As you know, from time to time, I get correspondence from our national leadership that I share with you. This letter from our newly elected moderator, the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is one I would encourage you to read. His candor and his openness are refreshing. Enjoy!
A Letter from our Moderator --
An occasional message from the Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
August 12, 2008
Dear Friends,
I hope you are well and enjoying the summer months. I write this in the midst of one of my annual continuing education events in beautiful Pacific Grove, CA. This is an event I have been coming to pretty much every year since I was ordained and is one that anchors my journey – not just in my ministry in this denomination, but as a child of God, striving to be faithful every day.
One of the best parts of this event is that people here are made up of an amazing array of ministry and personal contexts and experiences. I am always moved by the stories of service that are shared, not just because people are doing great things in the name of Jesus Christ, but because people, year after year after year, continue to be energized and inspired to be the hands, hearts, and minds of Christ in the world.
As we were engaged in the academic segment of our day this morning, I couldn't help but think about the gift it is to be in a place where we could listen to the stories of faith that each of us brought. Their stories in some ways become my stories, mine become theirs, and, in the end, we have a deeper understanding of who God may indeed be for each of us.
This is the posture I am taking as Moderator of the 218th General Assembly – to listen. Some would have me make judgments, declarations, and pronouncements about the relative merits of what I hear as I begin my itineration time. However, I think the best thing I can model right now is to listen to what we are saying and, in response, through the gift of this position, share with the church what we are in fact saying to one another. This does not mean that I will claim any kind of false objectivity or that I will not form a personal opinion or assessment, but it does mean that my primary posture right now is to listen.
Living the discipline of listening is crucial right now. With the many, many, many, many – Did I say many? – voices, perspectives, and opinions being raised in just as many venues and contexts, it would behoove us to remember that listening is a vital part of our discernment. As I engage in this practice, I firmly believe we must force ourselves to not only listen to the voices with whom we already know we agree to best discern the will of God for our lives. Regardless of the issue: theological, social, or ecclesiastical, listening to opposing voices can be one of the most difficult and rewarding opportunities of our collective life as a denomination. And regardless of
where we end up as a denomination, if we do not do this, we will not get there with grace.
Now I am not talking about some “pie in the sky, if we just listen we will soon be surrounded by puppies and butterflies and the world will be a better place” ideal, but a posture of listening that embodies humility of spirit grounded in a confidence of faith. In other words, I
believe that we can be confident in our faith, beliefs, and discernment so that listening to other voices does not weaken our faith, but deepens it. Just because we hear it, does not mean we have to believe it; but if we never hear it, we'll never know of the possibilities.
As I approach this discipline in my own local ministry as well as Moderator, here are a few reasons why I am committed to listening to the other.
