Names are
very important. It is interesting in Genesis 2:19-23, God give the man the
opportunity to name all the creatures of the earth. The, in the account, the
female was created and the man called this creature “woman.” This new creature
was the only one with which the man made a personal identification. I can
imagine the man pointing to the different creatures and saying in a rote
pattern: that’s a horse, that’s a cow, that’s a Northern pike, that’s a sloth,
that’s a……. But with the creation of this last creature, I can imagine the man
jumping up and down with excitement, “This at last is bone of my bones and
flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was
taken.” (NRSV) This last creature was one with which the Man directly
identified.
Maybe I have
related this previously, but when my wife and I were expecting our children she
wanted names which were not frequently used in her kindergarten classes. I
wanted names which had a deeper meaning to them. We wore out more than one baby
names book. So for our first born, a boy, we settled on Quinn (Irish, wisdom or
the wise) and Amiel (Hebrew, the people of God). Our second born, a girl, we
chose Chaya (Hebrew, life) and Elizabeth (Hebrew, the gift or promise of God). Not
names frequently found in clsssrooms and names with a deeper meaning.
In Scripture
there are several instances of people being given a different name to indicate
a change in who/what they are. Abram become Abraham. Sari becomes Sarah. Jacob
become Israel. Saul becomes Paul. Simon become Peter. What we call something
speaks to its purpose or essence.
I have been fascinated
with the changing names for various things or functions in the PC(USA) Book of
Order. At one time the four decision making bodies were known a judicatories or
courts. Their purpose was to make wise decisions for the life of the church and
to render discipline as appropriate (really meaning to settle differences in
behavior and theology.) Then, with the 1983 reunion and the cultural distancing
from “discipline,” the name of these bodies was changed to “governing bodies.” Again, in the first decade of the
Twenty-first Century, the cultural enmity toward centralized, impositional,
governance the name was changed to councils. The effort was to reframe the work
of these bodies to be more for discernment than disciplining or governing. The
idea is what we call it creates its purpose.
Another
example of our renaming has had to do with those who are charged to provide
theological leadership within congregations. From Scotland the name was
Minister of the Word. As we began to experience liturgical renewal and the
sacraments were lifted up, the name was expanded to be Minister of Word and Sacrament.
There was a move to reclaim some of the other designations for this functional role,
among which was bishop which had been used in pre-reunion days. Again in the
early decade of this Century, the ecclesiastical name was changed to teaching
elder. Some would say the name is a rather limiting name for the role, and one
nobody outside of the officialdom of the PC(USA) understands what it means.
A third
instance of changing names in the Book of Order and life of the church has been
for some serving in non-ordained specialize service in the church. One of the
oldest, I remember, was commissioned church worker. People with that
designation may, or may not, have received some special preparation to serve as
Christian educators or who had been given permission to lead worship in
congregations without an ordained minister. In the later years of the 20th
Century that designation disappeared and a new name and function was given. In
order to provide worship leadership for far-flung or language specific
congregations the title of certified lay preacher was bestowed upon some.
Within a couple of years that name was changed to Commissioned Lay Pastor, and
a host of possible additional functions were added. In the early years of the
21st Century the name was changed to Ruling Elders Commissioned to
particular pastoral service. The keep it short they are known as Commissioned Ruling
Elders.
The changing
of names has become a difficult hurdle for some in the church. It could be
likened to changing from the American System of measurement to the metric
systems of measurement. It can be very mind twisting. How can we be clear about
naming roles and functions without having to have people learn a new language? How
do we remain identified excitedly identified with a particular thing if we are
always changing its name? Follow this line, the General Assembly Council and
the General Assembly Mission Board became the General Assembly Mission Council
and then became the General Assembly Mission Agency. Now, there is discussion
of combining the General Assembly Mission Agency and the Office of the General
Assembly into something which is yet to be named.
I guess we
adapt the old rule that “form follows function,” and roll with “name follows function
and cultural sensitivities.” Even the Bard deals with the difficulty of what
one is named and places it upon the lips of Juliet,
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a
Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor
foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other
name!
What's in a name? that which we call a
rose
By any other name would smell as
sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo
call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he
owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy
name,
And for that name which is no part of
thee
Take all myself. (Romeo and Juliet)
Wow! Very nicely stated Brother!
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