Yesterday afternoon the Stated Clerk gave his report colloquially referred to as the "State of the Church." Traditionally it is a chance for the Clerk to make observations about the current state of the church and offer vision for its future. The Rev J. Herbert Nelson is the third Stated Clerk I have heard give such a speech since my ordination. His predecessors, Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick and Rev. Grayde Parsons each put their own twist on the presentation and J. Herbert made his first State of the Church his as well.
The general tenor of the speech might fairly be described as confident if at times cautious.
The Clerk's confidence in the truth of God' call to Presbyterians as an embodiment of Christ in the world was evident from the beginning. He repeatedly claimed the unique calling of the church as a whole and the Reformed tradition in general to get out in the world and live the gospel, proclaim the good news, and be the people of God. Delivered with the hushed baritone of his voice, the claiming of that promise filled the room.
He exhibited an equal confidence that the PC(USA) is up to the task. In this season it would be easy for the head of our communion (Christ is head of the Church) to use an occasion like the General Assembly to kick some ecclesiastical butts and set things straight. In the tradition of his predecessors, the Clerk spoke truth to the church. At times he spoke hard truths. But at all times he spoke with the confidence that we as a people are equipped to be who God is calling us to be and do what God is calling us to do. Although he did not use these words, his message appeared to be that God's call is self-equipping.
It was a confident and hopeful report. Woven throughout, however, was a thread of caution.
As much as our Stated Clerk leaned on the historic understanding of the sovereignty and goodness of God, he also acknowledged our human frailty and sinfulness as frequent stumbling blocks to our carrying out the kingdom work we have been given.
He reminded us of our ordination vows and the call to serve the church with energy, intelligence, and love obviously leaving out the third attribute...imagination.
Imagination is the key to the church in this moment he reminded us. Imagination is how we see beyond the surface of the now. Imagination is how we see a future not bound to but informed by the past. Imagination is how we have ears to hear the voices of a new generation and eyes to see the transformative work they are doing in our midst. Imagination is the only way we will be able to abide the emerging Kingdom of God and all the challenges to the status quo it brings with it.
That is how he left us last night. With those words of imagination hanging in the air as he challenged the church to approach its work with an eye toward the future.
At this GA more than any in recent memory, imagination is key as we envision what tomorrow may hold for the PC(USA).
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