Despite criticism, Kirkpatrick nominated for third 4-year term
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, January 30, 2004
The Presbyterian News Service, the official voice of the denomination, has announced that Clifton Kirkpatrick has been nominated for a third four-year term as stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Despite widespread criticism of his actions during the last few years, the Rev. Sandra Peirce of Placerville, Calif., moderator of the assembly’s Stated Clerk Review/Nomination Committee, told PNS that “… we believe the PCUSA will be well-served by his continuing leadership.”
The committee voted unanimously to nominate Kirkpatrick. Robert “Bob” Davis of San Diego, an attorney and minister who has been active in renewal work in the denomination, has announced that he will oppose Kirkpatrick.
Kirkpatrick has been criticized by traditional Presbyterians for a number of statements and actions during the past three years:
1. His anti-U.S. statements on Iraq, including signing a World Council of Churches statement that inferred (according to the Presbyterian News Service) that President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair should be tried for war crimes.
2. His statements sympathizing with church officers who are openly defying the PCUSA’s constitutional “fidelity/chastity” ordination requirements.
3. His statement virulently opposing church officers who exercise their constitutional right to redirect per-capita apportionments away from the denomination.
4. His repeated declaration that despite his oath of office, which requires him to “preserve and defend” the PCUSA Constitution, it is not his job to enforce the constitution.
5. His office’s role in scuttling a petition to call the 214th General Assembly back into session to deal with the denomination’s constitutional crisis.
6. His speech-making on behalf of a denominational boycott against Taco Bell.
7. His ongoing role in securing major funding from the PCUSA for the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, two fast-declining organizations that emphasize a social-political agenda.
8. His proposal that the Book of Order be abbreviated to a few chapters to eliminate as a requirement for the whole denomination such issues as the “fidelity/chastity” ordination standard.
Peirce played a key role in one of those issues – the successful efforts by Kirkpatrick’s office and former Moderator Fahed Abu Akel to reject a petition calling for a special meeting of the General Assembly.
Peirce, then the chairman of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly that oversees Kirkpatrick’s work, wrote a COGA letter that urged commissioners not to sign the petition. Later, according to Abu Akel’s testimony in the church court case that arose out of the issue, Peirce met with him and other denominational leaders to devise strategy for responding to the petition.
On behalf of the nominating committee, Peirce gave a glowing report on Kirkpatrick’s work. That report did not mention any of the numerous complaints sent to the committee by Presbyterians who did not believe he should serve a third term.