'Presbyterianism has been turned on its head,' New Wineskins says in condemning PUP vote The Layman Online Thursday, June 22, 2006 217th General Assembly Birmingham, Ala. BIRMINGHAM – "Presbyterianism has been turned on its head," the New Wineskins Initiative said Wednesday after the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) approved the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity. The "actions of this assembly have thrown our denomination into a crisis," the group said in a statement. The complete text is as follows: "In the past 24 hours, everything has changed. Tuesday's actions of the General Assembly of the PC(USA) has turned Presbyterianism on its head. "By adopting recommendation five of the Theological Task Force report, the 217th General Assembly of the PC(USA) has forsaken its constitutional covenant, abandoned its Presbyterian heritage and opened the door to the blatant disregard of Biblical standards, paving the way for a climate in which 'each does what is right in his own eyes.' "The actions of this assembly have thrown our denomination into a crisis. Yet, the God who delights to bring new creation out of chaos remains sovereign over our life as Presbyterians. We recognize in this moment of crisis and profound disappointment a God-given opportunity. This world longs to see us give faithful expression to our covenantal life. Now is the time. For five years, men and women in the New Wineskins Initiative have worked to articulate a vision for a life together as Presbyterians that is marked by theological and ethical integrity, missional faithfulness and structural effectiveness. We believe that the action of this assembly confirms the need for a new wineskin. "How shall we respond? Together. These are days that require of us that we stand with those who are one in spirit. We rejoice at the sense of common purpose that increasingly characterizes our mutual efforts as organizations seeking renewal and reform, and believe that now more than ever we must seek and serve God together, affirming one another's work wherever possible as side-by-side we work to preserve a Biblically faithful Presbyterian fellowship. "On July 19, in Tulsa, the second annual convocation of the New Wineskin Initiative begins. At that event, we will seek and enjoy God, actively explore ways to live out our vision, and wrestle with how God may wish to move us together toward his preferred future. All who share our concerns and our hope are enthusiastically invited to attend the convocation and learn more of the vision to which we believe God may be calling us. "The decision of the assembly to forsake our Presbyterian heritage for the sake of structural unity has left many shaken, disheartened and deeply concerned, but with God there is always hope. We are confident that God will be faithful to use this crisis to surface the need for, to awaken our desire for, the new work God wishes to do among us. In God's hands, and with our humble and prayerful cooperation, these events can serve to move us closer to becoming the faithful community of Presbyterians for which God and we long together."

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