News From New Covenant Presbytery

Today's presbytery meeting was strictly business. Among other things I was formally elected as Moderator for 2008. I wondered if God would send a sign in the form of a floor nomination --but no!

The most significant action of the presbytery was the adoption of the following policy:

The Presbytery of New Covenant in its discernment of the essentials of reformed polity and for the sake of preserving the peace, unity and purity of the church does adopt the principle that compliance with the standards for ordination adopted and held authoritative in the Book of Order shall remain essentials of reformed policy and any departure from said standards for ordination will disqualify a candidate for ordination or installation by the Presbytery of New Covenant. Those provisions of the book of Order deemed to be standards and therefore essentials of polity include those statements using "shall", "is/are to be", "required", "requirement", or equivalent expressions.

This discernment of the essentials of reformed polity shall remain in effect until removed by a majority vote of the Presbytery of New Covenant.

Those of us who supported this proposal believe that it is important to make a statement to our congregations and community about what our presbytery's policy is with regard to ordination standards in light of the concerns raised by many of our congregations about the actions of the 217th GA in passing the PUP report with its "scruples" provision. Those who opposed it stressed that it was redundant because our Examinations Committee has abided by the Book of Order. It passed by an almost two to one margin.

The other significant action was the distribution of a comprehensive policy outlining a process for the presbytery to follow in working with congregations that are distressed by the actions of the last General Assembly and considering withdrawal from the PCUSA. General Council has been developing this process for several months, anticipating the problem. We distributed it today and encouraged everyone to send their comments and concerns about it to us so that the General Council can review it again at our next meeting. We don't want pastors and congregations to be afraid of talking to presbytery about their concerns. We want to encourage frank questions and honest answers.

In light of the events surrounding the recent vote by the session of Kirk of the Hills Church in Tulsa to withdraw from the PCUSA, it was very important to make it clear that our process is not secret and that it emphasizes a pastoral rather than a litigious approach. Friends, the PCUSA will not be preserved through litigation. We must find a more excellent way, and pronto.

What if congregations and pastors considering leaving the PCUSA could have open and honest conversations with representatives of presbytery about their concerns without worrying that they were opening themselves to pre-emptive legal action from the denomination? What if they knew that the presbytery was willing to work with them to resolve their concerns even if the result was their withdrawal from the denomination? What if they knew that they could discuss the property implications with presbytery in advance and negotiate that issue without fear of legal reprisal?

We hope that is what our process can achieve, and that it will build trust and thereby keep congregations from leaving or allow for a regretful parting of the ways without adding more rancor and angst. If you are interested in having a copy of the process, email me (click on the "view my complete profile" link in the sidebar and there is an email link). Maybe it would give some good ideas to your presbytery.