By Jerry Andrews,
Co Moderator
The Western North Carolina Presbytery
Committee on Ministry (COM) is recommending that the presbytery withdraw its
validation of the ministry of Parker T. Williamson, chief executive officer
of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor-in-chief of The Layman.
So begins a Presbyterian News Service article. A
task force appointed by the COM recommended in November to the COM that this
ministry no longer be validated. In December the COM decided to recommend
against revalidation to the presbytery. The presbytery meets January 31.
The reason to recommend against revalidation
seems straightforward. Denying that it's about Parker, and only about the
ministry in which he is engaged, and that it is about the character and
conduct of the ministry, the task force chair cited the "Declaration of
Conscience" statement made by the Lay committee as the critical factor. This
statement invites sessions to prayerfully consider not paying per-capita and
mission funds to the PCUSA.
Clearly the task force and probably the COM
disagrees with non-payment and financial non-participation. Frankly, so do
I. What the task force and COM fails to do, at least in any report seen, is
to reasonably connect the invitation to prayerfully consider this position
and a reason to withdraw validation of a ministry.
Imagine a Session meeting with me. Some of the
elders openly wonder whether investing in PCUSA missions is the best
stewardship of the monies entrusted them. Other missions appear better
partners. Some elders unhappy with the financial committments of the
denomination question whether they can in good conscience make the usual
per-capita payment. Some recommend withholding and non-participation. Others
recommend continuing payments and a new PCUSA missions pledge. They
consider. They pray.
Did someone violate their ordination vows here?
Should someone's ministry be declared invalid?
Make no mistake about it. Officers of the church
have always debated openly, attempting to persuade each other, the highest
and best uses for the gifts of which they are the stewards. Furthermore, the
courts of the church have ruled widely and wisely that a Session may
withhold per-capita payments and chose not to financially participate in
PCUSA missions. It is their stewardship.
Nontheless, the Stated Clerk's Office has said
that publicly engaging in such a debate may violate the ordination vows.
Nonsense.
If the action itself (withholding and financial
non-participation) is deemed consistent with constitutional requirements,
the invitation to prayerfully consider that action can not be a violation of
the ordination vows.
Period.
The Stated Clerk's Office sent a letter to all
the presbytery stated clerks stating that such speech is a violation.
Perhaps that letter triggered the task force's recommendation. If so, it is
particularly sad that a position of the Stated Clerk's Office intended, I do
not doubt, to decrease inflammatory speech and increase peace in the church,
becomes responsible for the widening of the battles among us to COM
validation decisions across the denomination. This escalation will not serve
the church.
I trust that the Western North Carolina
Presbytery will not accept the recommendation of its COM. Instead, I hope
that it will revalidate a ministry it validated as recently as last April,
and continue to welcome, though it may disagree with, the ministry of one
its minister members who has faithfully served within its bounds for over 30
years, first as a pastor now as an editor.
I look forward to the February Presbyterian News
Service announcement that the Western North Carolina Presbytery validated
the ministry of Parker T. Williamson, exercising its good sense. Period.
