Our secret winning strategy

Perhaps it’s time that we who have been advocating the passage of 10-A can share a bit of our strategy for getting out the vote. I know I risk giving away trade secrets here, and of course, as it says somewhere in Scripture, “it ain’t over til it’s over”—nonetheless, if you promise to keep it on the QT I’ll let you in on this one proven organizing strategy for ratifying 10-A.

Ready?

Call the Honorably Retireds!

That’s it. Call the Honorably Retired clergy members. Ask them to attend the Presbytery meeting, and inquire politely as to whether they would like to carpool to the meeting. While you are speaking with them on the phone, you might also share with them your own convictions about our ordination standards. You’re almost guaranteed a fair hearing. More important, on that phone call you might want to ask them about their ministry in our church. You might learn something, and probably, it will be interesting.

Anyway, there you have it. Call the Honorably Retireds. It’s not any more complicated than that.

I know: sometimes those who support the current language of G-6.0106b claim that we have a well-funded multi-level comprehensive plan—spelled out in detail on page 168 of the homosexual agenda. I wish we were that smart, and financially subscribed. But, sadly, we’re not. We just remind each other when we’re calling to remind Presbyters on upcoming votes on the amendments before our church, “Don’t forget to call the HRs.”

I don’t know that there has been any research showing that Honorably Retired ministers in our denomination are by-and-large more supportive of an inclusive church than other constituents, but I can tell you that it’s more or less accepted as a commonplace among those of us who are working on the ratification efforts. There’s also been no end of speculation as to why this might be so.

Perhaps, some argue, pastors who no longer have to navigate the very complicated world of congregational politics feel more free to vote for change.

Perhaps, other say, it’s because the current generation of retired ministers pastored in the sixties and seventies when progressive social reform so much defined the work of the church, thereby disposing them to be more “liberal” than their younger colleagues.

Still others make the point that most of the retired ministers were schooled at Presbyterian Seminaries—even in Presbyterian colleges—which instilled in them a commitment to Presbyterian principles—principles which they find reflected in the language of 10-A and less clear in the current formulation at G-6.0106b.

As I say, all this is based on anecdotal evidence and hunches. Some of you have already stopped reading this and are about to hit the submit button after listing in your comment all the reasons why, in point of fact, Honorably Retired ministers are more likely to vote against 10-A than for it. For all I know, you may be right.

We’ll keep making our phone calls though.

There’s also this: a lot of us, myself firmly among them, natter on about the conspicuous absence of young persons in our denomination. Like Madison Avenue ad agency execs, we pant after the 18-35 demographic. It’s true, of course, that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) won’t survive unless a new generation finds our witness compelling; but, at the same time, let’s not neglect to express our gratitude for those who have been here all along.

So, if you’re an Honorably Retired Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), however you may have voted or will vote on Amendment 10-A, “Thank You.” Thanks for making a way, thanks for building up the body of Christ, thanks for sharing your experience and hard-won wisdom, thanks for your dedication and commitment, thanks for what you’ve given me as teacher, pastor, counselor, and pastor, and thanks for hanging in there!

You’re not called “honorable” for nothin’!

• Lisa Larges