The Presbytery Moderator

The Presbytery of Chicago, the regional governing body of over one hundred churches in the greater Chicago area, will hold its regular assembly at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church on February 20. At that meeting I will be installed as Moderator of the presbytery for 2010.. This will take place at the worship service that should begin about 11AM. It will be a big occasion for our church, and for me personally. It is a milestone for a pastor or elder to become presbytery moderator, and it is a wonderful opportunity for leadership as well.

In Presbyterian governance, the office of moderator is a mostly ceremonial position. We Presbyterians mistrust power, and therefore diffuse it as widely as possible. Being moderator does not make me like a bishop, and does not bestow on me magical ability to get things done. As moderator, my primary job is to chair our assembly meetings (held five or six times a year). I also get to represent the presbytery at ordination and installation services for new pastors, and at ecumenical events. In this role, it is very unlikely that you will see my name or face in the media.

The office of moderator does, however, give me the opportunity to set an agenda and a tone for our presbytery in the coming year. In this sense, it is more like being a pastor. While I cannot make anything happen, I can certainly help some things happen through presence, conversation, listening, persuasion, prayer, networking, studying, preaching, and all the other ways that influence is most effectively used. This is what I love doing, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do it at the presbytery level.

My moment as presbytery moderator comes as the Presbytery of Chicago faces some daunting challenges. A very large indebtedness that has to be repaid will likely result in the sale of presbytery properties, including our camp property in Michigan. More importantly, the presbytery is in a time of redefining itself in light of what could be called a “post denominational society.” Just what is our denomination evolving into, and how will it affect us? No one can answer that question with any clarity right now, but we still have to go on being church to the best of our ability. I will have a small contribution to make to that process, and I am gratified to be in the position.

My thanks to the people of EPC for allowing me to do this. While active involvement in presbytery life is part of the job of any Presbyterian minister, being moderator will require more time and energy than the usual assignments. I will do my very best not to be distracted from my duties, but if I do slip up it is because I am doing what I believe I am called to do. I will certainly keep you posted!