Williamson case pinpoints denominational trend
Commentary by Bob Davis, Executive Director, December 12, 2003
There is a situation developing in Western North Carolina Presbytery. There, a Task Force appointed by the presbytery’s Committee on Ministry last week voted 4-1 to recommend that the Committee on Ministry NOT renew the validation of the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, Parker Williamson.
On Dec. 9, the full Committee on Ministry approved that recommendation and will forward that action to the presbytery for vote at the end of January.
1. Why is this significant?
Remember, Western North Carolina has recognized this position as a validated ministry since 1989. This is the first time that a recommendation to NOT approve the renewal of that validation has been made.
Thus, the question is raised: What has changed?
Online quotes in The Layman Online and the Presbyterian News Service indicate that the triggering change was the Lay Committee’s recent call for sessions to consider redirecting per capita.
Here’s the point – sessions are permitted under the Constitution to not pay per-capita assessments. Whether or not it’s a good idea is a completely different question. The point is this: It is an action permissible under the Constitution.
The Lay Committee, in urging sessions to carefully consider the stewardship implications of paying per capita, is urging Presbyterians to do something that is constitutional. Many will decide that paying the per capita is an appropriate thing to do, others will not.
Basing a decision to invalidate the ministry upon something that is constitutional is a dangerous step within the covenantal life of this denomination – it is to say that urging people to consider doing something that is constitutional may subject you to punitive administrative sanction.
2. Compare and Contrast
The question of validating ministries is a presbytery-by-presbytery thing. Beyond the general guidelines provided by G-11.0403, the standards for the decision are established by each presbytery.
It is clear that the standards are not uniform.
Redwoods Presbytery, for example, used the vehicle of a validated ministry to ordain Katie Morrison, a self-avowed, unrepentant, practicing homosexual woman, to fill a position with More Light Presbyterians, which is “seeking the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).”
Baltimore Presbytery validates the ministry of That All May Freely Serve, and Don Stroud fills that position. He is the minister who, (quoting from The Presbyterian Outlook) “has publicly said that he cannot comply with the section of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that does not permit the ordination of those who are single and sexually active. Stroud, a gay man and a commissioner to the 213th General Assembly (2001), works for That All May Freely Serve, an organization trying to push open the doors of ordination to gays and lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons.”
One year ago, it was Carmen Fowler’s position as Executive Director of the Presbyterian Coalition that was rejected as a validated ministry within Central Florida Presbytery. The Coalition is “a movement of Christ’s people committed to life and transformation in the PC(USA) exalting Jesus Christ, energizing congregations, and upholding historic Biblical leadership standards.”
And now, Western North Carolina Presbytery’s COM rejects the validation of the Lay Committee for the first time?
Do you see a trend?
If you defy the Constitution or reject the Constitution, you are validated.
If you support the Constitution or defend the right of Presbyterians to work within the Constitution, you are not validated.
3. What Can You Do?
First, take a long hard look at your own congregation and your own presbytery. Western North Carolina Presbytery has voted in favor of supporting the Church’s historic ordination standards every time – and, yet, now is moving to reject the Lay Committee. Asking people to consider doing something constitutional appears to be sufficient to invalidate a ministry. Per capita now, advocating to maintain Biblical and historical ordination standards next? (It’s already happened in Central Florida Presbytery). It is not safe to assume that all is well in your backyard because no crises have erupted.
Second, take a long, hard look at the people your congregation and presbytery are sending to make decisions at the higher governing body levels. Someone has to be making these decisions. Who is it? How are they chosen? What kind of evaluation is done to discern whether there is a calling for that person to serve in that capacity – or is it simply that they are a body willing to go?
Third, you can begin taking the steps to be prepared to defend your faith. San Diego Presbytery approved the “Essential Tenets and Reformed Distinctives” document in order to equip the people of faith to be able to defend their faith. What steps are you taking in order to articulate your faith when it comes under fire?
Finally, you can pray for both Parker Williamson and the Presbytery of Western North Carolina. This is not a tempest in a teapot, but a moment of crisis within that presbytery that could easily spread far beyond.