wfn.org | An Open Letter to Presbyterians

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1-July-1997 
97258 
 
                 An Open Letter to Presbyterians 
               from the Moderator and Stated Clerk 
 
(Editor's note: General Assembly moderator Patricia G. Brown and stated 
clerk the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick have asked the Presbyterian News Service 
to publish the following letter in News Briefs. We have agreed. -- Jerry L. 
Van Marter) 
 
June 1997 
 
Dear Presbyterians: 
 
The 209th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gave living 
expression to Jesus' high priestly prayer: "I ask... that they may all be 
one... so that the world may believe" (John 17:20-21).  We felt the power 
of Jesus' prayer for unity among his disciples at the 209th General 
Assembly.  We want to share with you some of the ways in which we felt the 
Holy Spirit working among us to unite us as Presbyterians and to call us 
forth with a new energy for Christ's mission in the world. 
 
The 209th General Assembly was preceded by a pre-assembly conference 
focused on "Common Ground."  This gave an important momentum to 
commissioners as they gathered to seek anew the common ground we share in 
Jesus Christ.  As always, the 209th General Assembly began with a service 
of holy communion and the commissioning of those in mission.  Our outgoing 
Moderator, John Buchanan, challenged us with the words of Ephesians 4:3, to 
"make every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of 
peace."  We joined together as diverse members of the one body of Christ 
around the Lord's table and celebrated the commissioning of over 400 people 
who will represent the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in mission throughout 
this nation and around the world. 
 
This General Assembly reflected the commitment to unity in Christ in three 
very important areas: 
 
Unity with the whole body of Christ - We believe the 209th General Assembly 
will be remembered for its important and historic steps in ecumenical 
relations.  With the approval of 95% of the commissioners a historic vote 
was taken to approve full communion between Lutheran and Reformed Churches 
and to send to the presbyteries for their approval as an ecumenical 
guidance statement "A Formula of Agreement."  Without additional structures 
this Formula of Agreement calls for an affirmation of unity in Christ among 
Reformed Churches (the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of 
Christ, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)) and the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church in America.  It sets aside past anathemas that have existed between 
our churches going back to the Reformation, promotes mutual sharing between 
our churches, and encourages us to welcome one another's ministries and 
ministers. Following this historic vote the Assembly joined in singing the 
doxology as we all felt the movement of the Spirit in this new step toward 
unity in the body of Christ. 
 
While recognizing that the presbyteries had rejected a particular plan for 
entrance into the Church of Christ Uniting (COCU), the General Assembly 
voted to continue our search for unity with the 9 churches now 
participating in the Consultation on Church Union.  The Assembly urged the 
Presbyterian delegation to take leadership in reformulating a plan of union 
based more on koininia community than on structure, focused on grass roots 
ecumenical involvement, and open to the wider fellowship of the Christian 
community. 
 
This Assembly also took major new advances toward unity within the divided 
Presbyterian family in North America.  The General Assembly took the 
historic action of inviting all the Presbyterian Churches in North America 
(Canadian and American Reformed Churches) Associate Reformed Presbyterian 
Church, the Bible Presbyterian Church, the Christian Reformed Church in 
North America, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church in America, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the 
Hungarian Reformed Church in America, the Korean Presbyterian Church in 
America, the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, the Netherlands 
Reformed Congregations, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian 
Church in America (Canadian section), the Presbyterian Church in Canada, 
the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church of Canada to all send 
fraternal delegates to the 210th General Assembly and to join us in seeking 
greater unity among Presbyterians in North America. 
 
Unity on divisive issues - This has been a difficult year for Presbyterians 
as we have confronted deep divisions within our family over issues 
surrounding Amendment B (the "fidelity and chastity" overture). While 
receiving 
 
 
Amendment B into our Constitution, the 209th General Assembly also proposed 
to the presbyteries for their consideration a new formulation of this 
amendment which would both maintain a focus on high standards for church 
officers and at the same time be more in accord with the historical 
understandings of Presbyterian polity.  That new formulation reads as 
follows: 
           
     Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in 
     obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of scripture and 
     instructed by the historic confessional standards of the church. 
     Among these standards is the requirement demonstrate fidelity and 
     integrity in marriage or singleness, and in all relationships of life. 
     Candidates for ordained office shall acknowledge their own sinfulness, 
     their need for repentance, and their reliance on the grace and mercy 
     of God to fulfill the duties of their office. 
 
In proposing this new amendment to our Constitution the assembly made it 
clear that it was not setting aside the authoritative interpretation that 
those being ordained should not engage in sexual practice outside of 
marriage but was rather seeking to focus on integrity and fidelity in both 
marriage and other relationships, to affirm our historical understanding of 
an order allegiance first to Jesus Christ, then to scripture, then to the 
confessions, and to recognize that all of us are sinners in need of 
repentance and the grace of God. 
 
Unity through a common vision - The 209th General Assembly called on all 
Presbyterians to find common ground in the Great Ends of the Church: 
 
     "The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for 
     the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual 
     fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; 
     the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; 
     and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world." 
 
It called for a special two year emphasis on the Great Ends of the Church 
and urged every governing body to pull together around this inclusive 
vision for the life and mission of the church.  It was the fervent prayer 
of the 209th General Assembly that we indeed might be one in our commitment 
to proclaim the Gospel, to build community, to worship, to seek the truth, 
to promote social justice, and to live our lives in such a way as to 
exhibit God's love to the world. 
 
We leave the 209th General Assembly with a fresh sense of hope for the 
future of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  Many issues still divide us, 
but we are united in important ways with the whole body of Christ, with one 
another, and with the gospel mandate to witness to the love and justice of 
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
 
We love this church.  We love its commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ 
and to the mission of Jesus Christ in the world.  We are grateful for the 
opportunity to serve it.  We ask you to pray for the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.) in the critical days ahead. 
 
Faithfully, 
Clifton Kirkpatrick                          Patricia G. Brown, Moderator 
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly         209th General Assembly (1997) 

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