Greetings,
This is pure, unvarnished, and unapologetic
commentary. It is my opinion based on my observations so take it
for what it is worth.
You may have noticed that up to this point I have
completely avoided reporting or commenting on the controversial book,
“Christian Faith and the Truth Behind 9/11” by David Ray Griffin and
published by the PC(USA) publishing arm Westminster/John
Knox Press. In the event you have been fortunate enough to avoid
the controversy about this book it’s thesis is that the current US
administration is COMPLETELY responsible for the 9/11 attacks in a
massive conspiracy and cover-up. While this involves the PC(USA)
at the national level, it is not really a GA or polity topic and I have
seen no reason to address it. That will probably change at the
next GA, but if I am still blogging in San Jose I’ll address it then.
What I want to use this as an example of is the
institutional culture of the PC(USA) and how the values of the
denomination’s mind set have, not just now but for many years now,
separated the denomination’s leadership from the “average church
attendee.”
One of the things that American Presbyterians have always
prided themselves on is the intellectualism of their faith. The
Presbyterians were leaders at building schools, colleges, and
seminaries. Presbyterians are know for their requirement that
candidates for the ministry are well educated including learning both Greek and Hebrew. We are a
well educated and well trained group in the leadership.
Many of the controversies in the PC(USA), including
this one, have begun in this lofty, “ivy covered,” environment.
It is the attitude of “academic freedom” and the intellectual
discussion of ideas. Some would say it is also a reflection of
the “liberal” nature of colleges, universities, and seminaries today
and can point to the fact that the book’s author, Dr. Griffin, is on the faculty of the
Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California. (A United
Methodist seminary for the record.)
I often sit and wonder, does the leadership of the
PC(USA) realize that only a small minority of their 2-Million-ish
members understands this academic culture? This is where the
PC(USA) comes across looking irrelevant and out of touch. If your
average person can not understand the corporate culture of “acadamania”
then how will they react when they see something like the Trinity study
or this book coming from the highest levels of their
denomination. The leadership may understand Greek and Hebrew, but
they do not understand how the average church member views their
intellectual pursuits and they can not, or do not, find ways to
properly communicate to the average member that these intellectual
exercises come from a different culture. Until the lines of
communication can be properly cleared so that the leadership and the
average member can at least understand each other the denomination will
continue to get controversial press coverage and looks of disbelief
from most of their members.
