 PFR joins protest by renewal leaders Parker T. Williamson The Layman Online Monday, December 23, 2002 Presbyterians for Renewal (PFR), an organization that says it represents "the great middle" of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on denominational issues, has joined other renewal voices in challenging constitutional defiance by Christ Church in Burlington, Vt. In a statement posted on its Web site Dec. 22, PFR expressed its regret that the Vermont congregation has refused to comply with the denomination's constitution after it was extended "mercy" by the 2002 General Assembly. In addition to its statement – "Grace Is Not License: PFR Cautions Christ Church" – PFR also posted an analysis of Christ Church's recent statement of constitutional defiance. 'Mercy exploited' In June, the General Assembly let Christ Church off the hook by rejecting an overture that called for constitutional enforcement in the Christ Church case. Just a few days before the assembly, Christ Church announced that it had "set aside" its original statement of defiance. In December, Christ Church issued a new statement, declaring that it has the right to reinterpret the constitution and, on the basis of its own interpretation, do what the constitution clearly prohibits. "It is the presbytery's [Presbytery of Northern New England] responsibility now to help Christ Church realize that they will have to answer not only to the law of the Church, but also for mercy exploited," said PFR. Anticipating the possibility that neither the presbytery nor the Synod of the Northeast will take measures to ensure compliance, PFR warned that "there remains the potential for decisive new action by the next General Assembly." Constitutional crisis petition Presbyterians may not have long to wait for that assembly to convene. Responding to instances of constitutional defiance by dozens of church sessions and hundreds of Presbyterian officers, Dr. Alexander Metherell, an elder commissioner to the 2002 General Assembly, has been circulating a petition that would require the moderator to call a special meeting of the assembly to deal with what he calls "the constitutional crisis" in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Commissioners from all 16 synods have signed the petition, and they are within one signature of having the required 25 elders and 25 ministers asking the moderator to call an historic special meeting of the General Assembly. Commissioners have contacted Metherell to sign the petition following the disclosures of each new act or statement of defiance and the refusal of governing bodies to take administrative action. Metherell, a physician, says instances of defiance that have erupted in Mount Kisco, N.Y., Burlington, Vt., Baltimore, Md., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Redwoods, Calif., are undermining the denomination's constitutional system in the same way that a malignancy metastasizes throughout the human body. 'Ecclesiastical malpratice' During the General Assembly in June, Meterell warned fellow commissioners that their failure to enact enforcement measures at that early stage would result in widespread defiance that could threaten the church's constitutional integrity. Continuing his medical analogy, Metherell wrote to his commissioner colleagues, describing lackluster enforcement by the General Assembly's stated clerk and other officials as "ecclesiastical malpractice." Two groups that the stated clerk advises – the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly and the Advisory Committee on the Constitution – lobbied aggressively against General Assembly intervention in the Christ Church case when it was before the commissioners in June. The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly has also written to all commissioners, urging them not to call a special meeting of the General Assembly. Additionally, the stated clerk released a statement declaring that the "there is no constitutional crisis" – and that claims to that effect are "based upon a number of misunderstandings about our Constitution." Calls for constitutional integrity Meanwhile, congregations and individuals across the denomination are publicly stepping forward to insist that the Presbyterian Church (USA) constitution be defended and preserved. Constitutional integrity resolutions have been adopted by the Presbyterian Lay Committee and the Presbyterian Coalition. PFR issued a separate statement of its own. More than 51 local church governing bodies in 19 states and hundreds of individuals have signed resolutions similar to the statements by the Lay Committee and the Coalition. These statements insist that the stated clerk do his duty to "preserve and defend the Constitution." The clerk has responded to critics by saying that, while he believes all Presbyterians should obey the constitution, it is not his job to enforce it. PFR defended the stated clerk against growing criticism of his unwillingness to use his full authority to defend and preserve the constitution. In a guest editorial in the Oct. 14 Presbyterian Outlook, Jack Haberer, president of PFR, said, "The stated clerk has refused to play the role of a monarch, being unwilling to extend his authority into governing bodies beyond the range of his jurisdiction." While the clerk has called for constitutional obedience, he has not used his office as a bully pulpit or to file complaints in high-profile cases – both of which are within the range of his jurisdiction. And he has consistently opposed proposals to strengthen constitutional integrity. He has not commented publicly on Christ Church's latest renunciation of constitutional rule. But some renewal leaders, including the Rev. Robert Dooling of the Presbyterian Forum, are incensed that Christ Church has declared its right to reinterpret the constitution and disobey church law. "In doing this, the session of Christ Church has acted schismatically," Dooling said. "God will condemn the action of Christ Church's session. We Presbyterians should have the backbone to do the same thing … the officers of Christ Church have chosen to walk a different path – one that lacks integrity and principle. It is fraudulent, dishonorable, disingenuous and dishonest. It reminds me of a tactic proposed by the Covenant Network's Barbara Wheeler years ago." Wheeler, who is the president of Auburn Theological Seminary, a member of the Covenant board and a member of the PCUSA's Theological Task Force on Peace, Purity and Unity, delivered a speech to the Covenant Network in which she suggested that theological liberals who opposed the denomination's ordination requirements faced a choice between:
'No promise of mercy' PFR's statement on Christ Church also includes some strong language. It warns Christ Church: "There is no promise of mercy ahead when mercy today has been exploited. Christ Church cannot claim they did not receive mercy and warning, and should not underestimate the will of the Church on this matter." PFR's statement follows a Dec. 10 Layman Online story about Christ Church's intent to continue to defy the PCUSA Constitution. Contrary to church law and judicial interpretations, Christ Church said that in its own interpretation of the constitution:
"PFR has read Christ Church's new statement with regret, especially in light of the grace G.A. extended," PFR said. "General Assembly commissioners trusted that Christ Church's withdrawal of their previous statement was done in good faith and for the sake of the larger church. G.A. acted pastorally by demonstrating the gracious heart of God, who delays the exercise of judgment for the sake of those who will receive God's mercy. But note: Just as judgment by God is not curtailed by mercy but will instead be displayed in light of God's mercy, so should it be regarding the General Assembly's mercy and judgment. It is all the more condemning when one has received mercy and ignored it or made a mockery of it. Judgment must follow." |
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