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A Resolution to Register Disagreement with the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Adopted by the Session of the Northway Presbyterian Church, July 18, 1999


Whereas, the General Assembly Council has taken action to uphold the conference of 'Women of Faith' awards to recipients whose lifestyle and ideology are abjectly opposed to the Truth revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and professed by the constitutional standards of the Presbyterian Church (USA); and,

Whereas, the General Assembly Council has taken this action with expressed disregard for the "personal merits of the nominees;" and,

Whereas, the General Assembly Council has taken this action with confessed refusal to apply the "policies and standards of our church" to "the issue before us;" and,

Whereas, the General Assembly Council has taken this action with full awareness "that many will not agree with our position, will be hurt and angered by our action;" and,

Whereas, the General Assembly Council has taken this action will full acknowledgement and regret for "the disagreement, hurt, and anger" which would result; and,

Whereas, the General Assembly Council has taken this action in the stated belief "that God can use these events to build up this sometimes bruised and bruising part of the body of Christ;" and,

Whereas, the General Assembly Council has petitioned us, as brothers and sisters in the Lord, to offer up our "prayers and ongoing support as we try to serve you in an effective and Christ-like fashion;" be it hereby resolved by the Session of the Northway Presbyterian Church, Williamsport, Pennsylvania:

  1. That we pledge our continuing prayers for God's will to be done in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

  2. That we register our complete disagreement, dismay, and disgust at the hurtful, anger provoking action taken by the General Assembly Council regarding the 1999 "Women of Faith Awards."

  3. That we renounce this action and rebuke the General Assembly Council for having taken it with expressed disregard for the "personal merits of the nominees" and confessed refusal to apply the "policies and standards of our church."

  4. That we implore the General Assembly Council to repent of this action and to recant the approval given for the conference of 'Women of Faith' awards to recipients whose lifestyle and ideology are abjectly opposed to the Truth revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and professed by the constitutional standards of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

  5. That we encourage other Sessions to follow our example by taking action to formally register disagreement with the action of the General Assembly Council.

  6. That we communicate this resolution to the General Assembly Council, the Office of the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, the Synod of the Trinity, the Presbytery of Northumberland and each of its member congregations, the Presbyterian News Service and the Presbyterian Layman.
Rev. James D. Henkel, Moderator
Elder Marian Mecone, Clerk
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