Statement by The Presbyterian Coalition

Subject	Statement by The Presbyterian Coalition
From	The Presbyterian Coalition
To	The Presbyterian Renewal Network
Sent	Saturday, April 25, 2009 4:15 PM

Deciding vote is cast to defeat Amendment B April 25, 2009

[Fellow Presbyterians, Others Praying for Renewal in the PCUSA:]

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has decided for the fourth time in twelve years to uphold the ordination standard in its constitution (G-6.0106b). On April 25--today--the Presbytery of Northern Plains cast the deciding vote. Attempts to repeal the standard of Scripture and Confessions regarding the acceptability of sexual behavior outside the marriage of a man and a woman have failed again. In spite of cultural pressures to normalize non-marital relations, the PC(USA) stands with the Body of Christ around the world and across the ages in affirming God's plan for marriage as the proper place for human sexual intimacy. The effort to substitute a meaningless paragraph for the current language of "fidelity and chastity" in the PC(USA)'s constitution has failed in the recent round of voting by presbyteries. The decision means that examinations of and judgments about candidates for office, based on the G.A.'s response to the Peace, Unity, and Purity (PUP) report of 2006, must comply with this explicit standard, which has just been reaffirmed by the presbyteries. Thank you! I want to thank each of you who helped clarify the issues of this vote by what you said in the debate, who helped your presbytery plan for the vote, and who actually cast your vote. Your work has served the Church well. It is time to accept the Church's decision Since the 1970s the PC(USA) has heard, considered, and responded to appeals to change her standard of sexual morality. Those who wish to change the biblically-rooted standard have continually pressed the matter and required repeated votes that have had the same outcome each time. It is well past time to acknowledge that the Church today, as throughout her history, knows her mind on this matter, and that it is the mind of Christ. It is time to call for forbearance from those who constantly disturb the peace and unity of the church. It is time to live into our decision about sexual morality Now it is time to live out the decision pastorally, leading people out of our society's sexual confusion into repentance and newness of life. The decision gives witness to the Church's strong conviction that the Savior came to offer redemption to those held captive by any sin, including the prevailing sexual sins of our time. We have the Savior's promise that he will care for us, forgive us, and tenderly lead us to repentance. This is the standard. Our repentance and newness of life is the qualification for office in the Presbyterian Church (USA), as it is in the Church Universal. In that we rejoice. We rejoice in the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died that we might have life abundant. A faithful witness and ministry in the areas of sexual morality is a distinct part of the Church's calling in our day. We urge the churches of the PC(USA), in looking to the future, to recall these words of Reformer Martin Luther: If I profess with loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that one point.

The PC(USA) has just taken its stand with the message of Scripture where it is most fiercely contested today: in its call to repentance and newness of life in the areas of sexuality and marriage. Terry Schlossberg Coordinator, Campaign to Defeat Amendment B

This email was sent by office@presbycoalition.org.

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PC(USA) - Presbyterian News Service - Youth Ministries Task Force membership is announced

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Youth Ministries Task Force membership is announced

09284

April 6, 2009

Youth Ministries Task Force membership is announced

15-member panel is the last of six groups named by GA Moderator

by Sharon Youngs

Office of the General Assembly communications coordinator

and Jerry L. Van Marter

Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Fifteen members of the General Assembly's Youth Ministries Task Force have been named by the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The task force is the sixth and final special committee to be named by Reyes-Chow upon direction by the 2008 Assembly last June in San Jose, CA.

The Assembly, upon recommendation of its Assembly Committee on Youth, directed the moderator "to appoint a task force to seek input from youth, young adults, and adults … find and present model programs, and focus on the needs and development of youth ministries and report back to the 219th General Assembly (2010) specific recommendations for designing and conducting various youth ministries under a 'new vision' for youth."

In its rationale for proposing the task force, the committee wrote, "It is undeniable that investing valuable General Assembly time and energy to consider youth, a crucial generation in our faith communities, was an essential exercise and is one that merits more time, attention and resources than could be offered in the short time available at the General Assembly."

