It strikes me that this may turn out to be the most comprehensive news report about General Conference that some of you receive.
------------------
I was not a delegate. I didn't attend as a guest. I attempted to stream on line but was never able to open the link on my phone...
...but I exchanged approximately 200 messages with an on site source and followed comments on Facebook.
I have reviewed all the messages in a very stimulating conversation. Here are some takeaways:
1. New CGGC Core Values, a new CGGC Mission Statement and logo and a first-ever CGGC Strategic Plan were adopted.
2. The General Conference gathering epitomized classic, traditional, old time CGGC Talk-ism which has dominated the body for generations, in which speaking good speak satisfies. Since I, personally, can remember, General Conference sessions have been an occasion in which the very best ideas of the moment have been on display but there has never been action on them and, truthfully, action on them has never been considered, nor has it been desired. That's, based on what I'm reading and hearing, what just happened in Findlay. More of the old ways happened in which the best and brightest of the CGGC gather to speak and to exchange good ideas yet no plan of action is even considered.
3. I asked, specifically, now that a Mission Statement and strategic plan has been adopted by delegates of the entire body, if it is expected that, for instance, the ERC will practice biblical mutual submission and set aside its own Mission Statement and Strategic Plan to put into action what the General Conference...our whole body...adopted. I am told that not even General Conference leadership wants our Conference to implement their plan. The exact answer I received was, "No. We weren't asked to." I have to ask, then, what this was all about...in terms of real world living. Honestly, I see profound spiritual issues...I'll even call it sin...here. Where is mutual submission in the CGGC. Where is obedience to the love one another as I have loved you command! General Conference leaders develop a whole plan without even asking that it be put into action!?!
4. I'm told that, during open discussion time, several delegates criticized leadership for not walking talk in the past. I'm glad that we're now talking about walk but, as far as I can tell, talk about walk is as far as it will go. Here's why: Based on what I've heard, no one noticed that no plan of action was presented.
5. The new Mission Statement isn't a statement. It is merely a slogan. It's not a full sentence and, it strikes me that it is 2019 faddish gibberish: "to maximize our collective potential for kingdom impact." Lots of big words there. I'm imagining it being presented to the typical CGGC congregation that I'm familiar with. And, I'm thinking that most of our people are too polite to physically roll their eyes in public. But, this is precisely what our people have been seeing coming down from the CGGC elite for generations. And, this will go no further than the previous great ideas have gone.
6. There's no repentance and no confession of past sin here. It's tradition for CGGC leaders to think that the next great idea will save the day for them. Yet, good ideas have never been our problem. We've had a steady flow of brilliant ideas since I entered the Conference in the 1970s. Frankly, this particular new idea strikes me as about middle of the pack as CGGC bright ideas go. Several past ideas, I believe, have been far more compelling than this one. We don't need more brilliant thoughts. What we need is repentance. The Lord of all authority and power and blessing isn't blessing us. We need His grace, His mercy, His authority, His power. We need to accept the invitation of Jesus, "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened...take my yoke upon you." What we need is for people with CGGC institutional authority to, first go to Him as broken men and women...and, then, to come to us in confession of sin. What we got this time, again, is people with institutional authority coming to us as wise men and women with yet another set of clever ideas. This is not the way of Christ. And, it will go unblessed and unempowered.
7. The new logo has, so far, done more harm than good. When the people I know have seen it, they don't get it. I certainly don't. I've heard it called a baseball diamond, a take on the Pittsburgh Steelers logo and, at first glance, I saw the New Orleans Saints' Fleur-de-lis. I read an explanation of it on Facebook and, speaking only for myself, I thought that that was also gibberish. I doubt that the logo will unify, but it may well irritate and divide.
8. There are, by the way, new Core Values, four of them:
Total participation.
Daring action.
Vital connection.
Global mobilization.
I'll say, as a student of our history, these actually describe, for the most part, the Church of God in our movement days but I don't see our current General Conference authorities practicing them in any way at all. If we are to embrace these values, I suspect that Lance and some others will have to travel across our body offering tearful and passionate confession of the sin of defying these values for all their years of ministry to our body. Otherwise, these values will only serve to condemn them, and us.
