each stop.

We met with leaders from the Presbyterian Church of Korea and the Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea, who need our support as they encourage reconciliation between North and South Korea. It was exciting to hear about their work planting churches in North Korea and their efforts to call on church partners throughout the region to take the lead in reconciling their people.

In Taiwan, where Christians are a tiny minority, one congregation we visited symbolizes the Presbyterian church’s commitment to proclaim and live the gospel. They tore down the wall in front of the church, moved a tree that blocked access to the sanctuary, installed glass doors, and lighted the cross inside. They complemented their efforts to make worship less mysterious to the community with the "climbing wall" on the side of the manse and a three-story tree house, both designed intentionally to attract young people.

Next, we were hosted by the Church of North India (CNI), where Presbyterian roots go back over one hundred and fifty years. From the huge, new sanctuary that seats thousands at Kalvary Church in Ludhiana to the small, rural churches at the heart of the CNI, we were offered the hospitality that is the hallmark of Indian culture.

In Pakistan, we learned of a riot in November in the town of Sangla Hill. Muslims had completely destroyed the sanctuary and the manse of the Presbyterian church. Christian and Muslim leaders acted courageously to re-affirm their relationship and reconcile with one another. When we removed our shoes to enter the shell of the sanctuary where hundreds of people were seated on the floor, I could feel the spirit of God at work in that place.

Last, we met with Christian and Jewish leaders in Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. To a person, they offered a common and united call for peace in their land. We were deeply moved as we met with Aaron Barnea, an Israeli who is participating in a network of Palestinians and Israelis who have lost sons and daughters in the conflict. The group—the "Parents’ Circle"—has made a commitment to work for peace rather than revenge.

Friends, thank you for your faithfulness to our historic partnerships around the world. Let us live ever more boldly our shared commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick's bimonthly letter to the church

God, in your grace, transform the world!

[2-7-06]

Toward the end of the Eighth Assembly of the World Council of Churches seven years ago in Harare, Zimbabwe, one of the young adults in our delegation said to me with great joy, "This is probably as close to heaven as I will ever get!" While that may have been a bit of an overstatement, it did reflect the great joy so many people experience to be in the living presence of the church catholic at an assembly of the World Council of Churches.

The rich diversity of God’s people, the powerful worship as we sing God’s praises and hear God’s word in multiple languages and traditions, and the simple power of experiencing firsthand the words of the Psalmist, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity" (Ps. 133:1), all come together in a remarkable way at an assembly of what is the broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement.

The Ninth Assembly of the World Council of Churches will convene on February 14, 2006, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. I am confident this experience will once again be a blessing for those who are privileged to be a part of it and for the whole church around the world. This is the first assembly ever in Latin America, and it promises to be both the "youngest" and the most inclusive of the many families of the Christian community today.

We will all come together around the theme, "God, in your grace, transform the world!"—a prayer that is urgent in our church and our world today. Different portions of the meeting will focus on the various aspects of our world for which we pray for transformation by God’s grace: the earth, our societies, our lives, our churches, and our witness. Major issues at the forefront of this global gathering of Christians are the reconfiguration of the ecumenical movement in our time, the urgent cry for economic justice in a world and a church where poverty is a grinding reality, Christian identity in a religiously plural world, and the overcoming of violence.

More important than any of the issues is the opportunity to visibly demonstrate our oneness in Christ across all of our incredible diversity and to renew our commitment to witness together to the love of Christ for all people and the world. February 12, 2006, is a day in which all churches are asked to pray for the Ninth Assembly of the World Council of Churches. I hope your church will be among those all across the world that will be praying for the assembly, and that its theme, "God, in your grace, transform the world," will become a living reality.

[7-13-05]

Traveling in the Congo in May gave me the opportunity to experience our legacy of mission through the warm welcome of our partner churches there. Many people told me that Presbyterians have done better than any denomination in maintaining our commitment to our brothers and sisters in that place. The trip helped me understand the challenges we confront as we think about the future of Presbyterian mission efforts worldwide.

