From the General Presbyter

“With your whiskey and your water, your sugar and your tea. What are all these crazy questions you’re asking me?”

Mama Told Me Not To Come, Three Dog Night

I have a colleague that always says, “you have not because you ask not.” When the women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, the angel greeted them with a question, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). If we don’t ask, we will rarely find out.

As you have seen in Tidings, the Presbytery leadership is asking questions. We are hosting listening sessions through the ministry groups, and we have posted a survey inquiring about what is important to you as leaders, pastors and church members. I hope you will participate in this process so the Presbytery leadership can receive some guidance about our future direction.

However, we are not the only one’s who should be asking questions. Your congregations should be asking questions regularly. Are we being faithful to the gospel? Who do we serve? What do our members need? What do our future members need? How do we serve God in these changing times?

A process of inquiry should not produce anxiety! In fact, it should be exciting – not because we will get everything we want, but because it encourages us to step out of comfort zones, use our imaginations and get in touch with what the Holy Spirit is doing right now. Who knows what new life God has for us in this Easter Season?

– Jackie