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VOW
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… Is Good For The Gander
Today is the first day of a new year – the year of our Lord 2004. It is also the first day of the month during which the Presbytery of Western North Carolina will determine the future for one of its members. Twenty-nine days from now, the presbytery in which Parker Williamson has served faithfully for twenty-nine years will decide whether he, any longer, deserves the privilege of voice and vote at its meetings. I understand that the issues are complicated, and that the presbytery’s Committee on Ministry insists that it is not Mr. Williamson that they are rebuking – but rather the organization that he serves. I also recognize that the presbytery has both the right and the responsibility to validate the ministries that are carried on within its boundaries. However, these specifics notwithstanding, I would like to offer a more general caveat to the presbyters upon whom, later this month, will fall the responsibility of making the final decision. But, before I tell you where I stand on the issue of the upcoming vote, I need to be honest about where I “sit.” That is to say, I need to tell you that Parker Williamson is my friend, and that I count it a privilege to say so – any time, any place, in any company. Although we do not always agree, I have, over many years of association, found him to be an honorable and courageous man of character. Yet, if I were to use this space to tell you why I intend to remain personally loyal to him, my opinion would probably be read as a sentimental and toothless lecture. So instead, let me remind you all of “the law of unintended consequences.” Whatever presbytery you may belong to, take a moment to think about it. Think about that person whom you find to be a bit of an irritant – no matter where s/he may fall on the theological spectrum. Think about the ways in which s/he challenges, argues, and aggravates you (and perhaps others) at every turn. Oh, how nice it would be to be rid of that person. How much more productive meetings would be without him/ her. Finally there would be peace! If s/he were just out of the picture, the presbytery could go on to accomplish great things for the Lord and his church. But hold on a minute! Unless s/he has committed an illegal or immoral act, or has openly defied our church’s constitution, on what basis should s/he be silenced? S/he may be a royal pain in the neck. The fact that s/he is opinionated and confrontive may make everyone uncomfortable – but to silence him/her because s/he swims upstream, or because s/he consistently insists that you listen to his/her minority opinion will diminish the life of the presbytery for all its members. Let’s be honest, there is a dark side to every one of us. From time to time we are all tempted to use particular circumstances to our advantage in order to silence the people who make us uncomfortable – the people who irritate us, and get under our skin. But if we were to act on that temptation, what would be the unintended consequences? If we were to begin to silence people because of the positions they have staked out – as opposed to concrete, verifiable, demonstrable acts of misconduct and constitutional offense that they may have committed – then every one of us is going to have to start watching our own backside. Because absent clear and unambiguous standards – as opposed to criteria that are vague and fuzzy, and unspecific – when the balance of power shifts, you and I could be the next to be silenced. It is clear to me that my friend is being threatened with punishment because the organization that he heads has asked Presbyterians to do something, that while unpopular, is nevertheless entirely constitutional. After all, what else has changed in the handful of months since the Presbytery of Western North Carolina voted to validate the ministry of another of its members who also works for The Lay Committee? But, whatever we may conclude about the particulars in this case, if we are smart we will all conclude that, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” If a majority of the members of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina
are tempted to vote to silence Parker Williamson because they can, they
need to stop first and ask, “who is going to be next?”
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