Church leaders call for commission; others not happy with the proposal By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Tuesday, June 12, 2001 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Members of the committee on Peace, Purity and Unity of the Church heard top leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) speak in favor of an overture that calls for appointing a theological commission for a four-year study of the spiritual condition of the church and the causes of unrest. Sygman Rhee, moderator of the 212th General Assembly, said the issues that divide the church are "so important that we should not deal with them lightly." "Issues of inclusiveness for all people in our church is a very important principle in our church. The authority of Scripture is very important -- critically important. Sometimes, these issues seem to go up against each other and cause frictions," he said. Rhee said that, as he traveled this past year, he heard from people who have become disillusioned and discouraged because the "center stage of our church has become the battle ground on some issues." The denomination needs to deal with the issues in a constructive and useful way, he said, which "is why I am grateful to see overtures from presbyteries to create a commission." Rhee said it was one of the ways the church concretely can "deal with issues and not just have a dialogue with opposing views." John Detterick, executive director of the General Assembly Council, told the committee that many in the church have not been Presbyterians for very long, and part of that means "we don't always know the confessions. There really is a hunger to understand what our beliefs are." He also spoke about the commission idea, proposed in Overture 33 from John Calvin Presbytery, and suggested that the committee brainstorm about the proposal. "If you choose to go the commission route, then have the commission pose questions and listen to the church," Detterick said, adding that it might be interesting to have every presbytery answer questions from the commission. "So, as you think about the course that you may take, think about it in a way that will involve the whole church," he said. "We hope that what you find is an expression of that more excellent way." Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick said the title of the committee "and what you have the opportunity to do is really at the heart of this church." He said he was elected as the stated clerk the same year that Amendment B – the fidelity and chastity ordination standard – was approved by the General Assembly. Kirkpatrick spoke of the 1925 General Assembly and what he called the fundamentalism/modernist controversy. The moderator at that time proposed the Commission of 1925, composed of representatives from both sides and the broad middle, that went about listening to members of the church and came back with recommendations to the General Assembly, which were approved. Some people did leave the denomination, Kirkpatrick said, but not like the earlier, larger spilt between "the old school and the new school." "We do need to learn from our heritage," he said. Others not so happy During the open hearing session of the morning meeting, commissioners heard from church members who are not happy about the commission proposal. Anita Bell, co-moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition, urged commissioners to think about the temptations of having a commission. "You might hope for a political resolution to a theological problem. You might think there could be a compromise." She said, however, that the church cannot compromise on the fundamentals of the faith. "You are not called to be nice, but to be rooted and grounded in God's love and that means you need to be wise," Bell concluded. Jane Adams Spahr, a lesbian evangelist for That All May Freely Serve, also spoke against the idea of a commission. "This isn't about issues. This is about people," she said. "When you see us, you like us. Every time you study us, you try us. Right now, three of the finest people have cases against them. … If you do this theological commission, you become silent, then you become complacent in our death." Daryl Fisher-Ogden asked the committee not to form a commission. "The people you have heard this morning have urged you to think about broader and deeper ways. They have urged you to think about a more excellent way. The problem is that we have done that already," she said. Fisher-Ogden said the Office of the General Assembly detailed all the different times -- 174 different items on the list -- that there have been task forces, committees, overtures, etc. "Whatever you do, find a grassroots approach," she said. Another person speaking against the commission was Kathy Banassak "We have already decided the issue through constitutional means," she said, asking that, if in 26 years, General Assemblies have not been able to decide an issue to the satisfaction of various groups, then how can a smaller group decide it? "Giving the power of a General Assembly to a small group can be regarded as elitist," Banassak said. "We do not need a commission. We need a resolve to stand by the decisions of this church for the past 26 years." Paul Leggett said he was against the idea of a commission because he doesn't "think there are 17 or 25 people wise enough and strong enough to deal with all issues." He thought the issues needed to involve sessions, congregations and presbyteries. Ann Graham Johnson said the idea of a commission is paternalistic because it makes decisions for those who will not be at the table. She also called the idea arrogant and judgmental because "we are giving a group of people the judgment on how God is working in the lives of others. … What will we say to those now who are being marginalized? And what do we say to those now standing in trial?"

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