Presbyterians and the Pope

Pope John Paul’s death has had a world wide impact. He was a truly great man. His spirituality gave him a special energy to connect with people all over the world, and to build bridges that had not previously been there. He came to office in the year I graduated from seminary, so I have felt a certain companionship with him through my career. I have recently enjoyed reading stories of his trip to Chicago in 1979.

As much as I respected John Paul, I have always been aware that the very existence of the pope is a fundamental point of difference between Catholics and Presbyterians (as well as other Protestants). The issue is authority and how it functions in the church.

Because Presbyterians have always mistrusted human nature, we reject the investing of authority in a bishop (the pope is technically the Bishop of Rome). Our system instead places authority in the hands of a group of people (a session, presbytery, or General Assembly) duly elected and accountable to Scripture, church tradition, and the people whom they represent. Hardly a perfect system, but one that I believe is most consistent with the New Testament pattern of leadership.

You seldom, if ever, see a Presbyterian clergyperson as a “star” in the media. One reason is that we are a pretty boring bunch. But it is also true that we are trained to see ourselves as collegial leaders, not as symbols of authority. We believe that lay people are called to exercise leadership just as we are. Elders and deacons are on the same level with pastors. The difference is one of function. It is one of the best parts of being Presbyterian. I would not want it any other way.

Regardless of our differences, now is a good time to affirm our Roman Catholic neighbors and friends as our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a time of uncertainty for them, and they deserve our prayers as they undertake the arduous process of selecting a new pope. We may disagree on the concept of authority, but we can pray for the new pope as a servant of Christ. May he continue to build bridges, and utilize the enormous resources they have to work for peace in our world.