Separation survey sent to churches By Robert P. Mills The Layman Online Wednesday, November 8, 2000 A survey "designed to assess the breadth and depth of sentiment for and against schism" has been sent out by a group calling itself the Committee of Concerned Presbyterians. The return address is a Louisville Post Office box. Signing the survey's cover letter were ministers Bob Brashear of New York, Barbara Dua of Albuquerque, Dan Smith of Hollywood, and elder Nancy Neal of Brooklyn. Dua recently left her position as director of the denomination's Women's Ministries Program Area following intense scrutiny of the controversial National Network of Presbyterian College Women. Under her supervision, that program produced resources that contradicted the PCUSA's theological and ethical standards. Ironically, Concerned Presbyterians was the name chosen in 1964 by a group questioning the direction of the former southern stream of the Presbyterian Church. Eventually those concerned Presbyterians left the denomination and formed the conservative Presbyterian Church in America. Divisions in the PCUSA At the heart of the survey are 11 questions "Regarding Divisions in the Presbyterian Church (USA)." The first is "Do you agree with this statement: 'An official schism, or split, in the PCUSA is inevitable?'" The fourth question in that section asks, "In your opinion, which of the following scenarios would most warrant the initiation of a planning process for mutual separation in the PCUSA?" and offers the following choices: a. G-6.0106b [the "fidelity and chastity" provision] remains in the Book of Order for another three years, without the real possibility for its removal. b. The restrictions mandated under G-6.0106b are extended to membership. c. 'Amendment O,' which bans Holy Unions between persons of the same gender, passes this year. Later it asks "which of the following scenarios would indicate an irreversible conservative take-over of the PCUSA?" and lists: a. If the Women's Ministries program area is shut down or reorganized. b. If the PCUSA adopts an official conservative position against a woman's right to choose. c. If new tenets of faith are introduced as criteria for ordination, membership or employment. d. If 'Amendment A' passes this year which would remove the language of 'race, ethnic origin (and) worldly condition' from the Book of Order guidelines for inclusiveness (G-5.0103). e. If ordination for women is revoked. f. If the Biblical prohibition against divorce and remarriage were again affirmed as authoritative. g. If a group of More Light Churches were to be forced to leave the PCUSA. h. If there were a significant increase in judicial cases brought on the basis of G-6.0106b. The survey also asks whether respondents would support or oppose "an Overture for the creation of a General Assembly Commission for Mutual Separation which would be similar to the process brought about the Articles of Reunion in 1983."

Respond to this article

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