It’s Saturday, but Monday’s coming…

The holidays are over, I’m still trying to keep Christmas in my heart and soul while recovering from New Years and the distraction of medical issues in my family over the break.  I will need time to reflect on how “real life” intrudes into the divine.  It seems like I should be seeing it the other way around since God takes the initiative.  And my wife commented to me today that this is the first day she has really seen me since her father was hospitalized.  (The situation is better, he is home, but the issues are not over and it will be a long road ahead for everyone.)

So, with the end of the holidays will come Monday and a return back to work.  And with the return back from Christmas break we anticipate some news.

First, and scheduled, is the decision on the Episcopal Church Cases from the California Supreme Court.  Notice was posted on Friday that the decision would be handed down at 10:00 AM PST on Monday.  I have discussed this case before (see the tail end of this post) because even though this decision is specifically about Episcopal churches, it will set the “lay of the land” for all the hierarchical churches in California, including the Presbyterians.  In light of that several Presbyterian entities submitted amicus briefs.  The case was argued back in early October (my observations on the oral arguments) so now being close to 90 days the decision was expected this week.  With the imminent decision the Anglican Curmudgeon has started a detailed series of posts on the cases and he promises to finish up with his prediction of the outcome.  The first article is very good background piece, and the rest should be just as good.  Even after almost 90 days I am sticking with my impressions from the oral arguments:  I’m not sure if Neutral Principles or Principle of Government will specifically prevail but I’m still leaning towards Government. However, based on the tone of the jurists in October, I’ll stick my neck out that the hierarchical church will prevail in this one.  (And from some of the arguments I could see the denomination prevailing even if a majority favors Neutral Principles.)  I’ll post a brief summary as soon as I can find time in my work day to review the decision.

Second, and hinted at, is the appointments to the Special Committees, Study Groups, and Task Forces created by the last General Assembly of the PC(USA).  In his Moderator Monday from December 15, GA Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow gave an update on the appointment process and said he hopes to have it finished up “by the end of the year.”  With the realities of the Christmas season I am not surprised that the announcement has not been made yet, but based on that goal I anticipate seeing announcements this coming week, maybe as early as Monday.  And Bruce’s comment that “not everyone is going to be happy with all the choices made” and for people to “trust the Spirit” has raised my curiosity about their composition.  Again, we await developments, maybe this week.

So my Christmas break is over.  As I promised myself before the holidays I did some blogging but did not get consumed in any major analysis pieces.  However, I’ve got a couple outlined and with breaking developments, and a slightly lightened work load with no teaching this quarter, I anticipate a resumption of my obsession with The Politics of Presbyterianism.  So Happy (Gregorian) New Year (as opposed to the liturgical one was a month ago) and hang on for the ride.