The Book of Order, 2009-2011 edition, is 1-1/4 inch thick and 9 inches tall and 6 inches wide in paperback. I have on my bookshelf The Confessional Statement and The Book of Government and Worship of the United Presbyterian Church of North America from 1926. It includes a brief statement of faith, all the rules and guidance for governance, worship and discipline, and even some rules of order. In hardback, it measures a mere half-inch thick and is 6 inches by 4 inches. While our Book of Order (after the first four chapters) makes for good bedside material when insomnia strikes, the Old UP book is actually a good read. Even with its brevity it communicates a vital faith and a sense of connection with the larger Body of Christ.
How did our Book of Order get so big? The simple answer is that we don't trust each other. At the reunion between the Northern and Southern Churches in 1983, we had a pared-down Book of Order, lean and mean and ready to go. In the past 27 years we've amended it over 300 times. Much of it was jockeying between the North and South over keeping the practices each favored. For instance, in the Northern stream the presbytery of care both examined and ordained candidates. In the South the presbytery of call did both. It took a few years of doing the Hokey Pokey with competing overtures before the compromise of the presbytery of call examining and the presbytery of care ordaining finally settled the matter. When disagreements arise it seems that our first instinct to amend our Constitution.
Do we trust each other? No, it's obvious that we don't, and that's why some say that we dare not adopt nFOG. How else can we keep those with whom we disagree in check? I have to acknowledge that risk, as there are unintended consequences with everything. That does make me a little nervous. But I believe that we can't go on the way we've been going in recent years, and I'm willing to take a chance on nFOG. Every congregation, every presbytery, every synod is unique, with its own missional call. Our current Book of Order has become a one-size-fits-all straightjacket which prevents us from determining what works best in our own context. We do need guidance, and yes, we do need a few shalls. But we also need to figure out how to carry out our ministries in mutual accountability. The proposed New Form of Government is not perfect, but with the revisions made in the last two years, and with the further changes made by General Assembly, I think it will serve us well.
What are your thoughts? Please post your responses, and let's interact with one another.
In Christ,
Marty
