A Word From Terry

by Terry Newland, Synod Executive

Thank God for the officers and staff of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee! They have truly witnessed to me in a most faithful way. During my recent visit with the Session, ministers and staff of the church, I experienced the Love of God, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. I have to admit that, as I was driving to Knoxville, I was not expecting the gifts of God to be so abundant in our gathering. What a blessing!

A couple of issues ago I wrote in this column of my great frustration with the struggles and conflicts going on in our denomination. I wasn't concerned that we continue to struggle with issues. Faithful people will struggle with God's call and claim on our lives, resources and commitment until Christ comes again. My frustration was based in my experience that we have stopped listening to each other, that we talk at each other and have lost interest in hearing what is being said. Working through the faithful leaders of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, God has shown me that I'm wrong, once again.

The Session of Sequoyah Hills has been struggling, like many of our congregations, with what we hear about the decisions and directions of our denomination. Do we believe in Jesus Christ? Have we lost a commitment to mission, both globally and at home? What about the authority of Scripture, the Doctrine of the Trinity, our ordination standards and the sanctity of life? They could no longer "wait and see" how things play out. So they let it be known that they wanted to talk, that they wanted to engage in a conversation with our leadership on the General Assembly level.

Steve Benz, the Executive Presbyter of their presbytery (East Tennessee) immediately began to see if such a conversation could become a reality. Sure enough, the new Executive Director of the General Assembly Council (Elder Linda Valentine) and the Moderator of the General Assembly Council (Rev. Allison Seed) both agreed to travel to Knoxville to help begin the discussion. The Office of the General Assembly extended an invitation as well for a return visit by leaders of Sequoyah Hills.

I've already admitted that I was not exactly looking forward to the "conversation". I was expecting a difficult and tense gathering as I entered the church building. In my mind I was there more to try and help keep the evening as civil as possible given the circumstances. Instead, I was treated to an evening with faithful people grounded in worship and committed to balancing a need to be heard and a desire to listen.

I have never been so graciously welcomed, anywhere! Every single person I met that night extended the hand of fellowship and seemed truly glad that we were all there. We spent significant time introducing ourselves and them we shared an evening meal gathered around small tables. Following supper we worshiped and celebrated Communion together. Then we moved to a room where we could all face each other and began the "conversation". It was obvious from the very beginning that there were rules to this conversation. The fellowship of a meal and the communion of worship and the Lord's Table set the tone and it was maintained throughout the evening.

A real conversation took place that night. I don't know what the decisions of the Session of Sequoyah Hills will be down the road. I do know that they ministered to me in the way they received me and in the way they received Linda and Allison. I know that everyone involved that night listened to each other. I'm pretty sure there was, and continues to be, a difference of opinion among the officers of Sequoyah Hills. The same is true among the members of our denomination. What a blessing people of faith can be for each other, even in the midst of disagreement!

The Peace of Christ be with you.