From the Pastor, May 6, 2009

I suspect everybody knows this, but the flavor of theology Presbyterians adhere to is called “Reformed.”  Not just because we came out of the Reformation—there are other kinds of theology, such as Lutheran and Anabaptist that did as well—but because of our philosophy, our overall way of being a people of God.  Our motto is: Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda which people who understand Latin assure me means “The Church Reformed, Always to be Reformed.”  Note the passive voice in the second “reformed:” we do not reform on our own, some one or some thing reforms us.  And we believe we know who that Someone is: it is God who does the reforming, through the good offices of the Holy Spirit.  We are not to be reformed by the whim of any one person, or Session, or ecclesiastical body, but by the Spirit of God, blowing through our minds and hearts.

This principle is supposed to work at all levels of the church: at the national level, there is a laborious four-year process for this; it is assumed that the Holy Spirit is at work in it, and in my experience, it usually is.  We are also supposed to apply the Reformed principle at the local level, but this is where it often runs into trouble.  On one hand, there is not a well-oiled procedure in place within congregations to assure that it happens.  On the other hand, there is often resistance to change within a tight-knit group of people who love each other and the way they’ve worshiped God for (generally) a large number of years.  Therefore, even though congregations are supposed to be responsive to change under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it often doesn’t happen that way.

Enter the Seekers process, designed to open ourselves up to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so we can respond responsibly—decently and in good order!—and continue to do God’s will here in 2009.  I am aware that many of you are waiting to see what will come of this endeavor, just as I’ve heard that some of you are tired of waiting, and are watching to see what is going to happen.  I cannot say as I blame you; it seems we have been talking about renewal for a long time.

Well, now that time is upon us: the waiting is over.  As I noted several weeks ago, your Session voted a resolution to explore the means by which Covenant might become a “destination church” for families with children with autism.  This is a direct outcome of the Seekers process: the idea came out of a Seekers-conducted open meeting last year at Summer Experience.  In the mean-time, it has percolated and gestated and a commission has been formed to study what that might mean, and it has been very busy, doing your work and, I believe, the work of the Holy Spirit.  As plans start to take shape, and your Session considers them, we will also be soliciting your input and opinion at small-group gatherings and keeping you constantly informed of what we have in mind.  Just as it takes a community to raise a child, so it takes the whole congregation to renew itself.  I am confident that we will step up to the plate and, by the grace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, be renewed.