The rationale continued, "Though the committee sought to discern God's vision for youth and the PC(USA), this is a task that will require more time and more intensive youth involvement for its adequate completion. The Assembly Committee on Youth has begun an important dialogue that should be continued in a task force with a two-to-one youth-to-adult ratio. We became convinced that youth are best equipped to articulate the needs and possibilities for effective youth ministry and for a more comprehensive inclusion of youth in the life and mission of the church, but also that intergenerational collaboration contributes to fruitful discernment."

Young people ages 15-21 named to the task force are: Jordan Akin (Arkansas Presbytery), Hakeem Jerome Jefferson (New Harmony Presbytery), Austin Lane (Grace Presbytery), Kristy Lauron (Stockton Presbytery), Jessie Light (Heartland Presbytery), Alex McDonald (Greater Atlanta Presbytery), Madison Munoz (St. Augustine Presbytery), Elder Clara Pauw (Mid-Kentucky Presbytery), Brittney Shook (Western Reserve Presbytery), and Elder Rachel Van Marter (Mid-Kentucky Presbytery).

Adult mentors are G. Jacob Bolton (New York City Presbytery), Elder Karen Ceaser (Pacific Presbytery), and the Reverends Rex Espiritu (Whitewater Valley Presbytery), Michelle Thomas-Bush (St. Augustine Presbytery), and Kelly Wiant-Thralls (Carlisle Presbytery).

Wiant-Thralls will serve as chairperson of the group.

Staffing the task force will be Adrian McMullen and Gina Yeager-Buckley, General Assembly Council staff associates for youth ministry in the Office of Theology Worship and Education.

The 219th General Assembly will meet in Minneapolis, July 3-10, 2010.

Inserted from <http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09284 >

Presbyterian Elders in Prayer :: Prayer

March 1: I Peter 3:18-22 "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." Thank you, our God, for this gospel truth. Help us to hold onto it, to preach and teach it, share it in our churches and around the nation and the world. Forgive us for taking it lightly...or being embarrassed by it. Give us courage to turn away from cheap grace that is no grace at all. Give us faith to let the gospel bring us to You every day.

 
 

March 8: Romans 4:13-25 "The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him [Abraham] alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness–for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Too often, Lord, when we hear the world "credit" we think only of our financial troubles. Help us to hear this word and think about what we believe, and meditate upon another word, "righteousness". We pray for faith and righteousness to grow within our congregations, presbyteries, and denomination.

 
 

March 15: I Cor. 1:18-25 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Lord God, in this holy season of Lent, help each one of us to focus on the cross of Christ. Help us to see its pain, its power, and its wisdom. Give us courage to resist the temptation to follow the wisdom of the world, which is not wisdom at all. May true wisdom grow within Your churches everywhere...even our own.

 
 

March 22: Ephesians 2:1-10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Creator God, thank you for preparing good works for us to do. Help us to seek Your will, Your guidance. Even as we meet in presbyteries and vote on difficult issues, help us to remember that we are Yours...and You have given us good works to do. Give us strength to trust You, and to obey You.

 
 

March 29: Hebrews 5:5-10 "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and once, made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him..." Jesus, we don't like to suffer. We would rather learn what we need to learn another way. Show us places where we are suffering because of our disobedience, then quickly lead us to repentance. You are the source of our eternal salvation...we believe You are also the source of our immediate help and strength.

 
 

Inserted from <http://presbypray.org/index.php?page=prayer>

Is "Fidelity-Chastity" Still in Effect?

 
 

Is "Fidelity-Chastity" Still in Effect? Yes!   November 20, 2008

Dear Presbyterian Renewal Network Leaders,     Some confusion exists about the position of the PC(USA) on sexual standards for ordination.  Actions by the General Assembly in 2006 and 2008, and a decision by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission in 2008, have been interpreted differently in different quarters of the denomination.     Coalition board member Jim Berkley attended a recent meeting of the Covenant Network and reported in The Layman the public statements he heard at that meeting.  James Tony, also a Coalition board member, responded. I think you will benefit from reading why Pastor Tony asserts that the behavior of candidates for ordination and installation must comply with the express standard of G-6.0106b.     The article below -- now slightly expanded -- appeared on Presbyweb on November 17 and is posted on the Coalition website as well. I'm reproducing it in this email. For a more complete analysis of the current status of ordination standards, I suggest you read the three articles on AO #22 by James Tony and Gordon Fish.

