Polity changes could cost some pastors ‘honorable’ retirement
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, June 28, 1999
FORT WORTH – Some Presbyterian ministers may not retire so honorably as their predecessors if presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church (USA) approve a constitutional amendment endorsed by the 211th General Assembly.
The amendment was recommended by the General Assembly’s Polity Committee, whose moderator, the Rev. Jenny Schram of the Presbytery of Scioto Valley said current policy calls for all retired ministers to be retired honorably.
However, Schram told the commissioners, some retiring ministers may not be worthy of the honorific. She cited the example of ministers who might have been sidelined for disciplinary reasons but restored by their presbyteries just before retirement.
Instead of all ministers being routinely “honorably discharged,” the change would allow each presbytery to honorably retire the ministers it believed worthy of that action. The presbyteries would be guided by “affection and gratitude.”
No one addressed one possible issue raised by the provision: What if a minister were victim of an unjustified vendetta and the presbytery voted against adding “honorably” to his retirement announcement?
Other changes recommended
The polity committee also recommended other changes, including several in the handling of disciplinary cases and an affirmation on the responsibility of each presbytery to meet its per-capita allocation for support of the work of the General Assembly.
Several changes in the conduct of disciplinary cases will be on the ballot for the presbyteries.
One would require that two members of a permanent judicial commission review a case before a trial begins. Following that review, those two members would be excused from hearing the case.
That change reduces the number of people who might eventually render a decision in a disciplinary action. Procedures now require at least seven people to serve on permanent judicial cases. If two are required to review the case but excuse themselves before the trial, that leaves five to try the case. A quorum is required for deciding a case, so three people could determine the outcome. Thus, a minority of a permanent judicial commission could render the decision.
For sessions, a proposed amendment would require that church members who are not on the session serve as an investigating committee to review the evidence in a case.
What about high-tech ministry?
Another proposed amendment raised a question about high-tech ministry. The amendment says that a minister who labors in other than a validated ministry within the bounds of a presbytery that is not the presbytery of membership submits to the jurisdiction of that presbytery for the purposes of discipline.
What, then, some asked – without a clear answer – happens if a minister conducts a ministry out of his home or office via e-mail and crosses several presbyteries?
Per capita and property
The General Assembly approved the Polity Committee’s recommendation to affirm the responsibility of presbyteries to meet their per-capita allocations – even if their mission budgets are pared in the process.
Current interpretation by the General Assembly’s Permanent Judicial Commission says sessions are solely responsible for the allocation of funds in the local congregation – and therefore cannot be forced to pay to the presbyteries their allotted share of the General Assembly costs.
In a related issue, commissioners affirmed the right of the stated clerk’s office to assist presbyteries legally when congregations seek to withdraw from the denomination with their property, zoning disputes and other church/state issues.
The commissioner affirmed “the principle expressed in the Form of Government that all property held by or for a particular church, a presbytery, a synod, or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), whether used in programs or held for investment, is held in trust for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (Book of Order, G-8.0200).
Some sessions halt per capita
Because of their disagreement with General Assembly actions, several sessions have ceased paying their per-capita and redirected that money to other ministries. The presbyteries are responsible for paying the full per capita even if some sessions do not remit their funds.
Even while the General Assembly was meeting in Fort Worth, one session met and decided to redirect its per capita and mission funds from the General Assembly to other ministries. The action was taken to protest the Women of Faith awards presented to two lesbian activists and one leader in the ReImagining God movement.
Also since General Assembly, pastors of other congregations have indicated that their sessions would consider similar action to protest the Women of Faith awards.