Committee approves PUP report 41-22; minority will carry debate to assembly floor
By Parker T. Williamson, The Layman Online, June 19, 2006
217th General Assembly
Birmingham, Ala.BIRMINGHAM — A General Assembly Task Force cleared its initial hurdle on the way toward possible denominational approval of its controversial “Peace, Unity and Purity” report. With minor amendments, a commissioners’ committee forwarded the document to the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s highest governing body for action later this week. Known as the “PUP report,” this document calls for keeping current ordination standards in the Constitution, but allowing those who choose not to obey the standards to “scruple them” with impunity.
Members of the committee’ minority said that the action lacks integrity because it would allow governing bodies to do that which is expressly prohibited by the Constitution. They also argued that the proposal is tantamount to an end run around the Constitution.
Presbyterian church law requires that proposed constitutional amendments must win a majority vote at the General Assembly, followed by approval from a majority of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries. Previous attempts to delete the denomination’s ordination standards have been defeated by a margin of almost 3-1 when submitted to a referendum among the presbyteries.
But by calling the action an “interpretation” of the Constitution rather than an “amendment,” task force members insist that the referendum process is not necessary. “We are not proposing any change in the Constitution,” said task force member Mark Achtemeier.
Opponents call that maneuver disingenuous. Committee member Howard Soehl, from Detroit Presbytery, said, “This report violates a basic principle that the church has the right to set and defend national standards for its ordained officers.” He urged the committee not to undermine the denomination’s integrity by engaging in a postmodern process of redefinition. He said that what the task force calls “an interpretation” is clearly an amendment, and it should be treated as such.
Soehl and 21 of his fellow commissioners proposed that the General Assembly refer the task force proposal to the denomination’s presbyteries for their advice. Committee member Kathy Sizer, Los Ranchos Presbytery, said she found it amazing that a task force that claims to offer a “peace plan” would advocate a “top down declaration from the General Assembly” rather than a consultative process of seeking the discernment of God’s people in their presbyteries. “What you propose will not bring about peace in the church,” she said.
Task force members insisted that they did, in fact, take their plan to the church, having visited 135 presbyteries to present and explain their work. But several members of the committee said that when the task force came to their presbytery, the presentation was a one-way communication. Other than a limited period for questions from the audience, there was no debate, and no opportunity for the presbytery to deliberate and respond.
Soehl said, “I do not question the fact that you went out and made presentations. You also say that while you were there, you listened to the people. So I have a question: You released your report nine months ago, and then you started visiting presbyteries. After all that listening, how many changes did you make in your report? Were there no good ideas out there? Were there no changes that you could make? I cannot help but wonder how well you listened.”
Gerhard Niebauer, Lake Erie Presbytery, warned his fellow commissioners of serious consequences if the General Assembly should impose its will upon the churches on so important a matter without consultation. “One of our colleagues said of us, ‘We’re all in the boat together.’ That may be so, but there are many who are ready to jump from this boat. We have been hearing of massive membership and financial losses. Is this denomination ready to accept further erosion of its members and churches? Is it ready to accept financial loss that will come if the people are not given a chance to respond to this proposed change?”
Supporters of the task force recommendation dismissed such suggestions. “I think we should trust the task force,” said John LeHeup of Foothills Presbytery.
“This offers a new way to be the church,” said David Gellert, Presbytery of the Peaks. “It balances the standard and individual conscience in a way that is hopeful and daring.”
George Rolling, Holston Presbytery, said, “We should not operate out of fear, but faith. The task force has worked very hard for four years. We owe it to them to approve this report. Let’s trust one another and stop fighting.”
The committee voted 41-22 to approve the PUP report. That recommendation, along with a minority report from dissenting members, has been docketed for Assembly action on Tuesday.