Presbyterians.

The Presbyterian Church in Canada for the most part is a good denomination. I've grown a ton here. In terms of church government, I like the theory behind having courts of various levels to decide things. It's not as tyrannical as just having a bishop (like the Episcopalians) or having each congregation deciding for themselves - which depending on the pastor and elders - could have some serious issues as well. I like the theory behind the layout of half clergy and half lay people in Presbytery and higher. I like it that I'm forced to always wrestle out my theology because I am forced to sit with others that differ from me. I really like the emphasis on grace.

So why am I leaving? There's tons of reasons. Here's the main ones.

-I'm never going to a PCC school so I can get "recognized". The enrollment within the PCC schools is in sharp decline. Less and less younger people are choosing to go into ministry within this denomination. The education quality is sporadic and sometimes (like when I was there) VERY poor. When I went to VST, it was even heredical. I expected liberal Christian teaching. Was Mary really a virgin or did Jesus really rise from the dead kinda stuff. I wasn't expecting neo-pagan teaching. Jesus life, death and resurrection as just a mythic "form" to illustrate the cycles of life. Jesus was only a man and men have for ages oppressed women and creation and therefore Christians cannot worship only Jesus (this was from the Christology professor - and in her honor, I will capitalize 'Christology' even though I got that corrected on every paper I wrote). Or the ever offensive, "I like to picture Jesus on the cross with an erection because as a human, he would've had one." If you've got an axe to grind against men or orthodox Christianity, do it on your own time. Not in a theological institution that will train the future pastors of the church. Thanks VST. But no thanks. I worked my butt off doing my MDiv elsewhere. I struggled with my faith there but at the end of the day, I grew in my faith and my calling. And I greatly respected every single one of my professors. And that school happens to be growing in enrollment.

-Within the PCC, you can't get ordained unless you go to one of their schools - which I've explained why I'm not going. If you aren't ordained, you can't do communion or baptism. While I understand why, I don't understand why they don't make exceptions. If I do a hospital visit and someone is dying right then and they want to accept Christ and get baptized, am I supposed to say no and then call an ordained PCC minister to come - someone who potentially has no relationship with this person - so they can put holy water on their head? While I agree that not everyone should just go break bread and baptize people, any denomination that has rules that can't be shaped when it doesn't conflict Scripture doesn't have it right. Is God going to not honor a baptism or communion done by a non-ordained PCC elder or pastor? The Bible is clear to me when it says what a priesthood of all believers is.

-On that note, this denomination is built around the ideal of the priesthood of all believers. It's why it's an elder built denomination. But it isn't that way. Instead of feeling ostrasized by the odd arrogant pastor you meet, you feel ostrasized by a whole group of people. The first Session meeting I attended (to which I was invited), I raised my hand during a motion. A simple motion too - just to adopt the minutes of the last meeting I think. I got singled out by someone who looked at me and said loudly, "YOU can't VOTE! Put your hand down!" The first Presbytery meeting I attended, I was asked to present a report about camping ministry. I'd been in camping ministry for 12 straight summers at that point. I knew more about camping than most of those people added up. But I didn't know about that meeting apparently because my presentation was excluded because as a "point of order", I did something I should do - to which I still don't know what it was. At another time, (I'd been a pastor in the PCC for about 7 years at this point), I was serving as the english pastor at Chinese Church. There was pulpit exchange. Since I was the regular preacher in the English service, it made sense for me to do the exchange with the other church. But she wouldn't have it. Why? Because I can't bring official "greetings" from Presbytery. Let me get this right. I can be asked to serve on national committees. You'll let me have the pulpit weekly. I can speak at camps, churches, provincial and national events. You'll let me visit, marry and do funerals. But I can't say hello on behalf of Presbytery?

So here's the thing. I've been blessed to work in this denomination beside some exceptional individuals. Every church I've served in has been phenomenal. They have been supportive of me, my calling and without them, I wouldn't be me. I've worked hard to serve this denomination and the church - even sometimes when I would've done it differently. So for the most part, I move around the PCC quite freely already. I have no bone to pick with any of these churches or people. Truth be told, I'm sure if it were up to them, I'd be ordained right now. But why?

There's someone else out there going through this right now. Others that have before me. And some extremely gifted, called and exceptional people that have been shafted and left their calling because of this process and this structure. It's not Biblical or right. In this structure, who would've made it? Not Abraham, David, Peter or Paul. Jesus was a carpenters son. Would he have gotten his MDiv?