{"id":25656,"date":"2021-01-25T20:47:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T20:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?p=25656"},"modified":"2023-08-01T15:20:20","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T15:20:20","slug":"what-church-is-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/what-church-is-for\/","title":{"rendered":"What Church is For"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”750px” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”on” custom_width_px=”750px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”http:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?page_id=3027″ button_text=”Return to Reflections” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”3.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14″ button_text_color=”#e09900″ button_border_color=”#e09900″ background_layout=”dark” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_post_title categories=”off” comments=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ parallax_effect=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”4px” hide_on_mobile=”on”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ header_font=”|on|||” header_font_size=”66px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”justified” max_width=”750px” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]
\n
\n
\n
\n

\u201cI was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.\u201d<\/h2>\n

Matthew 25:35-36<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Sometimes I fear that I am too boastful about our presbytery. I often point to our presbytery in national meetings because of our diversity, our welcome to immigrant communities, and the demonstrated understanding of the Presbyterian trust clause that enables us to stay relevant in our changing community. For those who aren\u2019t steeped in Presbyterian polity, the trust clause comes from the Constitution, G-4.0203:<\/p>\n

All property held by or for a congregation, a presbytery, a synod, the General Assembly, or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), whether legal title is lodged in a corporation, a trustee or trustees, or an unincorporated association, and whether the property is used in programs of a congregation or of a higher council or retained for the production of income, is held in trust nevertheless for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).<\/p>\n

Therefore, if any property ceases to be used in accordance with the Constitution, it is to be transferred to the presbytery so it can be used more effectively in support of the mission of God through the PC(USA).<\/p>\n

I can boast about this presbytery because all of the characteristics of diversity, immigrant welcome, and stewardship were present before I joined the staff. As I studied the history of this presbytery, there were key leaders who trusted and loved God enough to be willing to partner with new ministries if it looked like our congregations could not serve the community for whatever reason. So our churches have partnered with, and at times given property to, new churches who better reflected and served the community\u2014and San Gabriel Valley happens to be a land of rapidly changing demographics, blessed with the presence of immigrants from many lands. I don\u2019t know any presbytery that has kept up with the demographic changes in their territory than San Gabriel has.<\/p>\n

This attitude of evangelism and generosity is also reflected in our presbytery\u2019s mission statement: To expand the Kingdom of God in the San Gabriel Valley by building a relational Body of Christ that ministers to our congregations, each other, and the world.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. To strengthen, support and equip our congregations in their work of ministry;<\/li>\n
  2. To take time for each other by worshiping, praying, celebrating, supporting and depending upon one another;<\/li>\n
  3. To work for the transformation of the valley by sharing our faith in Jesus Christ, becoming a mosaic of Godly diversity in a deeply divided society, and by demonstrating our faith by engagement in public<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In recent years, we have focused on the last part of this mission statement, paraphrasing it as a useful way to describe what we consider a vital congregation: a church that works for the transformation of its neighborhood by being disciples of Jesus Christ, reflecting God\u2019s realm in the loving diversity of our communities, and demonstrating our faith through public engagement.<\/p>\n

    Because we have been well attuned to our mission as Christ\u2019s church in this valley, the national staff considered us to be a model of their emerging vision for the Presbyterian Church (USA) as a \u201cMatthew 25 church.\u201d In fact, there was some confusion when the national church made this commitment, because we in Southern California were already connected with the Matthew 25<\/a> Southern California <\/a>movement, which focuses on caring for immigrants facing distress, following Christ\u2019s statement that \u201chow you treat the most vulnerable is how you treat me.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Our incoming moderator, Deborah Owens, wants us to explore more intentionally the call to be a Matthew 25 church, at the congregational and presbytery level. So starting with tomorrow\u2019s Presbytery meeting, we will begin looking at this commitment. Specifically, the Presbyterian Mission Agency asks Matthew 25 congregations and presbyteries to embrace one or more of these three focuses:<\/p>\n