Bridge-Building Models
These suggestions come from the experience of Covenant Network chapters and individual members, and are offered to spark your imagination. We hope that you will assess your own circumstances, adapt as appropriate, and try something!
Please pass along your own ideas and experiences to triciadk@covenantnetwork.org.
Still useful and relevant:
- Road show
- Identify persons who can make themselves available to congregations where the minister is open to education and dialogue but cannot take the risk of initiating or leading. Offer to lead a discussion of Turning Points or For the Bible Tells Me So, or to speak on another topic.
- Pulpit exchange
- The guest pastor preaches in the morning service(s). Afterwards in an open forum the guest speaks briefly and then responds to questions. If the guest is from out of town, in the afternoon or evening or on the following Monday, s/he might meet with local Presbyterian clergy for conversation. Repeat the same format with the host and guest changing roles. Testimony: “ It was a very valuable experience in several respects. It gave the pastors an opportunity to enter into and become aware of each other's congregation and context. It gave the congregations an opportunity to hear a point of view that was different from what their own pastor had presented. Over all it provided an opportunity to dispel stereotypes and to humanize ‘the other side.’ In all respects the conversations were civil and respectful. It is a wonderful way for congregations to interact and be exposed to a person of faith who represents another point of view.”
- For a local exchange, pastors might fill each other’s pulpits on the same day.
- Two congregations at different places on the theological spectrum might engage in one or more session-to-session dialogues/joint meetings. Options:
- The pastors of the churches meet months in advance to visit, check in, and discuss what topic they might want elders to consider. On the appointed evening, the Sessions meet for dinner, with intentionally mixed seating of elders and staff of the two churches. After dinner, the two ministers each speak for 10-12 minutes on the pre-arranged topic (e.g., Christianity and homosexuality, the future of the PCUSA, etc.); then they dialogue a bit.
- Elders then have a time of discussion for 30 minutes or so at tables, followed by Q&A with the ministers and large group discussion for another 20 minutes. The whole group moves to the sanctuary for shared worship and communion. Then the two sessions meet separately to do their business (another hour). The whole evening is about 3 - 3.5 hours long from start to finish. Alternate locations from year to year. Testimony: “We find that this has had a cumulative effect, building good will over the years. A key to its success is the ministers' willingness to work together, openly and honestly and respectfully. Modeling that does wonders for the elders.”
- Both the Covenant Network http://www.covenantnetwork.org/news/calltocc.html and the Presbyterian Coalition http://www.faithwebsites.com/presbycoalition/newsfile16538_1.doc> have issued theological statements. Ask elders to read both documents prior to the event. During the meeting, divide into theologically diverse small groups; each person who identifies more strongly with one of the organizations lifts up 3-5 affirmations or ideas from the other group’s statement that s/he particularly appreciates.
- One-on-one conversations with conservative colleagues over lunch, not necessarily to discuss issues but just to get to know one another better, can strengthen relationships and cultivate mutual understanding. Testimony: “I meet once every few months with another pastor with whom I disagree on many of the big national issues; we respect one another and have found that on some issues within the Presbytery we agree very strongly, and even seek one another’s counsel. Each of us can say that we do not want a Presbytery, or a PCUSA, that does not include the other.”
- When clergy move into the presbytery, make a point to invite the newcomer to lunch or her/his family to join yours for supper, picnic, other outing. Don’t make it about church politics, but about extending hospitality and getting to know sisters and brothers in Christ.
- Clergy groups
- Two clergy, who respectfully disagree on issues, agree that each will invite five other clergy to a round table discussion. Pick a neutral place to meet. Perhaps invite someone on Presbytery staff to moderate. Use one of the Theological Task Force videos as the topic of discussion. Have the group decide together what steps to take next.
- Variation: Each minister makes a list of persons from the “other” theological perspective with whom s/he wants to engage; after reviewing each other’s lists, each invites the persons who do not usually share her/his views.
- Open Meetings
- When your group is feeling confident in its own identity, mail a letter to every minister and clerk of session in the Presbytery, declaring your presence, expressing your convictions ,and extending an open invitation to your next meeting. If persons respond who do not share a CovNet perspective, pay particular attention to welcome and hospitality, sharing of stories, and open dialogue. Testimony: “One encouraging outcome has been the continued one-on-one dialogue between a member of the Covenant Network group, and one of the ministers who represents an evangelical pastors fellowship. Sharing the conviction that differences over our ordination standards reflect much deeper issues, the two men proposed to their respective ‘groups’ that a round table discussion take place to discuss the authority of scripture. With attention given to the neutrality of the meeting place and adequate representation of viewpoint, thirty people participated in the dialogue. Presentations were made by representatives of each group, followed by open discussion. The meeting was so well received that two more gatherings have taken place, to discuss other topics.”
- Prayer Breakfast (or luncheon or …) preceding a Presbytery meeting
- Consider contacting local leaders of Presbyterians for Renewal, or other identified persons from a different perspective, and invite them to co-host. Ask that the event be listed on the docket with its time and location. Arrange space with the host church and bring in food, or pay them to cater. In addition to an e-mail notice, mail an invitation to all churches and all clergy and elders who receive presbytery mailings.
- Have several greeters welcoming attendees and asking them to sit with persons whom they do not know, or who they believe hold different opinions. Sit at tables of 6-8 getting to know each other as folks trickle in. After this informal conversation, introduce the simple agenda and a discussion topic (example: share a fear and a hope about inclusion in the PCUSA). After about 15 minutes, invite broader group feedback.
- Several pre-arranged persons known for being good “pray-ers” spend 5 minutes each leading in reflection and prayer around a topic (example: “peace, unity, and purity” ); these persons are asked not to “preach” and tobe respectful of the diversity of perspectives in the room, leading in authentic prayers for the church, to which everyone in the room can say, “Amen.”
- An intentional, ongoing group of clergy and lay leaders that studies and prays together regularly can change the atmosphere of a presbytery.
Whatever format you adopt, we commend to your use Seeking to be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement, developed by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and adopted by the 204th GA (1994), posted at http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/guidelines.pdf.
|
