April 2003
Dear Friends,
The quiet and preparation of Lent seem particularly apt this year,
assailed as we all are by strains and fears on every side. Our
need for God's redemption in Christ has rarely seemed more urgent.
At this time of deepening national and international crisis, we
are grateful for our denominational leaders' tireless efforts
for peace. Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick, with other leaders
in the National Council of Churches, has represented us well both
here and abroad, persistently and creatively pressing world leaders
to step back from the precipice of destruction and seek the path
of peace. Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel has sought possibilities for
reconciliation of deep-seated conflicts, in his Moderator's Conference
on the Middle East. Both are heeding, on all of our behalf, the
call in the Confession of 1967 to "commend to the nations
as practical politics the search for cooperation and peace"
(9.45).
Our church, unfortunately, is not demonstrating the peace we commend.
This spring has brought some unprecedented attacks on our Moderator
and Clerk, rising even to suits in the church courts. We have
confidence in the principles of church order that long have guided
Presbyterians in our life together. We urge the whole church to
abide by those principles and to remember that "the organization
rests upon the fellowship and is not designed to work without
trust and love" (G-7.0103).
Even as some intemperate actions and statements have challenged
our unity, we are encouraged by an emerging hopeful tone in more
and more conversations across the church. Reports from the Theological
Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church suggest
a model of faithful engagement of issues even across ideological
divides. We have heard of meetings in several presbyteries between
sessions or groups of pastors with different views, seeking together
to discover common ground in the Reformed heritage we share. We
hope such conversations can proceed and spread.
In this season of darkening clouds but lengthening days, we join
you in praying for peace -- in our church and in our world. With
you, we move in hope and faith toward the resurrection, knowing
that our only comfort, in life and in death, is that we belong,
not to ourselves, but to our faithful Savior.
Grace and peace,
Joanna M. Adams
Co-Pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago
Eugene C. Bay
Pastor, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, PA