"Discerning a Way Forward"
Guiding Principles for Common Action
August, 2006
In the winter of 2006, the board of the Presbyterian Coalition appointed a task force to study the future of the denomination and to think broadly about both the current crisis in our denominational life and the preferred future we might envision for the church. This task force has developed ten guiding principles they believe should be utilized to evaluate and develop any potential model for renewal and change. The Presbyterian Coalition Board offers these principles to you for your consideration and evaluation as you assess the various options available to us now and in the future.
1. Any plan must be true to Scripture and the Confessions of the PCUSA, and it should seek to take seriously the vows of ordination taken by ministers, elders, and deacons. We assume the plan will uphold the seriousness of the vows we have taken, and our plan should recognize there are beliefs that are essential to our identity as Christians. (Nehemiah 9: 37-39; Eph. 4:17-5:20; John 13: 31-35; 15:12-17; Deut. 4;1-40)
2. Any plan must lead us into effective mission and evangelism. Our plan should focus on God’s call to Kingdom mission in the world. Our primary emphasis must be missional. (Matt. 28:18; Matt. 25:31-34; John 15; John 20:21; Westminster Confession of Faith, Chs. X (PCUS and XXXV (UPCUSA); Confession of 1967: 9.37; Heidelberg: 4.086; Second Helvetic: 5.115, 5.117, 5.120-122; Book of Order, G-3.000)
3. Any plan should acknowledge and support the primary role of the local congregation in furthering the mission of God. Other forms of the church outside the local congregation should strive to serve the work of the local congregation. In whatever plan we develop, the local congregation should be the primary place where the Great Ends of the Church are carried out. (Ephesians 4:11-13; John 17; Matt. 28:18; Book of Order 1.0200)
4. Any plan must help limit the infection of corruption in the church. Any plan should foster ministry focused on helping those who are tempted and those who have fallen, but it should also make clear our commitment to use the courts of the church as a means of necessary discipline for the erring and unrepentant. (Eph. 5:3-17; 2 Tim 3: 1-9, 14-17; Titus 2:1; Westminster Larger Catechism, 7.261)
5. Any plan must provide a measure of protection to vulnerable congregations and individuals.
a. “Relief of conscience.” The plan should provide protection for Presbyterians in all locations whose consciences are bound by Scripture and the vows of office they have taken. Our objective is to create a way for such persons to remain in the denomination, if possible, without the necessity to participate in or contribute to what their consciences forbid. (Jeremiah 10:10; 11:10; Acts 24:16; 1 Tim. 1: 18-20; Westminster Confession of Faith, 6:109)
b. Protection of those in hostile environments. Some Presbyterians will not only be unwilling party to actions taken by their own and other presbyteries that violate their consciences, but also will be subject to pressure, prejudice, prosecution, and persecution. Protection in these cases should include tangible support and interventions. (1 Kings 19; Jeremiah 13:17; 15:20; 2Cor 6:16)
c. Relocation. We recognize that with the recent action of the General Assembly, some in our denomination will find themselves in an untenable position. In the event that a local congregation can no longer in good conscience continue in a particular presbytery, faithfulness, support, and intervention may include relocation either within or outside the PCUSA.
6. Any plan needs to provide both differentiation and permeability. The plan should distinguish between those who are planted in orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right practice), and those who seek what they believe to be a more progressive way of belief and life. But the plan should be designed with flexibility to avoid drawing rigid lines which cannot be crossed. It should acknowledge the difference between core Christian beliefs and practices and embrace wide differences on everything else. (Matt 5:9; 2 Cor. 13:11; Eph. 4:1-3; Eph 5:15-17)
7. Any plan should promote responsible stewardship tied to conscience bound by the Word of God. We must reflect our emphasis on mission and evangelism by such means as: (a) giving consideration to the allocation of resources; (b) encouraging reexamination of all commitments so that no contributions are made to what we perceive is harmful or destructive; and (c) using Scripture, our Confessions, and our covenants as the highest standards for our commitment of time and money. (Deut. 15:10; 1 Chron. 29:10-17; Psalm 112:5; Jer. 23:27-28,32; Matt 6: 1-4, 19-21; Matt. 20; 2 Cor. 8, 9; Phil 4: 15-20; 1 Tim. 6:18)
8. Any plan should not abandon reform of the PC(USA). The plan should take into account our location within the PC(USA) and the covenanted relationship we have with the whole. As long as we are able, we should bear witness to the truth, care for and bring back the wandering and the lost, and bring reform to that which is broken. (Ezekiel 3:4-11, 17-27; Haggai 2; 2 Chronicles 7:14; 33:1-17; I Kings 8:22-61; Jude 17-23; Rev. 3:7-13; Book of Order, G-2.0200; Confession of 1967, 9.03; Second Helvetic, 5.003.)
9. Any plan should promote unity with the evangelical/orthodox wing of the church. The plan should have broad appeal. Whatever we do, we should try to do together. (Matt. 18:19; John 17:20-24; 1Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:3)
10. Any plan needs to be achievable. The plan should have a high potential for actual implementation.
The Guiding
Principles are the work of a Future Task Force of the Presbyterian Coalition,
moderated by Rev. Peter Barnes, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Boulder,
CO.