By Ruling Elder Robert B. Fish. During its June, 2014 meeting, the 221st General Assembly (GA) issued an Authoritative Interpretation which altered the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s definition of marriage without following the required process for amending its Book of Order. On Feb. 14, the denomination’s highest court, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) ruled…
The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) said “… Under the Book of Order, the GAPJC does not act as the final arbiter of the Constitution in Presbyterian polity. This commission’s role is restricted and it has no jurisdiction to directly declare an action of the GA unconstitutional.” So, although “Prior to…
Citing eight separate irregularities, church sessions are preparing to file a complaint against the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Advisory Committee on the Constitution. The allegations stem from advice that representatives of the ACC gave on the floor of the 221st General Assembly during the plenary debate of the whether or not the GA would issue an Authoritative…
By Sue Cyre In 1973 Presbyterians faced a controversy when the question of women’s ordination surfaced in Pittsburgh Presbytery. Walter Kenyon, a graduate of Pittsburgh Seminary, was asked by the Candidates and Credentials Committee of Pittsburgh Presbytery to explain his stand on the ordination of women. Kenyon said he did not believe the Bible supported…
The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) has struck a blow to presbytery “Gracious Dismissal Policies” because the grace seems to get in the way of denominational vindictiveness and unabashed greed. At issue is the May 8 ruling of the GAPJC of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Presbytery of New York City v McGee…
By Steve Salyards Last weekend (May 3-4) the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) heard a remedial case brought against the Presbytery of New York City (PNYC) concerning details and process related to their Gracious Dismissal Policy (GDP). The complainants filed the case against the Presbytery concerning irregularities in the…
By Mary Holder Naegeli The study of history was never my strong suit in high school, and though I had a couple of world-renowned history professors at Stanford, the discipline did not capture my imagination. I was at the time much better suited as a mathematical sciences major (first) and ultimately music major. Problem sets…