My View of the 219th General Assembly, PC(USA)

(Photo: Curt Karns, Exec; Antonia Panaya, Youth Advisory Delegate from Gambell Presbyterian; Rev. Tom Letts, Minister Commissioner from Trinity Presbyterian. Not in photo: Beulah Nowpokahok, Elder Commissioner from Gambell Presbyterian)

I was interested in the difference in tone between this General Assembly and the 218th General Assembly (2008) and the 219th (2010). There was a definite sense that this General Assembly did not come to do battle with one another, but seriously sought to find ways to discern God’s will as clearly as possible.
There were certainly enough weighty and important issues for this General Assembly to vote on, and to differ with one another on. They voted…
• on the wording of the paragraph describing ordination standards, including the famed “fidelity and chastity” wording (voted to make the change eliminating that wording—see my earlier blog entry).
• on whether or not to make an authoritative interpretation of the constitution with regard to civil unions (voted not to make the authoritative interpretation).
• on whether to change the definition of marriage from between a man and woman to between two people (voted not to make the change).
• on whether or not to move forward toward adding the Belhar Confession, developed in South Africa as a response to Apartheid) to our Book of Confessions (voted to keep the process moving toward accepting the new confession).
• on whether or not to recommend a replacement of the entire Form of Government section for the Book of Order—claiming to be shorter, less regulatory, and more empowering of diverse ways to respond to local needs (voted for the replacement, it now goes to presbyteries for their vote).
• on whether to denounce Caterpillar company for knowingly profiting on unjust uses of its products to harm Palestinians (yes) and whether to advocate divestment from Caterpillar (voted no) or to continue dialog with the company (voted yes).
• On a report on the Middle East that was modified in committee through a process that many (USA Presbyterians, Jewish and Palestinian participants) called miraculous, finding ways to move back from strident, relationship-damaging language to more respectful, yet pointed language on Israel and Palestine.

With all these weighty topics, it was interesting that the General Assembly was less interested in rocking the boat and more interested in moving into the future together. Again and again participants pointed to their awareness of the spiritual nature of what they were doing, and of the need to find common ground to move forward together. This was a different GA.
Not that this GA was always consistent in its peacemaking. Those who wanted sea-change language largely did not get it and went home unhappy. And certainly, the change in the ordination standards paragraph ruffled a lot of feather. However, in general the body did work to find middle ground, and embodied a group that valued mutual respect and wanted that for the whole church. I found the meeting refreshing.
Personally, I thought the debate on ordination standards surfaced the major theme of the GA. More than one person spoke of the need to focus on the Form of Government change rather than same-sex relationships. They pointed out that issues concerning same-sex relationships tend to “suck all other air out of the room” for presbyteries and congregations so that they cannot give adequate consideration to other important topics. Right now, the argument went, we are at a time for asking how we understand our purpose and calling as Christians, as congregations, as middle-governing bodies and as a denomination. We are at a different time in history and we must open ourselves to new discernment of our identity and our purpose. The New Form of Government asks us to take this question seriously, and so we must give our greatest attention to it for a while.
No one was saying that same-sex relationships are unimportant. However, we all know that a legislative vote does not eliminate the division on the topic within our churches. Voting 53% to 46% to change the ordination standards may result in changed wording, but it won’t decide the issue. No matter what happens when the presbyteries vote on the change, we can be sure that the question will come back again in some form at the next General Assembly.
The 219th General Assembly seemed to be asking us to take seriously how to do more than just battle with one another within the church. We need to recognize that we disagree and will disagree on some things. But we also need to recognize that we were saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) for the good works God prepared beforehand for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). In my opinion, we are in a time right now to stop focusing on distrust and attacks within the church, and to focus on discerning next steps in our common mission together.

PC(USA) July 8 at General Assembly

Hi, everyone,

Below you will see my list of significant decisions made by General Assembly on July 8. This is a very brief list, using my words and not the official (and often long) wording actually passed by the general assembly. For more detailed information, go to the pcusa.org web site and look for GA news.

This has been a GA characterized by significant decisions. The debates have been very civil, and commissioners have visibly embodied a great sense of mutual respect, and eve agape love though they have divided strongly on many of the votes.

For today and tomorrow, I will leave most of my personal reflections out of this blog, and instead simply list what I believe are the actions of most interest to the people in the Presbytery of Yukon. However, I have to admit that watching this process and listening to people reflecting on our changing society, I am moved by the stirrings of the Spirit among us, Who I believe is drawing us into a new way of being the church. Also, in the light of the amazing worship services held as a part of this event, I am considering again the role and power of worship in our lives together. I would like to write a few reflections on such things later (maybe starting Monday) in the hopes of hearing back from others of you on your own thoughts regarding how God is forming and reforming the church today.

One other side note: I very much enjoyed dinner with many of the Presbytery of Yukon folks last night (what a great group) and the fellowship of the Synod of Alaska Northwest lunch. Last month’s redefinition of synod mission and practice seems to be at the cutting edge of what so many are calling for across our denomination! I look forward to sharing more with you at a later date.

Peace,
Curt




07 08 10 Thursday GA Notes

2. Voted to give certified Christian Editors who are also elders voice and vote at presbytery, both during their years of service and in retirement.