---------------------
Okay. Enough.
I could easily continue but I think that I've made my point as well as I'm going to. And, that I've already prattled on.
Blessings.
We...still...must repent.
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Sunday, July 14, 2019
ERC/CGGC Hypocrisy about Polity...Under Attack?
To Talk is to Walk-ism reigns in the CGGC to the degree that repenting of it and turning from it has been impossible in the past, though some have attempted to bring about change.
My understanding of the demise of my ministry in the ERC is that the Talk-ists crushed me like a bug because I attacked the Talkism of ERC officials because they defy our polity.
In the day, my message was, and it still is, that the ultimate human authority in the CGGC Body is the Conference, what we once called the Eldership.
To use the $100 theological words: Our polity is Presbyterial.
According to our talk, when the Eldership speaks, Directors, even Executive Directors are required to submit to its authority.
My contention is that it was ERC office holders, not I, who are insubordinate.
I take the Eldership's claim that the Bible is "our only rule of faith and practice" seriously and literally. I submit to the CGGC Mission Statement and its claim that we "establish churches on the New Testament plan."
Whether ERC leadership will continue to be insubordinate to the authority of the Eldership under Nick DiFrancesco remains to be seen.
But, and I want to be clear about this: I am truly and genuinely hopeful.
------------------
I've been watching a situation that's been developing concerning an ERC congregation with which Evie and I have a long and personal connection.
------------------
As I see it, a type of hypocrisy has functioned in the ERC since before I entered the Eldership in the 1970s. That particular hypocrisy may be challenged.
For generations, the ERC has been hypocritical with regard to its polity in a disastrous and dysfunctional way.
The CGGC claims that its human authority rests in the Eldership the Conference.
Yet, the office holders...the Directors and Executive Directors, even Commission Chairs and members...of the ERC have often behaved as if we are Episcopal and that they possess the authority of Bishops and Popes.
And, curiously, at the same time, defiant and rebellious congregations are permitted to act as if we are conregational...so long as they pay their tithe to the Conference or, at least, a substantial part of it.
Eldership authority is defied in the ERC by staff, and by congregations, as a matter of course.
So, it may be that the first important test of Nick DiFrancesco will be how he handles this form of ERC Talk-ist dysfunction.
-------------------
As I say, I've been watching what's taking place in an ERC congregation that we know fairly well.
Currently, the congregation is doing what many ERC congregations have been doing since I've been around, that is, behaving as if our polity is congregational and the congregation has the authority to do as it pleases without regard to the remainder of the ERC body.
According to numerous well-placed sources, Conference staff intervened and offered rather specific direction on how the congregation should go forward...
...and, the congregation, under the direction of its credentialed minister, defied the direction of Conference staff.
From what I know from several sources who have connection to these events from different perspectives, this is the case.
Based on what I know, and am convinced is true, the congregation defied CGGC polity and behaved as if the ERC is congregational.
(What I don't know is if the Conference behaved as if Conference staff members are bishops and popes or if they functioned as servants of the Body.)
------------------
Here are some things I do know from a big-picture perspective:
1. Prebyterial polity is unstable. In my opinion, of the three options in polity, Presbyterial polity most closely resembles the New Testament. But, that type of church government tends to break down in exactly the way it has deteriorated in the CGGC. The body becomes institutionalized. The people in the hierarchy quickly come to think of themselves as leaders of the institution, not servants of the body. Clearly, that happened in the past in the ERC. And, congregations lose spiritual connection to the body and begin to behave as if they operate under their own authority. That has been the case with many ERC congregations for generations.
2. Cynicism begins to rule the body. Staffers disrespect many of the congregations and local churches become anti-Conference.
3. The mutual submission described in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 & 5, and the love for one another commanded by Jesus in John 13 disappear.
4. Chaos reigns.
5. Spiritual decay takes place.
6. The Spirit refuses to bless due to disobedience and lack of repentance.
7. Numerical decline often results.
8. After a culture forms around these realities, many of the people who are a part of it, accept the dysfunction as a given, even a good thing.
