The General Assembly of the PCUSA completed its week of work yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama. You’ve read about some of its decisions in the local papers. Among its more important actions:

What I believe to be a deeply flawed statement on the nature of the Trinity was “received” not “approved” by the Assembly – reflecting some of the unease with a document that, while affirming Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as an “indispensable anchor,” suggested that the church be “liberated” to use many other images for the Triune God – Rainbow of Promise, Ark of Salvation, and Dove of Peace; Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, Life-giving Womb; Rock, Cornerstone, and Temple. While each of these terms is Scriptural and may provide metaphorical clues to the nature and work of God, the selected triads are woefully inadequate and misleading as alternatives to understanding the essential nature of the God Scripture tells us is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Commended to the church for study and to be used in the development of liturgical resources, the Trinity paper is not helpful to a denomination already so confused about its own theological identity and its mission and message in a world increasingly torn by all sorts of religious fundamentalism on one side, self-fascinated New Age thought on another, and cold-hearted secularism on yet another. (more…)