America Passes the Torch to the Joshua Generation -- What it means for the PC(U.S.A.)

The emergence of the Joshua Generation in the PC(U.S.A.)


We saw signs of the emergence of the Joshua Generation at the General Assembly (GA) in San Jose in June. By a wide margin the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) elected Bruce Reyes-Chow as Moderator. Like Obama, Reyes-Chow is young, incredibly smart, a gifted communicator, comfortable with new technologies, a facilitator who knows how to harness the wisdom of the larger group, and completely comfortable in a globalized, diverse, post-racial, post-gender, post-partisan interconnected world. Both Obama and Reyes-Chow openly acknowledge their support for LGBT equality. Now obviously there are many significant differences between Obama and Reyes-Chow (for example, Obama seems to like wearing a tie) but I think it's important to note the PC(U.S.A.) recognized and elected a leader of the Joshua Generation before the national trend became apparent.

It also wasn't lost on anyone in the room at GA watching the voting results bar charts on the big screens that the Youth Advisory Delegates (YADS) had already moved beyond the divisions of the past. By wide margins, YADS voted in favor of overtures to end discrimination in the church against people who are LGBT. The YADS sent a signal to the GA commissioners and the wider church that the future of the denomination will be one of inclusiveness, diversity, and equality.

Did homophobic decisions cost McCain the election?

Florida is the fourth most populous state in the country, a state Obama carried by just 2%, a state that McCain badly needed to win if he hoped to be elected President. Selecting the popular Republican Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, as McCain's running mate would have been a natural choice. But unconfirmed rumors that Governor Crist might be gay caused the conservative base of the Republican party to veto Crist and throw their support behind Sarah Palin instead. Obama obviously ran a brilliant campaign. But it's interesting, with the benefit of hindsight, to wonder how the election might have turned out if McCain had bucked the homophobes in his party and chosen Crist, rather than reigniting the culture wars by picking Palin.

Also noteworthy in this election, Marilyn Musgrave, one of the most virulently homophobic members of Congress and the author of the Federal Marriage Amendment, running in a reliably Republican district, was soundly defeated by her opponent Betsy Markey. Furthermore, Colorado elected its first openly gay member of Congress -- Jared Polis (interesting side note: Polis' mother, Susan Polis Schutz, is the producer of the movie Anyone and Everyone that I mentioned in my last e-mail). When voters were given a chance to actually get to know an LGBT candidate -- the candidates tended to do quite well in local elections across the country.

The work still to be done


Amidst the jubilation and celebration of the election of Obama last night, there was also tremendous sadness as anti-gay ballot measures passed in Arizona, Florida, Arkansas, and California. It shows the work still ahead for the Joshua Generation -- to educate, organize, and reach across demographic divides to build new coalitions.

But let's not forget: in 2000 in California an anti-gay ballot measure passed by a 22% margin. Yesterday the margin was 5% and that could still shrink or disappear entirely as all the absentee ballots are counted. That's tremendous progress in just 8 years. Yesterday, nearly 5 million Californians stood up for marriage equality and put 5 million cracks in the wall of discrimination.

Heading into the voting in the Presbyteries on Ordination Amendment 08-B, the PC(U.S.A.) once again has a chance to be a beacon for justice. Can we end discrimination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by passing Amendment 08-B? Yes we can. Can we usher in a new era of hope and growth in the PC(U.S.A.) by voting for equality? Yes we can. Can we listen to the vision and aspirations of the Joshua Generation and together build a more perfect church and nation, founded on the principles of love, grace, and justice? Yes, by the grace of God, we can.

MLP is fired up and ready to go. If you have a moment, send me an e-mail (toby@mlp.org) to let me know what's happening in your Presbytery. Visit our Resources Page to get tools to support the discernment process in your Presbytery. Talk with 5 friends in your Presbytery about why you support LGBT equality. Also, please make a donation to support our work. In the coming days, I'll be posting additional ideas and resources for how we can move the debate forward in the church.