New Wineskins
moderator
asks PCUSA leaders to back
moratorium to allow 'real peace'
By John H.
Adams
The Layman
Online
Monday, August 14,
2006
Dean Weaver, moderator
of the New Wineskins Association of Churches, has asked General Assembly
Moderator Joan Gray and Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick to support a
moratorium against taking legal, administrative or disciplinary action
against the leaders of local congregations that are considering leaving
the denomination.
In an August 5 letter to Gray and Kirkpatrick, Weaver asked them "to
work with us to help create an environment of real peace during these
troubling times."
Weaver noted that the delegates to the New Wineskins Convocation in
Tulsa voted overwhelmingly in July to ask the leaders of the
denomination and its middle governing bodies to declare a moratorium on
legal, administrative or disciplinary action in instances when local
congregations are considering their future relationship to the
denomination.
He included a copy of the resolution, which, he said, "reflects
the deep fears and concerns of many of our PCUSA members and
congregations. We are praying that you will exercise the leadership of
your respective offices and lead the way through these turbulent waters
through compassion and understanding."
Weaver's letter was sent to Gray and Kirkpatrick before The Layman
Online disclosed on August 9 that the denomination's lawyers had
prepared "privileged and
confidential" documents urging presbyteries to take
aggressive action against congregations considering leaving the
denomination. One of those documents was prepared by Kirkpatrick's
right-hand legal aide, Mark Tammen. The lawyers proposed a range of
strategies – legal, administrative and disciplinary – to claim
local church property.
"At our convocation we heard numerous stories of individuals and
congregations that have been the focus of actions and measures by their
presbyteries that are creating a culture of fear and intimidation,"
Weaver said. "For daring to think certain thoughts or worse yet,
consider openly actions that are permitted within our polity, member
congregations are facing threats and what appear to be vindictive
actions. This ought never to be in an institution that seeks to reflect
the heart of Christ to the world."
The New Wineskins Association of Churches has 137 congregations. At
their convocation in Tulsa, Okla., in July, delegates voted
overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution that said in part:
- In order to provide for open and honest discussion during this
season of discernment of the actions taken by the 217th General
Assembly, the New Wineskins Association of Churches calls upon the
Moderator and Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and all general
presbyters of synods and presbyteries, exercising the moral and
constitutional authority of their offices, to adopt a moratorium on:
- 1) taking disciplinary action against ordained officers or
governing bodies engaged in such discernment discussions regarding
the issues of theology and polity which confront our denomination,
including discussions which may lead to consideration of a
congregation requesting dismissal from its presbytery;
- 2) and taking administrative or legal actions to encumber or to
seize property, or to interfere with the exercise of authority by
duly elected session members, or otherwise to restrain ordained
officers or members of the congregation from engaging in such
discussions or for advocating any position in the discernment
process.
- We call upon you to pronounce such a public statement of
moratorium by 1 September 2006. Do this to protect and preserve the
freedom of conscience upon which the Reformed faith was formed.
Whether Weaver is likely to get a response by Sept. 1 is unknown.
However, Gray and Kirkpatrick both are expected to be at the meeting of
the General Assembly Council in Louisville on Sept. 26-29. Middle
governing body executives will attend portions of that meeting.
Weaver, who is the pastor of the 1,700-member Memorial Park
Presbyterian Church in Allison Park, Pa., said in his letter to Gray and
Kirkpatrick, "I would be pleased to meet with you at any time that
is convenient to you, that we might openly and honestly begin a dialogue
that could truly model the peace, unity and purity of the Bride of
Christ. Thank for your pastoral consideration."
The full text of Weaver's letter:
- August 5, 2006
- Ms. Joan Gray, Moderator
- Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk
- The Presbyterian Church USA
- 100 Witherspoon Street
- Louisville, KY 40202-1396
- Dear Colleagues in Christ,
- Greetings in Christ from the 136 congregations within the
Presbyterian Church (USA) that has organized as the New Wineskins
Association of Churches. We are a gathering of PCUSA congregations
that long for the peace, unity, and purity within the body of
Christ. Grace and peace be to you in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
- For the last five years we have gathered in small groups,
conference calls, discussion boards and large national convocations
to seek a way to "be the church" faithfully in the
twenty-first century. We cherish the historic, orthodox and reformed
faith and seek fresh ways of expressing that connectional faith
through a missional polity that is distinctively Presbyterian.
- As I am sure you are aware, the actions of the 217th General
Assembly, in approving the Peace, Unity and Purity Task Force report
(specifically recommendation #5) has brought confusion and grief to
many faithful members of our collective fellowship. This is a
difficult time that calls for grace and mutual forbearance. The
attached action item that was passed overwhelmingly at our most
recent convocation in Tulsa, Oklahoma expresses a heartfelt concern
on the part of many of our brothers and sisters in the faith. At our
convocation we heard numerous stories of individuals and
congregations that have been the focus of actions and measures by
their presbyteries that are creating a culture of fear and
intimidation. For daring to think certain thoughts or worse yet,
consider openly actions that are permitted within our polity, member
congregations are facing threats and what appear to be vindictive
actions. This ought never to be in an institution that seeks to
reflect the heart of Christ to the world.
- We are asking that you and all the elected leaders of the lower
governing bodies work with us to help create an environment of real
peace, during these troubling times. We need your help. The attached
resolution of moratorium is worded strongly, as it reflects the deep
fears and concerns of many of our PCUSA members and congregations.
We are praying that you will exercise the leadership of your
respective offices and lead the way through these turbulent waters
through compassion and understanding.
- I would be pleased to meet with you at any time that is
convenient to you, that we might openly and honestly begin a
dialogue that could truly model the peace, unity and purity of the
Bride of Christ. Thank for your pastoral consideration.
- Blessings of the Peace of Christ,
- D. Dean Weaver, Moderator
- New Wineskins Association of Churches
The text of the moratorium resolution adopted by the delegates to
the New Wineskins Convocation in July:
- "The 217th General Assembly, in adopting the Report of the
Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity, called the church to enter
into a season of discernment and, as much as possible, to "'conciliate,
mediate, and adjust differences without strife' prayerfully and
deliberately" (lines 1315-1316). The New Wineskins Association
of Churches appeals to the governing bodies of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) to uphold and practice the historic principles of
our denomination related to conscience and the exercise of power, as
exemplified in:
- G-1.0301 "That 'God alone is Lord of the conscience, and
hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which
are in anything contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of
faith or worship….'"; and
- G-1.0307 "That all Church power…is only ministerial
and declarative…."; and refrain from exercising power
contrary to these principles.
- In order to provide for open and honest discussion during this
season of discernment of the actions taken by the 217th General
Assembly, the New Wineskins Association of Churches calls upon the
Moderator and Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and all general
presbyters of synods and presbyteries, exercising the moral and
constitutional authority of their offices, to adopt a moratorium on:
- 1) taking disciplinary action against ordained officers or
governing bodies engaged in such discernment discussions regarding
the issues of theology and polity which confront our denomination,
including discussions which may lead to consideration of a
congregation requesting dismissal from its presbytery; and
- 2) taking administrative or legal actions to encumber or to seize
property, or to interfere with the exercise of authority by duly
elected session members, or otherwise to restrain ordained officers
or members of the congregation from engaging in such discussions or
for advocating any position in the discernment process.
- We call upon you to pronounce such a public statement of
moratorium by 1 September 2006. Do this to protect and preserve the
freedom of conscience upon which the Reformed faith was formed."
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