wfn.org | Assembly rejects resolution on Professor's belief

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

21-June-1997 
GA97124          ASSEMBLY REJECTS RESOLUTION ON  
            PROFESSOR CANDIDATES' STATEMENTS OF BELIEF 
SYRACUSE--By an overwhelming show of hands here June 20, the 209th 
General Assembly (1997) disapproved Commissioners' Resolution 97-32, 
a controversial decree requiring a statement of belief from new 
seminary professor candidates. 
     The resolution was drafted by the Rev. Jim Tilley of Blackhawk 
Presbytery and Elder Carl Schartner of Pittsburgh Presbytery.   
     Proponents of the resolution said it was needed to ensure the 
essence of the Christian faith and quality of education in the 
denomination's theological institutions, while opponents argued the 
decree threatened basic academic freedoms and was redundant due to 
existing tenureship requirements at the institution. 
     Speaking in favor of the resolution, Schartner said, "there is 
growing concern among Presbyterians in the pews about the condition 
or our theological seminaries" and the measure would have required 
future seminary professors to adhere to basic facets of the Christian 
faith as stated in the opening pages of the Book of Order (G-1.0100a, 
G-3.0102, and G-3.0103. 
     Speaking against the resolution and on behalf of the 
denomination's theological institutions, Dr. Tom Gillespie, president 
of Princeton Theological Seminary, said the seminary's task is to 
"keep the healthy tension of the exercise of academic freedom on the 
one hand and the covenant of faith and confessional fidelity on the 
other" and that passage of the resolution would jeopardize that 
responsibility. 
 
     Following a brief debate on the Assembly floor among 
commissioners, moderator Pat Brown called for the vote and the 
resolution was defeated.  Earlier this week, the Assembly Committee 
on Christian Faith and Life and Theological Institutions also voted 
to recommend that the Assembly disapprove the resolution. 
 
Julian Shipp 

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