Mission is as needed today as it has ever been. What is mission? It is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and inviting others into a community of faith. It is development that provides long-term, economic stability for communities at risk and the construction of schools where children would otherwise have no access to education. Mission is supporting seminaries that are forming the next generation of church leaders. It is hospitals, nutrition programs, and community HIV/AIDS health campaigns. Mission is working for the kingdom of God "on earth, as it is in heaven" in real ways, every day.

Presbyterians in the U.S. are becoming more directly involved with our mission partners. This is great news! Mission partnerships transform us and encourage us to offer our lives to support mission for the long haul. If my experiences in the Congo and Central America are indicators, the role of our Worldwide Ministries Division (WMD) at the national level of the church will have to continue to shift in exciting ways as we support churches to become more personally involved in mission.

For instance, we need more long-term missionaries—not fewer. They provide stable, lasting relationships upon which our partners worldwide and in our presbyteries can depend for help with communicating, building trust, and bridging cultures as they create a common witness for Jesus Christ. Support for our mission workers has never been more important.

Further, our national staff plays a pivotal role in the formation of mission networks in countries where we have partners. So far, more than two-dozen networks exist, providing an annual forum for churches, presbyteries, and synods to gather and share experiences and collective wisdom with one another. They offer an opportunity for collaboration and cooperation to make our overall witness in mission distinctively Presbyterian, well coordinated, and effective.

Our mission partners and WMD staff in Louisville are working hard to support and encourage congregations to do mission in new ways, while honoring our long-term commitments to determine our priorities for mission together with our partners around the world. They, in turn, deserve our encouragement and support.

God is at work in a new way in our church. I hope you’re praying hard to discern how God might be calling you into mission.

Elder Rick Ufford-Chase is Moderator of the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

For descriptions of Rick’s experiences in the Congo, visit www.what-I-see.blogspot.com. Visit www.pcusa.org/wmd for more information on Presbyterian mission around the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick

A Mountaintop Experience

In my line of work, when spring turns to summer, it’s time for General Assembly! However, this year, as spring turned to summer, I found myself in a very different place—the National Pastors’ Retreat, high up in the mountains at the Snowbird Resort in Utah. In more ways than one, it was a mountaintop experience!

One of the dreams behind moving to biennial assemblies was not that Presbyterians would cease to meet with one another, but that we would meet in different ways that offer the promise of building up the body of Christ. This is exactly what happened at the National Pastors’ Retreat, which was sponsored by the six General Assembly agencies.

Pastors gathered over Memorial Day weekend from all across the nation, and all across the divides that pull at the fabric of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to recover the sense of Sabbath in our lives; to have our theological imaginations stretched by Walter Brueggemann, Barbara Brown Taylor, Tony Campolo, and James Forbes; to sing, worship, and pray in ways that renewed our souls; and to experience the grandeur of God’s marvelous creation in that majestic place. The only "fight" I saw among the 700 Presbyterian pastors and their spouses was a snowball fight when we were greeted on Memorial Day with a freak snowstorm!

It was truly a time when we found a renewal of Christian community and of our calls to ministry—not by debating issues, but by being renewed together by the power of the Holy Spirit. I give thanks to God for this opportunity. And I look forward to it happening again in the "off" years between General Assemblies.

The move to biennial assemblies is an invitation to all of us to find time to renew our spirits and our relationships with one another. Former Moderator Syngman Rhee talks often about "roots and fruits." He opines that Presbyterians are so focused on the fruits of our faith (what we do) that we sometimes don’t take the time to renew the roots of our faith. And, he points out that without the renewal of the roots of our faith, the fruits will soon disappear.

This retreat—the first ever of its kind—was a real blessing in renewing the roots of the faith for our pastors. It is but one way the church is seeking renewal this year. Many of our presbyteries are also using this "off year" to engage in special events aimed at spiritual renewal—as are our conference centers.

Having experienced renewal along with so many of our pastors, I wish all of you a summer filled with experiences of renewal in the power of the Holy Spirit!

With Christ’s Enthusiasm

As I travel across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I am hearing many folks speak about "the younger generation" as if it is of one mind, theology, and interest. In fact, Presbyterian young adults are as diverse as the rest of our denomination.

