Party of three?
Defining the relationship between the FOP, the PCUSA and the ECO
By Carmen Fowler LaBerge, The Layman, January 23, 2012
ORLANDO, Fla. — “We have to start with a DTR — define the relationship,” Jim Singleton, president of the Fellowship of Presbyterians, said at a plenary designed for those attending the Covenanting Conference who intend to remain in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
“One way to think about the distinction between the Fellowship and the ECO (Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians) is that the Fellowship of Presbyterians will live within the PCUSA and with the PCUSA polity,” Singleton said.
He drew four successive pictures beginning with a big circle symbolizing the PCUSA.
“This,” Singleton said, “is the big orbit we’ve all been in.”
He continued, drawing a smaller circle at the right hand edge but inside the PCUSA orbit, “The Fellowship is going to function as an order in the PCUSA.”
Then as he added a circle outside the PCUSA circle but still sharing an edge with the FOP, Singleton added, “We have the same expectations for churches within the FOP within the PCUSA as we have for churches outside of the PCUSA in the ECO.”
All of this, he concluded, will require “all of us learning to live in a different way — some within the PCUSA, living in a different way and some in the ECO also living in different way.”
Then he concluded, “What makes this unique is that those two groups are always going to be in relationship with each other. The ECO will exist outside of the PCUSA but in direct relationship with the FOP. The annual meetings will happen in conjunction with each other. For some things, we will separate, but for many things — training and equipping — we’ll be doing things together.”
Singleton argued that this model “provides for both differentiation (FOP) and separation (ECO). But even the separation is a quite different model than splits that have occurred in different times. Relational networks will hold this together.”
He then turned his attention the idea of union congregations, called in the PCUSA polity “joint congregational witness.”
Even as Singleton was laying out the union option as a hoped-for way that evangelicals might yet remain in the PCUSA, the denomination’s Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons, issued “Constitutional Musing #25” on the very same subject. Suffice it say that the interpretation offered by the stated clerk is diametrically opposed to the hope being offered through the union option of the Fellowship.
The union church option was the last of the “middle ground” tiers proposed by the FOP at their first meeting in Minneapolis in August 2011. Singleton admitted that “when we met in Minneapolis, there were four tiers. Tiers 2 and 3 just really didn’t have the traction to move forward.”
“Now you’ve really got three options: remain and be in the FOP, leave and be in the ECO, or this hybrid option of a union congregation and union presbytery,” Singleton said, unaware that, while he spoke about the hope of joint congregational witness, Parsons was issuing an interpretation dashing that hope.
Differentiation without separation
Singleton described one of the benefits of a PCUSA congregation joining the Fellowship as “differentiation without separation.”
He said, “Sometimes you need to be able to say, ‘Yes, I’m a part of the PCUSA but I’m also a part of this movement within it that is different.’ It’s the ‘Yes, but’ conversation that many of us have many times with many people as we seek to explain how we can be both evangelical and yet continue within the context of the PCUSA.”
That differentiation, Singleton said, would come with work. “We also have new expectations about how to behave. We are not calling ourselves a renewal group because the renewal of the PCUSA is not our primary purpose.” To which he quickly added, “But it would be a secondary delight!”
He said that the FOP “intends to be an order within, which requires that we live an ordered life – and live it together. That’s going to be the hardest adaptive change for many of us.”
Pressing the point further, he added, “We ask that if you join the FOP, you be submitted to an ordered life — which means, this may not be for some of you. You may need to stay in the PCUSA and watch this from afar. If you join, you will be expected to live in a different way.”
That ordered life would include an increased level of engagement both with the denomination and with one another. Singleton then walked through both the 1908 narrative and the one contained in the FOP packet for participants to take home and begin to use with their congregations and presbyteries.
Existing relationships will necessarily change
Singleton addressed the issue of existing relationships among evangelicals and admitted that it is unlikely that all existing renewal organizations will continue into the future.
He said that he is aware that many renewal groups have begun to adapt their mission and that the issues are complicated by turf, livelihoods, passions and callings.
Recognizing the reality that many renewal ministry budgets are funded through gifts from the very same churches involved in the Fellowship, Singleton admitted that “I don’t know if we can continue to fund all these things.” But he also assured that the Fellowship “intends to be in deep conversation with all of these groups.”
