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The Presbyterian Coalition was born out of concern for the Church which struggled to witness to historic and Biblical leadership standards, and out of hope that the Lord of the Church would work his will through the people and polity of this Church. Beginning in the early 1990’s, the Presbyterian Coalition has gathered individuals, churches, organizations and their leadership into a loosely defined, open, and active movement sharing the conviction that the words of Scripture, interpreted by the Confessions of the Church, reveal the will of God.
The matters of sexuality and ordination, most commonly presented as the question of ordaining Presbyterians in homosexual relationships to the offices of the church, prompted the early participants to coalesce in order to bear witness together to biblical and confessional standards on this issue. Soon this issue was seen to be related to other matters for which we share similar concerns and convictions about our common life in the PC(USA).
National gatherings held in Chicago (1996) and Dallas (1997) brought many people together to work for the passage of high and clear ordination standards regarding sexuality (Amendment B), and to expose the challenge to those standards (Amendment A). Through worship, fellowship, prayer, workshops on theology and polity, a larger network of like-minded Presbyterians developed at these Gatherings who sought and committed themselves to the reformation of the whole Church.
Gathering III (Dallas, 1998) adopted “Union in Christ - A Declaration for the Church,” a theological statement which defines the theological foundations of the Coalition's work. At Gathering IV (Dallas, 1999) a Board of Directors was authorized to supervise and coordinate our work. Subsequent Gatherings (Indianapolis, 2000; Orlando 2001, 2002; Portland 2003; Orlando 2005) brought us together in worship and prayer, for open debate and common action.
At each General Assembly all along the way the Presbyterian Coalition has continued its work with like-minded Presbyterians by preparing commissioners and assisting governing bodies in their preparations; participating as observers in the work of the GA committees; offering resources to commissioners; gathering many at sponsored events, exhibits, and places of hospitality; hosting, with renewal organizations, an evening time of strategy, prayer, and information exchange.
Through publications, email, and a website, we now offer updates on the work of the church and our work in the church.
In all this the Presbyterian Coalition has remembered its original charter, seldom setting the agenda unilaterally in the church or even within the renewal wing of the church, but always setting the table that the work of the church’s reformation might be done well, together, and for the glory of God.
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