The following letter is a formal protest filed by 25 pastors and elders in the Presbytery of Central Florida in response to the presbytery's Permanent Judicial Commission order in the case of Norman F. Blessing v. First Presbyterian Church, Sebastian. The presbytery has docketed the letter for a later response. March 5, 2002 To the Stated Clerk of Central Florida Presbytery In humility and love, the undersigned hereby declare that they find it necessary to protest the decision of the Central Florida Presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission in the case of Elder Mr. Norman F. Blessing vs. First Presbyterian Church in Sebastian as expressed in the letter from the Moderator of the PJC to the session of the Sebastian church dated February 20, 2002 under the provisions of G-9.0306. When a case has been decided by a permanent judicial commission, any member of the governing body to which the decision is reported may enter a dissent or protest. Reasons for this protest 1. The order for the session of First Presbyterian Church in Sebastian to rescind its resolution of May 22, 2001 cites this resolution as being in conflict with G-18.0201 and G-14.0207b. We believe this judgment to be in error. A. The resolution made by the session of the Sebastian church makes no attempt to amend the confessional documents of the church and therefore cannot be in conflict with the constitutional requirements to amend the confessional documents of the church. G-18.0201 Amendments to Confessional Documents a. Amendments to the confessional documents of this church may be made only in the following manner: 1. The approval of the proposed amendment by the General Assembly and its recommendation to the presbyteries; 2. The approval in writing of two thirds of the presbyteries; 3. The approval and enactment by the next ensuing General Assembly. While the resolution refers to the affirmations it makes as confessions it in no way seeks to alter our denominations constitution. Our constitution grants governing bodies, including sessions, the right to "frame symbols of faith, bear testimony against error in doctrine and immorality in life, resolve questions of doctrine and of discipline, … They have power to establish plans and rules for the worship, mission, government, and discipline of the church under the will of Christ. They have the responsibility for the leadership, guidance, and government of that portion of the church which is under their jurisdiction." (G-9.0102b). While a higher governing body may question or overrule the action of a lower governing body, it cannot prohibit a lower body's ability to exercise these rights or responsibilities. B. Since the resolution's statement on scripture is supported by our church's constitution it cannot be in conflict with the ordination vow G-14.0207b which is cited in the PJC's order. G-14.0207b Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God's Word to you? Excerpt from the resolution adopted by the session of First Presbyterian Church in Sebastian: Holy Scripture is the revealed Word of the triune God, and the Church's only infallible rule of faith and life. Our constitution demonstrates a breadth in its understanding of scripture. The statement made by the Sebastian session is solidly within this understanding. Since the resolution's statement is so strongly and broadly supported by the constitution it cannot be in conflict with the question asked of church officers any more than the ordination question itself can be in conflict with the remainder of the constitution. 2. The order from the PJC to the Sebastian church incorrectly states that "ordination and or installation of officers requires affirmative answers to only the nine questions set forth in G-14.0207." Qualification for ordination and/or installation as a church officer is dependent upon far more than affirmative answers to the nine questions set forth in G-14.0207. A. Sessions are responsible for examining persons who have been elected to the office of elder or deacon concerning "personal faith, knowledge of the doctrine, government, and discipline contained in the Constitution of the church; and the duties of the office" (G-14.0205). B. The session of a particular church is responsible for ensuring that those to be ordained and/or installed are qualified for office based upon constitutional requirements in addition to the ordination questions listed in G-14.0207. These include but are not limited to: G-1.0303 - Officers G-1.0304 - Truth and Goodness G-1.0306 - Election by the People G-2.0200 - Confessional Statements as Subordinate Standards G-4.0403 - Full Participation G-5.0202 - Active Member G-6.0105 - Called to Ministry G-6.0106 - Gifts and Requirements G-6.0108 - Freedom of Conscience - Individual and Corporate and Within Certain Bounds G-6.0303 - Gifts and Requirements G-6.0401 - The Ministry and Gifts of Deacons 3. The Central Florida Presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission acted irregularly when it ordered First Presbyterian Church in Sebastian to rescind its resolution of May 22, 2001 based upon erroneous grounds.