Presbytery rejects crackdown on congregations 'reportedly' considering leaving PCUSA By John H. Adams The Layman Online Wednesday, June 28, 2006 The commissioners to the Presbytery of Kiskiminetas in Western Pennsylvania voted Tuesday to reject a presbytery proposal to begin a crackdown on "any church reported to be considering withdrawal" from the Presbyterian Church (USA). The proposal, which called for appointing an administrative commission to chase down such reports and granting it full power to take over congregations and freeze all property and assets, was defeated in a parliamentary maneuver. Instead, a member of the presbytery staff said the commissioners approved by voice vote a substitute motion urging all churches: 1) To be in a period of discernment and prayer for the peace, unity and purity of the PCUSA. 2) To encourage the study and discussion of Scripture, the Confessions and the peace, unity and purity report. 3) To show forbearance to all those wrestling with what it means to be faithful in these tenuous times. The opponents of the presbytery's proposal – which was drafted by its Task Group Development Committee and approved by the presbytery's trustees – argued in favor of the substitute motion. The trustees asked that the presbytery's moderator be given the authority to appoint an administrative commission to visit congregations reportedly considering withdrawal from the denomination. Their proposal listed the constitutional powers the commission would have: 1) To inquire and enter into discussion with the Session through Christian and peaceful means to settle difficulties causing the disorder; 2) To gather such information as may be necessary and review all relevant records; 3) To hold meetings with the Session, pastor(s) and individual congregational members as may be necessary or requested (all meetings shall be held in accordance with G-9.0505b); 4) To rescind any current or previous schismatic actions of the Session; 5) To instruct the pastor(s) and elder(s) or the Session to cease such activity that is causing disorder and/or is schismatic; 6) To assume original jurisdiction of the Session; 7) To freeze all property, real and personal, liquid or tangible; 8) To secure the facilities, records and computer data; 9) To declare the loyal remnant to be the true church; 10) To report to the Presbytery of Kiskiminetas at each meeting of the Presbytery after the date of appointment. An attempt to amend the trustees' motion was defeated. Then the substitute motion was introduced. On voice vote, the presbytery approved the substitute as the main motion. The vote, however, was questioned, and one commissioner called for a division of the house so that there would be a numerical count. That division turned out to be 55 in favor of making the substitute the main motion and 37 opposed. There was no call for division after the final voice vote to approve the substitute motion. The presbytery's defeated proposal was not unlike the actions of other presbyteries recently in their effort to shore up the denomination's claim to property of congregations involved in disputes. In April, the Presbytery of Eastern Oklahoma filed affidavits in all of its counties declaring the presbytery's authority to limit the right of congregations to sell or encumber their church property and challenging the congregations' right to stake a claim to the property if its members voted to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA). In May, the Presbytery of Charlotte asked the congregation of Harrisburg Presbyterian Church in North Carolina to restate its articles of incorporation to ensure that the church's property would revert to the denomination if the congregation is dissolved. The congregation rejected that proposal by a vote of 72-22. Kiskiminetas has 89 congregations in a mostly rural area of Pennsylvania. On controversial issues, the presbytery has twice voted the liberal position: in 1997, 76-74 against adding the "fidelity/chastity" ordination requirement to the Book of Order; in 2001, in favor of allowing pastors to conduct union services for same-gender couples.

Respond to this article

Home · Archives · The Layman · Subscribe to The Layman · PLC Publications Presbyterian Lay Committee · Online book reviews · Feedback · Links