Where to the presbyterian church in Scotland?

If the Church of Scotland splits, the nature of the problem changes; Watchman suggests that one 'solution' may just leave us with a new set of problems.

In one of his philosophical and melancholy musings Woody Allen once drily observed:

In this piece of wry pessimism the American writer/actor/director seems to confine God’s intervention to that of assisting in the choice between the lesser of two evils. Let's trust that for the sake of the body of Christ in Scotland and the nation itself that the God we serve is bigger than that.

In terms of Scotland’s ecclesiastical history and present situation we stand, in April 2009, at an interesting moment. And in terms of Woody Allen’s alternatives there are two possible outcomes – for the Presbyterian churches in Scotland in general, and for the Church of Scotland in particular. Both of these could lead one to despair. (But while Mr Allen’s view may resonate within the present situation, don’t give up reading at this point.)

Next month the national Kirk is scheduled to meet in its annual General Assembly. And much attention – within and outwith the Church – will centre round a situation which will be presented before that large and important gathering of C of S leaders. The case in point is whether or not to ratify the ‘call’ by an Aberdeen congregation to a minister who is living with another man. The most recent background to all of this is that an objection – at Aberdeen Presbytery level – to this proposed appointment was remitted to a Committee of Assembly – a sub-set of the General Assembly itself. This committee, by the narrowest of votes, recently chose to place the matter before the forthcoming Assembly (the other options for the committee would have been to uphold or alternatively overturn the objection).

So the General Assembly will be back where it found itself in 2006 on the issue of having to consider the Kirk’s position on human sexuality. Last time around the matter of how the handle civil partnerships (aka same-sex marriage) was passed back to local churches via a mechanism called the Barrier Act – a vital though cumbersome safeguard to prevent the Assembly taking important decisions without first consulting local congregations. And we could be back here again in May.

However, tensions within the Church of Scotland are now higher, much higher; and there are two likely scenarios – both of which hardly bear contemplation.

Scenario No. 1 – the Church of Scotland stays together; a problem –

Unity where there should be division

Scenario No. 2 – the Church of Scotland splits; a problem –

Division where there should be unity

 
When children fall out in the playground, they distance themselves from their erstwhile friends and very quickly seek out others to play with – others with whom they empathise. Denominations tend to behave in similar fashion. But whether in schoolyard or nation, a problem remains. It may not be much mentioned, but everyone knows its there.

The ‘elephant in the room’ is the fact that previous relational ruptures remain unresolved. (See chart)  So a great danger amidst any up-beat ecclesiastical jargon of realignment that might ensue is that earlier breaches in the presbyterian evangelical camp are not addressed. And, to employ the playground metaphor, some children who should be amongst the rest of the evangelical playgroup are left in the corner of the ecclesiastical schoolyard.

Accordingly a major issue were a new denomination to emerge is the need to first repair splits with others who share the same biblical persuasions. The word of God says:
 

And in it all, a Misplaced Trust

If a merger – of any dimension – were to take place what could ensue would no doubt be promoted as a (new) reinvigorated ‘Bible-believing’ denomination. Whilst this might sound an attractive proposition it could create yet another (spiritual) problem.
 
Bullish groupings in the secular world tend to place their confidence in their own strengths; and this is diametrically opposite to trusting in God. Denominations can very easily fall into exactly the same trap.

God honed down Gideon’s group before He used them so that He would get the glory. (Judges 7:2) And in so doing they were obliged to rely on His tactics and not their own. (Judges 7:13-15)

King David invoked God’s anger when he did a head count of his troops. (2 Samuel 24:10).

   

The Third Way: God’s way

In a summary analysis of Woody Allen’s worldview, both roads lead to despair. In our case one road leads to the Church of Scotland staying together in superficial and dishonest union. (cf Amos 3:3) A likely alternative is a(n eventual) split which produces a new man-made alliance of some evangelical churches within the presbyterian scene; believing all the while that this would be the answer to it all.
But, in contrast to Woody Allen’s rather bleak outlook, there is a third option. And that is God.

At this critical time, when we see our nation and a world in turmoil, with lives in ruin and new legislation taking us ever-further from the ways of God, that by His grace we find a new humility to turn from our clever ways of organising (and re-organising) our tribal groupings (Isaiah 55:8-9). And to call upon Him to do – in our midst and in our land – what He wants, in His way.
What we need in our land – and history bears this out – is not so much an expedient alliance to form another (new) church (cf Jeremiah 2:13) but an outpouring of the Holy Spirit onto a dry and parched land in response to a church on its knees in weakness, not (human) strength.

We need a church in utter dependency on God rather than denominational realignments.
And here’s the rub; that too needs a work of God to accomplish. (Zech 12:10a) We need to pray. God help us, for the sake of Scotland (Jeremiah18:8) and supremely for His glory. (Ezekiel 36:22).

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