The Presbyterian Denomination had been divided for nearly thirty years into two “Schools.” (Page 9A) - so it reads in the book on the history of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church.  (The most recent update to this history “1969 to 1998:  An Historical Sketch”  was  written by a task force headed by our own Ruth Rosevear.)  These two schools: the “old school” and the “new school” had created a schism that nearly broke the denomination in two.  When this church was proposed in 1866, members of both schools were invited and attended.  Nearly equal amounts from each “school” attended.  But the record says that they worked in “unity of the spirit and in the bond of peace” (p10A).  More on that a little later.

This week has been an historical one for the Roman Catholic Church.  White smoke rising signaled that “We have a Pope!”  Many around the world have only known John Paul II and have never witnessed the election of and today the installation of a new Pope.  New leadership means transition and change, maybe.  While it appears that Benedict XVI will be a continuation of the former direction, yet we can not be certain.  And Benedict XVI will certainly have his own style of accomplishing his goals.  Whether or not we embrace it, it has been of interest to many of us to see the rigorous way that transition occurs. 

It does give us pause to ask why if a new pope can be in place in less than two weeks, why it takes us so long to replace a pastor!  And this is no critique of our PNC, but it does say something about Presbyterian Polity.   And just an aside here a moment.   The PNC is working weekly  and  diligently  on  their  tasks.  I  met with them this past week and can assure you that progress is being made.  I am impressed with the work they have done already.  The Church Information Form, which all the prospective candidates will receive is nearing completion and should be ready for distribution next month.  But back to the Pope. 

It has been fascinating to observe at a distance the many rituals needed or desired to bring about new leadership.  Some of these rituals have been changed over the years.  Some have been continued despite their outdated usefulness.  That smoke signals are still used in a day of instant communication is a way to hang on to the past in a less than harmful way. It does carry with it some mystic for the thousands gathered at the square.  Perhaps they would no longer come if they simply needed to wait by their computers or TV’s.  But instant messaging loses some of the novelty of white smoke rising.  Yes, I still like it.  It adds drama to the event!  But besides the theatrics, what is really happening on these occasions?  In fact, what will be happening in our sanctuary in a few minutes when we ordain an elder and two deacons? 

One might say it is very similar to the changes that occur in any organization when new leadership comes on board.  It simply is a change of faces, and perhaps it might signal some changes in direction, but usually institutions have a life of their own despite the leadership. 

I wrestle with the tension of two contrasting tendencies when we talk about ordination.  The first is that we do as above.  Simply see it as a functional necessity and minimize  its  significance.   “Oh well, we need another warm body to do some things around here, and these warm bodies are good ones.”  Some might  even  go  so far as to suggest that “we have found some suckers who don’t know what they are getting in to!”  That is not what we have in Michelle, Max, and Andrienne!   And I have heard some elders describe themselves as fools for Christ sake.  Well, that may have its merits!

The other tension is to make too much of ordination.  There is the danger of looking at ordination as something that only a few can aspire to.  It requires some kind of special religious focus that is given to a select few.  I have heard on more than one occasion the disclaimer that “I could never be good enough to be an elder, or a deacon.”  There is a feeling in some circles that you have to be holier than the normal person.

But our scripture lesson reminds us that God uses regular folk.  Aaron and his sons were simply members of the migrating peoples God had called out of Egypt.  While Aaron was a brother to Moses, he had no other particular uniqueness.  The process of their becoming ordained had with it some similar intrigue and flair as we have observed this past week.  One thing in common was white smoke rising!  Of course the smoke from the sacrifices were distinctly different.  How would the three of you (being ordained today) like to go through the process we read about earlier?  Having to be washed, layered with vestments and then placing your hands on the bull before it is slain.  Then taking its blood with your fingers and placing it in strategic places.  I won’t go on….  Religion has evolved, even if slowly.  It gives us hope that change is possible.

But what this passage reminds us of is that ordination is not just about religion – if by religion we mean the institutional life of the church.  It is not simply a matter of  keeping the organization functioning. 

Whether that is in replacing elders and deacons or in securing a new pastor or pope.  Oh, to be sure, there are some institutional necessities that have to be addressed, and they are important.  I for one believe that the church as an institution is worthy of good leadership and people with quality gifts!  But ordination is about spirituality.  Let me read again the closing verses of Exodus that you may not have heard because the sacrifices and blood turned you off !! 

I will dwell among the Israelites, and I will be their God.  And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God. 

While I don’t get the need for all the ceremonies, the sacrifices and the investitures, I do get the reason for it all.  God wants us to experience the reality of a God who cares for us and wants to be in relationship to us!  It’s not about institutions, but about relationships.  And if we are to know God, we are to know our own history – which is how God has been with us in the past.  The Israelites were to be reminded that this God freed them from slavery.  This God gave them a promise of a new land, a new future.  And this God wants to dwell with them or as one translation put it “I’ll move in and live with the Israelites.” What a concept!!  Yes, God is a covenant making and covenant keeping God.  And we are as a result…a covenant people. 

Now back to where we began – the origin of this congregation.  (By the way if you want to learn more about the history of this church, Fran and Ruth Rosevear are going to be talking about that next week in  the  adult  forum – check your bulletin.)  While this congregation was formed in the 1860’s at a time when there was division in the denomination, its founders were able to rise above the discord and cross barriers that others were not able to bridge.  This is a congregation that has consistently sought to be bridge builders and to work in a spirit of unity.  To be a leader in this congregation, it is important to know how God has been at work for and in us.  God keeps covenant with us, too.  God offers us a new future.  That was true in its origin, and is true today!  We are not about institution building, but about enabling each other to experience the God of Abraham and Moses who wants to “move in and live with us.”  We again have an opportunity to be bridge builders as we try to help the denomination tear down walls of separation regarding ordination and marriage of GLBT persons. 

And God uses ordinary people – like you – to do that: People who are open to see what God is doing and wants to do in our midst.  Last summer in the retreat for the elders I shared with them a quote from Charles Olsen’s book, Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders. (Page 9)  What is said here regarding the Session equally applies to the Deacons. Let me share it with you now:

The kind of leaders the church needs is those who are willing to set standard.  He states that (and I quote) the level of commitment in a congregation will not  rise above  that  of  the set apart leaders.  The sense of community and care for one another will not rise above that of the (session).  The stewardship practices will not rise above those of the (session).  The prayer life will not rise above that of the (session).   The  capacity to reflect biblically and theologically will not rise above that of the (session).  The willingness to take a prophetic position will not rise above that of the (session).  The hope and excitement for the future of the church will not rise above that of the session. (Unquote) 

Have we attained that standard?  In some respects YES.  In others, no, it remains a goal.  But it does remind us that leadership is not just about what color carpet do we chose (as important as that is), or what hymns do we sing.  It is about how do we connect our living with the God who wants to move in and live with us.  Ordination is the claiming of those people willing to assist us on that journey.  As the history of the Israelites portrays, this is a perpetual journey.  They have not and we have not arrived.  The leaders, those ordained, have not arrived.  But we can see ourselves as part of the process that enables all of us to know that God is for us and God is with us.  That has even become clearer since the coming of Jesus and the Spirit of Jesus that shows us more clearly the way to be God’s people.     

As we ordain members of our congregation, it is another opportunity for us to celebrate the God who has been with this congregation since its beginning and who covenants with us about our future.  White smoke may not be rising, but  certainly  our  hopes  for the future can ascend as we again open ourselves to God’s presence in and with us.