Comments
Where to start!
I think the three most important things to happen this assembly was (1) The election of three new GS's; (2) The adoption of the ICC report; (3) The inability of the Assembly to clearly assert our position on the nature of Holy Scripture.
Let's start with those three. Regarding the election of GS's. A colleague predicted the first election would be a token non-white-male and then the other two would be white-American-males. He hit the nail on the head. Our assembly really dropped the ball on this one. With so many qualified persons from which to choose, I am flabergasted (sp?) that electing persons to diversify leadership and reflect the global nature of the church was not a higher priority. IMHO there was no reason at all to even consider any white-American-men this cycle... let alone elect 3 (Bowling, Graves, Toler). It just goes to show that name recognition is by far the biggest factor in these elections. So far, 1 right & 2 wrong.
I am highly pleased with the adoption of the ICC report. I wonder if this will open doors in the future for the development of regional books of worship. I would love to see the ritual removed from the manual and a comprehensive book of worship developed that reflects our Wesleyan/Anglican tradition. I think I am more optomistic about this possibility now than ever before! Tally: 2 right, 2 wrong.
Finally, I thought the most important issue... at least the most divisive issue... was the resolution on the nature of scripture. I was really looking to our leaders to lead bravely and settle this squirmish with a clear reitteration of our present Article of Faith and a swift rejection of the resolution. However, there was no such leadership to be found. Lets just sweep it under the rug and hope it goes away. That is my view of leadership.
So at this point, after looking at the top three issues in my mind, the GA got 2 right and 3 wrong. Now if you are a baseball player, a .400 batting average is pretty darn good. If you are in the classroom, 40% is a miserable failure. Probably my critique of the GA is somewhere in between.
As to the sacramental resolutions, particularly those dealing with infant baptism, baptism and membership, and the frequency of the Lord's Supper, I was please that two of the three were dealt with well. I was less than pleased at the decision to refer the membership and baptism issue (that my District co-sponsored). I really see this as a no brainer, but then again I have never been mainstream.
I guess too sum it up, I am pretty even keeled about the whole thing. There are reason for extreme hope, and there are reasons for severe discouragement. I guess as long as the scale stays pretty balanced I will be OK with things.
BTW - only 4 years til the next Assembly, lets get our brains together to work on some sacramental resolutions.
Eric+
I reluctantly confess to dismay over the election of one non-North American and two white southern men. I would have been impressed with the election of Dr. Duarte had something like it happened about 1970.
But, as is so common in groups of mostly-white origins, we want to rejoice in multi-ethnicity, but we mostly will not surrender control to non-white non-North Americans.
There is a word for that.
A couple of comments:
1.) The baptism/membership referral was made by Eric's d.s., after having talked with me (as the author). His feeling was that it may well get voted down, but if the G.S.s supported it (and he believes they will), then it should pass next time. - We shall see.
2.) The Scripture one: Yep, I wish they had squashed it, too. However, I think the idea of referral to the G.S.s on this one was to keep the Assembly from heated/frustrated division. The assumption is that the G.S.s won't go for the change.
3.) The infant baptism ritual: I was really disappointed with this. The amendment (or really substitution) of my resolution really missed the point. The only thing it got was that now the ritual does not begin with a negative statement (what we don't believe). Now, that comes second. However, it completely missed the point that the theology present still goes beyond the article of faith and does not allow people like me (Wesleyan that I am) to use the ritual. (The connection between prevenient grace & infant baptism is not Wesleyan. Separately they are each Wesleyan, but putting them together is not.)
4.) More important (I think) than the referal of the one order resolution to the Naz. Fut. Com. (the committee wanted to reject this one), is the referal to the G.S.s of my resolution re-writing the distinction between elder and deacon from a historical, theological & biblical point of view
Eric,
As to your point about there being a book of rituals, there is one. Dr. Jesse Middendorf compiled one in 1997. It may not be all you are looking for but it is good. It's called The Church Rituals Handbook.
Of course there is Dr. Middendorf's book but it lacks a degree of "official-ness" that I think would come with the kind of book of woship many here invision.
As to the ammendments to resolutions mentioned here (ie, Infant Baptism and Frequency of the Lord's Supper), does anyone have the ammended resolution that was adopted?
yeah, I've been looking for the same thing. also wanted to find the final text of the "gluttony" statement. Heard the guy read it via the live video feed, but can't find it in print. if you folks find stuff like this, post links, etc, or email me, or both.