What Presbyterian young adults do have in common is that they want to make a difference in the church and in the world. They want action. They want to find ways to transform our worship experiences, to live Christ’s example in their communities, and to do mission.

Many young adults have shared with me their weariness of being told they are "the future of our church." In reality, they are providing dynamic leadership now. Here are some examples at a few of our PC(USA)-related colleges:

I am encouraged to see how several of our Presbyterian-related schools are seeking stronger connections with the PC(USA). In a secular culture, strengthening that tie is counter-intuitive and perhaps even risky, but the payoff can be great.

Presbyterian young adults are changing the face of our church, and they are doing so with the enthusiasm of Christ. Shall we join them?

Elder Rick Ufford-Chase is Moderator of the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Life this Spring

From The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
[3-29-05]

Spring has sprung! It is one of my favorite seasons—though being an enthusiastic lover of warm weather, I’d have to say summer is my most favorite of the four.

What I most enjoy about spring is the burst of new life in every direction. It is, no doubt, most keenly seen in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. New life also springs up through God’s good earth. It seems to spill over into people as well. Many of my colleagues and friends and those with whom I meet as I travel seem to have an extra bounce in their steps and increased energy for their work.

A new thing in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) this spring is the absence of preparation for a General Assembly. It is our first year into the era of biennial (every other year) assemblies. Given the new schedule, I was anticipating a bit of a slower spring, with time to read, to catch up on some items, and to get to those things for which my colleagues and I never quite have time. In reality, I have been surprised and delighted at the level of creative energy and activity across the denomination.

While my own pace has not slowed down, I think the additional time between assemblies is already proving helpful to the church. Our presbyteries and congregations have a breather from dealing with the annual debates on ordination and human sexuality amendments. Over 500 pastors and their spouses have already signed up for this time of rest and renewal. I believe that this event in particular will be a real blessing to the church.

Ufford-Chase reflects on the vitality of a Sudanese Presbyterian congregation near Nashville. Kirkpatrick gives thanks for the way the world is coming together in the face of the tragic effects of the tsunami in South Asia. Both are rejoicing in the work of the Spirit.

From Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase:

Joy in the Presence of God

Just before Christmas I visited a Sudanese Presbyterian Church near Nashville--a former welding shop now transformed into a church. I walked in the door in the back of the warehouse and was greeted by a cacophony of noise and color and madness. Women in beautiful, colorful dresses, children everywhere I looked, and men in dark suits with broad smiles. The presence of God was as strong in that church as in any I've ever visited.

I tried valiantly to pronounce the names of the different foods as I filled my plate. In the absence of language, I did what I've always done--I ate three helpings of everything and learned the word for "thank you."

After we ate, this congregation that had already been worshiping most of the day began another worship service that lasted well into the evening. The choir sang African songs and we prayed together. One of the elders translated so that I could participate. Together, we talked about the challenge of being immigrants in a strange land.

Six months ago, I knew nothing about the vibrant movement of Presbyterian new immigrant fellowships and churches. Now I know that they are one of the many signs of hope for our denomination. Many of these spirit-filled faith communities are in our midst. I encourage you to commit to visit one of these sister Presbyterian communities. You will find brothers and sisters in Christ who are anxious to be partners in the task of bringing new life to our denomination.

As I left for the airport, the choir had spontaneously broken into song once again, and many members of the congregation were gathered around drumming and singing along. We have a lot to learn about that kind of joy in the presence of God.

Elder Rick Ufford-Chase is Moderator of the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick:

A Small World

Some days the world seems so large. Countless languages, climates, cultures--the immensity makes my head spin!

And then something happens and the world seems so small.

As I write this, ten days have passed since the devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Southeast Asia. It is deeply heartwarming to me to see how governments, organizations, and individuals that represent those countless languages and cultures are coming together to provide relief to literally millions of people affected by the disaster. Warring factions have set aside their differences and are working toward the common goal of easing the suffering of so very many brothers and sisters in the human family. People are giving money in abundance--from celebrities with millions to children with a few pennies. Truly, God must be hearing prayers of intercession from every corner of the globe.

