 'Families' paper referred By Parker T. Williamson The Layman Online Friday, May 30, 2003
"Living with families in transition," the result of a five-year study by the Assembly Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP), hit tough opposition even before commissioners arrived in Denver. ACSWP members had written off expected criticism from groups that affirm traditional family values, but what yanked the rug from under them was a searing critique from Don Browning, a respected family researcher at the University of Chicago, and a similar dismissal from Martin Marty, noted Christian historian. Called into question by these scholars was the thinness of the paper's sociological research. A proposed alternative Seizing their opportunity, conservative commissioners at the General Assembly pulled together a collection of Biblical resources and well-documented current sociological research to construct an alternative document. Unlike the official paper that endorsed a variety of living arrangements as "families," the replacement paper lifted up the family model that is affirmed by Scripture, Christian tradition, the Reformed Confessions, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) Directory for Worship. When the dueling documents clashed in committee, commissioners voted to replace the original with its substitute and recommended it to the full General Assembly. When the General Assembly reconvened, liberals who have delivered crushing, 60+ percent majority votes consistently throughout the meeting found themselves in rare circumstances. Their position came before the assembly as the "minority report." Flaws exposed Traditionalists stepped to microphones loaded for bear. Dennis Macaleer from Redstone Presbtery ripped into the paper's misuse of Scripture. "The theological portions of this document are seriously flawed," he said. "The report says there are various forms of "family" in Scripture, and that is true. There are stories of incest, rape, adultery in the Bible, but that doesn't mean that the Bible condones these relationships! I am amazed that, simply because something is mentioned in Scripture, this committee would assume its approval." Dennis Finnegan, from Pittsburgh Presbytery, told the assembly that he has served for 26 years as a youth and family counselor. "I have seen families from various socio-economic levels that face numerous problems. I have sought to build relationships that encourage sound moral choices. We must give our families the spiritual guidance that they need. There is no therapy that can ever replace what a healthy home can offer. This report is not the answer. Research questioned Robert Ault from The Presbytery of Western Reserve, tried to fend off the assault. He reminded his fellow commissioners that the ACSWP paper was "five years in the making." "How could we substitute for this work, a substitute paper hastily put together by a handful of people just a few weeks before this meeting?" Richard Walker, from San Diego Presbytery, said he understood part of ACSWP's research was drawn from sending its study guide out to the churches for comment. How many copies of the study guide were sent out, and how many were returned to the Louisville office?" he asked. The answer, reported by the committee chair, generated whistles of surprise: 11,200 copies of the study were sent out for comment, but only 26 were returned. Motion to refer Krista Kiger, from Milwaukee Presbytery, made a motion that the assembly refer both the minority and the majority documents back to ACSWP for further work in consultation with the General Assembly Office of Theology and Worship. "The church needs a document like this. Five years of work have gone into it. As a pastor in the trenches, I do not want to see it die." Numerous amendments were offered by commissioners who saw no good that could come from sending the report back to its source. One asked that the report go to the Theology and Worship office alone. Another wanted it to go to the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity. But when the parliamentary dust had settled, Kiger's motion prevailed. A history of rejection This is not the first time that ACSWP has had its work returned by a General Assembly. The 1998 General Assembly rejected its paper titled "Building Community Among Strangers," with the instruction that it bring the document into conformity with Scripture. Building Community's peacemaking theme suggested that Jesus Christ be regarded on an equal plane with Buddha, the goddess Gaia, and the "earth mother." Although he was concerned that referring the paper to its authors was not likely to improve it, Craig Kozak of Plains and Peaks Presbytery said that the referral could be considered a mini victory for conservatives. "At least the assembly didn't adopt it," he said. |
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