 
GA rejects call for new translation of Heidelberg Catechism By Michael W. Armistead Layman Correspondent |
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By a vote of 302-215 the Assembly disapproved Overture 98-34 from Utah Presbytery, which requested preparation of “a more truthful and accurate translation of the Heidelberg Catechism for inclusion in the Book of Confessions.” At issue was Question 87 in the catechism which contains a more complete quotation of I Cor. 6:9-10 than the original German text and includes “homosexual perversion” among the sins condemned by God. Debate in committee focused on the view that anything other than a strict rendering of the original text of the Confession was “bogus,” even though many other documents in the Book of Order as well as modern translations of scripture employ broader renderings of the original texts. The estimated cost for a three-year study by a committee of nine members was as high as $90,000, all to remove part of one sentence of scripture from the catechism. A “bogus” translation? The overture was seen by a number of commissioners as a way to undermine the new ordination standard in the Book of Order. A similar move was defeated by the 1997 General Assembly. The translators of the current version of the Heidelberg Catechism took the liberty to include full renderings of scripture passages that may have been quoted from memory or edited for the sake of modesty by the original writers of the catechism. The Presbyterian Church accepted this rendering of the catechism without question for decades. It is only in light of the current debate on the ordination of practicing gays and lesbians that this translation has become an issue. During committee debate, Bruce McCormack of Princeton Seminary commented that, “if this translation is bogus because it is not historically accurate, then the Westminster Confession and Scots Confession are equally bogus.” Both of these documents have been substantially altered from their original texts. Likewise the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible often expands gender-exclusive language such as “brothers” to “brothers and sisters” in order to convey the full meaning of the text for modern readers. To apply the translation standards of the Committee on Catechisms and Confessions to these texts would eliminate any use of inclusive language in modern translations. Michael W. Armistead is pastor of Huntersville Church in Huntersville, N.C. |
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The Presbyterian Layman, July/August 1998 contents |
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