West Virginia congregation endorses ‘A Call to Constitutional Integrity’
The Layman Online, March 31, 2003
A West Virginia congregation has endorsed “A Call to Constitutional Integrity,” bringing the total to 83 congregations in 28 states proclaiming “a constitutional crisis” in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and calling on church leaders to uphold the denomination’s constitution and to exercise the Rules of Discipline against those who defy it.
There also is a parallel response by hundreds of Presbyterians across the country who are calling on Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick “to do your duty” and “preserve and defend” the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The most recent congregation to proclaim the present time “a season of unrest and open defiance of church discipline” is Roneys Point United Presbyterian Church in Triadelphia, W. Va. In a letter to Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel, the session wrote that “we respectfully protest your actions and those of Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick in regards to:”
“1) Lack of enforcement of the Book of Order as regards congregations ordaining unrepentant homosexuals.
“2) The thwarting of the specially called meeting of the 214th General Assembly by Elder Dr. Alexander F. Metherell.
“3) Our denomination’s pro-abortion stance, most notably the approval of the barbaric act of late-term partial birth abortion.
“In is evident that our beloved PCUSA is a house divided. We are in the midst of a constitutional crisis. We call upon you and Mr. Kirkpatrick to uphold and defend not only the Book of Order and The Book of Confessions, but also the infallible Word of God in the Bible.
“In this present season of unrest and open defiance of church discipline, please, repent of your sin and call the whole people of the PCUSA to that same repentance.”
The session joins the following congregations:
Alaska: Haines Presbyterian Church in Haines.
California: Michillinda Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, Arcadia Presbyterian Church in Arcadia, First Presbyterian Church in Salinas, First Presbyterian Church in Colusa, Dinuba Presbyterian Church in Dinuba, Mayflower Presbyterian Church in Pacific Grove and Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church in Lakeside.
Florida: Lely Presbyterian Church in Naples, First Presbyterian Church of Miami Springs in Miami Springs, First Presbyterian Church in Ft. Pierce and Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers.
Georgia: Bethany Presbyterian Church in Covington.
Illinois: First Presbyterian Church in Elmwood, Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Sparta, Warren Park Presbyterian Church in Cicero and First Presbyterian Church in Albion.
Indiana: First Presbyterian Church in Winona Lake and Cutler Presbyterian Church in Cutler.
Iowa: Burt Presbyterian Church in Burt, First Presbyterian Church in Conrad, First Presbyterian Church in Ashton, First Presbyterian Church in Lakota, Zoar Presbyterian Church in George and Saratoga Presbyterian Church in Lime Springs.
Kansas: Zenith Presbyterian Church in Stafford.
Kentucky: New Providence Presbyterian Church in Salvisa.
Louisiana: Canal Street Presbyterian Church in New Orleans.
Massachusetts: Christ Presbyterian Church in Springfield.
Michigan: Oakhill Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids.
Minnesota: First Presbyterian Church in Mora, Presbyterian Church of the Master in Coon Rapids and Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth.
Mississippi: Ackerman Presbyterian Church in Ackerman and First Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen.
Missouri: St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Kansas City and Tarkio Presbyterian Church in Tarkio.
Nebraska: Covenant Presbyterian Church in Omaha.
New Jersey: Garwood Presbyterian Church in Garwood.
North Carolina: Brittains Cove Presbyterian Church in Weaverville, Rourk Presbyterian Church in Ellerbe, Windermere Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, McLean Presbyterian Church in Ellerbe, Locust Presbyterian Church in Locust and Cullowhee Presbyterian Church in Cullowhee.
Ohio: Westminster Presbyterian Church in Canton, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisville, First Presbyterian Church in Martins Ferry, Salem Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, First Presbyterian Church in Hubbard, the Presbyterian Church of Johnstown in Johnstown and Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg.
Oregon: Sunset Presbyterian Church in Portland.
Pennsylvania: Burgettstown Presbyterian Church in Burgettstown, First Presbyterian Church in Parker, Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church in Pottsgrove, West Grove Presbyterian Church in West Grove, Center Presbyterian Church in Grove City, Knoxville United Church in Pittsburgh, First Presbyterian Church in Levittown, Middle Smithfield Presbyterian Church in East Stroudsburg, Shiloh Presbyterian Church in St. Marys, United Presbyterian Church of Manoa in Havertown, Mountville Presbyterian Church in Portersville, Brighton-McClure Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, First Presbyterian Church in Norristown, Concord Presbyterian Church in Baden, Little Britain Presbyterian Church in Peach Bottom, Faith Presbyterian Church in Hermitage and Westminster Presbyterian Church in York.
South Carolina: Mt. Olivet Presbyterian Church in Winnsboro.
Tennessee: Highland Heights Presbyterian Church in Cordova.
Texas: First Presbyterian Church in Rusk, Mathews Memorial Presbyterian Church in Albany and First Presbyterian Church in Levelland.
Virginia: Blackstone Presbyterian Church in Blackstone, Aberdour Presbyterian Church in Jarratt and First Presbyterian Church in Emporia.
Washington: Manitou Park Presbyterian Church in Tacoma.
West Virginia: First Presbyterian Church in Chester and Third Presbyterian Church in Wheeling.
Wisconsin: First Presbyterian Church in Oostburg.
The resolutions approved by all the church sessions are similar to resolutions for “A Call for Constitutional Integrity” previously approved by the Presbyterian Lay Committee and the Presbyterian Coalition. The resolutions refer to a growing number of individuals, churches and some presbyteries that publicly are defying the constitutional standards regarding ordination standards, same-sex marriages, open communion, including prayers and teachings from other religions in worship services and other issues.
Public declarations of defiance have increased since the 214th General Assembly met in June, with defiant Presbyterians saying they have a right to violate the denomination’s constitution. The language of defiance has become bolder, with unbending assertions that breaking church law is protected by one’s conscience and that the law – though anchored in Scripture and the church’s confessions – is immoral.
Some of the declarations of defiance have led to charges being filed in church courts. But, so far, none of the courts has issued a ruling that affirms the constitutional standard.
The constitutional crisis rose to greater intensity with the news that Baltimore Presbytery has proposed not enforcing the constitution if it is presented with either disciplinary or remedial cases involving the denomination’s ordination standards. In its proposal, the Baltimore Presbytery also would instruct its sessions not to entertain such cases.
Many evangelicals are declaring that there is a “constitutional crisis” because local church sessions and presbyteries – the ordaining bodies in the PCUSA – are either ignoring the constitution or flagrantly violating its requirements.
Despite all the reports to the contrary, Kirkpatrick claims there is no constitutional crisis. Kirkpatrick, whose job is “to preserve and defend the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA)” (G-11.0112e), repeatedly has said that it is not his job to enforce the constitution, but he also has said ministers and elders have no right to defy the requirements of G-6.0106b.