9. Efforts to behave in any other way are resisted.
10. Attempts to actually change the system are regarded by many to be an abomination...in spite of the reigning cynicism, chaos and spiritual decay.
------------------
And, that is where the ERC is.
Yet, the ERC may be at a moment in its history at which change may take place.
It's hard for me to see, in the ERC, fruit of the godly sorrow that produces a repentance that leads to salvation, at least not yet.
But, disgust with the failure of the old ways did result in the selection of an Executive Director who breaks the mold and he may provide what leadership gurus call the "disruptive innovation" that, in time, leads to genuine godly sorrow...and repentance...and, as Paul describes it, salvation.
------------------
I have no direct involvement in the conflict between church and conference that I've described.
But, many people I know, and care for, and respect, are involved. And, I'm watching, hoping that a longstanding ERC hypocrisy will be attacked and defeated.
My understanding of the demise of my ministry in the ERC is that the Talk-ists crushed me like a bug because I attacked the Talkism of ERC officials because they defy our polity.
In the day, my message was, and it still is, that the ultimate human authority in the CGGC Body is the Conference, what we once called the Eldership.
To use the $100 theological words: Our polity is Presbyterial.
According to our talk, when the Eldership speaks, Directors, even Executive Directors are required to submit to its authority.
My contention is that it was ERC office holders, not I, who are insubordinate.
I take the Eldership's claim that the Bible is "our only rule of faith and practice" seriously and literally. I submit to the CGGC Mission Statement and its claim that we "establish churches on the New Testament plan."
Whether ERC leadership will continue to be insubordinate to the authority of the Eldership under Nick DiFrancesco remains to be seen.
But, and I want to be clear about this: I am truly and genuinely hopeful.
------------------
I've been watching a situation that's been developing concerning an ERC congregation with which Evie and I have a long and personal connection.
------------------
As I see it, a type of hypocrisy has functioned in the ERC since before I entered the Eldership in the 1970s. That particular hypocrisy may be challenged.
For generations, the ERC has been hypocritical with regard to its polity in a disastrous and dysfunctional way.
The CGGC claims that its human authority rests in the Eldership the Conference.
Yet, the office holders...the Directors and Executive Directors, even Commission Chairs and members...of the ERC have often behaved as if we are Episcopal and that they possess the authority of Bishops and Popes.
And, curiously, at the same time, defiant and rebellious congregations are permitted to act as if we are conregational...so long as they pay their tithe to the Conference or, at least, a substantial part of it.
Eldership authority is defied in the ERC by staff, and by congregations, as a matter of course.
So, it may be that the first important test of Nick DiFrancesco will be how he handles this form of ERC Talk-ist dysfunction.
-------------------
As I say, I've been watching what's taking place in an ERC congregation that we know fairly well.
Currently, the congregation is doing what many ERC congregations have been doing since I've been around, that is, behaving as if our polity is congregational and the congregation has the authority to do as it pleases without regard to the remainder of the ERC body.
According to numerous well-placed sources, Conference staff intervened and offered rather specific direction on how the congregation should go forward...
...and, the congregation, under the direction of its credentialed minister, defied the direction of Conference staff.
From what I know from several sources who have connection to these events from different perspectives, this is the case.
Based on what I know, and am convinced is true, the congregation defied CGGC polity and behaved as if the ERC is congregational.
(What I don't know is if the Conference behaved as if Conference staff members are bishops and popes or if they functioned as servants of the Body.)
------------------
Here are some things I do know from a big-picture perspective:
1. Prebyterial polity is unstable. In my opinion, of the three options in polity, Presbyterial polity most closely resembles the New Testament. But, that type of church government tends to break down in exactly the way it has deteriorated in the CGGC. The body becomes institutionalized. The people in the hierarchy quickly come to think of themselves as leaders of the institution, not servants of the body. Clearly, that happened in the past in the ERC. And, congregations lose spiritual connection to the body and begin to behave as if they operate under their own authority. That has been the case with many ERC congregations for generations.
2. Cynicism begins to rule the body. Staffers disrespect many of the congregations and local churches become anti-Conference.
