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GA06109
Reflecting on the passage of Recommendation 5 of TTF report
Controversial measure does not change standards; places responsibility for discernment on presbyteries and sessions
by Corey Schlosser-Hall
BIRMINGHAM, June 20 — The 217th General Assembly moderator, the Rev. Joan Gray, expressed satisfaction at the way commissioners and advisory delegates handled Tuesday's voting on Recommendation 5, the most controversial of the recommendations of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church report. Recommendations 5 through 7 were approved by a 57 percent to 43 percent margin.
The moderator spoke to reporters at a press conference following the vote.
"Today we saw the Presbyterian process of doing things at its best," Gray said. "We saw people working fairly and treating each other justly. Commissioners comported themselves well; they were civil, decent and in order."
Earlier in the afternoon recommendations 1 through 4 had passed with an 87 percent majority.
Joining the moderator at the press conference was the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly; the Rev. Blair Monie, moderator of the GA Committee on Ecclesiology, which dealt with the report; the Rev. Catherine Kotfiela, vice moderator of the committee; and three members of the Theological Task Force: the Rev. Mark Achtemeier, elder Barbara Wheeler, and the Rev. John Wilkinson.
Kirkpatrick, who serves as the highest ecclesiastical officer in the PC(USA) was encouraged by three things: "That the Theological Task Force itself, a group of twenty people with deep differences and convictions, came together in a process of prayer and Bible study and developed a deep sense of community; … that the Assembly approved the first four recommendations almost unanimously; … and that we have not altered the fundamentals."
"We have the same standards," Kirkpatrick continued, "and now a process that encourages a more pastoral approach to ordination and encourages our governing bodies to do thorough work in examining people for office."
Gray underscored Kirkpatrick's comments, "Our standards have not changed. The Book of Order has not changed. We have put more weight on local presbyteries and sessions to discern whether a candidate's departure from the standards of the church is essential or unessential."
"Presbyterians serve a living God," reflected Achtemeier, "which means a living God cannot be reduced to a checklist. We discern the activity and presence of that living God in a person's life as we examine that person's qualities for ministry. It is the sort of judgment we have to make case by case in prayer, examining the fruit of that person's life and their obedience to Scripture and our confessions."
"These standards," Achtemeier continued, "don't get applied in cookie-cutter fashion. The process can be frustrating sometimes, but it goes way back on our tradition."
"The proposals for Recommendation 5 are old practices from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries that live again in the 21st century," noted Wilkinson. "What's new is not the content, but the spirit of the proposal. It is a new way for living into the best of history, tradition and polity."
Wheeler added, "These recommendations were not intended to create a division where one side wins and another loses, although they have been construed that way. This measure gives those who are in a minority a chance to exercise conscience in matters of Scripture."
Kirkpatrick reminded listeners, "This is not license for casual dealing with standards that have been affirmed. This gives added authority to local presbyteries and sessions for making those judgments. Different judgments might be made in different situations. And they are always open for judicial or administrative review by higher governing bodies."
Monie commented on the division in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
"Part of the fact we are divided is that our country is divided in the political realm, and we come to the table with all kinds of opinions about a lot of things," he said. "What unites us as Presbyterians is that we are all disciples of Jesus Christ.
"A group of twenty people, so very different, came together to agree. My great hope is now that the Assembly has passed this, the commissioners will go home and spread the news."
Reflecting on the work of the committee to bring about the recommendation, Monie said, "This is an extremely inspiring experience for me. Cate (co-moderator of the Ecclesiastical committee) and I began the process with one great aim — to be fair. To give everyone a voice, hearing from all opinions and sides. We did that faithfully."
Anticipating commissioners' role to share the actions of this Assembly with their congregations and presbyteries, Kirkpatrick said, "I wouldn't say we have a full-scale, developed plan. I know there are huge expectations and huge anxiety. We encourage every commissioner to share this with their congregations, and to replicate what has been the experience of the task force."
Kirkpatrick emphasized, "I encourage you not to simply read about and react to a statement, but experience the same reality that led the task force to this place."
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