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James S. Currie is the executive secretary of the Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest. MAKING HISTORY TODAY is his regular column.

www.stgilescathedral.org.uk

St. Giles Cathedral. Offical website photo.

www.stgilescathedral.org.uk

St. Giles Cathedral. Offical website photo.

We are often reminded that the church is the people; it’s not bricks and mortar. That is absolutely true, but it is also the case that the building is not unimportant. It is a sacred space where we are baptized, where we are married, where the Word is proclaimed and heard, where bread is broken and the cup is shared, where, week-in and week-out, the people of God gather, tears are shed, laughter is freely offered, where lives are shaped, where we bear witness to the resurrection.

Several years ago I attended a baseball game in Yankee Stadium. As I sat there, I considered the fact that this is where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Tommy Henrich, Bobby Richardson, Whitey Ford, Tony Kubek, among many others, played. In our own day it’s where Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez play. That stadium is now gone, and a new one has been constructed.

Space is important. Buildings – bricks and mortar – do not last forever any more than you and I will live in these mortal bodies forever. But one way history comes alive and can become meaningful is to remember who passed through this space, what happened here, and the various forms of ministry that graced this space.

One could say that the twelve stones that Joshua had the leaders of each of the twelve tribes of Israel erect by the Jordan were only stones. But they were much more than that, weren’t they? Joshua says to the Israelites, “When your children ask their parents in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground’” (Joshua 4:21-22).

As we make history today, may we not make idols of buildings, but may we also honor the ministry that has taken place there and point, as they do, to the life, death, resurrection, and kingdom of Jesus Christ. Will we tell the next generation what these stones mean?

Editor's note: To learn why St. Giles is referred to as a cathedral (which Presbyterians do not have), read the history portion of the official website.

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‘In Touch’ is the regular column by General Presbyter William F. Galbraith published in ‘The Banner’ by the Presbytery of Arkansas.

Invictus, the recently released movie starring Morgan Freeman, depicts Nelson Mandela's governing of post-apartheid South Africa in the early 1990s. A particular focus is Mandela's wisdom in bringing unity to a country long-divided over race, economics and power. The film invites us to consider Mandela's approach in dealing with adversaries through the lens of the South African national rugby team, the Springboks.

To many of Mandela's supporters, the Springboks and their green and gold uniforms represent the old South Africa and its unjust practices. They argue that a new day calls for change, particularly with the Springboks, who have an undistinguished record in international competition. The effort to change this national athletic symbol gains traction, but Mandela is convinced that the change will do more harm than good.

He expends considerable political capital in opposing the change of the Springbok colors. His closest aide thinks it an unwise political move to invest so much in what she believes could be political suicide. Other, more pressing issues need Mandela's attention: the infrastructure, the economy, etc.

Mandela, however, realizes the symbolic power of the green and gold for opponents with whom he must now work in the new government. If they are not included, he reasons, the effort to create a new and more open South Africa will not succeed. He argues, "Without them, we fail." Mandela carries the day and the Springboks, clad in their traditional colors, go on to win the World Cup of Rugby, bringing acclaim to all of South Africa.

He succeeds in getting the Springboks to be better than they think they can be. In so doing, he helps South Africa become a nation in which "all exceed our own expectations."

Dealing with opposition and long-standing tradition is a challenge to any leader. Certainly it has implications for church leaders. How shall we deal with those who oppose new approaches to mission and ministry? How is change best instituted? Which traditions need to be honored and which need to be altered or expanded? How can we work together with those with whom we disagree? How can we, too, exceed our own expectations?

Seeing the big picture is critical. Mandela's vision was bigger than throwing out the old to get on with the new. It was to create something new in which everyone had a place, everyone mattered. His was an audacious conviction that enemies could become friends, that truth can lead to freedom.

"Reconciliation starts here. Forgiveness starts here. It liberates the soul," Mandela said.

Jesus seemed to see things similarly.

In faith,

Bill

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Editor's note: This is a letter from the executive director of the General Assembly Mission Council, Linda Valentine.

A national television audience learned this week what many of us have known for a long time — our Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program changes lives. One of our recently returned YAVs, Shelvis Smith-Mather, shared his inspiring story during a CNN interview Sunday morning (watch it here). He told CNN that his faith was strengthened by seeing the African church at work in the face of poverty, conflict and other pressing problems. “It’s important to know that in the midst of the tragedy there’s a whole lot of hope,” he said. “There are a number of people who are doing amazing work for God there and engaging in these issues, and that’s encouraging.”