On the election of the GSs - the combination is definitely unfortunate, and you're quite right - the fact that it's taken until 2009 to elect the first non-American General Superintendant is embarrassing. Mind you, they DID elect one four years ago, overwhelmingly, it's simply that he refused the position. Not that I blame him.
However! On the plus side, I don't think that Dr. Duarte can ever be called a 'token' - if there is anyone who can shake that place to the core [in a good way!] it's him. Yes, it should have happened a long time ago, but we who agitate for constant and instant change have to recognise that not everyone works this way! A bit of balance may be frustrating, I know, but in the long run I think it leads to better theology and better relationships within a denomination.
What saddens me more is WHO was elected - Dr. Bowling is a strong academic and a good man, and I would much rather have seen him in that position that the third-rate car salesman that took his place. Alas.
I am curious if anyone knows the leanings of the new GSs on sacramental worship and other issues?
"Voted to refer to the Nazarene Future Commission a resolution that would have resulted in one ordained order and eliminated the Deacon track." ???
Where does this come from?!
Why do we continue to wait on some other body to produce an official book of worship for the COTN? W
Why don't we begin putting one together and keep the GS's in the loop and ask for contributions?
We could begin with the parts of the BOCP and Middendorf's text that are directly descended from Wesley and so forth.
Brian, that's not a bad idea. I also recall a lectionary project that dr nina gunter contributed to. it was the RCL with a Wesleyan emphasis. it was done several years ago & i havn't seen it since.
Count me in.
Oh and I didn't use the term 'token' to mean anything remotely derogatory or that Dr Duarte is in any way unfit or unqualified.
FYI - Dr Middendorf through the NPH released a second edition of his rituals book. About 35 pages of new rituals added dealing with Pastoral Care issues.
Count me in, too, on just getting to work on some kind of resource. We have to make sure to include Brent Peterson (from NNU) on this, as I know it is one of his passions. Makes the idea of some kind of meeting/conference even more significant, I think.
...third-rate car salesman...
Wow, Robert. If I may say so, that's a pretty harsh statement about one of the better known and well-respected pastors in our denomination. I mean, everyone's entitled to their view, and I'd've much preferred a scholar and theologian like Bowling or Benefiel, but I think that's a little out of line.
all of the resolutions can be found here: http://gacorlando.com/index.php?...rapper&
Itemid=9
Brannon,
I agree, it was a bit over the top. I could be wrong but Toler may be the man we need in North America. NA is the smallest part of the church, i think we all know that. Maybe Toler can change that. I have no confidence that someone like Duarte can because he probably does not understand the NA issues, Toler does.
There was a thread with some interest (and some "non-interest") on Naznet.com two years ago about a book of liturgy. You can likely find other interested and qualified parties there to help. Here's the thread:
http://www.naznet.com/community/...ead.php?
t=14020
There is a lot to be considered in putting together a book of liturgy: breadth, theological perspective, whether it would be in the mold of the UM Book of Worship, or the Church Rituals Handbook, or the BCP, etc., etc.
I had started working on a "Wesleyan Prayer Book" (BCP), during my D.Min. work. Originally, I was hoping that such a project could be used as my diss. However, when I had to focus on a traditional diss., the former was placed on a back burner. - I haven't, yet, picked it back up.
At any rate, any such project needs much organization.
Another realistic issue to consider: With the second ed. of The Church Rituals Handbook, it is unlikely that NPH would consider putting out a worship/liturgy book unless it had the strong backing of a high ranking insider. That is to say, not only would the g.s.s need to be in the loop, but they (or someone with near similar stature) would have to be actively supporting (i.e., pushing) the project.
I was thinking about this last night. What would you want to see included in such a book? I jotted down my list:
* Worship in the Wesleyan Tradition
* The Basic Pattern of Worship
* The Christian Calendar: Seasons
* The Christian Calendar: Holy Days
* The Lectionary
* The Psalter
* The Baptismal Covenant
* An Order for Confirmation, Renewal or Reaffirmation
* A Service of Word and Table
* An Order for Reconciliation
* An Order for Christian Marriage
* An Order for Holy Orders
* An Order for Anointing the Sick
* An Order for Anointing at the Time of Death
* The Christian Funeral
* Season & Day specific Components of Worship (call to worship, confession, pardon, invocation, illumination, prayers of the people, Eucharistic prayers, benedictions, etc)
* Prayers for Various Occasions
Is that overkill? What would you add/delete?
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