wfn.org | Company of Pastors Gives Ministers Spiritual

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

GA99076 
25-June-1999 
 
          Company of Pastors Gives Ministers Spiritual, 
                      Theological Colleagues 
 
FORT WORTH--John Calvin referred to the "venerable company of pastors" in 
Geneva. Joseph D.  Small, coordinator of the Presbyterian Church's Office 
of Theology and Worship, said "we dropped the 'venerable'" and created the 
Company of Pastors, a group who covenant together to pray, to read the same 
scriptures every day, to read theological books and to meet periodically. 
     "Presbyteries are business, business, business," Small said, "and 
these other dimensions are missing."  The Company of Pastors is growing 
rapidly and has reached 300, according to Junior McGarrahan, associate for 
theological development in the Office of Worship. They need a critical 
number of pastors in each Presbytery to help the company grow. 
     Cynthia Campbell, president of McCormick Theological Seminary, 
addressed the gathering, asking "With whom are you in conversation?"  She 
suggested that God and the Scriptures were among the obvious "partners." 
She said another important partner is "location, location, location."  We 
might find ourselves in a context that is predominately Southern Baptist or 
Roman Catholic, or as is the case in growing numbers of communities, a 
plural context with Muslims or other world religions.  This "shapes what it 
means to be a Presbyterian," she said.   
     Another "location" in which Presbyterians may find themselves is being 
marginalized or powerless or disestablished-- "no longer a pillar of 
decision-making."  She said in this context, "our commitment to community 
allows us to be more critical." 
     She said we are also in a "seeking" culture.  People have discovered 
that "wealth is not enough."  Some have found that traditional religion 
"has not provided access to the deepest longing of their hearts."   She 
said pastors need to become self-confident about their basic theological 
themes, their "default drive" to which they come back as they are in 
conversation with their location.  They need to feed themselves the 
church's poetry--Scripture--and with liturgy, prayer and theological 
reflection. 
     "Ask yourself to whom do you listen?  To whom do you speak?  Where are 
you located?" she concluded. 
 
Bill Lancaster 

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