Hundreds call on the stated clerk to 'preserve and defend' the constitution The Layman Online Thursday, December 19, 2002 Hundreds of Presbyterians across the country are calling on Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick "to do your duty" and "preserve and defend" the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Those individual efforts parallel a growing chorus of congregations – 45 in 18 states – that are proclaiming "a constitutional crisis" in the PCUSA and calling on church leaders to uphold the denomination's constitution and to exercise the Rules of Discipline against those who defy it. In open letters to Kirkpatrick, copies of which were mailed to The Layman Online, the individuals write: "The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is dear to our hearts. Enacted by the people of our great Church, this document sets forth the principles of our faith and the standards of our life together. "This very constitution is now under attack from those who have announced their refusal to obey it. "Standing Rule G-2 (e) of the General Assembly requires you to 'preserve and defend the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and support decisions, actions, and programs of the General Assembly.' "We implore you to do your duty. We call on you to declare that any minister or session that openly defies the Constitution has renounced the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and to instruct all stated clerks to take appropriate administrative action in all cases of defiance within their area of jurisdiction, by removing such persons from office." In the parallel effort, the 45 congregations that have proclaimed the present time "a season of unrest and open defiance of church discipline" are: Alaska: Haines Presbyterian Church in Haines. California: Michillinda Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, Arcadia Presbyterian Church in Arcadia, First Presbyterian Church in Salinas, First Presbyterian Church in Colusa and Dinuba Presbyterian Church in Dinuba. Georgia: Bethany Presbyterian Church in Covington. Illinois: First Presbyterian Church in Elmwood, Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Sparta and Warren Park Presbyterian Church in Cicero. Indiana: First Presbyterian Church in Winona Lake. Iowa: Burt Presbyterian Church in Burt, First Presbyterian Church in Conrad, First Presbyterian Church in Ashton, First Presbyterian Church in Lakota and Zoar Presbyterian Church in George. Kansas: Zenith Presbyterian Church in Stafford. Louisiana: Canal Street Presbyterian Church in New Orleans Minnesota: First Presbyterian Church in Mora. Mississippi: Ackerman Presbyterian Church in Ackerman. Missouri: St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Kansas City and Tarkio Presbyterian Church in Tarkio. Nebraska: Covenant Presbyterian Church in Omaha. North Carolina: Brittains Cove Presbyterian Church in Weaverville, Rourk Presbyterian Church in Ellerbe, Windermere Presbyterian Church in Wilmington and McLean Presbyterian Church in Ellerbe. Ohio: Westminster Presbyterian Church in Canton and Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisville. Pennsylvania: Burgettstown Presbyterian Church in Burgettstown, First Presbyterian Church in Parker, Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church in Pottsgrove, West Grove Presbyterian Church in West Grove, Center Presbyterian Church in Grove City, Knoxville United Church in Pittsburgh, First Presbyterian Church in Levittown, Middle Smithfield Presbyterian Church in East Stroudsburg, Shiloh Presbyterian Church in St. Marys and United Presbyterian Church of Manoa in Havertown. Texas: First Presbyterian Church in Rusk. Virginia: Blackstone Presbyterian Church in Blackstone, Aberdour Presbyterian Church in Jarratt and First Presbyterian Church in Emporia. West Virginia: First Presbyterian Church in Chester and Third Presbyterian Church in Wheeling. The resolutions approved by all the church sessions are similar to resolutions for "A Call for Constitutional Integrity" previously approved by the Presbyterian Lay Committee and the Presbyterian Coalition. The resolutions refer to a growing number of individuals, churches and some presbyteries that publicly are defying the constitutional standards regarding ordination standards, same-sex marriages, open communion, including prayers and teachings from other religions in worship services and other issues. Public declarations of defiance have increased since the 214th General Assembly met in June, with defiant Presbyterians saying they have a right to violate the denomination's constitution. The language of defiance has become bolder, with unbending assertions that breaking church law is protected by one's conscience and that the law – though anchored in Scripture and the church's confessions – is immoral. Some of the declarations of defiance have led to charges being filed in church courts. But, so far, none of the courts has issued a ruling that affirms the constitutional standard. The constitutional crisis rose to greater intensity with the news that Baltimore Presbytery has proposed not enforcing the constitution if it is presented with either disciplinary or remedial cases involving the denomination's ordination standards. In its proposal, the Baltimore Presbytery also would instruct its sessions not to entertain such cases. Many evangelicals are declaring that there is a "constitutional crisis" because local church sessions and presbyteries – the ordaining bodies in the PCUSA – are either ignoring the constitution or flagrantly violating its requirements. Despite all the reports to the contrary, Kirkpatrick claims there is no constitutional crisis. Kirkpatrick, whose job is "to preserve and defend the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA)" (G-11.0112e), repeatedly has said that it is not his job to enforce the constitution, but he also has said ministers and elders have no right to defy the requirements of G-6.0106b.

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