Vice Moderator McCabe Resigns After 36 Hours In Office

We often see things so very differently.

I saw the election of McCabe as a very positive statement about our church.  I saw it as a symbol of a divided church that could work together.  The new Moderator, Presa, opposes same-sex marriages.  The new Vice Moderator he selected and whom the General Assembly approved with a small majority, favors and has even participated in a marriage between two women.

As a church we seek the peace, unity and purity of the church - that is, in fact, a phrase from our Presbyterian ordination vows.  It is a true challenge to have all three. We sometimes strive for peace at the expense of purity, or sacrifice unity in favor of purity.

Others saw the election of McCabe very differently.

David Fischler in his blog, Stand Firm, had this to say:


It was a slim margin of victory for McCabe, yes, but think about what that says about the denomination. It says that in the PCUSA, the Book of Order, the constitution of the church, the rules by which order is brought to a large organization, are of no consequence. You can ignore them at will, and still be rewarded with election ot high office.

What I saw, obnoxious optimist that I am, was a sign of unity in a divided church struggling to interpret and live by God's Word.  Others saw it as a shame.

This afternoon, McCabe addressed the General Assembly and announced her resignation as the Vice Moderator.

The mood was somber as McCabe spoke to the General Assembly.  She referred to comments on Twitter and in blogs that she described as “unhelpful and frankly divisive comments” since her election. Moderator Neal Presa mentioned that some of these have been included a public letter to McCabe.  

I am not sure, but if the open letter is the one that most people I've talked with say it is, the letter simply asked for McCabe to speak publicly about her views on same sex marriage.  (That letter can be found here).

Dialogue and debate are what Presbyterians do, and this issue begs for debate.  It is not perfectly clear how she participated in the wedding, but if she officiated she could be in violation of the church's constitution - such an evaluation is not made by Facebook or Twitter chatter, but by judicial action.  At this time, there is no disciplinary action against her.

The moderator also referred to rumors of an effort to ask the assembly to reconsider her election; and even questions about "the authenticity and veracity" of their friendship of more than 11 years. 

That says just enough, and leaves just enough unsaid, that it prompts the rumor mill to go into a higher gear that it has been up until now.

All in all, it is a sad moment, but let me offer two comments.

First, McCabe has a right to make this decision.  No one made it for her.  There is no reason for most of us to take any approach other than to support her in her decision.  And to keep her, and our church in prayer. 

Second, this unusual development is not the focus of what we are doing here.  We are here to do the work of the Presbyterian Church (or for some of us, like me, to simply observe and not vote - so much easier to do).  There is a lot of work for the General Assembly to do, so let's focus on that work.

And as for having a Vice Moderator?  The Moderator has named Tom Trinidad, from Faith Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, Co.   That election will be held later tonight.