Today’s edition of “Counterpunch,” a liberal, probably very liberal, appearing electronic newsletter has a fascinating article by Robert Jensen titled “Finding my way back to church…and getting kicked out.”  In the article Mr. Jensen details his experience at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Mission Presbytery.  He also outlines his, by his own admission, marginally Christian beliefs, and how his membership at St. Andrew’s was challenged at the presbytery because in another news piece he referred to himself as an atheist.  The presbytery instructed the church to remove him from the membership rolls by a vote of 156-114.  His membership is still in place while the presbytery decision is appealed to the Synod of the Sun.

The article is interesting on a lot of different levels. 

First, it gives a view of our denomination from a liberal, modern, and marginal perspective.  How do we present ourselves?  What do our presbytery meetings look like to someone who had never seen one before.  How does it translate to the outside world?  As Mr. Jensen points out, he was present at the meeting but was not given the privilege of the floor.  He was allowed to distribute his statement of faith which reads:

On God: I believe God is a name we give to the mystery
of the world that is beyond our capacity to understand. I believe
that the energy of the universe is ordered by forces I cannot
comprehend.
On Jesus: I believe Christ offered a way into that mystery that
still has meaning today.
On the Holy Ghost: There are moments in my life when I feel
a connection to other people and to Creation that rides a spirit
which flows through me yet is beyond me.
I believe that Holy Spirit can only be nurtured in real community,
where people make commitments to each other. I have found that
community in St. Andrew’s. I have tried to open myself up to
our pastor’s teaching, to the members of the congregation, and
to the church’s work in the world.”

I never said it was orthodox, but if the church is to address the faith that people bring with them then we need to be aware of this.  But where do we as a church go with this?  He has clarly found community so now how do we help him find the Gospel?

Do not get me wrong.  In the PC(USA) we have a specific membership requirement:

G-5.0101 Membership through Faith
a. The incarnation of God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives to the church not only its mission but also its understanding of membership. One becomes an active member of the church through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and acceptance of his Lordship in all of life. Baptism and a public profession of faith in Jesus as Lord are the visible signs of entrance into the active membership of the church.

But the question that we as a denomination, and maybe as a system of church government, need to be aware of, reflect on, and be cautious about, is how do we undertake the “Proclamation of the Gospel” so that our polity helps and not hurts us?