3. The mutual submission described in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 & 5, and the love for one another commanded by Jesus in John 13 disappear.
4. Chaos reigns.
5. Spiritual decay takes place.
6. The Spirit refuses to bless due to disobedience and lack of repentance.
7. Numerical decline often results.
8. After a culture forms around these realities, many of the people who are a part of it, accept the dysfunction as a given, even a good thing.
9. Efforts to behave in any other way are resisted.
10. Attempts to actually change the system are regarded by many to be an abomination...in spite of the reigning cynicism, chaos and spiritual decay.
------------------
And, that is where the ERC is.
Yet, the ERC may be at a moment in its history at which change may take place.
It's hard for me to see, in the ERC, fruit of the godly sorrow that produces a repentance that leads to salvation, at least not yet.
But, disgust with the failure of the old ways did result in the selection of an Executive Director who breaks the mold and he may provide what leadership gurus call the "disruptive innovation" that, in time, leads to genuine godly sorrow...and repentance...and, as Paul describes it, salvation.
------------------
I have no direct involvement in the conflict between church and conference that I've described.
But, many people I know, and care for, and respect, are involved. And, I'm watching, hoping that a longstanding ERC hypocrisy will be attacked and defeated.
Sadness and Discouragement Update
I've mentioned our 95 year old neighbor who needed to move into whatever personal care facility would take her.
We found one.
However, she needed to have a Power of Attorney in order to be admitted.
As an act of "I was sick and you looked after me," mercy, Evie volunteered.
Evie did all the paperwork and our neighbor, Beverly, was admitted into the home.
Evie had been in periodic contact by phone with Beverly's 74 year old son, who lives in Manhattan, to keep him updated on his mom's life.
Beginning the day before the actual move, Evie began having trouble reaching him. He didn't answer his phone.
She tried for several days and began to be concerned. A few other people we know were also trying to reach him, without success.
Eventually, someone was able to reach the person who manages the apartment building. The son was found in his apartment, dead.
That, of course, is extremely sad. Beverly is now left with no family.
However, for Evie, the death creates a mess.
Under New York state law, the body has to be identified...in New York, before it can be released.
Since Beverly is unable to travel, Evie's being told, as POA, she will be required to make the identification.
She's consulted with Beverly's attorney, who says that there's no way to avoid it.
The NYC Medical Examiner wanted Evie to make the identification over the weekend. However, that was not possible.
It appears that Evie and a friend will travel to New York on Tuesday. It will, at the very best, be a long and exhausting day.
One of the foundations of the life that Evie and I live is that, Jesus was perfectly serious when He said that people who show mercy will be shown mercy.
Evie, especially, lives a life of mercy. There are many inconveniences, and many sacrifices, and, at times, hardships in that life. But, much blessing as well.
This is a new one for us.
Evie's walking in faith.
She's seeing it as an adventure.
We found one.
However, she needed to have a Power of Attorney in order to be admitted.
As an act of "I was sick and you looked after me," mercy, Evie volunteered.
Evie did all the paperwork and our neighbor, Beverly, was admitted into the home.
Evie had been in periodic contact by phone with Beverly's 74 year old son, who lives in Manhattan, to keep him updated on his mom's life.
Beginning the day before the actual move, Evie began having trouble reaching him. He didn't answer his phone.
She tried for several days and began to be concerned. A few other people we know were also trying to reach him, without success.
Eventually, someone was able to reach the person who manages the apartment building. The son was found in his apartment, dead.
That, of course, is extremely sad. Beverly is now left with no family.
However, for Evie, the death creates a mess.
Under New York state law, the body has to be identified...in New York, before it can be released.
Since Beverly is unable to travel, Evie's being told, as POA, she will be required to make the identification.
She's consulted with Beverly's attorney, who says that there's no way to avoid it.
The NYC Medical Examiner wanted Evie to make the identification over the weekend. However, that was not possible.
It appears that Evie and a friend will travel to New York on Tuesday. It will, at the very best, be a long and exhausting day.
One of the foundations of the life that Evie and I live is that, Jesus was perfectly serious when He said that people who show mercy will be shown mercy.
