Download Star Trek - Salem Presbytery

3950 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC
www.salempresbytery.org
P. O. Box 1763, Clemmons, NC 27012
336.766.3393 Fax: 336.766.7153
March 5, 2015
Star Trek, Robert’s Rules of Order and Marriage – A More Excellent Way
After a morning of worship and joy in the afternoon I listened to the anguish in the voices of
many of those who rose at our February Presbytery meeting to speak to the motion from two of
our church sessions regarding the Heartland Presbytery overture to the General Assembly related
to issues arising from the legalization of same-gender marriages in certain states. I could not
help but think about the science fiction series Star Trek, in which there is a “simulation” test
known as the “Kobayashi Maru” that is given to cadets at Starfleet Federation Academy. In the
scenario the cadet receives a distress signal stating that the spaceship Kobayashi Maru has
struck an explosive mine in the Klingon (enemies of the Federation) Neutral Zone and is rapidly
losing power, hull integrity and life support. There are no other vessels nearby. The cadet is
faced with a decision:


Attempt to rescue the Kobayashi Maru's crew and passengers, which involves violating
the Neutral Zone and potentially provoking the Klingons into hostile action or an all-out
war; or
Abandon the Kobayashi Maru, potentially preventing war but leaving the crew and
passengers to die.
If the cadet chooses to save the Kobayashi Maru, the scenario progresses quickly. The bridge
officers notify the cadet that they are in violation of the treaty. As the starship enters the Neutral
Zone, the communications officer loses contact with the crippled vessel. Klingon starships then
appear on an intercept course. Attempts to contact them are met with radio silence; indeed, their
only response is to open fire with devastating results. There is no way to win the resulting battle,
especially since the computer is allowed to "cheat" to guarantee defeat; the simulation ends with
the understanding that the cadet's ship has been lost with all hands. The objective of the test is
not for the cadet to outfight the opponent but rather to test the cadet's reaction to a no-win
situation. In the history of the exam, the only cadet to win was Captain James Kirk, because he
“re-programmed” the computer to allow a hopeful conclusion.
In dealing with issues surrounding homosexuality the “simulation” we encounter is one in which
one side of the argument “wins” and the other side “loses”. The “computer” of Roberts’ Rules of
Order “frames” the question into a win-lose argument. Ron Heifeitz, whose book Leadership
Without Easy Answers makes the point that there are two types of problems – “technical”
problems – in which the problem is clear, the resources are readily available, and the people
needed to solve the problem are present. The second type of problem is “adaptive” – in which
the issues are clouded – unclear – solutions are not obvious – more learning and exploring is
required – and the people needed to solve the problem are scattered or yet to be discovered.
With many of the issues we have “voted” on we have applied “Roberts Rules of Order” which is
a “technical” problem solution. The anguish and unease we feel is because we are seeking to
solve an adaptive problem with a technical solution. It is a Kobayashi Maru scenario. The
“computer” is designed to end up with a win-lose result.
Our question as Salem Presbytery echoes the dilemma faced by the apostle Paul in the church in
Corinth: “Regarding this next item, I'm not at all pleased. I am getting the picture that when you
meet together it brings out your worst side instead of your best! First, I get this report on your
divisiveness, competing with and criticizing each other. I'm reluctant to believe it, but there it is.”
– Eugene Peterson The Message.
What follows is a discussion of their divisiveness over how the Corinthians celebrate the Lord’s
Supper – and their internal “scrambling” over one another to assert that their “spiritual gift” was
just a little bit better than that of their neighbors. Paul talks about the diversity of the “Body” of
Christ and then concludes chapter 12 with this “…And now I will show you a still more
excellent way.” I Corinthians 13 then bursts forth with his affirmation that the greatest gift of
all is love. Paul is “re-programming” the computer for how we are to act in one another’s
presence. Perhaps we might yield to his encouragement and shift our attempts to deal with
difficult issues to “discussions” and “sharing” instead of “voting”. In our discussions we can
acknowledge in love that both sides have genuine issues of conscience, perspectives on scripture
that are in tension. I think we will need a new way to “live” into the answers to the questions we
face rather than “voting” into the answers.
We must admit, as one spiritual teacher pointed out, that “no mud, no Lotus flower.” Being a
human being is messy and muddy – and yet somehow God continues to “sanctify” us and helps
the “flowers” of beauty and love to emerge from within our failures and shortcomings. Before
any attempts to deal with our adaptive problems we might do well to practice loving-kindness
with ourselves, and with those with whom we disagree. The spiritual discipline is to offer up the
prayer that the “other” (who is a “thou” – not an “it”) may be Healthy , Happy, Peaceful, and
Safe. I hope that those prayers would bring us together in the name of Jesus Christ, who is
present with us and loves us each and everyone. John O’Donohue, the Irish spiritual teacher
offers us this blessing for each new day, “May I live this day Compassionate of heart, Clear in
word, Gracious in awareness, Courageous in thought, Generous in love.”
Gracefully, Sam Marshall