Yesterday I received the current issue of Insights: The Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary in the mail.  Today I was blessed to have some quality time to begin reading this marvelous publication.  The focus of this issue is The Church Faces Schism and the lead article was written by President of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary The Reverend Dr. Theodore J. Wardlaw and carries the title “A Bad Spirit Has Risen Among Us.”

Once again I pause to offer gratitude for the opportunity that was afforded to me to attend Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and for the loving, academic excellence, and relationships – with faculty, staff, and other students – that became part of my life during my three years as a student and during the months and years since my graduation in 2008.

This issue of Insights represents the standard of excellence which has almost always been part of my experience at the seminary, and I would recommend without hesitation that EVERYONE should take the time to read Dr. Wardlaw’s thoughtful and compelling article.  It is available for reading by going to http://www.austinseminary.edu/page.cfm?p=1439.

The Editor of Insight, Cynthia Rigby, the W. C. Brown Professor of Theology, clearly states the purpose of this volume in her introductory remarks: “This issue of Insights is not devoted to debating ordination standards.  It is, instead, committed to our thinking together about what it would mean to stay united, as a church, even with our different views.”

I strongly urge each of you to find your way to this important publication, and especially this outstanding opening article.  Rather than summarizing Ted’s message as part of this post I prefer to let you see and hear his words for yourselves.  Also I am anxious to finish the article by Thomas White Currie III and continue with the other inclusions in this publication.  I am quite certain that I will be writing additional future posts that are stimulated by this publication.

With great respect and humility I conclude this post with two final quotations from the opening article. 

The first from Tom Are, Jr. as offered by Wardlaw: “It is far better when our friendships with one another shapes how we deal with issues, rather than issues determining who our friends. are.” (11)

And finally these words by Dr. Wardlaw: I end this essay by inviting all of us to practice something which, if we are left to our own devices, is not possible.  But because of God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ, I invite us all to resolve once more to practice the unnatural thing that he showed us – an incarnational love, a love that sees the face, a church that is not, finally, an institution, but a set of relationships.  ‘Will you be a friend in ministry?’ goes the vow.  And over and over again, we have answerd, ‘I will.'” (12)

Will we?

Grace and peace