Evie, especially, lives a life of mercy. There are many inconveniences, and many sacrifices, and, at times, hardships in that life. But, much blessing as well.
This is a new one for us.
Evie's walking in faith.
She's seeing it as an adventure.
Friday, July 12, 2019
Servanthood is Incarnational. Leadership Ain't Necessarily.
What I say here's not new for me.
Perhaps more than ever, I'm convinced it's true.
------------------
One of the very recent emphases of the CGGC and, for that matter, for most of the institutionalized American church, has been leadership...
...and, for the people possessing institutional authority, to regard themselves as leaders.
In the big, historical picture, this trend is hyper-modern.
Just for fun, try googling Luther's 95 Theses to skim through Luther's assertions about Leadership.
Do a brief study of the Wesleys' leadership course which they offered to up-and-coming Methodists that gave focus to their burgeoning movement in the 1700s.
And, for CGGC people, study the leadership section of the sermon Winebrenner preached on day the Eldership was formed in October 1830 and, of course, those critical leadership principles listed in the 27 point description of the Faith and Practice of the Church of God, from 1844.
------------------
Today's focus on leading in the church and leadership development has been, and it will be, a sure-fire loser.
Why? It spits in the face of Jesus.
The Spirit has not blessed it. He will not bless it.
It, very simply, defies the spirit of everything Jesus taught and did.
Jesus could not have be more clear. To be great in the Kingdom is to serve. To be the greatest in the Kingdom is to become the slave of all.
----------------
The foundation of the gospel is that Jesus who was, in His very nature, God, didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped. No, He made Himself nothing. He took the very nature of a, what?. A servant. He was made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became to death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2).
Incarnation.
Jesus chose to make the way, the truth and the life, a human person.
Then, having done that, He made the choice to live in the world as a servant and, ultimately, to offer His body as a sacrifice for all.
Then, He sent His followers into the world to do the same.
The "going" Jesus commanded in the, uh, Great Commission is the command to make the gospel a human, incarnated, reality among all nations.
-------------------
If a person is a servant, s/he must, by definition, be physically present. Leaders don't need to be present to lead. Often they are not. But, a servant must be present to serve.
At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, before Jesus said, "Go," He said that all authority had been given to Him. He had just used that authority to be crucified.
The shameful reality I observe these days is that, as people who hold positions of institutional authority in the church focus more and more on leadership, two realities become clear:
First, they become less like Jesus.
Second, they become increasingly isolated from the body, spend more time thinking and planning, and less time doing. They gather themselves together in their offices and in conference rooms to think and to create strategies. More and more, they are not present among the people of the the church. Certainly, they are not living among the people Jesus called, "the least of these."
They become more like titans if industry, or, worse, bureaucrats, and less like the Son of Man who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
And, they are not being followed.
--------------------
When James and John requested positions of authority in the Kingdom, Jesus told them that to attain the highest human authority in the Kingdom is to seek to be the slave of all.
The Holy Spirit has never blessed people who seek to lead the church. He has blessed, and always will bless, men and women who, like Jesus, make them self nothing to become servants...
...in the Kingdom.
------------------
I'm convinced that the declining fortunes of the CGGC would change quickly if the people in it who hold institutional authority would stop saying, "Follow my leadership," and begin to live the message, "Follow me as I follow Jesus, and serve others."
I'm convinced that if that happens, some people will follow and a vigorous remnant will emerge...
...and the Spirit will bless.
We must repent of the leadership fad and compete with each other to be the greatest of all servants, and the slave of all.
Perhaps more than ever, I'm convinced it's true.
------------------
One of the very recent emphases of the CGGC and, for that matter, for most of the institutionalized American church, has been leadership...
...and, for the people possessing institutional authority, to regard themselves as leaders.
In the big, historical picture, this trend is hyper-modern.
Just for fun, try googling Luther's 95 Theses to skim through Luther's assertions about Leadership.
Do a brief study of the Wesleys' leadership course which they offered to up-and-coming Methodists that gave focus to their burgeoning movement in the 1700s.
