GA06084

Richard Mouw challenges evangelical Presbyterians

by Eva Stimson

BIRMINGHAM, June 19 — Don't get too excited about what General Assemblies do or don't do, Fuller Theological Seminary President Richard Mouw advised nearly 300 people attending a breakfast Monday sponsored by Presbyterians for Renewal.

"What we should be excited about," Mouw said, "is the real general assembly — the one described in Revelation 19. … God is preparing all creation for something wonderful. Our job is to align ourselves with God's mission."

In his keynote address, "Renewing Presbyterianism," Mouw said evangelicals need to be asking the question: "What does the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) need to be like in order to align itself with what God is doing in the world?"

One of the marks of evangelicalism, he said, is a "cross-centered" theology. Quoting the familiar hymn, he continued: "Each of us can say that because of Calvary, 'It is well with my soul.' Through Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven, because of a sacrifice we could never have made on our own."

But evangelicals need to take their theology a step further, he declared. "God looks at creation and says, 'It is not well with the world I created.' So we have to call the evangelical movement to a larger vision of peace and justice in the world."

Mouw called for development of a biblically grounded theology of sexuality and the family: "Evangelicals need to do a better job of developing a pastoral theology of sexuality, so that we can effectively minister to people in their temptation and brokenness."

He urged evangelical Presbyterians to work on building links with the wider church rather than creating divisions. "We need an expanded, rather than a reduced connectionalism," he said. "We need new ways of connecting with the global church. … We can't just go off into a corner by ourselves."

A highlight of the breakfast was the presentation of the Bell-Mackay Prize to veteran missionaries Durwood "Woody" and Barbara Busse. Named for medical missionary L. Nelson Bell and John Mackay, former president of Princeton Theological Seminary, the prize is given to outstanding Presbyterians who have advanced the unity and mission of the church in their lives and ministries.

In presenting the award, Marian McClure, director of the PC(USA)'s Worldwide Ministries Division, said the Busses "represent the best of the commitments and practices of Presbyterians in mission." She praised their "extraordinary gifts for joyful and relational evangelism."

The Busses spoke briefly about their ministry in Iran, Pakistan and Central Asia, and in churches in Cincinnati and suburban San Francisco.