I agree with the letter printed in your June 1 edition regarding the need to get some very creative, outside-of-the-box thinkers from both sides of this debate to get together and prayerfully seek to come up with a better way than General Assemblies that tend to be more "progressive" sending out amendments to a majority of Presbyterians in pulpits and pews which in four votes tend to be more traditional in Biblical interpretation.
I share with my parishioners that this is a much more complicated issue than some think and if I had a solution, I'd offer it. This is my fourth vote since I was ordained in l980. It's difficult to think in terms of winners and losers within a family, be it very diverse. Nevertheless, I'm not sure that "progressive" is the absolute best terminology for those who wanted to pass this amendment. All change isn't necessarily progress. Rise up, women and men of faith who love the PC(USA), as I do, and help us find a better way for our church family to disagree without being so disagreeable.
Raymond Guterman
First Church
Ocala, Fla.
P.S. Might the Outlook convene such a group of bridge builders with suggestions for the General Assembly Council? Could the Council gather such a group?
