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06551 October 27, 2006
Form of Government task force releases work to date
GA-mandated group unveils proposed outline for briefer, leaner polity
by Jerry Van Marter
LOUISVILLE - A task force charged with reworking the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Form of Government so it's "a briefer, leaner polity that equips the church for mission and ministry" has released the first part of its work.
The Form of Government Task Force (FOGTF), was created by this year's General Assembly, and was specifically charged to revise the Form of Government - the first section of the three-part Book of Order in such a way that it:
Preserves the foundational polity of our church;
Focuses on providing leadership for congregations as missional communities;
Provides sufficient authority and flexibility to presbyteries to assist congregations in addressing cultural, economic, and societal challenges facing the church;
Provides flexibility at all levels of the church;
Is guided by the first four principles from the Report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church, and
Preserves the wording of G-8.0200 and G-6.0106b in their current form.
"People think the Form of Government needs to be more accessible," FOGTF co-chair Cynthia Bolbach, an attorney in National Capital Presbytery, told the Presbyterian News Service in an Oct. 20 interview here during the group's meeting. "We're trying to make it more concise and still retain the foundational principles of Presbyterian theology and polity."
The two preserved sections - the property clause and the "fidelity and chastity" ordination standard - were excluded from the group's work "so the church will give this work a fair look," said Bolbach's co-chair, Sharon Davison, a New York City attorney.
The progress report, issued at the conclusion of the FOGTF's second meeting on Oct. 22 includes a proposed new section of the Book of Order entitled "The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity." It is designed "to preserve the basic contents of the present Chapters I-IV but in a reorganized and somewhat shortened form," according to a press release the group released with the report.
The report also includes a proposed outline for the remainder of the Form of Government and a sample Chapter One. Davison said the group is going to follow the pattern of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church and circulate its work well in advance of its final report to the 2008 General Assembly so it can make revisions to its work in light of feedback from across the church.
The group's Web site will soon include surveys that will allow readers to share their comments, questions, and insights.
"We want to make the Form of Government more flexible," Davison told PNS, "to help congregations be more missional and presbyteries more resourceful."
Bolbach said "too many Presbyterians view the Book of Order as a rule book when what we really need is a Constitution that will allow us to most effectively bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the 21st century.
"We're not changing a single foundation," Bolbach said. "But we're trying to modernize the language so pastors and church members can sit down, look at it and be able to say, 'Yeah, I understand what we believe.'"
Davison added: "Elders probably only look at the Book of Order when there's an issue or problem - other than that it's not important to them. We hope to change that. We'd like them to look at the book as helpful, as making them understand what the church is called to be.
"Sometimes the perception of what's in the Book of Order is very different from what's really in there," Davison said. "Perhaps if we shorten it and modernize the language, it will be more understandable and people will read it more."
Reflecting on the FOGTF's work after just two meetings, Bolbach concluded, "It's refreshing to talk about theology and polity without winding up in the sexuality minefield."
Other members of the nine-member task force are Elder Diana Barber, associate synod executive for leadership, Synod of Lakes and Prairies; the Reverend Gemechisa Guja, new immigrant pastor, Donegal Presbytery; the Reverend Paul Hooker, executive presbyter and stated clerk, St. Augustine Presbytery, representative to the task force from the Advisory Committee on the Constitution; the Reverend James H Y Kim, pastor, Grace Presbytery; the Reverend Neal Lloyd, pastor, Genesee Valley Presbytery; the Reverend Paige McRight, executive presbyter, Central Florida Presbytery; and the Rev. Stephen Smith, associate executive and stated clerk, Pacific Presbytery.
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