Following the lead of David Letterman, former Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick used to publish a list of the "top ten" issues before each meeting of the General Assembly. The issues in 2012 are largely the same ones we have seen in years past, but with some new twists. I will count down my list of the ten most important / volatile / newsworthy issues over the next few posts.
Number 10: Elections
Ordinarily, the elections of the moderator and (every four years) a stated clerk would rank higher on the list. This year, however, there is little if any energy focused on the elections. The election for Stated Clerk is a foregone conclusion: nobody challenged the incumbent clerk, The Rev. Gradye Parsons, who is standing for election to a second four-year term. My reading of the church tells me this should not be interpreted as a ringing endorsement of Parsons' performance, which has been a mixed bag at best. On the positive side, his affable, low-key manner has been soothing in times of crisis, and he has kept open lines of communication with the whole church. On the negative side, he has at times appeared disconnected and indifferent to emerging issues in the church, and failed to provide clear, consistent, and timely messages as the chief executive of our government. The lack of opposition to his election is more likely a function of timing (who wants to step into the middle of a denominational crisis?) and electoral rules changes that heavily favor incumbency.
Of considerably less long-term institutional significance is the election of the moderator. The moderator exercises relatively little influence on the course of the church; the principal power of the office lies in the appointment of persons to task forces and commissions between meetings, and to leadership roles at the next assembly. The election of the moderator this year was made less volatile by the unfortunate withdrawal of the "far left" candidate, Janet Edwards of Pittsburgh Presbytery, due to her husband's serious health issues. This leaves four candidates, none of whom have had "celebrity" status in the church. From right to left (theologically and politically) here are the candidates:
The Rev. Robert Austell, Jr. (Charlotte Presbytery). A teaching elder, Austell describes himself, "I am unashamedly conservative and evangelical in theology, and find the freedom and invitation to be so as I listen and learn from friends of all perspectives inside and outside the church." In his mid-forties, he portrays himself as a generation-bridger and a reconciler. In practice, he is likely to promote the kind of "gracious witness" policy he produced for the 2010 Assembly that in his own words has morphed into a "gracious dismissal" policy.
The Rev. Randy Branson (Palo Duro Presbytery). After reading materials on-line and listening to his sermons and reading his blog, I am still puzzled as to what exactly Rev. Branson brings to the position of moderator. His candidacy can best be described as "conventional" and "pastoral." He will certainly bring 40 years of ministry experience if elected, and a grandfatherly manner. His theology is conventional and somewhat pietistic, reflecting his Bible-belt roots in Oklahoma, but there is no edge, either to the right or the left, in his written or preached offerings. At least his sermons are short.
The Rev. Neil Presa (Elizabeth Presbytery). An institutional/academic candidate from New Jersey, Rev. Presa chaired the special committee on the Heidelberg Catechism, is a former Vice-Moderator of the General Assembly Council, and has served on various ecumenical boards and in theological institutions in addition to his parish ministry. A former Roman Catholic of Filipino descent, he brings global and ecumenical perspective to his now-Reformed faith. Based on the work of the Catechism committee, he promises to bring the ability to work consensus from a broad range of perspectives.
The Rev. Susan Davis Krummel (Great Rivers Presbytery). Sue Krummel is one of two "institutional" candidates in the race, having served as the Executive and Stated Clerk of her presbytery and as past moderator of the General Assembly Nominating Committee. She is also the only candidate I know personally. She is a very capable administrator who understands how the denomination works. She is a theological moderate, with perhaps some (institutionally) left-leaning tendencies. Above all, she is a churchwoman who leads from the middle.
(It should be noted, however, that neither Krummel nor Presa are ideological progressives in the same vein as Edwards. They both have endorsements from across the spectrum of the church. They are "left" more in the sense of their comfort with the institutional status quo than in the sense of ideological liberalism.)
The election of the moderator is notoriously hard to predict. The performance during the floor examination is crucial, and can make or break candidates (Cynthia Bolbach is an example of the former). Nevertheless, if I had to guess, I would predict it will come down to a choice between Presa and Austell, who have the strongest credentials on each wing of the church. Austell may well lead after the first ballot, given that Krummel and Presa may split the early moderate-progressive vote. If Austell doesn't have a majority on the first ballot, I don't see him picking up many more votes on subsequent ballots, however. Branson does not seem to be a factor as far as I can tell. But my opinion and $5 might get you a cup of Starbucks.
Next: Changes to the Book of Confessions?
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