Part
I: Report (see www.presbycoalition.org/GAreport6.htm)
Part
II: Summary, Commentary, and Suggestions
Summary
and Commentary
Prior
to General Assembly, renewal organizations identified those issues
we believed were of greatest importance and where we felt it necessary
to put the emphasis in investment of our efforts. The priorities for
our joint effort were the PUP Report; preservation of the
manner of life standards of G-6.0106b and the 1978/79 (1993) authoritative
interpretation; the overture asking that we declare that Christians,
Muslims and Jews have a common heritage in Abraham and worship the
same God; per capita; Marriage; and the Trinity paper. Other
issues of importance to us were the rewrite of the Book of Order;
Open Meeting Policy; elections; power to adopt AI, budget and missionaries;
limiting staff involvement in committee work; the sex education curriculum;
the status of Christian Educators; abortion and divestment. Except
for per capita, the priority issues represent today’s challenges
to the faith and life of the Church. Here’s a quick summary
of some of the actions we followed carefully:
The
decision on divestment was to “replace” the previous action
of 2003. It changed the language to “investment” and emphasized
peaceful pursuits without singling out any country; it was essentially
a reversal of the 2003 GA action;
This
assembly made the strongest statement of opposition to late term abortions
that it or any other mainline Protestant denomination has ever made:
this should be announced and advocated for just as prior statements
have been;
Business
related to the status of Christian Educators was referred to Theology
and Worship;
All General
Assembly entities, and especially those that are engaged in curriculum
development, are called upon to express the church’s biblical
and confessional teaching that sexual relationships belong only within
the bond of marriage of a man and a woman as the standard for any
of its materials;
A rewrite
of the Book of Order was set in motion; in the next year
presbyteries will be voting on a rewritten Chapter 14 (and on other
proposed constitutional changes). The rewrite is nearly identical
to the one submitted to the presbyteries and defeated by a 29/144
vote in 2001. Sessions need to prepare their commissioners for these
votes;
Voluntary
per capita was upheld by a strong vote; an increased per capita rate
was adopted ($5.79/member) and the per capita budget increased to
$12.6 million for 2007 and $15 million for 2008.
The faith
distinctions between Christians, Muslims, and Jews were maintained;
The Trinity
paper was “received” and so assumes no official status
at any level of the denomination; however, it is a document available
for discussion and decisions related to worship;
The process
by which authoritative interpretation is issued is unchanged;
The ordination
standards were maintained but the requests for a direct affirmation
of marriage were not approved;
Changes
to strengthen the Open Meeting Policy were referred to the Office
of the General Assembly;
With
two exceptions, the General Assembly Nominating Committee nominations
prevailed.
The adoption
of the PUP Report remains the most controversial and troublesome outcome.
All Presbyterians now need to be vigilant to see what becomes of the
referrals and to see how the assembly decisions are carried out by
those charged with implementation.
The PUP
Report has been a source of controversy and division since its release.
The action of the General Assembly did not change that. Recommendation
#5 of the Report, which creates a new authoritative interpretation
of G-6.0108, granting each ordaining and installing body (roughly
11,173 of them) permission to declare constitutional mandates non-essential
in cases where a “scruple” is declared by a candidate
has been opposed in virtually every circle in the church. A number
of constitutional experts, including presbytery executives, former
members of the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, and
General Assembly staff members wrote publicly in opposition to the
report prior to the assembly meeting. They were joined by the voices
both of those who support the constitutional requirements for ordination
and by those who do not. The public opinion voice on the PUP Report
was divided as we entered the G.A. meeting. Clearly, it was not a
report to bring the desired “peace, unity, and purity.”
The Report
did not survive in its original wording. It was amended. Recommendation
#4 on using alternative forms of discernment was changed to maintain
parliamentary procedure in decision making. That change should be
effective even in the upcoming rewrite of the Form of Government section
of the Book of Order. Recommendation #5 also was amended.
There is now debate over the meaning of the amended AI and whether
it places any limits on mandates of the Book of Order that
may be “scrupled” and then declared by presbyteries to
be “non-essential” for ordination or installation of a
candidate.
The committee
rejected an effort to amend Recommendation #5 with the following wording:
“Nothing in this authoritative interpretation shall be construed
to exempt any governing body from: (i) complying with any express
provision of the Constitution signified as required or mandated practice
by use of the term “shall,” “is/are to be,”
or equivalent; or (ii) requiring compliance with such required provision
by any person or governing body under its jurisdiction.”
In plenary,
the body amended Recommendation #5 with the following bracketed language:
“Whether [ the examination and ordination and installation
decision comply with the constitution of the PCUSA…]”
It is questionable whether the wording of the amendment adopted in
plenary has the force of the amendment declined. It’s notable
that in committee both the PUP TF and the ACC strongly opposed the
amendment proposed there, but both supported the amendment offered
in plenary.
The final
vote on Recommendation #5 as amended was the sort of split vote that
only serves to exacerbate our differences. We will now see the effects
of the shift from debates and the votes on this matter that have focused
on the requirements for ordination at the General Assembly level of
the church. The shift will be to personalize decisions for candidates
in each of our lower governing bodies: sessions and presbyteries.
Each one is now called upon to make decisions about what is an essential
requirement for each candidate.
