Presbyterian Lay Committee declares ‘full faith and confidence’ in the Presbyterian Coalition and Rev. Carmen Fowler
The Layman Online, September 27, 2002
Editor’s Note: On Sept. 5, the Presbytery of Central Florida denied membership to the Rev. Carmen Fowler, executive director of the Presbyterian Coalition.
Acting through its Committee on Ministry, the presbytery ruled that in leaving her pastorate at Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church in Georgia to become executive director of the Coalition, Fowler “intentionally abandoned the exercise of ministry” because the Coalition is not “a validated ministry” in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) defines a validated ministry as one that is “in demonstrable conformity with the mission of God’s people in the world as set forth in Holy Scripture, The Book of Confessions, and The Book of Order of this church.” Ironically, the Presbyterian Coalition was organized to work within the Presbyterian Church (USA) to uphold the denomination’s constitution, particularly its ordination standards.
In response, the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, in San Diego at its semi-annual meeting Sept. 19-22, approved the following resolution:
Statement of Support for the Presbyterian Coalition
At its meeting in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 21, 2002, the Presbyterian Lay Committee was informed that on Sept. 5, the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Central Florida refused to validate the ministry of the Presbyterian Coalition and that, on this basis, it declined to receive into the presbytery membership the Presbyterian Coalition’s executive director, the Rev. Carmen S. Fowler.
Believing that the ministry of the Presbyterian Coalition conforms in every respect to the criteria for validated ministry as specified in the Book of Order G-11.0403, and cognizant of the fact that the Committee on Ministry has cited no evidence in support of its judgment to the contrary, the Presbyterian Lay Committee declares its full faith and confidence in the Presbyterian Coalition and its executive director.
We stand by the Presbyterian Coalition, expressing our gratitude to God for this ministry’s commitment to the Reformed faith, and commending its vigorous pursuit of constitutional integrity within the Presbyterian Church (USA).
We call on Presbyterians within the bounds of the Presbytery of Central Florida to insist that the presbytery assume original jurisdiction in this case. Specifically, we encourage church sessions to demand that the presbytery overturn the decision of its Committee on Ministry, and that the presbytery conduct a thorough investigation into the methodology and criteria that are employed by this committee when validating ministries within the presbytery.
By unanimous action of the Board of Directors, Meeting at San Diego, California, September 21, 2002
For more background information:
Presbytery rejects Coalition executive. Read the story.