Robert's Ramblings

Sinfully Proud to Be Presbyterian

      That's the caption on T-shirts offered for sale in celebration of Synod of the Sun's sesquicentennial.  (A synod is a Presbyterian regional body, in this case comprised of presbyteries in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.)

      Want to wear your pride in being Presbyterian?  T-shirts are available at the ridiculously low price of $5 (S&H included) from the synod office in Carrollton.  (Look for order blanks in the Narthex at ARC or in the office at PRC.)

      The whimsical inscription was inspired by Marge Carpenter, press secretary to Lady Bird Johnson, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and tireless Presbyterian missions advocate.   She says, "When anyone asks me what I'd be if I weren't Presbyterian, I tell them I'd be ashamed."  (I've heard my friend, Dr. James Gilbert, Executive Director (retired) of Cumberland Home in Denton say the same about being Cumberland Presbyterian.  So, I guess this pride just runs in the Presbyterian/Reformed family.)

      Synod of the Sun Executive, Judy Record Fletcher, used Presbyterian pride as a centerpiece for her editorial in the February/March issue of The Presbyterian SUN.  She graciously gave me permission to quote her.  She set a context of difficulties we deal with, from the necessity of redefining our assumptions after September 11 to, in the PC(USA), this divisive time we are going through as a national church.  (You may read or hear occasionally about some of the issues.  They touch us as a congregation, but their divisiveness has not spilled over to affect this congregation's unity, mission or purpose.  DON'T LET IT!)

      In the editorial, Judy said in part:

…So why are a group of Presbyterians in the Synod of the Sun smiling and wearing T-shirts that say, Sinfully Proud to be Presbyterian?

I think in part it is because God is enabling us to be people of faith during difficult times.  God is affirming that, while being Presbyterian isn't the most important thing in the world, it is very important for many of us who have come to know Jesus Christ.  It is very important to many who have been raised by saints of the church and who know the presence of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives specifically through the Presbyterian Church.

[ T ]he message of the T-shirts is to nudge us to remember the good the Presbyterian church does and to acknowledge that...we are grateful for the continued ministry and faith of hundreds of thousands of Presbyterians.

      Speaking of pride, I have another focus for mine and I hope it will be so for you.  That is what this congregation does to help make possible some very important work in our community.  Did you see Steve Blow's column in the February 8 Dallas Morning News?  He devoted it to Recovery, Inc.

      The local chapter of Recovery, Inc. meets weekly at the Audelia Road Campus.  It provides peer and self-help support for people dealing with mental health issues.

      Let me back track a moment.  Not so long ago, victims of mental illness were most often called "crazies."  Now we understand.  They aren't crazy; they have an illness that is physiological in origin.  Their brains don't function as they should, so they have to contend with depression, anxiety, panic, bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia.  A new family of medicines allows tremendous strides in successful treatment, making the brain do as it should.  But medication alone isn't enough.  People dealing with mental illness also need understanding, support and guidance.  That is what organizations like Recovery, Inc. provide.

      I'm not through:  Dallas NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) meets monthly at our Plano Road Campus.  NAMI works for mental health in a variety of arenas:  education, advocacy, research and treatment, and support for the mentally ill, their families and care-givers.

      Not only do we provide space for both agencies but also our members are directly involved.  If anyone wishes a confidential contact with either, please speak with me.

      Wait, there's more:  My Guardian Angel is another helping organization whose meetings we host.  It has a different focus:  children who have lost a parent through death, divorce, separation or abandonment.  MGA groups children of the same age together and has an on-site counselor to help such children understand what has happened in their lives, that they aren't to blame and that others go through separation experiences like theirs.

      Yep, I'm proud to be both Presbyterian (PCUSA) and Cumberland Presbyterian.  And, yep, I am very proud of the long association our church has with some very important helping agencies.

-- Robert E Shelton