Left without a vote, congregation
votes with feet; forms new EPC church
The Layman, November 5, 2012
A bumpy road might be the best descriptor for denominational realignment in Michigan. Grosse Pointe Woods Presbyterian Church (GPWPC), a 300-plus member church, split after not being allowed to vote on the question of dismissal from Detroit Presbytery. An elder involved in the process said, “We walked the dismissal process laid out by the presbytery until we could walk it no further. After that the option remaining was to vote with our feet.”
In Detroit Presbytery where scars linger from the formation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) in the 1980s and where the stated clerk called the attitude toward evangelical members “nasty,” the dismissal policy led GPWPC elders from both sides of the theological aisle to question powers of the presbytery in light of the changes in the Book of Order under the new Form of Government.
Revocation of individual church membership
In an early meeting, the Administrative Commission (AC) named by the presbytery to work with GPWPC informed the session that individual memberships could be revoked in order to secure a presbytery-desired outcome. They pointed to language in the Book of Order, G-1.0103 states “members of a congregation put themselves under the leadership of the session and the higher councils” for such authority. Elders on session report that though the AC never exercised that authority, the idea that they might caused elders to question the heart of a council that would threaten such. The session also pondered whether there is true unity in the midst of diversity within the PCUSA where there is tolerance for the ecclesiastically disobedient but no tolerance for those seeking to be obedient to the mutually agreed upon constitutional standards.
Selective original jurisdiction
A second concern expressed by elders was the AC’s repeated threat of asserting original jurisdiction selectively in order to ensure the presbytery’s desired process. In the AC’s interim report, they state “the session agreed to rescind its decision to hold a vote to seek dismissal on Sunday, April 22.” Elders point out what is missing from the report is that the AC informed the session that they could either voluntarily rescind their action or the AC would selectively assert original jurisdiction just in this instance to procure the meeting cancellation. The question was raised, “Is the assertion of selective original jurisdiction an option for presbytery ACs?”
Former GPWPC elder Peter Ruppe said, “The PCUSA through the presbytery intimidates teaching/ruling elders and confuses congregations with threats of original jurisdiction, enforcement of ownership of property/assets and unrealistic quorum requirements to prevent a graceful dismissal. I feel the current Dismissal Policy will continue to compel church leaders and congregations to retain the PCUSA, even if the vast majority of the congregation becomes dissatisfied with their denomination’s polity as it changes over time.”
Quorum
Detroit Presbytery’s Policy on Disaffected Churches, P-10, requires session to call a congregational meeting and requires a quorum of 75 percent of membership in order for the meeting to take place.
Although the policy requires session to call a congregational meeting, Detroit Presbytery asserts that a congregation does not have the right to take a non-binding advisory vote on this subject because it is not enumerated in the Book of Order as business for a congregational meeting and since the congregation, according to the Detroit Presbytery, cannot take this vote, the presbytery then as the right to override both the Book of Order and Michigan state law, which detail that congregation’s bylaws determine quorum for congregational meetings.
One former GPWPC elder wonders. “If the Book of Order does not permit such business as votes on recommendation of affiliation at congregational meetings, does a congregation truly have any freedom of association?”
Peter Ruppe suggests the quorum requirement puts undue pressure on churches to cull rolls. He said, “Either the quorum requirement should be reduced or the segment of the congregation who cannot attend on voting day should be allowed to vote absentee. It is tragic that those who cannot attend to vote are denied their voice, due to physical or geographical limitations. May God guide the Presbytery of Detroit leadership to reform their Dismissal Policy in a more inclusive manner, similar to their religious inclusivity they so strongly profess in their polity goals.”
GPWPC missed the 75 percent quorum by 58 people, so the 200 people who showed up to vote their conscience on the matter before them as church members, went home with empty ballots.
Left without a vote, they voted with their feet
With what seems now to be great foresight, the leadership of GPWPC had put in place a contingency plan should the congregation be denied the right to voice and vote. So, as the members left the duly called congregation meeting having been denied the opportunity to vote, they voted with their feet, gathering down the street for a time of fellowship, prayer, conversation and worship at a local middle school.
Those attending felt that the most healing act on behalf of all concerned was to walk away and birth a new church, Living Hope Evangelical. In the words of one of Living Hope’s teen members, “I’m glad we decided to walk away from the fight. Church should be about mission, witness and fellowship not arguing. Hopefully everyone can move forward.” Living Hope Evangelical is working with the Presbytery of the Midwest to transition into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).
Not all bad; in fact, all good
Has it been all bad? Not according to Bruce Sellars, a former GPWPC deacon, who says “Knowing that we are being lifted up in prayer by saints across the country is both humbling and awesome. The vine newly pruned has already begun to grow. It is amazing to see God working in and through so many folks to make Living Hope possible.”
Another former GPWPC elder put it this way, “Though this has been a difficult time we should not overlook the way we were a witness to the truth of Philippians 1:12-18. All through our discernment and even when it seemed the Presbytery was trying to put us in chains, the Gospel was being talked about more and more. Regardless of the reasons or the sides there were way fewer dusty Bibles in our congregation and that’s a good thing!”