Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Report from the 2015 Waldensian Synod


The 2015 Synod of the Waldensian Methodist Church of Italy was filled with challenge, possibility, and joy. It was a privilege to observe both the Synod and the preceding gathering of the Corpo Pastorale (Pastoral Body). Every Synod gathers to address important matters of the day, but it also serves as a powerful reunion of sisters and brothers in faith from across Italy with ecumenical visitors from around the globe.

Revs. Tomassone, Tenclay, and Natoli lead the walk to worship.
Opening worship this year offered a challenging word on Luke 11:29-32 from Pastor Erika Tomassone about the signs of this generation. Eleonora Natoli was ordained into pastoral ministry after a long journey to faith and a new chapter for her life in a "second career." In many ways, Eleonora represents a vision of hope for the church as new members come to faith through the Waldensian/Methodist church. Rev. Tim TenClay was received as a pastor from the Reformed Church in America to serve in mission at Palermo, Trapani, and Marsala in Sicily. Tim is married to J.J. TenClay who also will be in mission working in social service with Pellegrino della Terra serving immigrant women in Sicily that are making a new start in life. The worship concluded with a moving benediction in song whose lyrics were penned by the beloved Pastor Caterina Dupre, immediate past director of the Agape Ecumenical Center, who died much too young due to cancer this year.

Rev. Eric Noffke, Ph.D., Rev. Cristina Arcidiacono and Rev. Daniela diCarlo  
The Corpo Pastorale preceded all of the Synod's opening activities. The pastoral leaders received some in-service boundary training, reflected on the impact of the resurrection on practical ministry and heard a report on the pastoral formation opportunity in America ("EFFE") supported by the American Waldensian Society. They also considered a new liturgy being developed for blessings of same sex unions. As the weekend activities transpired, there clearly was great emphasis on the refugee and immigration crisis - including an open air presentation on the street in front of the Foresteria in Torre Pellice. This presentation covered the subject of ministry to immigrants who found themselves incarcerated. It was an emotional beginning to the gathering of Synod.
Mediterranean Hope was the subject of a moving evening presentation early in the week of Synod before a packed house at the Waldensian Church of Torre Pellice. Paolo Naso moderated the presentation that featured several speakers on the situation of refugees and immigrants as Mediterranean Hope opens new avenues for compassion and service. The speakers were Marta Bernardini, who directs the observation post of Mediterranean Hope on the island of Lampedusa; Yvan Sagnet, an organizer and recent immigrant from Cameroon; and Mario Marazziti, former director of the parliamentary commission on human rights, who also is a member of the Roman Catholic Mediterranean Hope partner, Communità di Sant'Egidio. Each told a moving story with a challenge for insight, companionship and solidarity. This emotional challenge resonated throughout the entire week in conversations and decisions. Also, the valley town of Villar Pellice became home to 60 new immigrants in a structure converted for hospitality by the diaconal work of the Waldensian Church. A local town hall kind of gathering in Villar Pellice engaged the issue in practical terms as they received the challenge of the gospel from Moderator Eugenio Bernardini and other leaders.

Moderator Bernardini and Elder Sergio Velluto present a historic Bible to Pope Francis 
Ecumenism took center stage throughout the gathering. The Synod responded to greetings from Pope Francis and considered a response to his request, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, for forgiveness - relating to past church actions that most consider, in the words of the pope, un-Christian or even inhuman. The Synod after much debate responded graciously with a desire to begin a new chapter of reconciliation and dialogue in relations with the Roman Catholic Church. Also of great ecumenical significance was the 40th anniversary of the federation of the Waldensian and Methodist churches in Italy. To mark the occasion, there was a wide range of Methodist ecumenical guests from around the world who joined in their greetings throughout the Synod and at the annual ecumenical dinner.

Dr. Paola Schellenbaum (left, re: "Family") and Rev. Mirella Manocchio (right, re: Liturgy)
Liturgy and Family took center stage both at the Corpo Pastorale and during the Synod as the leadership worked to inaugurate material for use in worship in response to the prior Synod's affirmation of options for blessing same-sex unions. There will be one more year of study and reflection before the liturgy is formally adopted. These conversations at the Corpo Pastorale and during the Synod included a very thorough review of the changing family realities of Italy. A commission had extensively studied the ways in which the church can walk beside the varied expressions of family in our modern world in a way that is faithful and helpful. The commission's findings were carefully reviewed by Synod.


