Dinner at Cairnwood, featured an expression of affection for Bishop and Mrs. Kline. The wives of
the clergy gave Mrs. Kline a necklace, and for Bishop Kline the ministers commissioned a special
ceramic bowl. There were toasts and a song played and sung by the Rev. Dr. Jonathan S. Rose.
A Tribute to the Klines: Later that afternoon, the sacrament of the Holy
Supper was offered for clergy and wives at the Cathedral, with Bishop Peter
Buss Jr. officiating. In the evening, dinner was enjoyed at Cairnwood, featuring
an. expression of affection for Bishop and Mrs. Kline, now in retirement. The
wives of the clergy had earlier given Mrs. Kline a beautiful necklace.
The ministers told Bishop Kline of the ceramic bowl they had commissioned
which would commemorate his aspiration for the New Church to be known as
“the marriage church.” There were toasts and a song sung at Tom’s retirement,
set to the tune of “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” with a verse added for Nina, was
played and sung by the Rev. Dr. Jonathan S. Rose.
THURSDAY, JUNE 26
The Rev. Christopher A. Barber led worship, reading from Leviticus 10:1-11
about the fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu when they offered incense with
“strange” fire. Their demise is a warning of the separation from the Lord and
loss of truth that happens when we do the uses of the church from any motive
other than those which the Lord provides.
The Rev. Derrick Lumsden introduced his paper, “What’s the Use?” He
proposed “that as we formulate doctrine, we intentionally and explicitly state
our rational sight of the uses we see in the doctrine we are presenting.” Thus we
need to include use as a valid and necessary part of our doctrinal presentation.
He said this approach would keep us focused on why a particular doctrinal
discussion is happening, and help us share enlightenment more readily.
Further, we can’t help but have some sight of use because we are beings of will
and cannot see truth apart from our love.
Mr. Lumsden anticipated some possible objections to this approach, the
first that it might encourage us to come at doctrinal study from a will that is
corrupt, leading potentially to a flawed result. But use can be a safeguard, since
the goal is something good. Another objection might be that we will not be
413