Pastors of large
congregations
ready 'for redefinition' of unity
The
Layman Online
Wednesday, April
19, 2006
Thirty-five
Presbyterian ministers of some of the largest congregations in the
Presbyterian Church (USA) have issued a statement about "our deep
concern for the most troubling implication of the Peace, Unity and
Purity Task Force report – the adoption of a new Authoritative
Interpretation regarding standards for ordination creating 'local
option.'"
They also said they "grieve the continuing decline of our
denomination on multiple levels. Something is deeply flawed at the core."
They said they are "longing to retain our unity," but added, "we
are ready for a redefinition of that unity and the structural realities
that hold us together. God help us."
While saying they were "speaking only for ourselves," the
group clearly was an expression by ministers distinctive because of the
size of their congregations, which average nearly 3,000 members. Ten of
the ministers serve congregations that are among the
15
largest congregations in the PCUSA, according to the
denomination's 2004 Comparative Statistics.
The complete text of their statement:
- "As we grow nearer to the time of the General Assembly, we
the undersigned pastors, speaking only for ourselves, express our
deep concern for the most troubling implication of the Peace, Unity,
and Purity Task Force report - the adoption of a new Authoritative
Interpretation regarding standards for ordination creating "local
option." Further, we grieve the continuing decline of our
denomination on multiple levels. Something is deeply flawed at the
core. We yearn and pray for a new day for the PCUSA. While longing
to retain our unity, we are ready for a redefinition of that unity
and the structural realities that hold us together. God help us."
The signatories, their congregations and membership as reported by
the Presbyterian Church (USA):
| Minister |
Congregation |
2004 mbrs. |
| Jerry Andrews |
First Presbyterian Church, Glen Ellyn, IL |
1,283 |
| Hubert Auburn |
Bay Village Presbyterian, Bay Village, OH |
2,316 |
| Peter Barnes |
First Presbyterian Church, Boulder, CO |
2,297 |
| David Berry |
First Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL
|
2,744 |
| Joe Bettridge |
St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Tuscon, AZ |
1,398 |
| Mark Brewer |
Belair Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, CA |
2,092 |
| Jim Capps |
Southport Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, IN
|
1,494 |
| John Crosby |
Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina, MN |
4,297 |
| Bill Dudley |
Signal Mountain Presbyterian, Signal Mountain, TN
|
1,892 |
| Scott Dudley |
First Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, WA |
2,647 |
| Rob Eyman |
Whitworth Community PC, Spokane, WA |
913 |
| Scott Farmer |
Community Presbyterian Church, Danville, CA |
2,495 |
| Doug Ferguson |
Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX |
4,438 |
| Doug Fletcher |
Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX
|
2,497 |
| Woody Garvin |
Valley Presbyterian Church, Paradise Valley, AZ
|
1,973 |
| David Henderson |
Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Lafayette, IN
|
1,533 |
| John Huffman |
St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, CA |
4,097 |
| Bruce Humphrey |
Rancho Bernardo Community PC, San Diego, CA |
2,607 |
| Gareth Icenogle |
The National Presbyterian Church, Washington D.C. |
2,518 |
| David Joynt |
Presbyterian Church of Toms River, Toms River, NJ
|
2,669 |
| Richard Kannwischer |
First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX |
3,060 |
| Ron Kincaid |
Sunset Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR |
1,845 |
| Mike McClenahan |
Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, Solana Beach, CA
|
1,569 |
| Rick Murray |
First Presbyterian Church, Yakima, WA |
1,375 |
| Vic Pentz |
Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA |
7,957 |
| David Peterson |
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX
|
4,436 |
| Doug Rumford |
Colonial Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, MO
|
1,880 |
| Ron Scates |
Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX
|
4,315 |
| Jim Singleton |
First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, CO
|
5,068 |
| Tim Snow |
University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, WA |
4,498 |
| Gary Stratman |
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX |
1,958 |
| David Swanson |
First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, FL |
4,594 |
| Mark Toone |
Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, Gig Harbor, WA
|
1,601 |
| William Vanderbloemen |
First Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX |
4,654 |
| Henry Wells |
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, Fair Oaks, CA |
3,047 |
|