Trinity paper is 'received' by GA, but not approved By John H. Adams The Layman Online Monday, June 19, 2006 217th General Assembly Birmingham, Ala. BIRMINGHAM -- A theological -- or glaringly nontheological -- paper on the Trinity was "received" Monday morning by the 217th General Assembly. It proposes both the Biblical tradition for the names of the Trinity -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- as well as a number of alternatives that led to strong opposition to the document. The commissioners voted 282-212 to receive the report. "Receive" became the key in the amended motion by the Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions. Before the amendment was approved by the commissioners, the assembly was called to "approve" the paper titled "The Trinity: God's Love Overflowing." But the commissioners were unwilling to give it their full imprimatur. Nonetheless, the paper's backers did convince the commissioners to keep in the paper non-traditional statements about the Trinity, which opponents said were no more than "metaphorical triads." Some of those triads, never linked in Scripture as Trinitarian language, include: Rainbow, Ark and Dove Speaker, Word and Breath Overflowing Font, Living Water and Flowing River Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child and Life-Giving Womb Sun, Light and Burning Ray Giver, Gift and Giving Lover, Beloved and Love Rock, Cornerstone and Temple Fire that Consumes, Sword that Divides and Storm that Melts Mountains The One Who Was, the One Who Is and the One who is to Come. The Trinity paper does, however, declare that it is appropriate to use only Father, Son and Holy Spirit during baptisms because of the precise language of Jesus in the Great Commission. A number of changes were made in the original document during the committee's workup and affirmed by the full assembly. They included giving a new title to one section. It originally was titled "Naming the Triune God," but was changed to "Speaking of the Triune God." The Rev. Jonathon Lovelady of Shenandoah Presbytery introduced a minority report to refer the paper to the PCUSA's Office of Theology and Worship and the Trinity work group. He declared that the Trinity paper "suffers from a confusion about the name of God." He said there is a difference between a name and a metaphor. Furthermore, he added, the Council of Nicea, out of which came the Nicene Creed, settled the issue by accepting God's own revelation of his Triune name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "We believe this paper needs further consultation," Lovelady said. "The question that cries to be answered is, 'What does God want to be called?'" The Rev. Debblie Funke of Yellowstone Presbytery argued that the theology of the Trinity paper is "problematic, confusing and divisive in a time when the church is already divided. It would be unfortunate to recommend to the church another paper that would be a threat to the peace, unity and purity of the church." The Rev. Deborah Block of Milwaukee Presbytery supported the Trinity paper. She said that she had read it in preparation for the General Assembly and found its content helpful in talking to a prospective new member of her congregation. She said the paper helped her answer that person's questions about the Trinity. The Rev. Alan Gray of Abingdon Presbytery disagreed. "This paper confuses the clear message of Scripture. The reason we call God Father is that he identifies himself as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has revealed himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we should be very clear not to confuse that precious revelation." "Words matter," another commissioner said. "If we use them loosely, unthinkingly, others might use them. Good people are led astray. Our Triune God is not a compassionate mother, a womb or a rainbow or other metaphors that have been lumped together." One commissioner asked about the authority of the Trinity paper. Charles Wiley, a member of the staff of the Office of Theology and Worship, said, "This document has no constitutional authority, no binding authority on anyone in the church." Commissioners rejected the minority report by a vote of 240-227.

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