Polity Exhausts Me

Boy, I've really let this whole blog thing slide, huh?

Just got back from a two-day Presbytery meeting and am really worn out. I try really hard to get it, but I just don't.

We talk about change and revitalization in our churches, but when we gather as a Presbytery, we worship like it's 1952. Wouldn't such gatherings be a great time to model new and creative worship experiences? But no. That's not what we do.

And at a time when so many of our smaller churches could really benefit (and potentially grow) from having a full-time pastor, we boast about not tapping into more than 5% of our endowment in order to make the budget, rather than accessing some money to give struggling churches a boost or to plant new churches. And if you're not big on new and growing churches, don't we have some responsibility to help those in need during these tough economic times? Shouldn't we pull out a little more in this particular year to help the least of these? What exactly are we saving all that money for? Is that really good stewardship? Have we not all read the parable of the talents?

And I'm not even understanding the rationale behind what we do spend our money on. Maumelle, Arkansas is a booming community and we still don't have a Presbyterian presence there. For years, several folks have been trying to get an NCD out in Ferndale and were shut down. Now the Methodists are tearing it up just down the road from our Presbyterian camp. Yet, everyone seems very excited about a new church development in Northwest Arkansas targeted to the Hispanic population. If I understood the report today, it began in 2006 and they now have 30 members. Is that really what we're shooting for? Four years and 30 people? I feel like I'm just missing something.

I am, however, a big fan of our new moderator, Debbi Freeman and our new General Presbyter, Bill Galbraith. I really want to be hopeful about our denomination, but I'm having a hard time getting there right now.