Casa Cares at Regello, Tuscany, was approved for a dramatic renovation and expanded focus for ministry. The diaconal leadership of the church was given oversight and responsibility for the center. The goal of this oversight will be to identify an expanded clientele in renovated facilities with new leadership to be found upon the retirement of Paul Krieg at the beginning of 2016. Both Paul and his wife, Antoinette, were commended warmly for their devoted length of tenure and valuable service of Christian love. In addition, the other diaconal centers were reviewed carefully as is common practice. The opening of a new museum and reinvigorated ministry at Riesi, Sicily, were celebrated as well.

Kevin Frederick (left) and Brian Paulson (right) being interviewed by Radio Beckwith
It was a joy to share observations with the Presbyterian Church (USA) ecumenical delegate - Valdese, North Carolina's own Pastor Kevin Frederick of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church. I had to depart just prior to closing sessions because of the length of my stay for the Corpo Pastorale. However, Kevin was privileged to observe the Synod engagement with leadership of the Roman Catholic Church as a continuation of the ecumenical discussions earlier in the week. Kevin reported being particularly well impressed by the length and warmth of applause afforded to the Roman Catholic ecumenical delegate's remarks to the assembly.

Rev. Davide Ollearo (with his new Cubs hat after worship in Pramollo) with Brian Paulson. 
As anyone who has attended these gatherings will attest, there is so much more to express that simply will not fit into a brief report. The days began early and ended very late every day of my attendance. Friendships were renewed and projects prepared. My congregation was able to plan a youth service initiative with a congregation in Milan next summer. Leadership of the EFFE project was able to discuss hopes for next year's project. I find myself joyfully exhausted after it all. I hope this report gives all of you a sense of the Synod. I am always happy to talk about further details with any of you individually in the days ahead.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Report on the General Synod meeting of the Reformed Church in America – June, 2015

It was a privilege to serve as the ecumenical representative of the Presbyterian Church, (USA) at the gathering of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America as they met from June 11-16 on the campus of Trinity Christian College outside of Chicago, Illinois.  What follows is a summary of the actions I observed and some of the dynamics I perceived from the meeting.




Human sexuality and in particular issues related to homosexuality took center stage in primary actions and hallway conversations of the delegates.  There was a recommendation from the President of the Synod to create a special council that would propose a constitutional way forward on many of the issues of concern and disagreement amongst members of their communion.  The special council was approved after debate that demonstrated two opposing perspectives: one perspective was eager to define an unambiguous set of boundaries regarding human sexuality; another perspective was concerned to allow sufficient time for deep discernment and consensus without a rush to action.  Hallway conversation perceived the special council as a means by which more timely definition would be accomplished with many pleased and many concerned about that prospect.




Transformed and transforming leadership was the goal and theme of much of the Synod gathering.  There were many examples of ways that the leadership of the RCA was building initiatives that would change patterns and practices of Christian witness that would more effectively engage the society in which we minister. One action of particular note was the acknowledgement of “Missional Impact Partners.”  Many compelling stories were shared of ways that ministry was entering communities that have been otherwise neglected to be reached through new patterns of innovation.  One fascinating story described a ministry in Benton Harbor set in a neighborhood rife with drug dealing.  So much activity was going in and out of the Pastor’s home that the police came knocking with false assumptions, not knowing that there was a lively and active bible study taking place each day with ex-convicts, dealers, and others from the neighborhood.

Judicial actions of the Reformed Church of America do find their way to the floor of the General Synod.  As such, there were some decisions undertaken with regard to homosexuality that elicited much heartfelt debate.  The frustrations shared during debate reflected some of the eagerness involved with the choices made for the special council on constitutional action.




An ecumenical panel was center stage on an evening in which I joined other ecumenical partners for a valuable dinner of sharing and prayer.  The ecumenical panel included representatives of Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Pentecostal traditions that were widely well received by delegates to the Synod.  This panel was unique for the RCA in the sense that its focus was not upon the formula of common agreement partners such as the PCUSA, UCC, and ELCA (all of whom were represented along with a representative of the CRC).   Also, during the Synod plenary meeting, an inter-religious task force was established for the first time to explore relations between Christians and people and groups of other religions.




Chiapas and a few other regions of the world were given special focus and recognition.  The ministry in Chiapas was a thorough and historic effort by the RCA.  That mission was acknowledged as having established a robust indigenous ministry and thus the RCA missionary effort was completed and celebrated.  The commitment and imagination of these retiring missionaries was remarkable and impacting.