And, for CGGC people, study the leadership section of the sermon Winebrenner preached on day the Eldership was formed in October 1830 and, of course, those critical leadership principles listed in the 27 point description of the Faith and Practice of the Church of God, from 1844.
------------------
Today's focus on leading in the church and leadership development has been, and it will be, a sure-fire loser.
Why? It spits in the face of Jesus.
The Spirit has not blessed it. He will not bless it.
It, very simply, defies the spirit of everything Jesus taught and did.
Jesus could not have be more clear. To be great in the Kingdom is to serve. To be the greatest in the Kingdom is to become the slave of all.
----------------
The foundation of the gospel is that Jesus who was, in His very nature, God, didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped. No, He made Himself nothing. He took the very nature of a, what?. A servant. He was made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became to death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2).
Incarnation.
Jesus chose to make the way, the truth and the life, a human person.
Then, having done that, He made the choice to live in the world as a servant and, ultimately, to offer His body as a sacrifice for all.
Then, He sent His followers into the world to do the same.
The "going" Jesus commanded in the, uh, Great Commission is the command to make the gospel a human, incarnated, reality among all nations.
-------------------
If a person is a servant, s/he must, by definition, be physically present. Leaders don't need to be present to lead. Often they are not. But, a servant must be present to serve.
At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, before Jesus said, "Go," He said that all authority had been given to Him. He had just used that authority to be crucified.
The shameful reality I observe these days is that, as people who hold positions of institutional authority in the church focus more and more on leadership, two realities become clear:
First, they become less like Jesus.
Second, they become increasingly isolated from the body, spend more time thinking and planning, and less time doing. They gather themselves together in their offices and in conference rooms to think and to create strategies. More and more, they are not present among the people of the the church. Certainly, they are not living among the people Jesus called, "the least of these."
They become more like titans if industry, or, worse, bureaucrats, and less like the Son of Man who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
And, they are not being followed.
--------------------
When James and John requested positions of authority in the Kingdom, Jesus told them that to attain the highest human authority in the Kingdom is to seek to be the slave of all.
The Holy Spirit has never blessed people who seek to lead the church. He has blessed, and always will bless, men and women who, like Jesus, make them self nothing to become servants...
...in the Kingdom.
------------------
I'm convinced that the declining fortunes of the CGGC would change quickly if the people in it who hold institutional authority would stop saying, "Follow my leadership," and begin to live the message, "Follow me as I follow Jesus, and serve others."
I'm convinced that if that happens, some people will follow and a vigorous remnant will emerge...
...and the Spirit will bless.
We must repent of the leadership fad and compete with each other to be the greatest of all servants, and the slave of all.
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Reasons for Sadness and Discouragement
It seems that there's a lot adding up, for me, for us.
Both Evie and I are convinced that our move into an independent living community, which will happen in November is wise.
We've seen so many people, even people who are prepared financially, end up experiencing disaster late in life.
Today, our 95 year old next door neighbor who's in frail and failing health is in a nursing home with her Medicare benefits about to expire. She has adequate savings but is forced to find any personal care facility that can take her...in four days.
She has no family to assist her and no real friends who are still alive. Only Evie and another 81 year old neighbor are willing to help sort out her mess.
We've been through cancer and open heart surgery and have no children and we're not young, though apparently, we'll be the youngest couple moving in to the place we're moving to.
Neither of us have qualms about the wisdom of what we're doing, but there's little joy in it either.
And, lots and lots to do to get the house ready for sale and the move organized.
So, overall, sad, discouraging.
------------------
At the moment, the most intense cause of sadness and discouragement is the fact that a long-time, very close friend has a very aggressive form of brain cancer.
He began to show symptoms only a few weeks ago and had surgery two days ago, surgery to remove only part of a very large tumor. From what we've heard, it's a matter of time, and probably not much time.
Call him Al, has been among our closest friends for decades. We remained close, when we moved from Enola to Madison, NJ, to Ohio and back to PA and while he and his wife moved to various places in Central PA, to FL and back home.
Al is a very aggressive unbeliever.
