September 18, 2006

Eschatological Ecclesiology

This past week I was in Louisville for a joint meeting of EP’s and members of the General Assembly Council. This was a first and a sign of a new day dawning at GA. Along with that was the reality that more than 100 EP’s, using our own budgets, attended. I left heartened once more about the future of our denomination.

We were asked to read a book on Appreciative Inquiry and a chapter from a book that Paul Hooker, Presbytery of St Augustine EP, has written. His paper was entitled “What The Book of Order, The Book of Confessions, and the Book of Numbers Have to Say about Ecclesiology and the Presbytery” – a mouthful, wouldn’t you say? I found it a very helpful piece and I want to share its essence with you over the next few weeks.

Paul begins by listing three questions that ought to apply to the church in any of its manifestations:

1. How do we do it?

2. What are we called to do?

3. What are we called to be?

More often than not we are consumed by the first question, dabble in the second, and ignore the third. Paul Hooker would have us turn this upside down and make the third question the most important.

So what are we called to be? As Presbyterians we should take out our Book of Order and take another look at the first five chapters. Paul Hooker suggests that perhaps the most important answer to this question can be found in 3.0200.

The Church of Jesus Christ is the provisional demonstration of what God intends for all of humanity.

a. The Church is called be a sign in and for the world of the new reality which God has made available to people in Jesus Christ.

b. The new reality revealed in Jesus Christ is the new humanity, a new creation, a new beginning for human life in the world:

1. Sin is forgiven.

2. Reconciliation is accomplished.

3. The dividing walls of hostility are torn down.

c. The Church is the body of Christ, both in its corporate life and in the lives of its individual members, and is called to give shape and substance to this truth.

Paul Hooker than goes on to write, “Note the strongly eschatological character of this language. The church is the “provisional demonstration” in the world of the telos, or intent, of God for the transformation of humanity and, indeed, of all creation. The call to the church is not so much to remember a past . . . as it is to anticipate the future that God is creating for the world.”

So here we are – the Church of Jesus Christ and the provisional demonstration of what God intends for all of humanity. We haven’t arrived in the Promised Land yet, the Kingdom is not here yet, but we are to give a taste of the Great Banquet, a preview of coming attractions, the hope for which all humanity yearns. Our churches, our Presbytery are to bear witness to what God intends.

So, how are we doing? What, in fact, are we demonstrating? More importantly, how can we embody this thing we are called to be? More about that in future weeks.

Blessings,

Peter

Inside this issue

Events of the week:

Presbyterian Women Fall Gathering

Oct. 7 9:00am – 2:00pm

First PC of Westminster

Take Note/Act Now

§ An Inconvenient Truth

§ Oktoberfest at MDPC

§ HIV/AIDS Awareness

§ Lochearn PC Men’s Day

§ Knox PC Memorial Concert

§ Grove PC 150^th Anniversary

§ Non-violent Demonstration

§ Interim DCE Sought

§ Hispanic Center for Ministry

§ Presbyterian Outlook

§ Synod Bulletin Insert

§ BRIDGE

§ Tent of Abraham

§ Craig A. Evans

Prayer Concerns

First PC of Bel Air

St. Andrews NCD

People

The Rev. Dr. George Gray Toole, Pastor Emeritus of Towson PC, has been named a Dunning Distinguished Lecturer for 2006-2007 by the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary and University, where he is a professor of homiletics and liturgics.

Prayer Concerns

First PC of Bel Air

asks for prayers:

· For their Sunday school – for children, youth and adults – as they resume classes

· For their search for a Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator

· For those who will stay with them in their Shrefller House shelter for homeless families

· For First Presbyterian Preschool, which serves so many families in the community

St. Andrews NCD

asks for prayers:

· St. Andrew’s Launch Team as it seeks to follow-up on identified ministry priorities

· St. Andrew’s upcoming meeting with a representative from the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program to discuss planning for future mortgage.

· To give thanks for the enthusiasm and excitement of those who have returned from a successful church building project in Mozambique

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items (dated items first, listed in date order)

Are you concerned about Global Warming? Through the efforts of the organization, Interfaith Power and Light, congregations around the country will view what has been called "the most important film to be shown in America this year.” There are two opportunities to view the recent movie, An Inconvenient Truth, in our Presbytery. Friday, Oct. 6^th: at Towson PC at 7:00pm and at Hunting Ridge PC at 7:30pm. All events are free and open to all. Discussions will follow (more).

Maryland PC will host its annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 7^th from 9am-2pm. Come enjoy good German food, flea market, music and fun (more).

Sunday, October 8^th is HIV/AIDS Awareness Sunday. (more)

Lochearn PC Men’s Day celebration will take place Sunday, Oct. 15^th at 11:00 am. The guest speak will be Rev. Dr. Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter.

Knox PC will present a Memorial Concert in honor of Beulah and Hanson Caldwell Sunday, Oct. 15^th at 4:00pm.

Grove PC will be celebrating their 150^th anniversary on Sunday, October 29^th (Reformation Sunday).

Roger Powers and Andrew Foster Connors were both arrested in Washington DC on September 26 in a non-violent demonstration against the war in Iraq. Trial dates have been set for after Thanksgiving. Read more about the day’s events on our homepage.

Churchville PC is seeking a part-time Interim Director of Christian Education (read more).

Synod and GA items

Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education has a new Hispanic/Latino Center for Ministry which offers courses for lay leaders and pastors. All courses will be taught in Spanish (Learn More).

The Synod’s October Bulletin Insert and Military Prayer List is now available online.

Other Resources

The September 11th issue of Presbyterian Outlook contains a several interesting articles that explore religious statistics including articles on Presbyterian Demographics, Growth Myths and the Importance of Religious Practice in Growing Congregations. These can be accessed at their website.

Other Events

There will be a BRIDGE the Gap Public Meeting on Oct. 5^th on “Housing is the Bridge…”

At 7pm at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. (more)

Pax Christi/Baltimore and other co-sponsoring groups will present a “Tent of Abraham” interfaith peace event Sunday, Oct. 8^th at 3:30 p.m. at the American Friends Service Committee Building. For more information call C. Michaels at 410-321-5770.

Craig A. Evans will give the annual Dunning Lecture at St. Mary’s Seminary & University on Monday, October 9^th at 7:30 p.m. His topic will be “What Are We to Think of The Gospel of Judas?” The free lecture, open to the public, will be held at St. Mary’s campus on Roland Avenue at Northern Parkway in Baltimore (read more) (flyer).