SF Presbytery

Tonight I found myself wrapped up in the vote on 10-A by the San Francisco Presbytery.  I am not a member of this presbytery but I do sit on a working group with the presbytery.  I felt like a totally geek refreshing my twitter screen.  Why did I care so much?  It wasn't until the vote saw announced, that was certain I wanted the vote to be yes.  When did I become a yes vote? 

I grew up at Walnut Creek Presbyterian (which is a member of the San Francisco Presbytery and the location of the last vote which impacted inclusively in ordination standards) a long time conservative interpretation vote on these types of issues.  And I supported my church's stance, I believed they we standing up against new age thinking creeping into Christianity.    It felt like a heroic fight we simply had to win.  I saw so relived every time we repelled this attack on our faith. 

But then I  left for college and despite some time with InterVaristy and a Reformed Church of America church I abandoned my faith.  I got into all kinds of different ways of thinking.  I tried Wicca. I got super into Astrology and reading astrological charts.  But when my heart was broken and nothing was bringing me comfort I found myself at Fremont Presbyterian in Sacramento.  I am back in the conservative arms of the PCUSA.  It felt warm and comforting and we were again fighting against the same attacks on the faith I knew growing up. I dove into church, created a community of friends and then God talked me into going to seminary.  God did pick any seminary; God went with San Francisco Theological Seminary, a seminary known for having a liberal interpretation of theological issues. 

I did not think I would alter my stance.  But I have.  I believe that God is love and that God so loved the world that he gave his son.  A love so strong as to give your child is an extreme love and an extreme expression of love.  I combine this concept of extreme love with the example that is the Trinity of God.  God within Godself is three people, traditionally called the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  While God is three people God is also one person.  God works together as three people to accomplish one goal that they all share together, bring about the Kingdom of God.

To Be Continued...

Here We Go

So, this is my third or fourth go around with blogging. In typically ENFP fashion, I start things with gusto and drop things when I get bored. Lately, I've felt the need to process my thoughts "on paper" instead of in my head.
I've called this blog "In the Meantime." Picking names hasn't been a strong suit of mine but this phrase came to mind and after a quick google check a name was born. The name feels like a fit because after spending several years working for a Master's Divinity, a prerequisite for ordination in the Presbyterian Church USA, I am not yet at the end of this road to ordination. I have had to take a break from the process. This blog is an attempt to understand this break. I did not want to take this break but know it's better to try to use this time than get bitter about it.
So we'll see how this goes.