The most important part of our lives is our relationship with Jesus. One of the most important parts of Al's life is his rejection of Christianity.
Needless to say, it's always been a very challenging friendship. Perhaps, it's the hard work we've all put into it that makes the friendship uniquely special.
As his demise becomes apparent, the mixture of intense feeling is indescribable. Sad. Heartbreaking.
------------------
We've also been touched, saddened and discouraged by the trouble Steve Dunn has encountered.
Steve and I have never been close but I had respected his contribution to the cause of the Kingdom, more than any of the other people of our generation whom I sometimes facetiously call mountaintoppers.
In 2010, when I rose to speak on the floor of General Conference to express concern about the controversial Credentialing Document, amazingly, the General Conference President said to me, "You can only ask a question." I was flabbergasted, muttered, "What is the capital of South Dakota," and sat down.
But, Steve stood on the floor of General Conference as my advocate. I was, permitted to make my comment. Interestingly, by now even I have long since forgotten what I said that day.
And, I know Steve didn't agree with my position on credentialing.
History has revealed that what I think is immensely unpopular in the CGGC, yet, Steve stood publically for my ability to bring it into the CGGC conversation.
Some who read this won't know the story but we're in prayer for the situation.
---------------------
And, mom's holding her own for the moment but her personality has changed. She's gone. Not all the way, but far enough.
Happily, for the moment, she's not mean, to us, at least...
...but she's no longer here.
Both Evie and I are convinced that our move into an independent living community, which will happen in November is wise.
We've seen so many people, even people who are prepared financially, end up experiencing disaster late in life.
Today, our 95 year old next door neighbor who's in frail and failing health is in a nursing home with her Medicare benefits about to expire. She has adequate savings but is forced to find any personal care facility that can take her...in four days.
She has no family to assist her and no real friends who are still alive. Only Evie and another 81 year old neighbor are willing to help sort out her mess.
We've been through cancer and open heart surgery and have no children and we're not young, though apparently, we'll be the youngest couple moving in to the place we're moving to.
Neither of us have qualms about the wisdom of what we're doing, but there's little joy in it either.
And, lots and lots to do to get the house ready for sale and the move organized.
So, overall, sad, discouraging.
------------------
At the moment, the most intense cause of sadness and discouragement is the fact that a long-time, very close friend has a very aggressive form of brain cancer.
He began to show symptoms only a few weeks ago and had surgery two days ago, surgery to remove only part of a very large tumor. From what we've heard, it's a matter of time, and probably not much time.
Call him Al, has been among our closest friends for decades. We remained close, when we moved from Enola to Madison, NJ, to Ohio and back to PA and while he and his wife moved to various places in Central PA, to FL and back home.
Al is a very aggressive unbeliever.
The most important part of our lives is our relationship with Jesus. One of the most important parts of Al's life is his rejection of Christianity.
Needless to say, it's always been a very challenging friendship. Perhaps, it's the hard work we've all put into it that makes the friendship uniquely special.
As his demise becomes apparent, the mixture of intense feeling is indescribable. Sad. Heartbreaking.
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We've also been touched, saddened and discouraged by the trouble Steve Dunn has encountered.
Steve and I have never been close but I had respected his contribution to the cause of the Kingdom, more than any of the other people of our generation whom I sometimes facetiously call mountaintoppers.
In 2010, when I rose to speak on the floor of General Conference to express concern about the controversial Credentialing Document, amazingly, the General Conference President said to me, "You can only ask a question." I was flabbergasted, muttered, "What is the capital of South Dakota," and sat down.
But, Steve stood on the floor of General Conference as my advocate. I was, permitted to make my comment. Interestingly, by now even I have long since forgotten what I said that day.
And, I know Steve didn't agree with my position on credentialing.
History has revealed that what I think is immensely unpopular in the CGGC, yet, Steve stood publically for my ability to bring it into the CGGC conversation.
Some who read this won't know the story but we're in prayer for the situation.
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And, mom's holding her own for the moment but her personality has changed. She's gone. Not all the way, but far enough.
Happily, for the moment, she's not mean, to us, at least...
...but she's no longer here.
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