2nd congregation in 3 days endorses 'A Call for Constitutional Integrity' The Layman Online Thursday, November 7, 2002 An Iowa congregation has declared that there is a growing constitutional crisis within the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has called on church leaders to uphold the denomination's constitution and to exercise the Rules of Discipline against those who defy it. First Presbyterian Church in Conrad, Iowa, was the second congregation in three days to endorse "A Call for Constitutional Integrity." The first was Knoxville United Church in Pittsburgh. The resolutions approved by both 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 those 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 on the discovery that Baltimore Presbytery has voted not to enforce the constitution if it is presented with either disciplinary or remedial cases involving the denomination's ordination standards. Baltimore Presbytery also instructed 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. The session of First Presbyterian Church in Conrad, Iowa, wrote that, "As a matter of public record, this action will be reported to the congregation through the publication of the December Church Newsletter – The Messenger. Copies of this affirmation will be sent to the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery Of North Central Iowa, the Rev. Charles Orr, and to the Stated Clerk Of The General Assembly Of The Presbyterian Church (USA), the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick." The text of the session's declaration reads: A Call for Constitutional Integrity "We affirm our ultimate commitment and submission to the supreme authority of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Church, and thus we reject the elevation of personal opinion and self as ultimate authority. "We reaffirm our firm commitment and submission to the authority of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), having freely placed ourselves under that authority by our ordination vows, and thus we reject the legitimacy of and will not condone any defiance of the Constitution. "We pledge ourselves to labor for a just and equitable adherence to the Constitution by utilizing the Rules Of Discipline in the spirit of its Preamble, and thus we reject and will not condone any failure of corporate disciplinary will, or corruption or malfeasance in the judicial process. "We invite all Presbyterians to join us in this commitment to constitutional integrity, for without a enforceable Constitution to bind us, we cease to be a viable connectional and denominational church."

Respond to this article

Home · News · PLC Publications · The Presbyterian Layman Online Reviews · Archives · History of the Lay Committee · Feedback · Links