Church
policy papers usually serve some purpose in the Church, but seldom
is that purpose significant Biblical exposition, seen through the
lens of inspired and faithful theological reasoning, toward the end
of bold and committed action.
Having
carefully followed the work of the Theological Task Force on Peace,
Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (USA) - its commission,
meetings and interim reports - the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian
Coalition was concerned that an opportunity for important reflection
on the nature and calling of the Church might be missed. We feared
that the task force's final report would be marked by too much attention
to the surface quakings, with too little attention paid to the shifting
tectonic plates beneath; too much sacrificed for consensus, with too
little committed to clarity; too careful an avoidance of measuring
the chasm within the church, with too casual a commitment to the world
beyond.
Our
concern was that the task force's final report too easily could be
satisfied by agreeing to disagree, while being too hesitant to decide.
Indeed, we thought it possible for the task force to fulfill the commission
of the General Assembly, yet offer the Church less than what the Church
needs in this hour.
The
Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Coalition discerned that the
time had come to reframe the question before the Church from institutional
survival to the nature and calling of the church. To this end, we
invited theological reflection that would culminate in an offering
- Biblically framed, clearly written, and grounded in the faith of
the ancients. We trusted that such an offering would stimulate original
thinking and inspire faithful action.
Two
pastor-theologians, Gerrit Scott Dawson and mark R. Patterson, accepted
this challenging invitation to engage in seminal work that would be
offered as a gift to the whole Church. Their papers, "Given and
Sent in One Love: The True Church of Jesus Christ" and "Gracious
Act - Gracious Response: The Character of the Church Under God 's
Redeeming Love," provide a teaching moment for us all. These
papers are fresh, yet recognize the faith of the Church; they are
original , but not idiosyncratic. They offer vision and calling to
revive the Church.
We
hope you will give these papers a careful read, considering the call
to action found within their pages. We hope they will further the
Church's ongoing and necessary work of recapturing an ecclesiology
that is at once catholic and apostolic, Reformed and evangelical.
We hope the Biblical vision woven within them will further the peace,
unity and purity of the Church.
Toward
that end, we recommend these essays to you. We are grateful for the
sacrifice of Gerrit Dawson and Mark Patterson in faithful service
of the Savior.
Jerry
Andrews & Anita Bell, Co-Moderators, The Presbyterian Coalition.
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(Foreward;
Given and Sent in One Love: The True Church of Jesus Christ;
(c) 2005 by Gerrit Scott Dawson and Mark R. Patterson; Reprinted with
the permission of Reformation Press)