The existing relationship with the PCUSA was then addressed. Time was given for various representatives of the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) to share positive stories and resources that would interest FOP churches.
- The Rev. Roger Dermody, GAMC Deputy Executive Director for Mission, reminded those gathered that over the years evangelicals have prayed and worked for renewal in the PCUSA. The presence of Dermody and other evangelicals in key positions of leadership in Louisville are an answer to those prayers and evidence of the fruit of that work. He winsomely said, “You prayed us into these jobs. Don’t abandon us now.” Dermody then proceeded to outline what came as very good news to many in the room: The GAMC is striding in the right direction. He shared about the initiative to foster 1,001 new worshiping communities and several other points of confluence with the values and vision of the Fellowship.
- The Rev. Hunter Farrell, director of Presbyterian World Mission, said that the good news was that, for the first time in 50 years, the PCUSA has begun to increase the number of mission workers being sent into the world. Farrell reminded those gathered, “Many of you have been praying for that for many years. By God’s grace and because Presbyterians are contributing sacrificially, we’re able to send more people into the mission field. We’re now able to send as many mission workers as the church will support.” Farrell shared “Another change, 100 percent of every dollar you send is used for the support and sending of our mission workers. There is no equalization, which is evidence that it’s a new day in Louisville.”
- The Rev. Eric Hoey, director of Evangelism and New Church Development, said ” at the core of evangelism is a deep and abiding commitment to Jesus Christ.” He then told attendees about the Engage resources. “These are all downloadable materials designed to help you do evangelism and discipleship and turn the denomination around.”
- Claire Lewis, publisher of congregational ministries publishing, said that the denomination is interested in “inspiring churches to think,
pray and live the faith.” One way the PCUSA seeks to accomplish that is through an initiative called “communities of theological friendship” that Lewis said “is supported through grants that can provide books for study, speakers and other group appointed interests.” As has been noted throughout the event in Orlando, “you have to learn the faith,” and Lewis said that the denomination knows that. “Our curriculum is based on a catechetical instruction and is newly revised. We also now offer the Feasting on the Word curriculum which provides a comprehensive way to design congregational education.” She concluded by inviting those present to “send us your stuff – we’d love to have contributions to our “Being Reformed” series. - The Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick was then introduced as the brand new head of Theology, Worship and Education. Chip was well known to many in the room and his appointment was applauded as another sign of hope for the denomination.
The message being delivered was clear and summarized in a comment by Dermody, “This is a new day in Louisville. We understand that our role is to help the church in its mission. And there is much we can do together.”
The existing relationship with the PCUSA was also addressed by the Rev. Mark Patterson, representing the Committees of Correspondence, grass-roots groups of Presbyterians that have organized in nearly 40 presbyteries nationwide to effect change at the 2012 General Assembly and beyond.
Patterson shared several overtures designed to make staying the PCUSA more realistic for evangelicals. The overtures address issues of freedom of conscience related to ordination standards, the property-trust clause, participation in the Board of Pensions medical plan, non-geographic presbytery membership, union congregations and presbyteries and a nationwide approach to the gracious dismissal of congregations.
Singleton clarified that “the Committees of Correspondence are not the FOP — neither is the PCUSA the FOP – but we’re desirous to put you in relationship to each other.”
New ways of relating among congregations
Singleton said that FOP churches “will always be in a PCUSA presbytery but will also be in something else.”
“Everyone is in a different context” so that peer review grouping will look different for churches in different contexts. The FOP will annually study a confession together and annually gather together, with the ECO, “to strengthen leaders, provide mentoring, explore best practices and further knit this thing together. ” Singleton said that “It will have elements that are more akin to a Willow Creek Leadership Summit than a big meeting where we argue and fuss.”
Singleton said, “We’re raising a vision about the Kingdom of God in our midst. The outcomes we’ll be working toward will require a lot of adaptive change and I cannot tell you that we’re going to pull that off with any speed, but we will put you in the kind of relationships that will help your congregation flourish.” He then suggested that the next gathering be planned for late August 2012.
Singleton concluded the session by addressing the question of cost. “It’s $125 for an individual pastor to join and $250 for congregation to join,” and then he added, “But it’s not just a name on a paper! We really do expect you to do one more thing – which is to be in an intentional, covenanted, accountable, peer group that helps you live into the ordered life and missional ministry.”