Shelvis was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in July 2008. Not long after his ordination he and his wife, Nancy, who is also a PC(USA) minister, went to Kenya through the YAV program. While in Kenya, Shelvis contributed to and edited a contextual Bible study manual aimed at fostering discussion around four critical issues — ethnicity, politics, land and religion. These issues are the source of much conflict in the Horn of Africa and the continent’s Great Lakes region. The manual includes a foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

“My hope in going was to see how the church was working globally, to see how the church is engaging issues, and to learn and grow,” Shelvis said on CNN. His experience of learning, growing and seeing the church engage issues is repeated over and over again in the lives of our Young Adult Volunteers. They are between the ages of 19 and 30 and commit to serve for one academic year in communities of need in the United States or abroad. This experience can inspire a lifetime of service to the church in a church-related vocation or as a lay leader.

I had tje opportunity to meet Shelvis when he was a worship leader along with YAV leader in Kenya, mission co-worker Phyllis Byrd, at the All-African Conference of Churches in Mozambique in December 2008. Several hundred people were spellbound as Shelvis sang "There is a Balm in Gilead" a cappella in a deep, clear voice as he walked slowly down the center aisle from the back of the assembly hall. Shelvis spoke compellingly then of his experience as a YAV. How wonderful that he is able to share his witness in this widely broadcast interview.

My own daughter, Christie, was a YAV in San Antonio, Texas, last year, working with refugees resettling in the United States. She, too, testifies to this being a transformative experience, and she has many stories to share about lives so unlike her own, yet so inspiring in their hope and determination.

YAV applications are being accepted for the 2010–2011 year until January 20. I believe that growing this program can help us meet our goal of growing God’s church deep and wide. It enriches the lives of the volunteers, the lives of the communities where they serve and the life of our church. Please invite young adults you know to visit the YAV website and consider this life-changing opportunity.

Linda

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Editor's note:: Rev. Deborah Chase is a PC(USA) mission co-worker in Malawi's Synod of Livingstonia. She welcomes invitations to speak at your congregation or organization from January through June 2010 while she returns to the U.S. This letter was posted Aug. 31 on the mission co-worker pages of pcusa.org.

A letter from Debbie Chase in Malawi, Livingstonia Synod

Dear Friends,

Warm greetings from Malawi!

Whenever we celebrate Holy Communion as Presbyterians in the northern region of Malawi, whether worshiping in English or Chitumbuka, we always begin and end the service singing the Communion hymn, “Behold the holy Lamb of God, behold the man that bears for us a heavy load.”

I have often thought that was a fitting way for the people of Malawi to express the grace they experience through Christ. For the people of Malawi daily carry heavy loads. Women walk miles carrying heavy loads of water, maize, or firewood on their heads and an infant swaddled on their back and toddlers by their side. Men cycle uphill and down carrying heavy loads of timber, or you may see a furniture deliverer in the city of Mzuzu pushing a wheelbarrow up a hill with sofa and large chairs lying across the top.

It is a balancing act to carry these heavy loads. If your foot slips or your strength weakens or you lose you balance, it can be very costly.

Malawians carry other heavy loads: being a resident of the fifth-poorest country in the world, with malnutrition, unclean water, and lack of adequate shelter and medical care and where 15 percent of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS, where death rules the day and thousands of children are orphaned; the heavy burden of school fees beyond the means of most parents. The load is indeed heavy for the people of Malawi. Yet through it all the light of amazing grace glimmers. Help comes from the body of Christ, the people of God, and the load is lightened, the burden shared.

The College of Theology has had its own heavy load to carry, as we began second semester with 24 new first-year students, who joined our 14 third- and fourth-year students. We faced the challenges of inadequate dormitory and classroom space, the need for more beds, desks and chairs, insufficient lecturers to teach the courses for three different programs and the ongoing challenge of feeding students and paying staff while looking for funds to expand our overcrowded facilities.

As in the past, God has surprised us, and ongoing support from God’s faithful people has seen us through. Ekwendeni Girls Secondary School lent us desks for three weeks, giving us time to have desks made. Gifts of student sponsorships, donations to the general budget, and offerings of food lighten our daily load.