Each
ordaining governing body still retains the right to assert that its
ordination boundaries will match the express standards of the Book
of Order. But that will require each session and each presbyter to
take action in every governing body almost immediately. Each decision
is subject to review by the courts. The basis for the review is expressed
in language that is not clear. The legitimacy of decisions will be
made by the process of suit and review up through the various levels
of courts in the church. It will take years to resolve the first suit.
In the meantime, any uncontested ordination of a candidate who scruples
will begin to change the make up of leadership in many of our churches
and presbyteries, and in our General Assembly. Is there an interpretation
of the meaning of the amended report that will prevent these ordinations
from occurring? Will any of these ordinations or installations be
prevented even by court decisions?
In any
case, it cannot be said that the PUP Report going in or coming out
of the GA has succeeded in its intent to bring peace, unity, and purity
to our denomination.
What shall we do now?
We are
being asked daily for advice on immediate steps to take in the wake
of the General Assembly’s action. It is essential for us to
act in ways that help create fair, deliberative process in each of
our ordaining and installing bodies. Below are some suggestions. We’d
like to hear from you about what you are doing and the effects of
your actions.
We encourage
you to help your congregation focus on the calling God has entrusted
to his church, and to rise to that calling in this time of confusion.
This is an especially apt time to turn to God in prayer and to the
Scripture for help and for direction. We suggest that it might be
helpful for sessions to engage prayerfully in a discussion of the
Great Ends of the Church (Book of Order G-1.0200), gleaning
understanding of those ends and their application to our situation
from the study of Scripture. Whatever course you take, we encourage
you to give leadership away from dismay and discouragement, and toward
confidence in God who is working out his own good purposes for his
church.
What
is at stake is the covenant we have made with God and with each other.
Steps
to take that are directed toward your own congregation
Inform
your congregation and your networks of the actions taken. Deliver
the facts. Our report is meant to help you do that, and there are
numerous other reports available on the web. www.presbyweb.com
is an excellent source of news and commentary.
Create
a denominational affairs committee that will focus on the particularities
of actions needed in this time.
Make
public a statement of where your session stands. Include your stand
on the requirements for ordination. It might read to the effect that
“In
its discernment of the essentials of reformed polity and for the
sake of the peace, unity and purity of the church, this governing
body adopts the principle that compliance with the standards for
ordination adopted by the whole church in the Book of Order is an
essential of reformed polity. Therefore, any departure from the
standards for ordination expressed in the Book of Order will bar
a candidate from ordination / installation by this governing body.
Provisions of the Book of Order are signified as being standards
by use of the term "shall," "is/are to be,"
“requirement” or equivalent expression.”
Work
with your nominating committee and session to develop questions that
will ensure that we are attending well to the promises we always have
been called to make as officers and ministers of Word and Sacrament.
Develop the pertinent questions that will be asked of all candidates
to ensure that “scruples” are identified and articulated
sufficiently to make the judgment that the new authoritative interpretation
requires, and that permits the process of review where necessary.
Follow through with clear and rigorous examination of candidates as
urged by the task force report. Help is available from
the Coalition.
Steps
to take that are directed toward your presbytery
Act in
ways that honor the covenant we have with each other and expect the
covenant to be honored by all.
Form
strong local ties. Create a fellowship in your presbytery that will
meet regularly for prayer, sharing of information, mutual accountability,
and action steps.
Ask your
session to send a resolution to your presbytery for its adoption;
it can read exactly as the wording you adopt for your particular church
(suggested wording is in bold italics in the section above).
Develop
the pertinent questions that will be asked of all candidates to ensure
that “scruples” are identified and articulated sufficiently
to make the judgment that the new authoritative interpretation requires,
and that permits the process of review where necessary.
Follow through with clear and rigorous examination of candidates as
urged by the task force report.
Send
a full complement of commissioners to each meeting of presbytery;
review the meeting docket and prepare together for the meeting.
Focus
on membership on your COM, CPM, Nominating Committee and Presbytery
PJC;
Begin
the process now for the election of commissioners and youth advisory
delegate from your presbytery; if you are able, influence the selection
of other advisory delegates
Vote
in opposition to any ordination/installation where the candidate clearly
has stated that he or she does not comply with the requirements for
ordination/installation, and have your vote recorded. Register your
dissent from any such vote officially for the record.
In cases
where exceptions are granted that are in conflict with the requirements
stated in the Book of Order, be prepared to initiate the
judicial process described in the Rules of Discipline for remedial
and disciplinary cases; secure the help of a lawyer; be attentive
to requesting a stay of enforcement. Know the rules in advance of
such a situation so that you are able to act quickly and decisively.
More detailed help for this is coming from renewal resources.
Be prepared
to vote knowledgeably and wisely on the amendments to the constitution
being sent down to the presbyteries.
Steps
to take that are directed toward the larger church
Form
strong churchwide ties.
Attend
one of the upcoming meetings of your choice in order to strengthen
the churchwide fellowship and find ways of moving forward together.
Start
the overture process to reverse the decision of this assembly.
Enter
the nominating process for key positions on General Assembly committees.
Consider
your stewardship responsibilities in this new environment. Make conscious
and deliberate decisions about what you will support.
The Presbyterian
Coalition is working with partner renewal groups in the development
of more specific steps to protect the church from widespread acceptance
of what the church has always said does not comport with the will
of God. We expect more definitive process steps to be available very
soon. Our Discipline Task Force is available now to offer counsel
and aid.
