My mother used to say, “Mind your p’s and q’s!” By that she meant that I should be on my best behavior, careful of my language and considerate of other people. Certainly, everyone attending this year’s meeting of the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly are encouraged to mind their p’s and q’s in this traditional sense.

Beyond that I would ask commissioners to specifically mind their p’s and q’s in relationship to the unique responsibilities and powers of the General Assembly outlined in G-13.0103 p. and q. of the Book of Order.

p. “to warn or bear witness against error in doctrine or immorality in practice in or outside the church;”

q. “to decide controversies brought before it and to give advice and instruction in cases submitted to it, in conformity with the Constitution;”

For the commissioners who have been duly elected by their presbyteries to constitute the 219th General Assembly, accepting this responsibility as their own requires that they:

• know upon entering the assembly what an error in doctrine would look like;
• be fully informed about the controversies before us; and
• must know what conformity to the constitution requires.

This year’s commissioners will face many crucial questions. One of those questions is the ongoing debate over the sexual practice of the ordained leadership of the denomination. Framed as a question: Is the decision of the majority of Presbyterians in regards to G-6.0106b (now affirmed in four successive national votes on the subject) really binding, or will sessions, presbyteries and synods be allowed to continue to openly defy our constitutional standards? And if so, how are we really a constitutionally governed people?

Another of the questions before the General Assembly is the radical redefinition of marriage to include the accommodation of lesbian, gay and transgendered people. Again, framed as a question: In debating this issue are we not setting ourselves as an authority over the Scriptures? Are we not called to submit ourselves to the will of God as revealed in the Bible, interpreted through the Confessions of our church? Are those Confessions not abundantly clear on this point? If we change the definition of marriage in the Book of Order but do not change the Confessions, we will not be creating an open conflict in our own constitution? 

These are real issues. They are difficult to discuss. How we answer them is profoundly important to our future together. Therefore, they must not be passed off or referred to someone else, to some other body that has not been duly elected from the presbyteries, nor to the staff who have shown over time their unwillingness to carry out the will of the body in relationship to these particular matters.

The work that is before the General Assembly is the work of our duly elected commissioners. It is not work that belongs to anyone else. And so, dear commissioners, please complete the work that has been set before you to do. Mind your p’s and q’s (and don’t give away your m’s and n’s).