wfn.org | Committee to recommend task force to seek peace, unity and purity of

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Note #6635 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

the church
12-June-2001
GA01078

Committee to recommend task force to seek peace, unity and purity of the
church

by Bill Lancaster

LOUISVILLE, June 12-The Peace, Purity and Unity Committee of the 213th
General Assembly Tuesday afternoon approved recommending that the Assembly
form a task force to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in a four-year
period of discernment to seek the peace, unity and purity of the church. 
This discernment is to cover issues of Christology, Biblical authority and
interpretation, ordination standards and power, and other issues the task
force may choose.

The matter formally came to the Assembly through Overture 01-33 from the
Presbytery of John Calvin.

The task force is to involve congregations and presbyteries in the process
and develop an instrument to enable congregations and presbyteries to
respond.

The committee on Monday voted to make the group a task force rather than a
commission as originally proposed.  Mark Tammen, the new Assembly director
of constitutional services, explained the differences between the groups.  A
commission has more power than a task force.  A commission may act as the
governing body itself, as outlined in paragraph G-9.0502 of the Book or
Order.  Or, a commission may take a less powerful role and "visit ...
inquire into, settle," as outlined in paragraph G-9.0503a(3).  A commission
is to be composed of equal numbers of elders and ministers.
The type of commission called for in this case, according to Tammen, was an
administrative commission.  A theological commission is a type of
administrative commission.  The last time the Assembly used such a
commission was in 1925 to help settle the fundamentalist/modernist
controversy, Tammen said.

A task force is similar to a committee.  Task forces have a very specific
task, a limited focus, a limited time and no general powers.  The
composition is not spelled out in the Book of Order, according to Tammen. 
The committee chose a task force rather than a commission because with the
commission's requirement that it be composed of ministers and elders. 
Committee members were concerned that gays and lesbians would not be able to
serve.

The task force is to be composed of 17 members "reflecting the theological
and cultural diversity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."  It is to be
appointed by the moderators of the 213th, 212th, 211th General Assemblies
(2001, 2000, 1999), in consultation with the General Assembly Nominating
Committee.

The work of the task force is described as leading the PCUSA "in spiritual
discernment of our Christian identity, in and for the 21st century, using a
process which includes conferring with Presbyteries and congregations,
seeking the peace, unity and purity of the church.  This discernment shall
include but not be limited to issues of Christology, Biblical authority and
interpretation, ordination standards and power."

Further, the task force is to "develop a process and an instrument by which
congregations and governing bodies throughout our church may reflect on and
discuss the matters that unite and divide us, praying that the Holy Spirit
will promote the peace, unity, and purity of the PC(USA)."

In the preface to the recommendation, the committee calls for the church to
"enter into a season of theological clarification of our Presbyterian
identity.  The task force is to make a progress report to each General
Assembly beginning with the 214th General Assembly (2002) and make a final
report by the 217th General Assembly (2005).

The financial implications of the task force total $98,845 over the four
years.

After approving their recommendation as a revision of 01-33, the committee
then approved making the task force recommendation their response to the
following overtures:

* 00-42 (on establishing a special task force to move beyond the current
impasse);

* 01-09 (on entering a process of churchwide spiritual discernment
considering the current division within our denomination);

* 01-14 (on appointing a special committee to propose amendments to reaffirm
the role of governing bodies on ordination decisions);

* 01-20 (on calling all members and ordained officers to the church to be
reconciled by uniting in a year of study and prayer);

* 01-36 (on declaring that resolution has been reached on the matter of
human sexuality related to eligibility for ordination).

On Overture 00-06 (on appointing a special committee to explore amendments
to the Book of Order to permit congregations that cannot comply with
G-6.0106b to disaffiliate from the church while retaining real property),
the committee disapproved the overture with comment. The comment was that of
the Advisory Committee on the Constitution, that there are already
provisions in the Book of Order for congregations to leave.

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