I ponder how it is that weapons are laid down and dividing lines are erased with relative ease during these kinds of times. What is it that will propel us to pick up the weapons and re-draw the lines with as much relative ease later on? But even my ponderings need to be put aside for now because the present crisis is so great.

I am deeply grateful for the generous way Presbyterians are responding with disaster assistance. It isn't the way we or the rest of the world imagined bringing in the new year! But how amazing it is to experience the Spirit at work in miraculous ways.

[11-15-04]

Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase expresses his thankfulness for his experiences around the church over the past few months.

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick ponders the season of Advent, observes the messy world in which we find ourselves, and notes how messy was the world into which Jesus was born.

A Multitude of Thanks
from Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase
 

I am thankful for so much.

I'm thankful for how new immigrant fellowships are transforming our denomination. I recently spent time with Presbyterian immigrants from Africa, India, Pakistan, and Brazil. Their spirit and faith in Jesus Christ left me feeling a profound sense of gratitude for the possibilities they offer all of us.

I'm thankful for elders, deacons, and others who reached out to their brothers and sisters in the aftermath of four hurricanes. Responding to one another when we're in need is what being the church is all about.

I'm grateful for conversations with young people who care deeply about our church and are committed to living God's will for their lives. I've sat with them on the lawn at Ghost Ranch, in a dorm room at the Peace and Justice Conference, in gatherings at several seminaries, on the quad at the Youth Triennium, and at the Hispanic Caucus gathering. This is a generation of church that is on the move.

I'm thankful for the dedicated Presbyterians I've met on the General Assembly Council and Committee on the Office of the General Assembly. They're working hard to articulate a clear vision for who we're called to be as a denomination and how we're going to get there. This is an area of my responsibilities as moderator that I was least aware of, and it has turned out to be one of the greatest blessings.

I'm appreciative of the unique opportunity to dialogue with Presbyterians who are committed to listening carefully to one another and sharing our faith with one another. I'm convinced there is a great hunger for thoughtful, respectful dialogue about what we believe and who God calls us to be in the world.

I'm thankful for the release of Christian human rights activist Mauricio Avilez from a Colombian prison. I'm overwhelmed by U.S. Presbyterians who have committed to do the hard work of accompaniment with our Christian brothers and sisters there.

Finally, I'm thankful for the gift of Scripture. We turn to the Bible in moments of hurt and despair, and we look to the gospel for our vision of who we can be if we find the courage to act as Jesus acted, to live as Jesus lived, to believe as Jesus believed.

Blessings on each of you as you seek to live your faith in the world!

Elder Rick Ufford-Chase is Moderator of the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking Forward to Advent
Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick

The period that begins with Thanksgiving and runs through the Christmas holidays is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time to slow down and focus on the wonderful gifts that God has given us. It is a time to be with my wife, my children, their spouses, and my marvelous grandchild, who will turn five years old the week before Christmas.

I feel a special need for Advent this year. We are just completing a national election campaign that has been one of the most bitter in recent memory, a sign of the deep divisions among us as Americans. The war in Iraq continues to take countless lives, and even the part of the world into which the Prince of Peace came is filled with violence and despair. A friend commented recently, "The world is a mess," and I think she is right.

It was into just that kind of world that Jesus was born. Into a world hungry for a Messiah who would right the wrongs and destroy the unjust came a baby born of Mary whose message was one of love and reconciliation. The message of this Messiah is one far more powerful than that of any military power--the message of the power of suffering love to transform the world and the human heart. The promise of this Messiah is a promise of "peace among those whom God favors" (Luke 2:14).

May this Thanksgiving season be a time in which we give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus Christ and the community we share with his followers. May this Advent season be a time in which we wait with great expectancy for the coming of this Messiah into our lives and into our world. And may Christmas be a time in which we each receive anew the greatest gift anyone could ever receive--the gift of life in all its fullness in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

May God's richest blessings be with you and all those you love this holiday season.

The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick is Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).