Synod PJC ruling
Presbytery’s right to articulate standards upheld; but presbytery also admonished
The Layman, May 9, 2012
The Synod of Southern California and Hawaii Permanent Judicial Commission heard a complaint on May 4 against a resolution approved by the Presbytery of Los Ranchos at its meeting in September 2011. In a 6-2 vote the Synod PJC (SPJC) did not sustain the specifications of error made by the complainants. However, the SPJC admonished the presbytery indicating that its adoption caused potential harm to the peace and unity of the church.
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The resolution in question says, “The Presbytery of Los Ranchos, meeting on September 15, 2011, affirms that the Bible, The Book of Confessions and the Book of Order (including G-2.0104b and G-2.0105 1 & 2) set forth the Scriptural and constitutional standards for ordination and installation. Los Ranchos Presbytery believes the manner of life of ordained ministers should be a demonstration of the Christian gospel in the church and in the world, including living either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness and will so notify candidates for ordination/installation and/or membership in the presbytery. In obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture and guided by our confessions, this presbytery will prayerfully and pastorally examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office, including a commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions of ordination and installation.”
The resolution passed by a 125-51 vote and a complaint was subsequently filed with the SPJC.
The decision affirms that “the presbytery’s resolution is a proper exercise of the powers that are reserved to presbyteries (F-3.0209). It is the presbytery’s duty to bear witness to error in doctrine and immorality in practice within its bounds (G-3.0301c).”
The PJC also lifted the stay of enforcement noting “The Presbytery of Los Ranchos may proceed as it sees fit to communicate its resolution to current and future teaching elder members.”
Then, having affirmed the presbytery’s constitutional right and even responsibility to exercise such oversight of its members, the PJC also ordered “… that the Presbytery of Los Ranchos be admonished that while this PJC considers the resolution constitutional, the use of specific language known to be divisive and inflammatory flies in the face of the responsibility to seek the peace, unity and purity of the church.'”
The complainants may appeal the decision within 45 days to the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC). The grounds for doing so are spelled out in D-8.0105. If filed and if the GAPJC were to choose to hear the appeal, the appeal would likely not be heard until after the 220th General Assembly meeting in Pittsburgh, June 30-July 8. That is relevant because there is related business before the assembly.
Overture 07-08 would explicitly allow sessions and presbyteries to do what Los Ranchos has done, articulating the theological and behavior standards expected of its members. Items 07-09 and 07-13 would expressly forbid such resolutions and or policies. Many such resolutions and policies were passed by sessions and presbyteries following the passage of Amendment 10A which removed the explicit “fidelity and chastity” language from the PCUSA ordination standards in the Book of Order.