Representative of Whom?

Straight AheadRepresentative of Whom? In the PC(USA) Book of Order, it is said that we are a representative form of government. That's part of what Presbyterianism means. Yet, the overwhelming majority of our presbyteries choose their commissioners to General Assembly by variations on rotation representation. By that I mean that the representatives are chosen by geographic distribution within the presbytery, length of time since that particular minister or church has been represented at the GA, size of church, and other factors that go into the formula. How can this be said, in any sense, to be representative? Whenever I protest this kind of pseudo-representation, I get an argument something like this: "Well, we're not supposed to be representative of our presbyteries. We're supposed to be listening to the Holy Spirit." But this is patently lame. The denomination sends hundreds of representatives from Louisville to act as "resource persons" for the General Assembly. Every interest group within the denomination from all across the political and theological spectrum is represented. Is it to be assumed that my ability to listen to the Holy Spirit, were I to be a commissioner, is impeded simply because I was chosen in a fair and representative election of my presbytery? Is it unreasonable to assume that if 73% of the presbyteries in the last vote on the "fidelity and chastity" amendment chose to retain this provision, a fair and representative election of presbytery commissioners to the General Assembly might have resulted in a different outcome regarding the PUP Report at the 2006 GA held in Birmingham? Is it reasonable to assume that a fair and representative election of presbytery commissioners might have considered actions at the General Assembly to address the projected loss of nearly 200,000 members from our denomination between 2005 and 2007? Can we really be so self-righteous as to assume that we are listening solely to the Holy Spirit? I think there are other voices that are being heard. There are definitely other voices we need to hear. Every presbytery needs to move toward a fair and open election of synod and General Assembly commissioners if this denomination is ever going to get back in touch with its constituents--or with the Holy Spirit.