Western N.C. Presbytery
adopts dismissal guidelines
By John H. Adams, The Layman, February 2, 2009
The Presbytery of Western North Carolina has voted to dismiss discontent congregations only to denominations that are members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches or are approved by the stated clerk of the General Assembly.
No mention of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church was made in the written proposal for “Guidelines for Congregations Considering a Request to Presbytery to be Dismissed.” But the dual references to WARC and the stated clerk seemed to point toward a plan to blacklist the EPC as acceptable.
Last June, the General Assembly approved an overture that calls for WARC to investigate the EPC for allegedly trying to coax PCUSA congregations into the EPC. Before the General Assembly’s action, former Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick made similar allegations against the EPC. The EPC’s leaders denied that they had tried to recruit PCUSA congregations.
The General Assembly approved that overture, and sent it first to the denomination’s Ecumenical Affairs Committee. The committee is expected to pass along to WARC its recommendation.
In the meantime, Kirkpatrick’s personal bias against the EPC might make that denomination out of reach for congregations trying to get out of the PCUSA by following the presbytery’s procedures. Kirkpatrick is the president of WARC. Furthermore, he groomed Gradye Parsons, who was elected stated clerk by the 218th General Assembly last June. The EPC is a member of WARC.
The presbytery’s policy is based on “adherence to the denomination’s Constitution which enshrines such vital affirmations as:” 1) the unity of the church, 2) the local congregations constitute one church; and 3) “all property held by or for a particular church, a presbytery, a synod, the General Assembly … is held in trust nevertheless for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church (USA).”
The policy commands that dissenting congregations “shall consider the Biblical principles in these passages: Peace, Romans 14:19 et al; Unity, John 17:21 et al; and Purity, I Corinthians 5:9-13 et al.” It does not command any of the moral requirements in Scripture, such as the prohibition against sexual behavior outside of marriage.
The presbytery establishes a lengthy time frame and some high hurdles for congregations to follow if they want to be dismissed.
Among the rules:
- The session of a local congregation will have to secure the presbytery’s approval for nearly every step in the process.
- No congregational meeting to consider the issue would be allowed without the presbytery’s approval.
- When a meeting is held – the first one would be for information only and no vote – the turnout must be at least 33 percent. Presbytery officials must be heard during the meeting.
- No sooner than three months and no later than six months after that meeting, the presbytery will consider authorizing a meeting to take a congregational vote. At least 50 percent of the congregation’s active members must be present at that meeting. At least 75 percent would have to approve the request for dismissal.
- At the presbytery meeting to consider the dismissal request, all sides would be allowed to address the commissioners. Two thirds of the commissioners to presbytery would have to approve the dismissal request before it would become effective.
- The guidelines make no specific reference to what the presbytery might charge a congregation to let it leave. But it does outline provisions for a financial assessment to gauge how much the congregation had supported the presbytery and vice versa. And the presbytery’s final vote would be on this question: “Shall the _____________________ Presbyterian Church … be granted these financial arrangements for its property?”