Evangelical leader urges 1,200 at Gathering to ‘resoundingly reject’ Amendment A
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, October 2, 2001
ORLANDO, Fla. – More than 1,200 evangelical Presbyterians, invited to Orlando for Gathering VI, were challenged to listen to God, reach consensus on the future of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and move forward together.
The Rev. Jerry Andrews of Glen Ellyn, Ill., co-moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition, issued the challenge – and added his personal pledge: “Should I find myself a minority among us, I will re-examine every ecclesiastical commitment in my ministry in order that I might find a way to go forward with you.”
And, he added, “Should you find yourself being in the minority, examine every commitment you have made to the church to see if you could go forward” with the evangelical majority.
Thus began the largest of the Coalition’s Gatherings, which began in 1996. The turnout in Orlando included Presbyterians from all 14 PCUSA synods and most of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries.
Andrews laid down one road map for consensus: defeating Amendment A, which calls for the elimination of the constitutional prohibition against ordaining self-affirming, practicing adulterers and homosexuals. “It will serve the whole church and her savior to resoundingly reject” Amendment A, he said.
In what was described as a “state of the church” presentation, Andrews, in reference to the 2001 General Assembly, provided a three-word assessment: “We are distressed.”
“The General Assembly meeting this summer … demonstrated more clearly than ever that we need to pray,” he said.
Andrews said the General Assembly admitted that the denomination is “obviously and painfully” divided and therefore appointed a theological task force to consider, once again, theology and sexual ethics. He said there should be a simple question asked to ensure that the task force represents balance in a divided denomination: “How many supported Amendment B and Amendment A.”
There are concerns other than sexual issues that divide the denomination, he said, but “this is the presenting issue.”
Andrews said the most “spiritually distressing event” was when the General Assembly considered overtures asking commissioners to reaffirm that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life for the world. “The beloved asked the lover: ‘Do you love only me?’ … in the end, the divided heart said, I love you, but the question was, ‘Do you love only me?'”
In response, he said, the commissioners “stammered, struggled and stuttered” to render a statement that “does not answer the question.”
Andrews applauded the statement by the denomination’s Office of Theology and Worship that was presented at the meeting of the General Assembly Council on Sept. 26-29 in Tempe, Ariz. That statement affirmed unequivocally that Jesus Christ alone is Lord and Savior for the world.
Asking Joseph D. Small, director of the office, to stand and be recognized, Andrews said with deep appreciation: “There are some among us who are unashamed to be evangelicals.”
Andrews said his prayer was that, the next time the General Assembly is asked to affirm the saving work of Christ for the world, the commissioners “with joy can answer” that “we quite openly confess that Jesus Christ is the sole redeemer of the world.”
He also expressed dismay that 60 percent of the commissioners voted “to abandon the ordination standards” and every previous statement on the issue back to 1978. “The Scriptures and confessions were intentionally and admittedly disregarded because their meaning is debatable.”
“Pray that our work will remind the church that Scripture alone reveals his will for the church,” Andrews added.
Andrews took issue with proponents of the current Amendment A proposal who say that it merely provides presbyteries and sessions to choose the best people for ordained leadership. But it’s not a local-option issue, he said: “When a member is ordained to any office, the church – the whole church – participates.”
“I can’t wait until this amendment is defeated,” Andrews said. “Another General Assembly will follow three months later, and we cannot do our work in three-month windows.”
Andrews did see a healthy response to the distress caused by the 2001 General Assembly, including the Confessing Church Movement. “Little did we know that congregation by congregation, session by session, would stand and make confession … God is among us. Is there any doubt?”