Prospect Hill Presbytery approves warning resolution about GA
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, May 24, 2006
Another presbytery has adopted a warning resolution setting forth how it will respond if the General Assembly, through one means or another, approves action that would repeal or render meaningless the denomination’s constitutional “fidelity/chastity” ordination requirement.
Patterned after a statement by the San Diego Presbytery, Prospect Hill Presbytery in Iowa calls for “future action,” if necessary, to question the General Assembly action and determine the presbytery’s future course. There is no mention in the resolution about the possibility of breaking away from the denomination.
The Rev. Brian G. Janssen, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hospers, Iowa, introduced the resolution at the February meeting of the presbytery. He asked then that it be referred to the May meeting to give ministers and elders an opportunity to prepare responses. After the two-month layover and the debate, 58 percent of the commissioners at the May 23 presbytery meeting in Storm Lake, Iowa, voted in favor of the resolution.
The resolution did not say how the presbytery may ultimately respond if the 217th General Assembly 1) calls for repealing G-6.0106b in the Book of Order and the authoritative interpretation that undergirds it or 2) approves a new authoritative interpretation proposed by the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity. The PUP proposal would allow presbyteries to decide on their own whether to ordain practicing homosexuals or adulterers.
But the resolution does include a number of questions that would shape the presbytery’s future response if the General Assembly attempts to dismantle G-6.0106b. The questions focus on the whether the General Assembly’s actions would cause a constitutional crisis; create a state of “Biblical and confessional defection;” breach the covenant between presbyteries and congregations; minimize obligations to abide by the church’s polity and discipline; and/or compromise the PCUSA’s ability to exercise governance over the presbyteries.
The final question is about what future steps the presbytery would take “to address our concerns with the PCUSA.”
The full text of the resolution by the Prospect Hill Presbytery, adopted May 23, 2006:
1) To pray that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) be restored to the peace, unity, and purity of a church in fidelity to its own constitution, faithful to its Reformed heritage, fervently united in its biblical and confessional identity and mission;
2) To renew our commitment to focusing our energy, staff, finances, membership, and prayer on becoming a presbytery of healthy congregations.
3) To deepen our connectional bonds within Prospect Hill Presbytery and to affirm our Presbyterian polity, commitments and heritage;
4) To abide by the standards set by the Constitution including the words currently expressed in G-6.0106 as the eligibility requirements for ordained leadership within Prospect Hill Presbytery.
5) To consider what future action the Presbytery of Prospect Hill will take in the event of a change in those standards – whether they are changed by official action, by approval of the authoritative interpretation recommended by the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity or simply rendered meaningless by means of official inaction to uphold the standard of the historic Church. The Presbytery of Prospect Hill will consider the following questions:
- a. Does this change create a constitutional crisis?
- b. Does the change create a state of biblical and confessional defection?
- c. Has the covenant that binds our congregations and presbyteries together been breached?
- d. Have the changes minimized or eliminated our covenantal obligation to abide by the polity and discipline of higher governing bodies?
- e. Have the changes damaged or compromised the PC(USA)’s ability to exercise governance over its presbyteries?
- f. What will be the future relationship between the Presbytery of Prospect Hill and the PC(USA)?
- g. What future steps will the Presbytery of Prospect Hill take to address our concerns with the PC(USA)?