Is it now possible to ordain those who do not comply with the "fidelity-chastity" standard? Not according to the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GA PJC).     Jim Berkley reports that at the Covenant Network's recent meeting, Doug Nave ("ubiquitous as counsel arguing for gay ordination in judicial cases") said, "who knows if B [Amendment B, which proposes to substitute ambiguous language for the fidelity-chastity standard] will pass or not. We haven't taken a vote in a long time. But it almost doesn't matter. Whether it happens or not, we have the ability right now to ordain whoever we want to ordain."     Is Nave right?  No, says the GA PJC in Bush, which is exceedingly clear and definitive:  Governing bodies are not free to permit exceptions to the explicit requirements of the Constitution. The decision cites the explicit requirements of G-6.0106b.  Just read what the GA PJC has actually said.     Some, apparently, want to believe that the John Knox Overture to the last GA overturned Bush.  Not so.  Here is that Authoritative Interpretation (AI) as adopted by the 218th GA:   "[The 218th General Assembly (2008) affirms the authoritative interpretation of G-6.0108 approved by the 217th General Assembly (2006). Further, the 218th General Assembly (2008), pursuant to G-13.0112, interprets] the requirements of G-6.0108 [to] apply equally to all ordination standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Section G-6.0108 requires examining bodies to give prayerful and careful consideration, on an individual, case-by-case basis, to any departure from an ordination standard in matters of belief or practice that a candidate may declare during examination. However, the examining body is not required to accept a departure from standards, and cannot excuse a candidate's inability to perform the constitutional functions unique to his or her office (such as administration of the sacraments)."  [Underlined is the amendment to the overture that was adopted.] Note:  no mention is made of Bush in what the GA adopted.  Bush was not made "of no further force or effect."      In addition, no governing body has been given the right to provide for itself an exemption from the requirements of the constitution.  Because governing bodies ordain (not individuals) and because governing bodies must comply with all the requirements of the Book of Order, they are not free to ordain someone who refuses to comply with explicit standards of the Book of Order.      Even if governing bodies might be permitted to allow candidates a pass on ordination standards (and Bush does not even countenance that possibility), governing bodies themselves do not have the power to grant themselves an exemption from complying with the plainly stated requirements of the Book of Order.  G-6.0106b does not address individuals.  It addresses governing bodies as those responsible for ordination.  This is firmly established church law as in the Maxwell, Suwanee and Londonderry decisions.      Read Bush carefully What follows are clear and forceful sections that show that the behavior standard required by G-6.0106b has not been changed, nor does any governing body have the right, even under the recent AIs related to G-6.0108, to permit any person to fail to comply with the requirements of G-6.0106b. Bush says: No Departures from "Fidelity and Chastity" Requirement: Candidates and examining bodies must follow G-6.0108 in reaching determinations as to whether  the candidates for ordination and/or installation have departed from essentials of Reformed faith and polity. Such determinations do not rest on distinguishing"belief" and "behavior," and do not permit departure from the "fidelity and chastity" requirement found in G-6.0106b.       As finally adopted by the General Assembly, the Authoritative Interpretation [of the 216th GA] does not equate "polity" with "behavior." Nevertheless, the church has required those who aspire to ordained office to conform their actions, though not necessarily their beliefs or opinions, to certain standards, in those contexts in which the church has deemed conformity to be necessary or essential. Section G-6.0106b contains a provision where conformity is required by church officers "to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or in chastity in singleness." The church has decided to single out this particular manner of life standard and require churchwide conformity to it for all ordained church officers. Therefore, the specific  "fidelity and chastity" standard in G-6.0106b stands in contrast to the provisions of G-6.0106a, including those concerning faith, discipleship, belief and manner of life in the  church and the world, and also the remainder of G-6.0106b. The candidate and examining body must follow G-6.0108 in reaching a determination as to whether the candidate for office has departed from essentials of Reformed faith and polity, but that  determination does not rest on distinguishing "belief" and "behavior," and does not  permit departure from the "fidelity and chastity" requirement found in G-6.0106b.  Accordingly that portion of SPJC [the synod court] decision that stated: "no presbytery may grant an  exception to any mandatory church wide behavioral ordination standard," was correct.  We agree with the SPJC that, "Under our polity, violations of behavioral standards are to be addressed through repentance and reconciliation, not by exception or exemption. The freedom of conscience granted in G-6.0108 allows candidates to express disagreement with the wording or meaning of provisions of the constitution, but does not permit disobedience to those behavioral standards."         The fidelity and chastity provision may only be changed by a constitutional amendment. Until that occurs, individual candidates, officers, examining and governing bodies must adhere to it.       The constitutional process for amending ordination standards (or any other provision of the Constitution) is defined in Chapter 18 of the Form of Government. While the General Assembly and the GAPJC may interpret these standards, the Authoritative Interpretation did not (and constitutionally could not) change any ordination standard, including the requirements set forth in G-6.0106b. Similarly, no lower governing body can constitutionally define, diminish, augment or modify standards for ordination and installation of church officers.     It would be an obstruction of constitutional governance to permit examining bodies to ignore or waive a specific standard that has been adopted by the whole church, such as the "fidelity and chastity" portion of G-6.0106b, or any other similarly specific provision. (Emphasis above is mine.) No interpretation has supplanted Bush.  The Bush decision could hardly be clearer or more emphatic: our Constitution does not permit governing bodies to provide exceptions to its express requirements.  Of course, those who stand for the removal of biblical sexual standards will test the court.  Cases are in the pipeline.  But G-6.0106b must be obeyed because it's in the Constitution -- the GA PJC makes this crystal clear.     James R. Tony is Senior Pastor of Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church in Chicago Presbytery.

