wfn.org | Minority report presses for more specificity on "essential tenets"

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

03-July-1996 
 
GA96066 
 
    Minority report presses for more specificity on "essential tenets" of 
the faith 
 
ALBUQUERQUE--A minority report attempting to add some specificity in the 
Book of Order to "the essential tenets" of the faith came out of the 
Assembly committee on Theology and Worship Wednesday afternoon. 
 
    It urges defining the tenets as: 
 
    "The beliefs of the Church catholic, of the Protestant Reformation and 
of the Reformed tradition that are enumerated in this chapter (Chapter II 
of the Book of Order) and that are derived from the Book of Confessions 
 ..." 
 
    That definition -- found in overture 96-32 from New Covenant Presbytery 
-- was rejected by the full committee by a 26-8 vote for itself lacking 
specificity and for seemingly failing to trust local bodies to examine 
ordained members -- the denomination's historical stance. 
 
    The original overture also gives sessions and presbyteries jurisdiction 
for deciding "whether officers or commissioned lay preachers indeed 
subscribe to 'the essential tenets,' something the minority report omits. 
 
    Instead, it says that individual governing bodies "based on their 
reading of the Book of Confessions and in accordance with G-14.205 and 
G-14.0402 (ordination, certification and commissioning sections of the Book 
of Order), are free to decide that additional beliefs contained in the Book 
of Confessions are also essential tenets for those under their 
jurisdiction." 
 
    Committee chair Kay Huggins said the minority report was written by 
those who wanted "more specificity" regarding 'the essential tenets,' but 
who wanted to eliminate the subscription clause. 
 
    The larger group, she said, wanted local bodies to "keep pressing 'the 
essential tenets' ...  It's not a problem that is resolved by having a 
checklist," Huggins said. 
 
    In addition, the committee approved overture 96-87 (Presbytery of 
Central Nebraska) clarifying language about what discipleship means in 
relationship to baptism in the Great Commission. 
 
    Any amendments to the Book of Order require an affirmative vote of a 
majority of all the presbyteries. 
 
 
Alexa Smith 

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