great australian presbyterians
The
Presbyterian Contribution:
A Centenary Colloquium
Minister Stuart Bonnington, Bicton, WA
First of all, let me congratulate Insights for hosting the Presbyterian Centenary Colloquium. It's a great idea and I hope that many people will be able to contribute to the discussion. Thanks are also due to Peter and Malcolm for 'getting things going' in such a fine way!
Discussion Question
1
I have a
long standing friend from a very strong Methodist background, now an elder
of the UCA who once told me the only thing he really ever knew about Presbyterians
was that they 'preached the Word'! Thankfully we know that this Christian
hallmark was and is found way beyond the boundries of the PCA, but the
preaching the Lord Jesus Christ from the Holy Scriptures, along with the
potential for personal and cultural transformation that can occur because
of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is the most important contribution
the PCA has, and by God's grace will continue to make to Australia.
DQ 2
As a younger observer of the history of the PCA and someone who became
a Christian in a UCA congregation and subsequently became a minister in
the PCA, I would agree in general with the composite analysis of Malcolm
and Peter, while our local scene has some important nuances not found
elsewhere. For the West Australian Confessional Presbyterians who were
here, the 1960s and 1970s saw the PCA hit some very low points with a
lot of emphasis on outward order but little done to uphold the historic
doctrinal position. This slide paradoxically led to the establishment
of one of the bright spots in the ongoing Presbyterian story in Australia
- outside the PCA but involving a lot of people 'born and bred' in the
denomination - the Westminster Presbyterians and the reviving of the PCWA.
From the point of view of the post 1977 Presbyterians in WA, the Reformed
movement (of which the PCWA is a small but increasingly important part)
is stronger than ever before as close relations are enjoyed between the
PCWA, the WPC and the Christian Reformed Churches. In other words, the
current decade is probably the brightest ever in the history of Presbyterianism
in the West.
DQ 3 and DQ 4
I am unable to comment as these are really questions only people in the
Uniting Church could anwser.
DQ 5
My vote as I think most others would go clearly for Lang and Flynn. I
would also want to give a special mention to the Rev. J. R. B. Love, Presbyterian
missionary and anthropologist, little known in the present generation,
but with few who could match him in terms of significant contributions
to church life and a developing sympathetic understanding of the Aboriginal
people. Presbyterian women are a bit more problematic although Georgiana
Molloy would be right at the top of my list as well! I know of no other
Presbyterian woman like her.
DQ 6
While union with other Christians is highly desirable, the basis for it
and form of union is crucial. In every Presbyterian Union movement at
home and overseas this has always been the sticking point. It certainly
was in WA, where while the leaders of the so-called 'Continuing' Presbyterians
wished those who entered the Uniting Church well, they felt they could
not do so because of faithfulness to their ordination vows, commitment
to the Westminster Confession of Faith's view of the Bible as the Inerrant
Written Word of God, a Reformed understanding of worship and church life
and a desire to continue to evangelise the world with a clear message.
DQ 7
In principle I agree with my friend Peter and disagree with my friend
Malcolm!
DQ 8
Given the different doctrinal stances of the two churches and growing
distance between the PCA/UCA on a range of social, moral, ethical and
political issues I don't think we will see it our lifetime! However I
can see closer relationships and yes even unions between the PCA and a
wide range of smaller conservative Presbyterian/Reformed churches on the
horizon.
DQ 9
I am unable to comment on this question.
DQ 10
Along with other Christian believers, I would hope we will celebrate God's
grace to us in the Lord Jesus Christ and a fresh commitment to the gospel
of God's Word and Love.
DQ 11
An excellent answer from Malcolm. We need to the learn the urgent priority
of evangelism and church planting in 'Jerusalem, Judea and Samarai and
to the ends of the earth', while building those already in the faith up
for a wide range of ministry and service.
Interested readers are welcome to contribute to a moderated discussion by emailing Stephen Webb, stephenw@uca.org.au.