No 'irreconcilable impasse' says Assembly committee By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Wednesday, June 28, 2000 LONG BEACH, Calif. -- In a unanimous decision, the Theological Issues Committee voted down Overture 00-5, which declares that there exists an irreconcilable impasse in the Presbyterian Church (USA) regarding Biblical authority, Biblical interpretation, Jesus Christ, salvation, ethics, leadership, sanctification and the church. The committee did approve a comment, which will go before the General Assembly when the committee presents its report. It reads: Friends in Christ: "We appreciate the Presbytery of Beaver-Butler's devotion to theological issues that help define who we are as the body of Christ in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Even so, we disagree with the conclusion that an irreconcilable impasse exists. We choose rather to see differences positively and believe that differences in fact have the potential to make our unity in Christ even stronger. We refer to I Cor. 12:14, 20 and following. Indeed the body does not consist of one member but many, as it is there are many parts but one body, the eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of you - nor again the head to the feet I have no need of you. Our prayer is that we all might strive for the "still more excellent way," (I Cor. 12:31) which is our mutual love and forbearance of one another. The Committee on Theological issues recommends that the 212th General Assembly direct the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to communicate this action along with the comment to the stated clerks of the synods and presbyteries." Overture advocate Daniel C. Reuter told the committee that the overture was not about reconciling people and "it's not about God's power to reconcile people. … It's about core convictions and ideas. "What we are asking you and the General Assembly to say is that it is unfortunate that we Presbyterians disagree on some very basic stuff … and that these ideas are unreconciliable." Reuter called the issues listed in the overture as first level issues "which come up and hit us on the head" when Presbyterians discuss second-level issues, which he defined as abortion and ordination. "We believe if we have any future together -- if we can continue to do some things together in harmony and for Jesus Christ, it will come after we face these issues," said Reuter. "We really ask you to face the issues about ourselves because God can handle it." He continued that "We have a poisoning of the discourse because we don't understand that the issue is a theological issue -- not a marriage issue." Youth Advisory Advocate Anne Hancock said she was "very uncomfortable voting on this because I don't know where it will take us." Commissioner H.L. (Bill) Gillispie said he was against the overture, but he did commend it and the people who brought it, "because we need to deal with it. As children of God we need to be where God is -- in the midst of the struggle." When asked by Commissioner Rosalind Banbury-Hamm what the consequences of this overture would be, Reuter replied "If we face the truth it is the first step to do something constructive about it. … We disagree on some very basic things. Right now we are like the family who can't decide on whether to go to the seaside or the mountains. So they stay home and fight." Commissioner W. Maynard Pittendreigh was also against the overture. "I don't think anyone is unaware that we have a lot of division in the church. What bothers me most about this overture is that it is not a call for action. It is a call for inaction -- a call for hopelessness. To approve this statement of irreconcilable impasse is going to announce to the church and the world that the God we worship is smaller than the problems we face." Following much discussion on procedural matters on whether to dismiss the overture, create a substitute motion, write a pastoral letter or comment on the action taken on the overture, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick was recognized to speak. "I simply wanted to share a concern or two," said Kirkpatrick. He said "while in many ways I do not agree with this overture … it raises the right issues that need to be faced by the church." "In God's time what is an irreconcilable impasse in one time is not in another. I hope you will find a way to make that ringing affirmation -- not with superficial issues but with the very issues at the heart of this overture." Kirkpatrick continued he would like the committee to remind the denomination that theology really does matter. When Commissioner Carl Zimmerman said it sounded like "we are looking at a new statement of faith," Kirkpatrick replied "I am not proposing a new statement of faith." As overture advocate Reuter was given one last chance to speak to the committee. He said the overture arose out of what some in Beaver-Butler Presbytery sensed was the pain of the denomination at large. "It was our analysis that the pain was because of these theological issues. … A recognition by the Presbyterian Church that we have these differences would be a step forward for the denomination." He called it analogous to finding out that you have cancer before you can treat it. The vote on the overture was 58 against; and 0 yes or abstaining votes. The General Assembly will discuss the matter later in the week.

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