I was apparently one of five pelpoe who requested a 2012 application packet for GA stated clerk but did not send it in. After consultation with friends and family and open-ness in prayer, I was not led to apply. I did hope that someone else would apply and sent a letter to churchandworld.com to that effect.Here are some reasons I didn’t run:1. I have already run. Twice. I didn’t want to be Harold Stassen.2. The election of the clerk in a contested election at the end of GA makes it hard to beat the incumbent who is up there in front of folks all week.3. I got 25 % of the votes in 2008. I would assume many, but not all, of my votes were from evangelicals. But since the repeal of G-6.0106b, our numbers are diminishing.4. Even if I, or someone like me, were to be elected clerk, I think the chances of real change proceeding in a top down manner are slim. My real interest is Revival and revival in American churches is historically bottom up. I still am expectant about Revival in the PC(USA) not because of who we are but because of Who God is!5. As I have written in the past, while no system is perfect, and we are indeed always governed by imperfect systems, nevertheless I think it can be argued that there is some (intentional or unintentional) theological gerrymandering” in the selection of GA commissioners. By that I mean that a. larger membership congregations are numerically under-represented in the process (and they tend to be more evangelical) and b. because many teaching elders in specialized ministries are elected as commissioners, grassroots (read “rooted –in-the-life-of-a-particular-congregation”) representation is diminished. While I think the Assembly could vote to set aside the Standing Rules and accept nominations from the floor, I am not sure what that would accomplish. I do not see the lack of another nominee for GA stated clerk as a sign of vitality and life. I do not see it as a commentary pro or con on the job Gradye has done. I see it rather more an indication of fatigue and lack of hope that change can come about through contesting this office.Winfield Casey Jones, candidate for GA stated clerk, 2000 and 2008
I was apparently one of five pelpoe who requested a 2012 application packet for GA stated clerk but did not send it in. After consultation with friends and family and open-ness in prayer, I was not led to apply. I did hope that someone else would apply and sent a letter to churchandworld.com to that effect.Here are some reasons I didn’t run:1. I have already run. Twice. I didn’t want to be Harold Stassen.2. The election of the clerk in a contested election at the end of GA makes it hard to beat the incumbent who is up there in front of folks all week.3. I got 25 % of the votes in 2008. I would assume many, but not all, of my votes were from evangelicals. But since the repeal of G-6.0106b, our numbers are diminishing.4. Even if I, or someone like me, were to be elected clerk, I think the chances of real change proceeding in a top down manner are slim. My real interest is Revival and revival in American churches is historically bottom up. I still am expectant about Revival in the PC(USA) not because of who we are but because of Who God is!5. As I have written in the past, while no system is perfect, and we are indeed always governed by imperfect systems, nevertheless I think it can be argued that there is some (intentional or unintentional) theological gerrymandering” in the selection of GA commissioners. By that I mean that a. larger membership congregations are numerically under-represented in the process (and they tend to be more evangelical) and b. because many teaching elders in specialized ministries are elected as commissioners, grassroots (read “rooted –in-the-life-of-a-particular-congregation”) representation is diminished. While I think the Assembly could vote to set aside the Standing Rules and accept nominations from the floor, I am not sure what that would accomplish. I do not see the lack of another nominee for GA stated clerk as a sign of vitality and life. I do not see it as a commentary pro or con on the job Gradye has done. I see it rather more an indication of fatigue and lack of hope that change can come about through contesting this office.Winfield Casey Jones, candidate for GA stated clerk, 2000 and 2008