Reader Response : Dear Jack I have endeavored to digest all of the material your folks have so ably prepared from the Polity Conference and the accompanying GAC meting at Snowbird. I am however left with the persistent feeling that we have engaged in another lovely series of feel good conversations which in all probability have assuaged the collective consciences of those who participated but in reality are destined to go no where in any immediate remedial response to this sadly sagging denomination. Talking to please ourselves and in actuality prolonging the inevitable does nothing to speak to the heartfelt desires of a constituency that longs for real, concrete, constructive change which will bring the assets and support this denomination could offer directly and meaningfully to the doorstep of hundreds of congregations that have been longing for such a sign from a stagnate and inflated hierarchy. In that process, aggressive, meaningful, immediate action could and would send a positive message of hope, perhaps even belief, to a questioning constituency that repeatedly asks the questions “ what does Presbytery, Synod and better yet Louisville really do for us “ in turn, “ why should we support them “ As a lifelong Presbyterian, serving the church actively in a variety of areas for over fifty years I had never encountered those kinds of questions until the last ten years of that service but they are questions that are coming with far greater frequency and with increasing sincerity or often vehemence. It is disappointing and hurtful to listen to such concern and it is far more trying to endeavor to offer positive response in an endeavor to allay such concern. To convert the nice sounding Snowbird verbiage into affirmative and positive action that will produce the results that were expressed at those meetings will take eons and that, as a denomination, we cannot afford. We boldly talk about “ bottom up, grass roots and bubbling up “ but do we really comprehend what we are saying and what kind of positive implementation is necessary to bring such a response into reality and in turn do we possess a willingness to sincerely let it happen ? We have become so top down, control oriented, that to break that mold through such noble sounding, conceptual dialogue, any actual implementation will be stifled at the door step of possible reality because we can’t let go nor do we possess the intuitive desire to effectively implement such a process in a timely manner. Change is inevitable and the need for it has been staring us in the face for some time, it has been taking place all around us, yet until we are truly willing to accept and implement those necessary elements of change in an expedient plan of action that can truly assist in a major course correction for our denominational ship our decline will continue. Talking takes time and time is our worst enemy. Frankly instead of talking everything to death we might be better advised to develop an effective process for listening and really hearing what the pew sitting Presbyterians are saying. Asking and then implementing action plans for delivering effective answers. enominationally we are drowning in sea of metaphor, feel good “ baloney “. We find ourselves caught on a “ metaphorical merry go round “ and we can’t seem to grasp the brass ring, the ring that might just strike the target of positive change. Buzz words are not going to cut it and as Snow Bird demonstrated we’ve got plenty of them. Perhaps they make some folks feel good and they go off wrapped in a euphoric aura, feeling as though they have addressed the “ demons “ that plague us and struck a blow for change, yet in reality they have accomplished nothing but deferring critical corrective action by consigning it to the conversational log jam. In this vein I reflect on the arduous, yet positive,work that the PUP task force engaged in and you participated in, only to have it thrown to the wind by the Assembly and force the denomination to contemplate further discord and unrest after the Task Force report had effectively provided an acceptable answer to a vexing problem which the general constituency seemed essentially satisfied with. When are we going to stop kidding ourselves and start hearing what the people that make the wheels go round are really saying and want instead of listening to a lot of supernumeraries hypothecate on their self preserving, ill informed perceptions? Lets develop immediate remedial prescriptions aimed at curing our malaise not merely applying band-aids to defer corrective response. My Best to you and blessings Jim Babcock

Response By : Readers Feedback - October 7, 2008