GAC resolution Monday, February 26, 2001 The General Assembly Council is grateful for all the churches and one presbytery that have written to us concerning the remarks of the Rev. Mr. Dirk Ficca during the 2000 Peacemaking Conference. The communications received revealed what we already believed: that the Presbyterian Church is full of faithful and respectful Christians who, though we may disagree on many issues, are, nevertheless, committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and our salvation through Christ. Thank you for contributing to the ongoing dialogue about what it means to be Presbyterian Christians. Some letters call upon GAC to discipline the Rev. Mr. Ficca. The GAC, however, does not have disciplinary authority over him, nor any authority over his call, employment, or individual work. Ministers of the Word and Sacrament are members of a presbytery "which shall designate them to such work as may be helpful to the church in mission, in participation in the larger ministry of the church in addition to the duties to which they are called and designated by the presbytery." (G-6.0201) The presbytery has disciplinary jurisdiction over its minister members. (D-3.0101b.(1)) In addition, some of the letters call upon the GAC to make theological statements on behalf of the church. The GAC does not initiate and cannot alter the theological statements and beliefs of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). These statements and beliefs are set out in scripture and our Constitution (Book of Confessions and Book of Order (G-1.0500)). The amendment process for the Book of Confessions (G-18.0201) and the Book of Order (G-18.0301) does not include a role for the GAC. Further, the GAC is made up of voting members from across the United States, ordained teaching and ruling elders, or active members of a congregation. We stand by our baptismal and ordination vows. We affirm the Executive Committee's letter of October 25, 2000. We appreciate the Peacemaking Program's attempt to take on and discuss many of the more difficult and disconcerting issues of our era. While we may agree or disagree with some remarks by some speakers, we applaud the Peacemaking Program's disciplined efforts to listen to the world from the position of the reformed/Presbyterian church, and we pray that they will continue to stretch our minds and hearts to be peacemakers. We affirm the propriety of open dialogue at GAC-sponsored conferences to explore the emerging perspectives and we urge speakers to further explore what our constitution may say on their topic to educate the participants about historical Presbyterian/Reformed doctrine.

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