Presbyterian Coalition
Charting a course
The Layman, August 5, 2008
The decisions of the recent General Assembly meeting call for response from our sessions and presbyteries.
I know you are among the large number of Presbyterians considering the way forward now. The Coalition Web site has reports from the recent assembly that I hope you will find helpful in your discussions. We’ve included exact wording from a number the actions of the GA to aid your own analysis.
Prepare for the vote in your presbytery
Within the next ten months, presbyteries are required to vote on whether to remove from the Book of Order the language of “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.”
Voting “no” and retaining that language as a requirement for ordination is essential to our integrity as part of the body of Christ. We expect the first votes to be taken as early as October. It is important to begin preparing now.
Many of you already have written or called me because you want to be involved. Networking and good communication is important for a good outcome. If you wish to be a part of this effort in your own presbytery and are not yet connected, please let me know.
Renewal organizations are developing resources to help you prepare for the vote. In the days ahead, we will be offering suggestions and a plan for addressing both the issues and the process.
Overtures needed
The authoritative interpretation of 1978-79 — reaffirmed in 1993 — was nullified by the GA this year. That interpretation is lengthy, and includes the words, “For the church to ordain a self-affirming, practicing homosexual person to ministry would be to act in contradiction to its charter and calling in Scripture, setting in motion both within the church and society serious contradictions to the will of Christ.”
It is critically important that the church-our sessions and presbyteries-respond to this action by seeking the restoration of a clear authoritative interpretation. This needs to be a strong response from every presbytery whose majority seeks to uphold biblical standards for leadership.
Work has begun on wording of overtures. Samples are on our website. Please take one to your session and start the process immediately. These should be the first response from presbyteries, and there should be many of them. Please contact me if you need help on how to proceed.
A Way Forward
I participated in a discussion in my presbytery recently. The concern for the state of the church led quickly to a sustained conversation about alternative ways to live together in the church. I know these conversations are going on everywhere and at all levels of our denomination. That conversation will be a feature of Gathering XI as well. It will help us all to hear the ideas and plans that are percolating. We expect that by the time of that meeting the conversation will be significantly advanced. Watch our Web site for further details about the meeting, and please plan to be there.
Time for the action of prayer
This letter to you is a call for action. John Calvin wrote that the first and lifelong calling of the Christian is to repentance. Repentance is the surest way to course correction for us as individuals and as churches. We must not neglect that as we look at the way forward.
As we come together in congregational and other forms of Christian fellowship, sharing our concerns for the state of church in these times, and seeking to make a faithful response, let’s be quick to confess our own brokenness and need for God’s redemptive grace in us and in our neighbors. The Apostle Peter admonishes us to humble ourselves “under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
Terry Schlossberg
The Presbyterian Coalition
www.presbycoalition.org/