Coalition Leadership Did Not Approve "Call to Sabbatical" Haberer acted on his own By Parker T. Williamson The Presbyterian Layman Although the widely publicized "Call to Sabbatical" has been announced as an act of "Coalition, Covenant Network Leaders" (Presbyterian News Service release #98189), The Presbyterian Layman has learned that one of the signatories, Rev. Jack Haberer, Moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition, signed the document without the approval of the Presbyterian Coalition board of directors. Haberer told the Layman that when he signed the statement he believed he was expressing the convictions of Coalition leaders: "I did so as an individual pastor, acting in a way I believe to be consonant with the convictions of the leadership of the Presbyterian Coalition, which I serve as Moderator," he said. But when Haberer was asked the follow up question, "Did you obtain specific Coalition board approval for the language of the statement that you signed?" Haberer answered, "No, I did not." The Layman has learned that after the statement was made public, in a Coalition conference telephone call, an attempt was made to have the group endorse Haberer's signature after the fact, but it failed to receive board approval. Because some phrases in the statement are open to wide interpretation, the Layman has asked each signatory four questions designed to clarify their positions. So far, only Haberer has answered. Haberer's brief responses will receive further elaboration in a statement that he says he intends to post on the Presbyterian Coalition web page. The Layman will post each of the signatories' answers as they are received. Although there are many questions yet to be answered regarding the "Call to Sabbatical" this much is clear: it represents the opinion of six individuals, and not the organizations in which they hold leadership positions. |
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| Press release from the Office of the General Assembly | |
| Signers respond to The Presbyterian Layman's questions | |
| Breaking News contents | |
