Point of Order! The Musical

Valentines 2009 was a great day to take your lover to the theatre in the Presbytery of the Pines. At the quadrennial meeting, the traveling company of Should Gays and Lesbians Be Ordained?, the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s longest running on- and off-GA spectacular, was in town for a quick twelve minute matinee followed by a show of hands vote. This incarnation--a revival that, as always, had the cast squaring off similar to a production of West Side Story--proposed to amend the infamous Amendment B, "Fidelity and Chastity," to a softer "those who are called to ordained service... pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ."

Over the years, the production has lost most of its charm. Like Cats and A Chorus Line (Broadway hits with similar tenures) it has its devotees, but the debate's persistence, its rotating cast and its tendency to evoke only archetypal characters who eschew nuance has led to performances packed only with weary audiences. And yet, the underlying genius of the text, its almost self-aware adaptation and malleability, continues to fill the seats. This year, two relatively new numbers were the highlight of the show. The strong, sombre tone of "Didn't We Settle This Thirty Years Ago? Speaking Against the Motion" sung to follow the brash, young and new Large Steeple Pastor with his "We've Been Fighting About This as Long as I've Been Alive--and Presbyterian. Speaking For the Motion". Pastors both, the vocalists let their baritone timbre deepen the mood of the room, and yet, one could feel the pair chafing under the limits of their roles, the simple duality of a generational conflict.

An air of timidity ran through the whole production, showing itself in the slightly tremulous voices of every range, especially in the Moderator's opening number, "Before Our Discussion, Let's All Pray. God Help Us, Please." More than likely, the fear inherent in the production kept many minds closed, stopped up ears, and failed to convince audience members one way or the other. Such is always the case when fear overwhelms trust in one another.

However, the numbers of the production that truly grate on an audience are those that have been done and overdone, such as the culturally aware, "What Will This Vote Say About Our Church, Our Morality, Our Faith?", a melodramatic and nearly operatic, "Against" piece that threatens to dominate any and all discussion. Seated in rows that might as well have been Great War-era trenches, those listening to the morality argument, could recognize it for its thinness, no matter how dressed up it was. The softer "For" song, a duet separated by the rigid format (one at a time, alternating between for and against, two minutes maximum time limit), highlighted the new amendment's appeal to Christ rather than culture and thereby introduced a more theological rather than political tone. Overall, audience members were left to wonder where the Biblical and Historic Theological arguments of old have gone. In their heyday, well-tuned Biblical and Theological arguments could--improperly--strike like a bludgeon. But when they were used kindly and faithfully, they could uplift an audience with the voice of God. It is a sign of exhaustion that American pop-Christianity so governs our performances that we have been reduced to appeals without strong Biblical basis.

Despite its long run, Should Gays and Lesbians Be Ordained? fails to evoke the power and majesty of its inspiring original: Should Gentiles Be Welcomed Into the Church?--the classic work central to the book The Acts of the Apostles. No one in our updated version has been able to replicate the complexity of character shown by Peter who stands strong, argues with God, waffles, retracts, endures critique, and finally becomes a paragon of the mission to the Gentiles. And no firebrand such as Paul has appeared, denounced and adored, angered and impassioned to write and fight through death threats, firm in his belief that God does in fact call people to ministry who weren't welcomed yesterday. The intricacies of such characters, their compromises and failings, and eventual transcending of entrenchments seems beyond the capabilities of even the most postmodern denominational theatre troupe. Instead, "Gays and Lesbians" descends into narrow votes (34-36 in Presbytery of the Pines) which ultimately leave the show unsatisfying and guarantee a return performance in years to come. Such close conflict threatens to divide theatre-goers and destroy the fabric of our life together.

Many have said that as more time passes, the show will simply end. We hear often that the younger generation despises such thin texts and is unable to comprehend "why we're still discussing this." Their faith in the mounting evidence that men and women can have same-sex partners and still serve God fully and obediently is incontrovertible, as the common wisdom runs. But perhaps with more work, more confidence, more listening to God's voice in Biblical texts (cf. "what God has made clean, do not call profane" - Acts 10:15), we can recast and rewrite Should Gays and Lesbians Be Ordained? so that it ends our political war of attrition years in advance, introduces a depth of Biblical and theological insight that will inspire generations to come and reshapes the American pop-Christian culture before it destroys us.

Comments

[Teri]

teehee!

You forgot my favorite number, "Speaking Against: this is about choices just like murder is about choices!"

we ended up 57-73 in Blackhawk...at least it wasn't on Valentine's Day.

[Chris]

Bravo! Encore!

I laughed. I cried. It was better than "Cats."

Oh, and the Lutherans will have our sexuality debate drama in cities and small towns around the country this spring at synod assemblies, and this summer at our BiAnnual Churchwide Assembly. Should be fun.

[Jared]

Oh! Oh! You missed my favorite number!

Spiraling Down the Great Abyss is a lively little dance number featuring men and women dressed in alternating solid white and solid black undulating rhythmically in the background while actors in the foreground portray scenes which we shant repeat in mixed company on the internet, with the clear intent of "prophetically" speaking to what sinful acts we would be lulled into ignorant acceptance of next, as we slip down into the abhorrent.

Bring the kiddos! It's a charming family event.