Covenant
Network draws nearly 600 to ponder Biblical authority and current
tensions in the church
"Biblical Authority and the Church" is
theme
The
Covenant Network web site has their own report on the recent
conference in Pittsburgh, and the full texts of the plenary addresses by
Walter Brueggemann, William Placher, and Brian Blount, along with a
printable tape order form. The texts of the sermons and of other papers
will be posted soon.
by Doug King
11-4-00
The Covenant Network, which held it first gathering just four years ago
with about 140 people present, attracted nearly 600 participants to its
fourth annual gathering, held at East Liberty Presbyterian Church in
Pittsburgh. The meeting opened on Thursday evening, November 2, and
closed just after noon on Saturday, Nov. 4. Two themes were sounded
through many of the presentations and times of worship: First, that
scripture provides the truth from which all of us live as Christians,
but that our interpretations of scripture are never absolute. And
second, that the strictures imposed on Christian freedom by Book of
Order provision G-6.0106b must finally be removed -- and that people
will need to work and organize and pray to bring that about.
The Rev. Robert Bohl, former Moderator of the
General Assembly and one of the founders of Covenant Network, introduced
some of the basic aims of the Gathering on Thursday evening. "We've
come to hear one another," he said, "and because we want peace
in our church. We are convinced that our church must welcome all
people." Affirming that scripture is central to our faith and to
our life as a church, he noted too that "it has been used as a
weapon to assault others. I hope we will learn to talk with each
other" instead of engaging in these battles. The church needs a
balance between authority and freedom, and said, and "we are best
as a church when liberals and conservatives can greet one another with
civility."
Bohl also offered a brief word of regret at the
absence of any "compelling leaders" in the Presbyterian Church
today, suggesting that this is caused by the fact that "there are
those who attack anyone who attempts to lead."
Bohl then introduced the Rev. Syngman Rhee, the
current Moderator of the
PC(USA), who explained the origins of the white gown he wears as
Moderator, which was created for him by his wife, covered with
signatures and words of greeting and blessing from hundreds of GA
commissioners and others. "It's heavy," he added, "...
heavy with the weight of the many people who care about our
church."
Mentioning his recent visits to churches in Korea and
the Middle East, he urged that "as we gather here over the next
three days, may we continually be reminded that God has called us to
proclaim the Good News -- and to build the unity of the Church."
As
in earlier conferences, worship services provided a vital core to
the whole gathering. The four preachers offered suggestive images for
the effort to make our church more inclusive: a red tulip blooming in a
field of white and yellow ones; coming home again; coloring outside the
lines; learning to speak and to understand new languages. Click
here for more on the worship services.
The first address of the conference was given by Dr.
Walter Brueggemann, Professor of OT at Columbia Theological Seminary
in Decatur, Georgia. Speaking under the title, "Biblical
Authority: A Personal Reflection," Brueggemann offered just
that -- some thoughts on the authority of the Bible in his own life, and
the principles by which his own experience leads him to interpret the
Bible. Click here for a summary of his
talk.
The second major address, by Prof. William Placher
of Wabash College, was a theologian's look at "Struggling with
Scripture." He emphasized that the truth communicated through the
Bible is not always factual -- as Jesus' parables, for one obvious
example, convey profound truth without relating events that "really
happened." Noting that the real issue is not the authority of the
Bible, but how we interpret it, he pointed to the important distinction
between what is said in the Bible, and what is being taught;
for example, he pointed to Paul's discussions of homosexuality as
teaching not about particular behaviors, but about deeper issues of sin
and righteousness. Click here for a summary of his
talk.
On Friday morning, Dr. Brian Blount spoke on
the topic, "The Last Word on Biblical Authority." Blount,
Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary,
emphasized the lively role of God's Spirit in communicating God's truth
in our always-changing situations. While we often crave the simplicity
of a clear "do-this-don't-do-that" view of the Bible, in fact
"mature Christians put the Bible in second place. Life
takes first place, for the Word comes in, and comes to life, in life
itself." [More on this talk later.]
Workshops cover many topics
Workshops
held on Friday and Saturday covered a wide range of issues, from
"Preaching Biblically: Teaching the Bible from the Pulpit" and
"What the Confessions Say about the Bible" to questions of
polity, effective ministry with gay and lesbian members, and much more.
One
workshop dealt with "Holy Unions --
Practical Guidance for Pastors." Gene TeSelle provides a
report.
Young adults gather, plan, and call for more
participation
A pre-conference gathering for people under 40 was
held on Thursday afternoon, and drew some fifty participants. According
to the Rev. Beth Hessel-Robinson and the Rev. Heidi Calhoun, who helped
plan the pre-conference, this new event was suggested at the Atlanta
gathering last year by a few young adults who together asked for a voice
-- and were invited to join the board.
The event featured a panel discussion, with older and
younger participants, all speaking in response to four questions put to
them by the planners. These included their views on what are the major
problems in the PC(USA) today, and what gives them hope for the church.
The panel discussion was followed by time in small groups, giving people
time to get acquainted and share their own concerns.
Beth Hessel-Robinson noted that she received many
e-mail notes in response to announcements of the event, with people
saying things like "I need this!" and hoping for more such
opportunities.
At the end of the "main event" conference on
Saturday, a representative of the young adult group urged that Covenant
Network make a point next year of asking each person attending to bring
along a younger adult as well.
