Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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I'm an undershepherd to the Good
Shepherd in that part of Christendom called the Presbyterian Church (USA).
"Presbyterian"
and Christianity don't have to go together - and, uh, sometimes the
connection is more coincidental than Christocentrically Biblical - because
"Presbyterian" refers to polity and Christianity refers to, uh,
Christianity or belief/behavior (inseparable) exemplified by Jesus and
explained in the Bible.
America's
government is Presbyterian
- constitutional and connectional democracy in which authority
rests in ordered groups not individuals.
Simply, American government
like the PCUSA is not hierarchical.
No kings or, uh,
queens; though some try every now and then.
Simply, American
government like the PCUSA is not pure democracy; though some try every now and
then.
Authority over
just about everything rests in ordered groups like the different branches
of government rather than petitions, polling, and popular votes on, uh,
everything.
That's the Cliff Notes version.
I know there are
nuances, an "in" word, and perversions and subversions and...
But, basically,
that's the polity under which I pray and labor as an undershepherd to the Good
Shepherd.
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Unfortunately,
there are lots of Americans and, uh, "Presbyterian" Christians who
are, uh, ignorant about their own polity.
You know what I
mean.
This came to mind
when someone in our church heard someone in our church say, "All he has to
do is to tell the Session to do something and they have to do it!"
O.K., all of you
"Presbyterian" undershepherds
can get up off the floor, sit down, and stop laughing.
Well, considering
that it's PAM and 3/2/11 is a big one pour moi, which, uh, I've already
celebrated because I count time in the womb because God does, uh, I decided to
try it out with a few of our session members: "I have decided that all of
the money being spent on ___ be redirected to Woodstock Harley-Davidson to
purchase an Electra Glide Ultra Limited for PAM and in recognition of 3/2/11;
and, of course, I will have a few customizing..."
The response
reminded me of Ron Paul's run for President.
That someone who
said what's quoted in the third sentence-paragraph of this section is wrong;
and, dang, too many of our elders/members know she's/he's wrong.
Hmm.
I wonder if
she/he only meant that if I were championing her/his...
All I know after
decades as an ordained part of this business is people really prefer dictators
who dictate according to their dictations.
That's why
America's polity as well as the PCUSA's can be such a pain in the...
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On the other
hand, I like "Presbyterian" polity.
Unlike friends in
other polities who are kinda dictators - yeah, yeah, yeah, they always say they're
just following you know who; but didn't Jones, Loon/Moon, Joe Blow, and...also
say that - I like not pretending I know everything about everything.
That's because I know I don't know everything. What a shocking
confession!
Sure, we live in an
age - man/woman, do I see it every now and then in my favorite family of faith
- in which anybody's word is as good as anybody else's word on any subject;
which is why we're so increasingly messed up by those not called/gifted who...
You know what I
mean.
Be that as it is with no benefit to
most, I prefer Paul's perspective: "We each have different
work to do. So we belong to each other; and each needs all the
others."
Who am I to tell
___ how to ___ when I'm not called/gifted to ___?
Geez.
So I'm
comfortable being an undershepherd
in a "Presbyterian" polity church/denomination/franchise/whatever.
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Psst.
But I can
understand why folks even in our polity still try to...
Go back to the
part about Woodstock HD.
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Blessings and Love!
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