Is that not an appropriate image of our local churches at certain times, if not seemingly all the time?  We are afloat the broad, vast, deep oceans, which can be placid and serene one moment and monstrous and chaotic the next.  As a church we face many obstacles as we wander the blue wilderness.  We sometimes face giant storms, and other times we may face insurrection or mutiny.  Sometimes we confront enemy ships as they attack us, or as we attack them.  At the end of the day, we all have our scars and battle wounds.  And, of course, the only reason we still have a ship to reflect such scars is because of the anchor which holds us true.

Currently, our church, Heritage Reformed Presbyterian Church, formerly Heritage Presbyterian Church in America, has been through much turmoil these past three dreary, winter months.  In early December, the session called an "emergency church meeting" during the Sunday School hour.  At this meeting, we were told of a church vote the following week which would determine whether or not we, as a church, stay in the PCA denomination.  The next week, after hearing the elders plead their case in the Sunday School hour, we voted in a closed, member-only meeting by means of a standing count.  The congregation overwhelmingly voted to leave the PCA.  Since then, we lost both our Assistant Pastor, Michael Shipma, and our Senior Pastor, Mark Balthrop.  Both of which resigned within a week or two of one another.  Currently, our Associate Pastor, Shawn Young, is leading the congregation in word and sacrament while a committee of the session investigates denominations with which we can association and join.

So, what is in store for this grand, historical vessel?  To what unknown place through the dark night do we journey with but a lamp for our deck and the starlight for our guide?  She's been in battles before, both from within and from without.  Yet, she's still sea-worthy.  Will she continue to be such, however?  What destination lies ahead of us?  Can we make it without everyone abandoning ship?  Can we make it without a mutiny?  Can we make it without blood being shed on whatever side lines are drawn?  Or, is the question better asked, can make it *with* all those things happening?  Tis true, only if we hold fast to the anchor and put on our armor and prepare for battle.  For, surely, there are pirates and predators at sea who see a weakened ship.  And, like the great white sharks only feet below you, these evil forces can swarm around us and assail us.  This, though, is the Christian life and the life of the church.  Some to a greater degree, and others to a lesser.  We hold fast to the legend of righteous master seamen before us, stating the forces that assail us shall never prevail against us.  To that hope we hold fast in such times of tribulation.  But, alas, I do not know what is in store for our proud mother of our faith.

Personally, due to the reasons originally stated unanimously by the session in our church meeting, I do not think it is wise we return to the PCA.  I believe the ramifications of returning to the PCA might be more harmful and less helpful and healing to the congregation.  In my opinion, it really is not a viable option.  That leaves us with a few other choices within NAPARC.  Again, personally, I believe the two best options are the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the United Reformed Church.  Of these two options, the OPC is the most similar and familiar in both confessional standards and church polity, while the URC adheres to the Three Forms of Unity and is federation in polity rather than the structure of presbyterian denominations.  The polity structure and practice might be too difficult to cope with during such a transition, let alone educating one another with regard to the Dutch Reformed heritage, tradition, and confessions & catechisms.  Not only that, but the closest URC is in Missouri.  The OPC, on the other hand, has a small work in Oklahoma City, as well as a strong presence in the Southwest area, specifically Texas.  It would also give our church much needed guidance and oversight from a regional church.  But I digress.  I'll gladly discuss the two above options in more detail in further blogs.

That's where we are, today.  We are adrift at sea and holding fast to the anchor.  We hope and pray we find land, soon, and a place to dock.  We've been out too long, and we need to come ashore.

 

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