wfn.org | General Assembly backgrounder: "Unity and Diversity"

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Note #5913 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

24-May-2000
00213

	General Assembly backgrounder:

	"Unity and Diversity"

	by Jerry L. Van Marter

	Will schism happen in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?  

	Though it doesn't seem likely, the 212th General Assembly will address the
issue head on when it considers overture (resolution) 00-05 from
Beaver-Butler Presbytery.  The overture would declare that an
"irreconcilable impasse" exists in the 2.6 million member denomination over
such issues as biblical authority and interpretation, Jesus Christ, the
doctrines of salvation and sanctification, Christian ethics, standards for
leadership in the church, and the nature of the church.

	In a companion overture from the same presbytery -- 00-06 -- the Assembly
is asked to appoint a task force to find a way to allow congregations who
cannot in good conscience comply with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s
current constitutional requirement that church officers practice "fidelity
within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in
singleness" (G-6.0106b of the Book of Order) to leave the denomination and
take their property with them when they go.

	The issue of sexual standards for ordination has been debated by the
General Assembly annually since 1996.

	Last year's General Assembly called for a two-year hiatus on proposed
amendments to the controversial passage while Presbyterians around the
country engage in study and dialogue on "the unity we seek in our
diversity."  Presbyterians on all sides of the ordination issue seem willing
to support the hiatus. The General Assembly will hear a progress report on
the "unity and diversity" dialogues that have occurred during the last year.

	At least 10 overtures (resolutions) make reference -- either explicitly or
implicitly -- to G-6.0106b.  Though the General Assembly itself will decide,
it appears that those overtures will be referred to next year's Assembly,
when the hiatus is over.

	Two of the overtures -- 00-13 from Northern New England Presbytery and
00-41 from Milwaukee Presbytery -- call for the deletion of G-6.0106b.  Two
others -- 00-46 from Santa Fe Presbytery and 00-48 from Hudson River
Presbytery -- would set up a "waiver" for governing bodies who as a matter
of conscience cannot comply with the provision.  Overture 00-75 from Olympia
Presbytery would incorporate the provisions of G-6.0106b into the sexual
misconduct policies that govern all employees of the PC(USA).

	The "irreconcilable impasse" overture has been referred to the Assembly
Committee on Theological Issues.

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