I hope this work by members of the Coalition's Discipline Team is both encouraging and helpful to you. We hope it gives you confidence as you conduct examinations in your presbytery, and as you vote "No" on the new Amendment B and preserve our current ordination standards.     Yours in Christ,     Terry Schlossberg

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Advent 2008

Occasion/Date	Title/Theme and Lectionary for Lighting of Candle	Scriptures for Further Reflection
1st Sunday of Advent November 30, 2008	Light of the Heart, Our Hope Isaiah 64:1-9; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37	2 Corinthians 4:6 Isaiah 9:2 Romans 12:12a; Titus 2:13
2nd Sunday of Advent December 7, 2008	Light of Life, Our Peace Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8	John 8:12b Isaiah 9:6 Zechariah 9:10b
3rd Sunday of Advent December 14, 2008	Light of Truth, Our Joy Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28	John 3:21 Luke 2:10(-11) Isaiah 49:13a
4th Sunday of Advent December 21, 2008	Light of Salvation, We Love 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38	Psalm 27:1 1 John 4:9, 10a, 19
Christmas Eve (Wednesday) December 24, 2008	Light of the World, We Rejoice Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)	John 8:12a; John 9:5 Luke 1:14

Prayer Walking and Growing the Church toward Community Transformation

A fellow colleague in ministry and a dear friend and brother in Christ, Chris Walker led a workshop this past week at the Transformation Pastors Gathering presented by the PCUSA Office of Congregational Transformation.  In his recent blog post on EvangelismCoach.org
Chris writes about a missional activity involving intercessory prayers
in motion that has been referred to as "prayer walking": praying on
site with insight.  My wife Melissa and I have participated together
with others in this endeavor in the neighborhoods and communities of
our past two congregations and have seen God move mightily in our
midst.  We sensed the Lord's call earlier this past year to begin doing
this at our current church congregation and are excited to watch what
Jesus does (WWJD) and is already doing among us as we walk anew and
seek His face together in faith.  May God be pleased to pour out the
Holy Spirit's powerful anointing and reveal the Lord's favor and
presence with, in, and over us in these days.  That times of refreshing
and transformation may come upon our fellowship for God's glory and the
common good in our community. 

How the new Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.0108 does not allow ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians

How it is that the new Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.0108 does not allow ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians

Written by Edward Koster
Tuesday, 08 July 2008 13:31

The initial reactions to the Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.0108 approved by the General Assembly in San Jose were dramatic. Some were rejoicing, others despairing, because they believed that the General Assembly, in approving the overture submitted by the John Knox Presbytery, had removed the impediment to the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians that had been declared by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission in the case Bush v. Presbytery of Pittsburgh.

