Commission approves recommendation
for provisional non-geographic presbyteries
By Jason P. Reagan, The Layman, February 3, 2012
DALLAS –The Mid Council Commission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) approved an experimental plan on Thursday that would create non-geographic presbyteries and allow churches to be dismissed to other presbyteries under certain conditions.
In the process of drafting a final report to the PCUSA General Assembly in June, the MCC recommended by a 15-5 vote to allow congregations to create “covenant communities of congregations responsive to the Spirit, consistent with our theological tradition and commitments, and adapting our unique church identity in diverse contexts.”
The MCC proposes the denomination, working through the General Assembly and through the votes of current presbyteries, amend the PCUSA constitution to allow the formation of “provisional, non-geographic presbyteries for particular missional purposes,” if 10 or more congregations and 10 or more teaching elders make a petition with the concurrence of the existing presbyteries.
Under what the MCC called a “season of reflective experimentation,” the provisional presbyteries would retain most of the rights and powers of current presbyteries. However, the provisionals would have no authority to “dissolve, dismiss or divide congregations.” Also the new presbyteries could not approve the sale, mortgage, lease or transfer of real property of its congregations without the consent of the presbytery of origin.
The MCC’s experimental plan would also change the constitution by approving the temporary dismissal of congregations to another presbytery within the synod or to “another geographically contiguous synod.”
However, the dismissal would be subject to the following conditions:
- The congregation must continue to affiliate with the “presbytery of origin” but will not have a vote except in cases related to its property or concerning any dismissal issues.
- As with the other provision, the congregation can’t sell or lease its real property without consent of the presbytery of origin.
- Per capita or mission funds may be divided according to a covenant between the presbytery of origin and the new presbytery.
The provisions all have a sunset clause of Dec. 31, 2021 by which time the MCC expects the General Assembly will decide to either continue the experiment or allow it to expire depending on the decision of the presbyteries.
Some commissioners opposed the measure, calling it exclusivist and potentially divisive.
“It’s not Presbyterian,” Commissioner Terry Newland said, adding that the plan would discourage diversity and result in theological cliques. “We’re not required to be connected,” he added.
“I don’t think the proposal says we are no longer going to be inclusive,” Commissioner John Vest said. He added that the only thing the PCUSA would be giving up is “forced diversity … based on arbitrary geography.”
Others see the plan as a chance to provide churches with more options.
“I want us to indicate to churches in a way that says ‘if you care passionately about this church and it’s not going the way it’s supposed to be, we’re going to give you as much permission as possible to dream and create,’” MCC Chairman Tod Bolsinger said, adding he hopes the commission’s work would link the PCUSA to “connectionalism in a less regulated world.”
Proponents of the plan believe new options may help expand the beleaguered denomination, which has lost a number of churches over the past decade due to growing theological rifts.
“It’s a chance for us to be creative,” Commissioner Miriam Dolin said. “It’s a chance for us to charge other people to be creative as a church moving forward,” she added.
“The intention is not to give people a secret loophole so that they can do whatever they want,” said Commissioner Warren Cooper. “It creates an opportunity for people to push the reset button.” However, he added, part of the discomfort of the plan is in the unknown.
The proposal vote ended the first day of the MCC’s three-day meeting. Earlier in the day, the commission agreed to add a recommendation to its final report that would effectively eliminate the denomination’s 16 synods, replacing their ecclesiastical functions with five regional administrative commissions of the General Assembly as well as establishing a number of regional judicial commissions.
Created by the GA in 2010, the MCC is designed to “develop models that reflect the roles of middle governing bodies in [PCUSA] polity and the changing context of [the denomination’s] witness in the United States and their relationship with other governing bodies.”