Detterick’s plan to uphold constitution is criticized
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, November 9, 2000
The apology by John Detterick, executive director of the General Assembly Council, for not defending Biblical and constitutional standards in the aftermath of a denominational Peacekeeping Conference was not accepted by the leaders of two groups that promote theological diversity that conflicts with those standards.
On Oct. 31, Detterick was applauded by the Presbyterian Coalition when he told nearly 500 evangelicals that the Rev. Dirk Ficca was “out of bounds” when Ficca asked the Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference “What’s the big deal about Jesus?” and suggested that salvation is not through Jesus alone.
In a Nov. 7 letter to Detterick and Peter Pizor, chairman of the General Assembly Council, leaders of Semper Reformanda and the Witherspoon Society said they were “disappointed” and “alarmed” by Detterick’s comments.
Semper Reformanda and the Witherspoon Society have long opposed denominational standards that reflect Biblical and Reformed views. They have worked aggressively against the “fidelity/chastity” ordination standard and now oppose prohibition of same-sex unions.
Pizor expressed agreement with Detterick’s statement to the Coalition and has announced plans to appoint a task force to make recommendations on theological boundaries for future conferences.
Detterick told the Coalition that previous statements issued by him, Pizor and the council’s executive board were inadequate because they failed to uphold the denomination’s constitutional standard that Jesus Christ is the only savior for the whole world.
The Semper Reformanda and Witherspoon Society leaders said they were attending the Covenant Network meeting in Pittsburgh when they heard about Detterick’s statement. They said the first statement by Detterick and Pizor – essentially declaring that they personally believed Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life” but that confession was not required of a Presbyterian minister speaking at a denominational conference – “was measured and appropriate to your and Peter’s roles.”
But they also complained that the Detterick-Pizor initial statement failed “to support the staff of the Peacemaking Program” and indicated they believed “the worst about a minister of word and sacrament in the PCUSA.
“We ask you to be careful not to cross into the realm of gag rules and prior restraint of conscience and speech,” they said.
They also opposed having a task force make recommendations. “It would be more consistent with our polity to ask the 213th General Assembly to consider a review of conference planning policies than to rush to establish a task force in a 45-day emergency, especially since more than that time has already passed since the “emergency” happened.
“We appreciate Peter Pizor’s assurances that the review will not be retroactive, will not be targeted to the 2000 Peacemaking Conference, and will not involve ‘witch hunt[ing]’ or ‘blame’ laying. We wish we had those assurances from you as well. And these parameters are undermined by the appearance of an emergency response to the specific problem of the Peacemaking Conference.”
They said a report by The Layman Online “makes it appear that you have exceeded the authority of your office in making theological judgments.” They also opposed Detterick’s verbal response to complaints by Highland Park and Montreat churches. The complaints were submitted as letters, not judicial action, but they left open the possibility of court action.
“Neither you nor the GAC could or should be asked to conduct an investigation of or otherwise ‘deal with’ unpublished complaints by two particular churches. If any see errors worthy of formal complaints against the GAC, let them file those complaints appropriately with the office of the stated clerk for investigation into their substance … “
The letter called the Presbyterian Coalition “a limited set of perspectives” that “have been expressed outside the orderly procedures of the denomination.”
The letter was signed by Semper Reformanda’s Barbara Kellam-Scott, moderator, Kenneth R. Smith, past moderator, Nile Harper, vice moderator, Jose Olagues and Harold Porter, leadership team, and the Witherspoon Society’s Eugene TeSelle, past president; Christian Iosso, issues analyst; and Helenmarie Sunkenberg of the Albany Presbytery.