Armenian genocide was acknowledged and lamented by special action affirming solidarity with the Armenian people both victims and survivors.  This action paralleled the efforts of the PCUSA and other ecumenical partners.

Presbyterian links to the RCA were underscored in many sincere hallway conversations.  Our ties were formally acknowledged on the rostrum during the ecumenical report.  The formula of agreement remains a continuing and viable form of exchange for ministry and witness.  While the stance of the RCA on matters of homosexuality now differs from the PCUSA and other formula of agreement partners, those differences were not cuase for any diminuition of formal ties and ministry.  Of course, during floor debate on some contested issues, there were broadly generalized characterizations of choices and consequences in our denomination and other partners. However, none of those comments appeared to sway the very positive spirit of cooperation and mutual appreciation that was facilitated by RCA staff and delegates.

Faithfully,


Brian R. Paulson


Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville, Presbytery of Chicago


(Brian was appointed by the Stated Clerk of the PCUSA, Gradye Parsons, as the Ecumenical representative to the General Synod 2015 our partner communion, the RCA.)

Friday, April 3, 2015

Justice Done on Somebody Else

The news from Kenya spiked another deep sorrow in me this Good Friday.  I say "another" because I find myself overwhelmed by the way religions have been co-opted by those who bring violent harm during the course of my adult years and ministry.

When my son was in his first year, my wife took a photo of the two of us as I lying on the floor holding him aloft in my arms.  It was one of those parental pure joy moments.  But what we didn't consider is that the television news was on behind the scene of the tow of us.  Onscreen was a photo of Sadaam Hussein during the runup of a middle eastern war.  It was a kind of foreshadowing of the transition from conflict of ideologies in the Cold War that framed my youth to the conflict of religions and worldviews that predominates today.

There is a middle verse in a hymn by Ebeneezer Elliot from a time just prior to the founding of my congregation in the mid-nineteenth century.  That hymn was written into Godspell some years ago.  Here is that verse:

"Shall crime bring crime for ever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it thy will, O Father,
That man shall toil for wrong?
'No,' say thy mountains; 'No,' thy skies;
Man's clouded sun shall brightly rise,
And songs be heard instead of sighs;
God save the people!"

If only we could be saved from ourselves and our killing impulses.  Friends introduced me to the rolling lyrics of Canadian, Bruce Cockburn some years ago.  His song, "Justice," seems to capture the instinct of our age - "Everybody wants to see justice done on somebody else."  



He wrote the song during the ideological battles surrounding the Central American conflicts.  However, in this broadcast he sings from Canada along with the world grieving following the tragedy of 9/11.  

On Good Friday, I find myself reflecting on so many dimensions of the cross.  In many ways I find the cross to be a mirror of humanity and a mirror of my own soul.  I have to confront the truth and reality that I too have placed "one who knew no sin" upon the cross.  I always want to see justice done ... on somebody else.

In humility, we see a path toward salvation.  It begins when we stop the "pointing of the finger" as Isaiah framed it. Good Friday is a mirror.  Perhaps that is why so many painters would paint their faces in the crowd of those looking upon the cross (or sometimes even into the face of Christ).  The cross is a convicting mirror.  

Will it change us?


Paul Gaugin - "The Yellow Christ"

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

A Convicting Mirror from Auden for Holy Week

“Just as we were all, potentially, in Adam when he fell, so we were all, potentially, in Jerusalem on that first Good Friday before there was an Easter, a Pentecost, a Christian, or a Church. It seems to me worth while asking ourselves who we should have been and what we should have been doing. None of us, I’m certain, will imagine himself as one of the Disciples, cowering in an agony of spiritual despair and physical terror. Very few of us are big wheels enough to see ourselves as Pilate, or good churchmen enough to see ourselves as a member of the Sanhedrin. In my most optimistic mood I see myself as a Hellenized Jew from Alexandria visiting an intellectual friend. We are walking along, engaged in philosophical argument. Our path takes us past the base of Golgotha. Looking up, we see an all-too-familiar sight — three crosses surrounded by a jeering crowd. Frowning with prim distaste, I say, “It’s disgusting the way the mob enjoy such things. Why can’t the authorities execute criminals humanely and in private by giving them hemlock to drink, as they did with Socrates?” Then, averting my eyes from the disagreeable spectacle, I resume our fascinating discussion about the nature of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.” W. H. Auden, in A Certain World: A Commonplace Book