Proposal would appoint panel with takeover authority for churches that don’t have 75% vote to seek dismissal
By Patrick Jean, Staff Writer, July 31, 2007
The Presbytery of Western North Carolina has proposed a revision to its “exit guidelines” for churches that are inclined to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) – a revision that, in some cases, could allow the presbytery to assume original jurisdiction of a church.
The current “Guidelines for Congregations Considering A Request to Presbytery to be Dismissed,” which were approved at the presbytery’s stated meeting in January, include the requirements that at least 50 percent of a church’s congregation be present at the congregational meeting where a vote to request dismissal from the PCUSA is taken and that a minimum of 75 percent of the congregation, present and voting, must choose to leave.
The revision proposed by the presbytery’s committee on ministry would call for an administrative commission to address churches that do not meet the 75 percent requirement. The commission would be appointed by the general presbyter, the chairman of the committee on ministry and the chairman of the presbytery’s coordinating council.
Presbytery commissioners are scheduled to debate and vote on the proposal at their stated meeting July 31.
The Rev. Bobbi White, Western North Carolina general presbyter, said the proposal is partly in response to questions that arose over the dismissal of Montreat Presbyterian Church from the PCUSA. Presbytery commissioners voted April 24 to release the 455-member congregation to the smaller, more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church and create a “continuing” Montreat Presbyterian Church within the PCUSA. Ownership of the church’s property remains in limbo while presbytery and church leaders negotiate.
While 92 percent of the Montreat congregation showed up for their 311-27 vote Jan. 21 to request dismissal, there were questions about what happens to a church that fails to meet the 75 percent requirement for its congregational vote, White said. Concerns also were expressed about what happens when a church session recommends a congregational vote for dismissal but the congregation doesn’t agree, she said.
The proposal on the July 31 meeting docket is meant to provide clarity, White said. “We’re trying to be open and up front as much as we can,” she said.
An administrative commission for a church that fails to meet the 75 percent requirement for its congregational vote would “attempt to bring pastoral healing to that congregation” pursuant to Book of Order clause G-9.0503, the proposal states. But the proposal also makes it clear that an administrative commission’s efforts are “on the understanding that this commission may, if it deems it best for the peace of this part of Christ’s Church, assume original jurisdiction pursuant to Book of Order [clause] G-11.0103(s), with whatever responsibilities and powers of the session (G-10.0102) it deems appropriate.”
Clause G-10.0102 addresses the multiple responsibilities and powers of a church session. Clause G-11.0103(s) states that a presbytery can “assume original jurisdiction in any case in which it determines that a session cannot exercise its authority. Whenever, after a thorough investigation, and after full opportunity to be heard has been accorded to the session in question, the presbytery of jurisdiction shall determine that the session of a particular church is unable or unwilling to manage wisely the affairs of its church, the presbytery may appoint an administrative commission (G-9.0503) with the full power of a session. This commission shall assume original jurisdiction of the existing session, if any, which shall cease to act until such time as the presbytery shall otherwise direct.”
Full text of proposal
Here is the full text of the proposal that commissioners are scheduled to debate and vote on July 31:
“The committee on ministry recommends that the Presbytery of Western North Carolina adopt the following:
The presbytery agrees that, if a congregation pursues the ‘Guidelines for Congregations Considering a Request to Presbytery to be Dismissed,’ but fails to obtain a 75 percent vote in the second congregational meeting, an administrative commission shall be immediately appointed by the chair of the coordinating council, the chair of the committee on ministry and the general presbyter, acting together pursuant to Book of Order [clause] G-9.0503-5, to attempt to bring pastoral healing to that congregation on the understanding that this commission may, if it deems it best for the peace of this part of Christ’s Church, assume original jurisdiction pursuant to Book of Order [clause] G-11.0103(s), with whatever responsibilities and powers of the session (Book of Order [clause] G-10.0102) it deems appropriate.”
Patrick Jean is a staff writer for The Layman and The Layman Online. He can be reached at pjean@layman.org.