Three thoughts: first, G.A. meets too often. It is a blessing that it no longer meets yearly (a change that took place in 2004), but once every two years is still too often. Every time G.A. meets, all of the scabs of our denominational wounds get ripped off, every controversy is put back on the front burner, and more tremors of unease ripple their way through the churches. The future of the denomination does not lie in the G.A. anyway, so why keep doing this to ourselves? Second, it is now only a matter of time until yet another significant number of more conservative churches leave. The next trigger will be when PC(USA) decides, as it surely will, to redefine marriage as being between two individuals rather than between a man and a woman. That decision will inevitably cost us many (hundreds of?) congregations. There is no sense worrying about it. Again, the future of our churches (the ones that stay) will not be materially affected by those that leave. Third, what matters is the renewal of local church life. The higher echelons of the denomination don't seem to have much to contribute to that renewal, and (as has been said here before) we need to focus our energies and attention on the task of renewal and put aside worry over denominational structures, which have become a political football field for demonstrating our lack of love for each other across ideologies. We need to move on.
