Andrews prays PCUSA will hold together: 'What really matters … is this human institution' By Craig M. Kibler The Layman Online Thursday, June 24, 2004 Brushing aside some of the issues dividing the denomination – such as gay ordination, Christology, Biblical authority, same-sex marriage, constitutional defiance and others – the outgoing moderator of the 215th General Assembly is pleading that the Presbyterian Church (USA) hold together. The Rev. Susan R. Andrews, whose term ends when a new moderator is elected by the 216th General Assembly on June 26 in Richmond, writes in a report to commissioners that, "What really matters is the church, this human institution." Relegating such issues as theology and mission to a kind of second-class status, Andrews – who never uses the words "schism" or "gracious separation" – presses her case that what really is important is the institution. "Though worship matters, though mission matters, though evangelism matters, though education matters, though leadership matters, though theology matters, what all of these expressions of faith point to is the church," she writes, adding: "My prayer is that the WHOLE church will care enough about holding the Body together." Andrews makes no mention of the role she has played in some of the issues dividing the denomination, such as gay ordination. After her election as moderator of the 215th General Assembly a year ago, Andrews resigned her position as a board member of the Covenant Network, a pro-gay ordination organization. It was formed in 1997 in opposition to G-6.0106b, the constitutional standard that requires church officers to maintain fidelity in their marriages and chastity in singleness. In the year since, she has used her position to continue to press for the ordination of gays and lesbians. "It is my fondest dream that in my lifetime we will move beyond this [the constitutional prohibition against ordaining practicing homosexuals], and open up the full privileges of membership, including ordination, to all of our gay brothers and sisters. I am on record for believing that, and I still do," she said just before her election. The PCUSA Constitution prohibits ordaining homosexuals who are not celibate. The law has been sanctioned in three national referendums, including by nearly 75 percent of the denomination's presbyteries in 2001. Andrews is an advocate of "unity in diversity," the view that there is room for people to hold widely divergent views – even about some cornerstone doctrines of the Christian faith – if they'll just learn to "dialogue" and "understand" each other. Part of that view, which she repeatedly has stated, is a desire to work for a "middle way," which often means allowing "local option" presbyteries to set their own ordination standards which is not permitted now under the denomination's constitutional government. That approach includes delaying action and pinning the denomination's hopes on the Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church. In October at Gathering VIII sponsored by the Presbyterian Coalition in Portland, Ore., Andrews took time to disagree with Harold Kurtz, one of the candidates she defeated to become moderator. Kurtz, a long-time missionary and mission pilot in Ethiopia, is the retired executive director of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship. Before the election, Kurtz – in opposition to Andrews' position – defended the constitutional, Biblical and historical approach regarding ordination standards. "As a denomination, we have set boundaries on who is to be part of leadership," he said. "We have gone through that three times. … I think we have to accept this reality. This is what the church has said and we need to abide by that." Kurtz pointed out that only five of 34,000 Christian denominations in the world "are willing to accept avowed, practicing homosexuals as ordained people in leadership." Besides, he said, "there are 3,000 years of history, of both the Old and New Testaments. The Word of God has spoken to us under the spirit as we stand here today." In two references to the ordination issue, Andrews talked about a pastor who has "different convictions" from her on the "fidelity/chastity" clause, but who "preaches and teaches an eloquent evangelical gospel, but who includes on his staff and session people who disagree with him publicly on gay ordination." Then, after listing the first names of half a dozen people, Andrews said they were "gays and lesbians, all of them who feel called by the Holy Spirit to serve in our church and remain completely obedient to our constitution, which means that many are still waiting for their gifts to be recognized." Commenting on a proposal being discussed during the Gathering called gracious separation, which states there are irreconcilable differences in the denomination, she said "it has been a sobering and saddening afternoon in some ways." "Division or separation, no matter how gracious it is, is not what God intends for humanity," Andrews said. "It's no secret that I disagree with you on some of the significant issues facing our denomination today," she said, but then contradicted Kurtz' defense of the constitutional, Biblical and historical approach to ordination standards and made no reference to the deep divisions in the denomination over Christology, same-sex unions, open communion, progressive theology or other issues. "We agree on the most essential tenets of our faith," that the "Lordship of Jesus Christ shapes all of our life;" that "Scripture is the authoritative witness;" and that "sharing the good news of the gospel is the indisputable call of disciples." "That faithfulness," Andrews said, "is the non-negotiable boundary of our covenant relationship. I want and need a church that includes every single one of you, and I hope and pray that you want a church that includes me. I passionately pray that we can figure out how to be the church together. "Right now, our differences seem irreconcilable," she said. "Right now, there doesn't seem to be any magic answer. Thank God that all of us are Calvinists. Our sovereign God is in charge, and not we ourselves."

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