Our students sleep without complaint four and five in each ten-foot square bedroom. They huddle together in our cramped library, which is a classroom with 3,000 books, to do research and study. They work diligently, perform well, and are an inspiration to us, which lightens our load. We experienced grace beyond measure when partners helped us construct a house for female students. When they learned we had no women students in residence and needed more classroom space, they gave us their blessing to use the house temporarily for classrooms. We do have two female non-residential students, and a room in the new house is being made into a lounge for their use. With the help of our partners, we hope to have more women candidates for the ministry next year.

We have also experienced those times of conflict that seem to come more frequently when everyone is carrying a heavy load. But the Lord has brought us together to meet this challenge, helping us to find a way to bear one another’s burdens with patience, forgiveness, understanding, and love. Indeed, our load is lightened as we worship and fellowship together, as we laugh and commiserate, resolve conflicts and start anew, as we celebrate the life of each member of our community. One such celebration was the wedding of fourth-year student Cornelius Mwanza. Another was a celebration to bid farewell to founding principal, the Rev. Dr. D.S. Mwakanandi, and to the Rev. David Steele, our New Testament lecturer. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and countless contributions to establish the college and teach and shape quality ministers for Malawi.

I am scheduled to be in the United States on interpretation assignment from January to June 2010. I would be greatly honored to receive an invitation from your church or organization to tell you more about Malawi. To date, I am scheduled to speak at churches and gatherings in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Washington, California, and Michigan.

There still remain many weekday slots to fill and the following weekends are open: January 16-17, January 23-24, February 27-28, March 13-14, March 20-21, March 27-28, April 10-11, April 17-18, May 29-30, and June 5-6.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please contact me at dachas...@africa-online.net or Julie Burton, director of congregational resources of Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery at (800) 533-1324 or eop...@sbcglobal.net.

We in Malawi remember that you also carry the heavy load of this global economic recession. Many have lost jobs or experienced significant losses. You face the challenges of providing quality health care for all and decreasing the carbon footsteps for the health and welfare of future generations. Please know we share your heavy load. May your burden be lightened by our love and prayers as together we trust in the grace of Christ who shares with us the heavy load and inspires the God-surprises that give us hope for a brighter tomorrow for all God’s children.

Grace and Peace,

Debbie

The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 44

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This is a reprint of the Arkansas Presbytery's stated clerk's column, "A Polity Point" by Rev. Cathy Ulrich which regularly appears in the presbytery's newsletter, "The Banner." A Synod of the Sun resource related to this topic is called "For the Safety of Our Children and Youth," through which churches can sign up for reasonably-priced background checks.

The picture hangs in homes and churches across the country: beaming children gathered around a seated Jesus. His words, “For such is the kingdom of heaven” are equally familiar. The picture and the words remind us of God's intention that we protect and nurture children.

In 2004 our denomination made it the responsibility of all ordained officers (elders, deacons, and ministers of word and sacrament) to report to ecclesiastical and civil legal authorities knowledge of harm, related to the physical abuse, neglect, and/or sexual molestation or abuse of a minor or an adult who lacks mental capacity. [G-6.0204b; G-6.0304b; G-6.0401b]

In Arkansas, clergy are "mandated reporters." This means that clergy are required by law to report the neglect or abuse of a child. Our denomination took the bold step of including all officers in the circle of those who care for and act on behalf of not only children, but also those who are not able to defend themselves.

This courageous action also gives rise to some questions:

Who are the "ecclesiastical and legal authorities" to whom this knowledge is to be reported?

How does an officer of the church report this knowledge?

What are the situations that need reporting?

What prompted the church to take this action?

It is admirable for our constitution to define this responsibility for its officers. But it does not answer any of the questions above.

When our Book of Order does not answer these questions, it ordinarily falls to the governing body to make adjustments to its bylaws or manual of operations. Each session, presbytery and synod needs time to talk about the proper authorities to whom these reports need to be made, what process this will take and how this information will be handled.

It is fortunate that we are in this together. The difficulty of these situations often leads to silence. There is a tendency to ignore this subject and therefore abuse and neglect are allowed to continue. In order to help us better understand our "duty to report," some of these questions will be addressed Oct. 8 in a pre-presbytery workshop led by Rev. Rebecca Spooner, Director of the Laurence Schmidt Center, and Stated Clerk Rev. Cathy Ulrich, Westminster Presbyterian, Hot Springs, AR.

Let us work together for the care and nurture of all God's people.

Blessings and peace,

Cathy Ulrich
Stated Clerk of Arkansas Presbytery

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