Highland Park to work against PUP’s proposal
The Layman Online, April 13, 2006
The session of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, one of the largest congregations in the Presbyterian Church (USA) with a 2004 membership of 4,315, has issued a press release opposing the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity.
Furthermore, the session has decided to work actively to defeat the task force’s proposal, including recommendation 5, which asks the General Assembly to approve an authoritative interpretation that would allow ordaining bodies to decide whether to approve the ordination of practicing homosexuals.
It plans to send personal letters to the commissioners and alternates from Grace Presbytery and all of the ministers in the presbytery.
“This authoritative interpretation would allow ‘local option’ regarding the requirement within the Book of Order restricting ordination to men and women who practice ‘fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness,'” the session said.
The session also endorsed the “Statement of Presbyterian Renewal Ministries on the Peace, Unity and Purity Report,” which was adopted on Oct. 10, 2005. The renewal leaders declared that the task force report, taken as a whole, “constitutes a blend of truth and error that, if adopted, will undermine the church’s purity and exacerbate the denomination’s disunity. Indeed, it will promote schism by permitting the disregard of clear standards of Scripture and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).”
The statement was drafted by 24 Presbyterian renewal leaders. Subsequently, it has been endorsed by 34 sessions and more than 600 individual Presbyterians. All of the endorsements are listed with the statement and additional endorsements, which can be made online, are being collected.
The Highland Park session also said it would provide financial support for Presbyterians For Renewal’s initiatives opposing the task force’s proposal.
“It is the hope of HPPC that by utilizing a personal appeal, the choices to be made within the denomination concerning these issues can be more directly influenced,” the session’s statement said. “Additionally it was felt that this approach would encourage others to weigh in on this important issue. If you would like a copy of these personal letters or more information, please contact Carol Kilman at 214.978.3337 or cak@bftx.org.”