Exit guidelines’ change approved; allows panel with takeover power for churches that don’t have 75% vote to seek dismissal
By Patrick Jean, August 3, 2007
GASTONIA, N.C. – Western North Carolina Presbytery commissioners approved a revision to the presbytery’s “exit guidelines” for churches that are inclined to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) – a revision that, in some cases, could allow the presbytery to assume original jurisdiction of a church.
The “Guidelines for Congregations Considering A Request to Presbytery to be Dismissed,” which were approved at the presbytery’s stated meeting in January, include the requirements that at least 50 percent of a church’s congregation be present at the congregational meeting where a vote to request dismissal from the PCUSA is taken and that a minimum of 75 percent of the congregation, present and voting, must choose to leave.
The revision, approved by presbytery commissioners at their stated meeting July 31, will call for an administrative commission to address churches that do not meet the 75-percent requirement. The commission would be appointed by the general presbyter, the chairman of the committee on ministry and the chairman of the presbytery’s coordinating council.
The Rev. Don Scofield, chairman of the committee on ministry that recommended the revision, told presbytery commissioners there are some people within the presbytery’s churches who are intent on leaving the PCUSA no matter how their congregation votes. “So we need to do something, we need to have something in place to absolutely care for that congregation to help them through that difficult time,” he said.
“We are finding ourselves in a very critical position of how we care for a congregation, how we pastorally care for folks who are left behind who are going to have a very fractional congregation if they do not exceed 75 percent in the vote,” said Scofield, who is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Rutherfordton.
The Rev. Bobbi White, Western North Carolina general presbyter, said in an earlier phone interview that the proposal is partly in response to questions that arose over the dismissal of Montreat Presbyterian Church from the PCUSA. Presbytery commissioners voted April 24 to release the 455-member congregation to the smaller, more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church and create a “continuing” Montreat Presbyterian Church within the PCUSA. Ownership of the church’s property remains in limbo while presbytery and church leaders negotiate.
While 92 percent of the Montreat congregation showed up for their 311-27 vote Jan. 21 to request dismissal, there were questions about what happens to a church that fails to meet the 75-percent requirement for its congregational vote, White said. Concerns also were expressed about what happens when a church session recommends a congregational vote for dismissal, but the congregation doesn’t agree, she said.
An administrative commission for a church that fails to meet the 75-percent requirement for its congregational vote will “attempt to bring pastoral healing to that congregation” pursuant to Book of Order clause G-9.0503, the revision to the guidelines states. But the revision also makes it clear that an administrative commission’s efforts are “on the understanding that this commission may, if it deems it best for the peace of this part of Christ’s Church, assume original jurisdiction pursuant to Book of Order [clause] G-11.0103(s), with whatever responsibilities and powers of the session (G-10.0102) it deems appropriate.”
Clause G-10.0102 addresses the multiple responsibilities and powers of a church session. Clause G-11.0103(s) states that a presbytery can “assume original jurisdiction in any case in which it determines that a session cannot exercise its authority. Whenever, after a thorough investigation, and after full opportunity to be heard has been accorded to the session in question, the presbytery of jurisdiction shall determine that the session of a particular church is unable or unwilling to manage wisely the affairs of its church, the presbytery may appoint an administrative commission (G-9.0503) with the full power of a session. This commission shall assume original jurisdiction of the existing session, if any, which shall cease to act until such time as the presbytery shall otherwise direct.”
The proposal was approved on a voice vote.
Full text of revision
Here is the full text of the revision that commissioners approved July 31:
“The committee on ministry recommends that the Presbytery of Western North Carolina adopt the following:
The presbytery agrees that, if a congregation pursues the ‘Guidelines for Congregations Considering a Request to Presbytery to be Dismissed,’ but fails to obtain a 75 percent vote in the second congregational meeting, an administrative commission shall be immediately appointed by the chair of the coordinating council, the chair of the committee on ministry and the general presbyter, acting together pursuant to Book of Order [clause] G-9.0503-5, to attempt to bring pastoral healing to that congregation on the understanding that this commission may, if it deems it best for the peace of this part of Christ’s Church, assume original jurisdiction pursuant to Book of Order [clause] G-11.0103(s), with whatever responsibilities and powers of the session (Book of Order [clause] G-10.0102) it deems appropriate.”
Patrick Jean is a staff writer for The Layman and The Layman Online. He can be reached at pjean@www.layman.org.