Dark Times A Commentary By Parker T. Williamson The Layman Online Friday, May 30, 2003 215th General Assembly Denver, Colo. May 24-31, 2003 General Assembly news index DENVER –The General Assembly turned out the lights this week when it voted to allow some of its leaders to shroud their discussions in secrecy. The controversial Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity can now meet behind closed doors whenever its members deem their discussions "theologically sensitive." This decision effectively guts the denomination's Open Meetings Policy, which states: "The work of the church is strengthened when it is done in a spirit of openness and trust. Church members have a basic right to know about the work done and the decisions made by entities within the church. Church leaders have a basic responsibility to honor that right by conducting their business with a spirit of openness and vulnerability to public scrutiny." 'Trust me' What do exceptions to this policy portend for the Presbyterian Church (USA), and for this task force in particular? Undoubtedly, they will trigger the further erosion of trust which, ironically, is the very thing the task force was hoping to restore. What would task force members possibly wish to say to one another that they could not say in public? Secrecy spawns suspicion. Heretofore, task force meetings have been covered by reporters from three news organizations, the Presbyterian Lay Committee, the Presbyterian Outlook and the Presbyterian News Service. The truth has been well served by this arrangement wherein reporters representing different editorial perspectives have had access to the same information. This self-correcting mechanism has assured Presbyterians that they can rely on the information that they receive. It is unlikely that readers will grant the same credibility to puff pieces and press releases from the task force itself, even if – as has been announced – such reports are to be embellished by multi-media adornment. Second-hand sources The Layman will continue to monitor this group's activities, and we will likely find out the gist of what was said behind closed doors. But having to dig for our data after the fact and through second-hand recollection, rather than hearing it for ourselves in open session, increases the possibility of error, despite the best efforts of our news professionals to get the story right. The potential for inaccuracy rises in direct proportion to the distance one is kept from the source. Former General Assembly Moderator and respected veteran journalist Marj Carpenter warned the assembly, "I'm scared to death …When we get through beating down the press, maybe someone will tell our preachers what they can preach." The task force was spawned by denominational managers who have presided over the loss of 1.7 million members, a theologically bankrupt curriculum used by less than 10 percent of the churches, and huge budget deficits that have eroded reserves and diminished our ability to obey the Great Commission. History reminds us that the final stage of a crumbling regime is signaled by secrecy and attempts to coerce its opposition. Marj Carpenter has reason for her fears.

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