Day One: A powerful day in the movement of the Spirit

Something is happening among Presbyterians today. Something old is passing and something new is emerging.

That was the spirit of day one at this New Wineskins Convocation for me.

Through the mediums of powerful preaching of the Word from an Egyptian pastor of a powerful Gospel-centered church in Cairo to the hopeful summary of the work of missional churches and transformative new church structures, there is much to digest from today's meeting.

The whole day was framed in worship and fellowship in the common spirit of trust and expectancy. To even a newcomer like me, this gathering felt like a get-together of lifelong friends who share the same goal for ministry--to glorify Christ in all things.

Perhaps the most powerful speech of the day was the summary given by the senior pastor at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church. He has been their pastor for 18 years and he detailed for us the circumstances surrounding that congregation's vote to leave the PC(USA). He was thoughtful, compassionate, loving and gracious in describing the powerful witness and work of the laity in the church who worked for the congregation's future in another denomination. We hung on every word. He was able to convey the sadness of the vote, the turnout of all the members, young and old, one of whom was dying of cancer and had to be propped up on pillows in the pew so that he could see the proceedings.

He detailed the presbytery response and contrasted their 'by the books' attitude with the prayerful and gracious attitude of the EPC pastors and elders who helped his staff with prayers and encouragement. He shared with us that in all the time of his congregation's investigation as to whether or not they would stay in the denomination, not a single member of his presbytery offerd to pray with or for him. We were stunned.

Has it gotten to this point? Can we not agree to bless each other in differing paths? For some people in the PCUSA, the answer is obviously no.

Mark Tammen and people from Louisville are here observing. Do they feel anything at all?

Some of those here are already on the way to another denominational destination. We laid hands on them and prayed for God's guidance and protection on their ministries and congregations.

Yet, many of us are staying in the PCUSA for the time being. We will stay and strive to covenant together to form communities and associations that will witness to the PCUSA and use our presbyteries as our mission field. We will talk tomorrow about how this can happen and we will take back home a concrete proposal on how congregations within the old denomination can stay faithful, proclaim the faith and share it with others.

In many ways, staying here is the more difficult path. Not that those who leave this year have it easy! But, staying means facing the consequences of a denomination that will surely become more and more hostile to what we are doing and what we stand for, as so many of our daring and growing congregations leave the old structure and take their money with them.

Who knows what the next GA will bring? Will they come after those New Wineskins churches that will stay? Will they force us out or try some property grab? They just may do that. It's a risk we take by not taking the EPC up on their generous offer of refuge.

But faithfulness always has a price. How deep and how much that price will be for the congregations in NWAC staying in the old PCUSA has yet to be seen. But, for Christ and his church, many of us are willing to risk it.

New Winskins day one is a complete success, by the mercy of our Father. I look forward to the planning and visioning of the coming day two's work. Look to this blog for some details tomorrow night. It'll be big stuff.

God is faithful!