I am so excited! On Saturday night the Presbyterian Church (USA) elected its new moderator. Normally I am somewhat intrigued about who the commissioners to General Assembly will call as moderator. Being an a denomination that has predominately retirees, I also expect the moderator to be someone who is at least 60. And yet this year is a different year.
Like our political system who has a Democratic candidate for President of the US much under the expected age, it seems the PC(USA) is also searching for answers from a fresh spirit. I first learned about Bruce Reyes-Chow while listening to my favorite podcast: Decently and In Order http://www.decently.org/podcast/ I listened to all the candidates, but I really liked Bruce right off. He seemed very interested in being a faithful presence, living a life of integrity and walking through life in a emerging way with all of us. I could see why the congregation he serves must adore him -- He seems to be real with all of us.
And isn't that what we all need -- someone who is willing to walk through life with us, someone who will ask the tough questions whether they know the answers or not, someone who will live a life of integrity in all their relationships. Isn't that what we all strive for.
Now I admit I may be putting the bar a little high for Bruce, but I believe God has put him in the place he is now and given him the gifts needed to do what is need -- to journey through tough waters, through times for fear, questions, anger and outrage and into places of crisis and peace, joy and suffering and to be there with us in a real and loving way.
Thank you Bruce for stepping up and being the type of leader our church and our world needs.
