[9-19-06]
The members of Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the
Church (TTF), who met together for four years, have provided the PCUSA a
model of mutual discussion and discernment, appreciation and trust. The 217th
General Assembly, meeting in June of 2006 in Birmingham, Alabama, affirmed
the value of both the process and the substance of what the TTF had done by
overwhelmingly adopting recommendations 1 through 4, which called for
harmony and covenanted partnership in dealing with potentially divisive
issues.
While Recommendation 5 passed by a more narrow margin, a clear majority
of commissioners adopted the Authoritative Interpretation (AI) of the Book
of Order. Briefly, the Assembly’s approval reaffirmed G-6.0108 of the Book
of Order in three ways: the Constitution is authoritative; candidates for
ordination may state their "departures" regarding particular points in the
Constitution; and governing bodies have the responsibility to determine
whether a "departure" is contrary to the essentials of Reformed faith,
polity or practice.
Though there were differing assessments of the TTF’s recommendations,
from a variety of perspectives, the mood following the vote of the Assembly
was one of mutual affirmation and reconciliation consistent with the actions
just taken, (particularly in adopting Recommendations 1 – 4) in the spirit
of living together in harmony and covenanted partnership.
This unique moment of reconciliation at the Assembly makes the attitude
and the subsequent statements and actions of some Presbyterians and
presbyteries especially disheartening. It may be that many Presbyterians
have not taken the time to read or interpret the TTF’s report or the AI in
the wider context. It is our hope that misinterpretations can be corrected
by study and discussion. Pastors have a special responsibility to give an
accurate interpretation of both the Task Force report and the Book of Order.
We are also dismayed and appalled that some congregations, under the
leadership of their sessions and pastors, have chosen to act in ways that
defy and destroy the trust relationship that has been so painstakingly
developed since the TTF’s inception in 2001, and that a majority in some
presbyteries have affirmed these destructive and unconstitutional actions.
We regret that some have decided to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) and
hope that any such action will not be permanent. We caution against giving
in to a spirit of anarchy and misinterpretation by ignoring the procedures
clearly spelled out in the Book of Order for pastors and congregations to
leave the Presbyterian Church (USA).
We pledge to join with all Presbyterians in carrying out the letter and
the spirit of both the AI and our broader Presbyterian tradition: to defend
our Constitution against anarchy and misinterpretation, to seek more
thorough discernment, and to assist candidates and committees as we all try
to live our way into the new opportunities brought to us by the Theological
Task Force, the actions of the 217th General Assembly, and the
Reformed heritage upon which the Presbyterian Church (USA) stands.
