The Theological
Task Force released its report
on the Peace, Purity and Unity of the Church (PUP) to the PC(USA)
months before the commissioners of the General Assembly in Birmingham
will vote on it. The purpose of the early release is to give our congregations
and presbyteries time to study the document and its recommendations
and respond. Many of us who have looked closely at the Report
are concerned that it offers a de facto change of our constitution
on sexual standards for ordination ignoring biblical and confessional
teachings. Our presbyteries have affirmed the biblical and confessional
teachings on this matter in majority votes three times in the past
ten years. The effect, if the report is adopted by the General Assembly,
will be to overrule the will of the majority conviction of the church.
Renewal organizations are united in their opposition to this effect.
The Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Coalition recommends several
avenues for response to the PUP Report.
1. Education.
The Report requires study to understand the substance and implications
of the theology and polity within its pages. We need to help Presbyterians
carefully examine the Report
in order to consider its effect on our future as a church. Several
good commentaries and critiques have been written to this end. You
can find a collection of these pieces on the Coalition website at
www.presbycoalition.org.
Also, soon www.presbyweb.com
will have an index of articles related to the PUP Report.
2. Presbytery
Discussions. Members of the Theological Task Force will visit
many of our presbyteries to advocate for the Report in person. These
presentations are designed to build up support for the Report. Contact
the Coalition offices for resources and speakers to assist you in
bringing balance to the presentation and discussion of this Report
in your presbytery.
3. Overtures
to GA 2006. Sessions are an important means by which we bring
voice to the General Assembly. We encourage sessions to send overtures
through their presbyteries to the General Assembly that will address
the concerns about the PUP Report and its recommendations. You will
find draft overtures on this and related
matters on the Coalition web site. Remember
that there are deadlines for such overtures. Contact the Coalition
offices for help on content and process.
4. Chicago
Joint Renewal Statement. The Coalition invited renewal leaders
to meet in Chicago in October to fashion a response to the PUP Report.
The joint statement that came out of that meeting demonstrates the
intentional, coordinated, and unified efforts of the renewal ministries
in the PC(USA) in preparation for GA 2006. This statement
can be found on our website. Sessions
and individuals are encouraged to sign
on to this statement. Let the church hear a unified voice on how
dis-unifying the PUP Report is.
5. Alternative
to the PUP Report. There are sessions looking for an alternative
to the PUP Report. A process is underway to provide assistance to
those who are hoping for a scripturally and constitutionally more
faithful vision for the future of our denomination.
6. General
Assembly 2006. Renewal leaders have been working together
in preparation for Birmingham since the last General Assembly. This
coordinated effort needs many hands and voices to bring a strong and
effective witness to Birmingham.
- Pray!
Find out who your presbytery commissioners are and begin now to
pray for them. Drop them a note to let them know they are in your
prayers.
- Send
overtures. The more overtures sent, the more overture advocates
we will have to speak in committees, and the stronger the witness
offered before the commissioners.
- Send
us the names of commissioners elected from your presbytery
who will vote to maintain our ordination standards at G.A.
- Send
a commissioner to the Renewal Network’s Pre-General
Assembly meeting in May where they will discuss the issues and learn
the particularities of General Assembly process. Ask
us how you can do this.
- Attend
General Assembly this year to support one of the renewal
ministries in their witness, bring testimony to one of the committees,
support commissioners in their work, and pray. Contact
us if you will be coming, so that we can send you information
and be sure you are well used in Birmingham!
- Attend
the Coalition GA Dinner on Sunday, June 18 in Birmingham.
- Contact
the Coalition for further information concerning ways to
participate in General Assembly this year.
7. Looking
beyond General Assembly. The Coalition board is working proactively
to consider plans for a way forward whatever the outcome of this Assembly.
As we
approach the General Assembly in the days and months ahead, let us
not forget the growing number of overtures coming that seek the removal
of the “fidelity and chastity” standard for our leaders.
The Coalition continues to offer resources
and support for commissioners in facing this challenge at the General
Assembly. While the threat to G.6-01.06b and its underlying Authoritative
Interpretation is closely related to the concerns about the PUP Report,
the two matters likely will be dealt with in separate committees at
General Assembly.
The Presbyterian
Coalition is not a “they”; it is all of us who seek to
be a church whose witness and polity are faithful to Scripture and
our Confessions. We are called during this
challenging year to bear faithful witness within the PCUSA. We are
all needed in this effort. The Board of Directors
of the Presbyterian Coalition and our new Executive Director, Terry
Schlossberg, are ready to support your active participation in
this effort. May we continue to work together for the glory of God
and the good of His church.
This
ministry to uphold our constitutional standards needs your financial
support along with your personal involvement. Please consider a generous
gift to advance this work.
Return
to Resources Page
Return
to Home Page
