 Gathering affirms strategies Confessing Church, defeat of A top list By John H. Adams The Layman Volume 34, Number 7 Posted November 30, 2001
The two strategies that drew the largest show of hands were defeating Amendment 01-A, which would allow presbyteries and sessions to ordain self-affirming, practicing adulterers and homosexuals, and encouraging the continued growth of the Confessing Church Movement within the Presbyterian Church (USA). Both were endorsed nearly unanimously. In addition, the Gathering VI assembly showed nearly 50 percent support for eventual separation from the denomination and nearly 40 percent support for withholding per-capita allocations that underwrite the denomination’s General Assembly, the Office of the General Assembly and ecumenical alliances. There was little support for a proposed two-synod plan, which would give each congregation the option of affiliating with an evangelical synod or a synod that would allow, for instance, the ordination of self-affirming, practicing homosexuals and adulterers. PCUSA leaders in audience John Detterick, executive director of the General Assembly Council, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and Moderator Jack B. Rogers were in the audience for many of the presentations. Jerry Andrews, co-moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition, helped set the tone for Gathering VI when, in a state-of-the-church address, he called Amendment 01-A the “presenting issue” in the denomination. Andrews charged that the 2001 General Assembly, to which he was a commissioner, “intentionally and admittedly disregarded” Scripture in its decision to call for a vote to eviscerate the ordination standard. Andrews said the most “spiritually distressing event” was when the General Assembly considered overtures asking commissioners to reaffirm that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life for the world. “The beloved asked the lover: ‘Do you love only me?’ … in the end, the divided heart said, ‘I love you,’ but the question was, ‘Do you love only me?’” In response, he said, the commissioners “stammered, struggled and stuttered” to render a statement that “does not answer the question.” Andrews applauded the statement by the denomination’s Office of Theology and Worship that was presented at the meeting of the General Assembly Council on Sept. 26-29 in Tempe, Ariz. That statement affirmed unequivocally that Jesus Christ alone is Lord and Savior for the world. Asking Joseph D. Small, director of the office, to stand and be recognized, Andrews said with deep appreciation: “There are some among us who are unashamed to be evangelicals.” Andrews said his prayer was that, the next time the General Assembly is asked to affirm the saving work of Christ for the world, the commissioners “with joy can answer” that “we quite openly confess that Jesus Christ is the sole redeemer of the world.” The straw votes at the conclusion of the Gathering were an attempt to identify “a strategy to win the war within our church,” said Robert L. Howard, chairman of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and an executive committee member of the Presbyterian Coalition. During a speech interrupted by applause several times, Howard called for a “drastically restructured” denomination that includes returning to lay leaders their proper role in church governance. Howard advocated “true parity between active elders and ministers [who] are accountable to viable congregations.” He said the time has come to limit clergy voting privileges only to ministers who actively serve congregations. Retired and “specialized” clergy (clergy without calls to congregations) would be given a voice, but not a vote, in presbytery meetings. In 1999, the total number of clergy was 20,988, but the number of those actually serving congregations was 9,292. Polls conducted by the denomination’s Research Services reveal that “specialized clergy,” ministers who are not accountable to congregations, represent the most liberal extreme of the theological spectrum. Addressing the frustration that many Presbyterians feel over annual assaults on the church’s faith and morals, Howard said the time has come to exercise discipline. Each year we fight another version of the battle, and this year it is Amendment A, he said. “Just winning the battle over Amendment A, one more time for the Gipper, is not enough,” he said. Howard said, “Grace will be extended to congregations which will not uphold Biblical ordination standards, by allowing them to peacefully separate with their property. Those who will not obey [these] standards, and will not withdraw in peace, will be graciously disciplined.” |
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