Detterick says Peacemaking speaker was 'out of bounds' By Parker T. Williamson The Layman Online Tuesday, October 31, 2000 John Detterick INDIANAPOLIS – John Detterick, executive director of the General Assembly Council, told a gathering sponsored by the Presbyterian Coalition Oct. 31 that he believes Rev. Dirk Ficca's "What's the big deal about Jesus?" speech at the Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference "conflicts with a basic tenet of the church's faith" and was "out of bounds." Detterick admitted that official responses issued by himself and council leaders were inadequate. He assured this evangelical audience that his office was taking remedial action. Detterick said that initial responses by his office, council officials and the council itself when it met in September failed to deal adequately with concerns raised across the denomination. In the latest response, posted on the web site of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the executive committee said its members affirmed their faith in Jesus Christ as "the way, the truth and the life, Lord of the world and head of the church." But Detterick said he is hearing from the church that this statement did not go far enough. "Some of you have found that letter inadequate because while it affirms our core beliefs, it does not hold the speaker accountable for his out-of-bounds statements." While defending the Peacemaking Program's decision to address the issue of religious pluralism, Detterick indicated that upon reflection he did not think the conference handled the subject well. "Increasingly the conflicts of our world involve faith issues," he said. "That's why it was and is so important for a conference on peacemaking to focus on interfaith issues." Detterick said that if the conference had invited a non-Christian speaker to address the subject from the perspective of that tradition, it could have been helpful. But the fact that the speaker who expressed this non-Christian perspective was "a Presbyterian minister of the Word and sacrament … exacerbates our problem." Referring to pending litigation on this matter through the Presbyterian Church (USA) judicial system, Detterick said, "Nobody likes to file judicial proceedings, and I can assure you that we certainly do not like to be on the receiving end … I am sure that the General Assembly Council will take up this matter when it convenes in February, and we will deal with it." Seated in Dettrick's audience was Rev. Ron Scates, senior minister of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, one of the churches that has taken a first step toward initiating judicial action against the council. Scates affirmed his appreciation for Detterick's leadership and his hope that the council will adopt remedies that render judicial proceedings unnecessary. A second action was begun by Montreat (N.C.) Presbyterian Church, which sent the council a 12-page complaint that cited council "delinquencies" and proposed a number of remedies. Detterick said he had gained "two personal learnings" from this experience: "We must do a better job of anticipating what speakers at conferences are likely to say, and we must put their comments in the context of our faith … We must maintain who we are doctrinally. Second, our initial responses must be faster, clearer, more definitive." Detterick reported that on the basis of these learnings and "our sincere desire to serve the church," General Assembly Council Chairman Peter Pizor has sent a communication to all members of the council, announcing that he will appoint a task force to evaluate the denomination's conference policies and address issues raised in the wake of the Peacemaking Conference. He predicted that the first task force meeting will occur "within 45 days." Detterick concluded, "While this matter is painful for all of us, it is good to talk about theology and our beliefs. I suggest this is a good study moment for our church. We must continue to affirm that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of us all." As he stepped away from the podium, he was greeted with enthusiastic and sustained applause. "That was Presbyterianism standing before you," said Dr. Dale Brunner, the New Testament scholar who followed Detterick to the podium. "Theology matters. Truth matters."

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