Last week I watched the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) debate whether or not to change the description of marriage from “between a man and a woman” to “between two people.” I was hopeful. Hopeful that the Assembly would listen to the Committee that recommended the change in language. Hopeful that the Assembly would listen the views of the Young Adult Advisory delegates who overwhelming supported the change in language. Hopeful the denomination of which I am a part would be bold enough to move beyond tradition and open its doors (to say nothing of its hearts and minds!) to those who have for too long felt the rebuke of organized religion.
I ended up being disappointed.
By a vote of 338 to 308 the recommendation was defeated.
I have no doubt that two years from now at the next General Assembly or, at least, the General Assembly after that the language will be changed, but right now that feels like far too long a time to wait. As I watched the vote and felt my hope change to disappointment, I also felt a deep sadness. For how many, I wondered, was this vote just one more example of organized religion being antiquated and out of step with the lives of so many people? And, how many will step further away never to set closer again? And, how many young adults will see organized religion as a place of condemnation rather than hope; of rules rather than relationships; of legalism rather than love? Even one is one too many.
As I processed the vote and what it meant and what my response might be and could be, I realized something about leadership and about where and how change happens. I had been hoping for my denomination to act boldly. When it didn’t I realized that the denomination will change only after more pastors and more congregations begin to push past the imposed constraints and begin to live the change we want to see.
Leadership comes from the ground up.
Change will come from the ground up.
From pastors like me…
From congregations like the one where I work…
Who welcome all and include all and marry all.
We are the ones who are to create the future we imagine…
And, then allow our denomination to catch up if it can.
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