This new AI would overturn the Bush decision and bring immediate relief from the prohibition from ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians by allowing governing bodies to declare the fidelity and chastity provision of G-6.0106b not essential to the Reformed faith and practice.
I include myself among those who initially interpreted it in that way. I concluded that because I was recalling the wording of the John Knox overture, which called for an Authoritative Interpretation that cancelled the GAPJC holding on Bush. Under our ordinary rules of authoritative interpretations, the most recent AI prevails, and the San Jose AI would effectively cancel the Birmingham AI. The General Assembly, however, did not cancel out the Birmingham AI: It affirmed it.

The Bush case was an appeal of the decision of Pittsburgh Presbytery to declare a set of standards that could not be waived. The Synod of the Trinity PJC held that a governing body could not do that, for each case must be considered individually. Then it went one step further: It declared that the fidelity and chastity provision of G-6.0106b could not be waived, and the General Assembly PJC affirmed.

The effect of Bush was to shut down any hope that the Birmingham AI would allow an ordaining body to ordain a candidate who declared he or she will not comply with the fidelity and chastity provision of G-6.0106b. It did so by declaring that this “standard” of ordination was excluded from the historic principle that governing bodies have sole discretion in determining whether candidates hold to the essentials of reformed faith and practice. This is distinct from the principle that a governing body may not itself violate the Constitution.

The paradox of the Bush case was that on the one hand a presbytery could not declare a set of non-waivable standards, while at the same time it declared a non-waivable standard. This contradiction gave persuasive weight to the John Knox overture.

But when the GA amended the John Knox overture to affirm the Birmingham AI, it kept the requirement that a judicial commission may not allow an ordaining body to violate the Constitution. If a governing body ordains or installs a person who refuses to comply with something the Confessions call sin, it would be in violation of G-6.0106b.

The San Jose AI leaves us in a rather complex position constitutionally, for we now have two authoritative interpretations of the same provision of the Book of Order. The Birmingham AI requires that a presbytery or session comply with the Constitution when it ordains, while the intent of the San Jose AI is to allow ordination and installation of those who declare they will not comply with provisions of G-6.0106b.

We are in a pickle.

Believe it or not, it is common for laws and rules to be in conflict. Every lawyer knows this and regularly applies rules of “statutory interpretation.” There are no such rules in the Book of Order, but there are in Robert’s Rules of Order, which the Book of Order requires us to follow. When there are two rules, one specific and one general, the specific rule takes priority: “A general statement or rule is always of less authority than a specific statement or rule and yields to it.” Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised [RONR] (1990, 10th ed.), p. 571. The San Jose AI declares a general principle; the Birmingham AI declares a specific rule. Under this principle of interpretation, the Birmingham AI would take priority when it comes to the matter of compliance with G-6.0106b.

Moreover, when there are two interpretations of a rule, one of which renders an absurd outcome, that one must yield: When a provision of the bylaws is susceptible to two meanings, one of which conflicts with or renders absurd another bylaw provision, and the other meaning does not, the latter must be taken as the true meaning. RONR (1990, 10th ed.), p. 570. If the San Jose AI is found to take precedence over the Birmingham AI, then it would appear a presbytery could allow any departure from our confessional standards. For example, there would be no way to prohibit a governing body from ordaining someone refusing to repent of adultery or fornication. This is an absurd outcome that no one accepts as appropriate. Therefore the San Jose AI must yield to the Birmingham AI when G-6.0106b is at issue.

It appears that we are in the same place we were when the General Assembly adjourned in 2006. According to what the GA approved there in Birmingham, whether a governing body has complied with the Constitution and has considered the matter reasonably, responsibly, prayerfully, and deliberately is to be determined by judicial process. That culminated in the decision in Bush v. Presbytery of Pittsburgh, which the San Jose AI overturned. Because the Birmingham AI has been affirmed and retained, a PJC this time will need to decide whether the General Assembly has the power to authorize a violation of the Constitution.

ED KOSTER is the stated clerk of Detroit Presbytery (Mich.)