3. Voted (53% for, 46% against, 1% abstaining) to ask presbyteries to vote on a change in the Book of Order replacing the wording of ordination standards in G-06.0106b from the following:

Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.

to the following:

Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”

4. Voted not to take action on changes in guidance to pastors or sessions on civil unions, but instead voted to send presbyteries and congregations two reports from the committee assigned to study this, one from the majority of the committee and on from the minority. The two sides split on their recommendations, and the assembly decided studying the thinking of both sides would be helpful. To assist in this, GA also voted to encourage all sessions to engage in study of issues of biblical interpretation using the General Assembly papers, “Presbyterian Understanding and Use of Holy Scripture” and “Biblical Authority and Interpretation.”

5. In this era of reviewing financial justice in America’s corporations, the GA voted to study justice in GAMC salaries, seeking criteria to assure there would not be an unjust disparity between the salaries of the lowest and highest paid church employees.

6. Voted to lift up the Creation Care policy of 1993 and strengthen it with the additions listed below (to see the full document, go to the resources section of our presbytery’s Earthcare web site: www.yukonpresbyteriansforearthcare.ning.com).

Additions:
"[4. Affirm that concern for God's creation is, for every Christian, an essential way of living faithfully in Christ's world that will necessitate personal study of, attention to and engagement with emerging and new environmental concerns that are persistent, acute, and pressing.
"[5. Affirm that the best available science should inform our care for God's creation, shaping the direction of responsible programming and policy, especially with respect to public witness concerning emergent environmental issues such as global climate change, desertification and access to potable water, and wetlands/coastal erosion.
"[6. Affirm that all living creatures require potable water to live; that water, being essential to life, is a human right that must be accessible to all people.]"

7. Voted that the study paper, Living a Human Life Before God, be distributed electronically to ministers and congregations of the PC(USA) for the purpose of helping congregations explore and teach Christian ethics as they face today’s issues.

8. Voted to stand in solidarity with immigrant people in Arizona and call for just immigration reform, and to refrain from scheduling Presbyterian meetings in Arizona until their immigration law is improved.

9. Established an administrative commission empowered for the next to years to allow presbyteries and synods, the middle governing bodies of the church, to redraw their boundaries, when the affected middle governing bodies request it, and with a 2/3 majority vote of the administrative commission

Wednesday, July 7 at General Assembly

To: pastors of PbYukon congregations

Hi, everyone,

I just want to give a brief update on GA activities. For my notes on decisions, you or your parishioners and friends can go to my blog online at http://pbyukon.blogspot.com/

For now, though, I want to say that The Presbytery of Yukon has been well represented in the work of the General Assembly Committees. Commissioners served as follows:
• Youth Advisory Commissioner Antonia Penaya from Gambell Presbyterian
Served on Committee

• Elder Commissioner Beulah Nowpokahok from Gambell Presbyterian

• Minister Commissioner Rev. Tom Letts from Trinity Presbyterian
Served as co-moderator on the Committee on Church Growth, Christian Ed and PILP



Wednesday: July 7, 2010 Plenary Business

1. Report of the Committee on Evangelism and Church Growth, and PILP

a. Renewed Grow the Church Deep and Wide
i. Four-fold emphasis: Evangelism, discipleship, witness and service

b. Renewed our commitment to fulfilling the Decade of the Child as an emphasis for churches across the nation.

c. Approved conducting a study on Racial-ethnic and Immigrant Church Growth

d. Approved convening conversations on Hispanic/Latino/Latina church growth at all levels of the church.

e. Established a new nation-wide mission statement on Youth Ministry:
The Youth Task Force recommends that the 219th General Assembly (2010) approve the following as the new vision statement for the church and youth in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):
“In the midst of a beautiful and broken world, we have a vision for ministry with young people that unites youth in Christ with all other generations and proclaims the love of God that is without end. This vision gives us hope for a church that
“• is authentic, comprised of communities of faith that live what they proclaim;
“• participates in, and pays witness to, the lively, joyous reality of the grace of God for the whole world;
“• helps young people to understand what it means to be saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that they will, as God does, view all people with love and possibility;
“• expresses God’s boundless love by embracing young people as they are and where they could be, inspiring them to share their ideas, dreams, and unique gifts with the world and the church;
“• acknowledges and celebrates youth as the keepers of God’s world, capable of serving as agents of healing, friends to the friendless, and leaders along the path of Jesus;
“• encourages young people to live and lead with humility, but also with confidence and joy;
“• accepts that it may be changed, even re-made, through the power of the Spirit by youth’s energy, freshness, and vitality.”

3. Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions
a. Clarified that the Book of Order section on communion being for baptized members is pastoral advice, and not a regulatory requirement. Theologically, people would normally be baptized as a sign of entry into the faith community before coming to communion. However, pastorally this is not always a gracious rule, and should not be considered absolutely required.

b. Voted to authorize a new translation of the Heidelberg Confession from German to English. They reported dozens of errors in translation, affecting a full and clear interpretation of the confession. As an example, they noted that the current English translation is more sexist in language than the original German.

c. Voted to approve recommending the Belhar Confession from South Africa for a vote of the presbyteries as to whether it should become a new confession in the PC(USA). The Belhar confession
i. Notes that unity is and justice are not only a gift of God to the church, but also goals for the church to pursue.
ii. Speaks more clearly on the issue of race and power than the Confession of 1967, and provides theological guidance on dealing with differences in Christian community.
Points for the first time to our need and ability to learn from the whole church, including the Christians located South of the equator.

4. Committee on New Form of Government
a. Voted to recommend the New Form of Government to the presbyteries as a replacement of the Form of Government section of the Book of Order. This now comes to the presbyteries for a vote for or against the change.

5. General Assembly Mission Council Report
a. Voted to affirm the continuation of Linda Valentine’s contract as executive director of the GAMC.