Presbyterians Play the Long Game


The "original" Presbyterian denomination, Presbyterian Church of America, the one that existed before the split over gay marriage and remains in business today, has voted to accept gay members and preachers. Presbyterians who split off because they want to discriminate started a different denomination. I wrote "original" Presbyterians because even that organization is the result of arguments and splits going back hundreds of years.

I was a Presbyterian for several decades. I was even a deacon. For a long time a right-wing publication published by an angry group of Presbyterians came to our home. It hammered on the gay rights direction of the denomination. I learned later a wealthy member of our local church paid to have the publication sent to all local members. The group cranking out the publication was holding its own meetings and making plans. It then split off taking a large number of churches with it. 

That this split took place is not important. Both groups will carry on. The difference is that the group that split off are older and probably more rural--a declining demographic. The original group is younger and more urban has a chance of surviving longer. 

I've repeated here often that the branch of Christianity most like to hang on is not the most passionate branch. The passionate branch quotes scripture, points fingers at those they don't like and is obnoxious. The branch most likely to hang on is younger, cooler, more tolerant and less judgmental. Holy wars will continue but one side has better odds than the other. 

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