From Judd Shaw, General Presbyter
Ephesians 1:15-16
Last week, the COBO Center in Detroit was packed with ruling and teaching elders of the PC(USA). Their responsibility as commissioners of the 221st General Assembly had a single focus to discern the will and way of God.
These elders were elected by their presbyteries to pray together, worship together, debate together and seek God's direction through the Presbyterian practice of committee and council discernment. The voting equipment did not work at first, but they stuck with it. The debates and discussions were vigorous and open, but they stuck with it. The decisions were popular to some and disappointing to others, but they stuck with it. Our Presbyterian Polity holds that God works through our councils. God's Holy Spirit touching the minds and hearts of the faithful elders who have gathered. We profess that God Almighty is Sovereign. This is truly one of the essentials of the Reformed/Presbyterian doctrine.
Commissioners from the Presbytery of East Tennessee gather for a meal with others attending the General Assembly.
At the General Assembly in Detroit, several decisions were made that prompted very mixed reactions. Regarding marriage, the first action was the adoption of a new Authoritative Interpretation of the current 2013-2015 Book of Order, W-4.9000, which permits teaching elders (ministers) to perform marriage in states where same gender marriages are legal. At the same time, the Authoritative Interpretation specifically allows teaching elders and sessions the freedom to not participate in same-sex marriages, even though the state may legally permit it.
The second action regarding marriage is a proposed constitutional amendment to the Book of Order, W-4.9000. This action requires the approval of a majority of the 171 presbyteries, and seeks to replace the current language in W.4-9000 with this new Language:
"Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people (traditionally a man and a woman) to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and wider community."
"In civil law, marriage is a contract that recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges"
"If they meet the requirements of the civil jurisdiction in which they intend to marry, a couple may request that a service of Christian marriage be conducted by a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), who is authorized, though not required, to act as an agent of the civil jurisdiction in recording the marriage contract. A couple requesting a service of Christian marriage shall receive instruction from the teaching elder, who shall agree to the couple's request only if, in the judgment of the teaching elder, the couple demonstrate sufficient understanding of the nature of the marriage covenant and commitment to living their lives together according to its values. In making this decision, the teaching elder may seek the counsel of the session, which has authority to permit or deny the use of church property for a marriage service."
"The marriage service shall be conducted in a manner appropriate to this covenant and to the forms of Reformed worship, under the direction of the teaching elder and the supervision of the session (W-1.4004-.4006). In a service of marriage, the couple marry each other by exchanging mutual promises. The teaching elder witnesses the couple's promises and pronounces God's blessing upon their union. The community of faith pledges to support the couple in upholding their promises; prayers may be offered for the couple, for the communities that support them, and for all who seek to live in faithfulness."
"A service of worship recognizing a civil marriage and confirming it in the community of faith may be appropriate when requested by the couple. The service will be similar to the marriage service except that the statements made shall reflect the fact that the couple is already married to one another according to the laws of the civil jurisdiction."
"Nothing herein shall compel a teaching elder to perform nor compel a session to authorize the use of church property for a marriage service that the teaching elder or the session believes is contrary to the teaching elder's or the session's discernment of the Holy Spirit and their understanding of the Word of God."
Another action that has created much discussion was the adoption of an overture to divest from companies that did not comply with the Presbyterian Church (USA) long standing Socially Responsible Investment policy. I have included the adopted action below.
"In service to God's love and justice for all of the people of Palestine and Israel, and in accord with international law concerning self-determination and human rights, the Presbytery of San Francisco overtures the 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to:
1. Instruct the Presbyterian Foundation and the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to disinvest from Caterpillar, Inc., Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola Solutions, in accord with our church's decades-long socially responsible investment (SRI) history, and not to reinvest in these companies until the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee of the PC(USA) is fully satisfied that product sales and services by these companies are no longer complicit in
a. the building and security of illegal Israeli settlements, which U.S. foreign policy, and most recent U.N. fact-finding mission determine to be an obstacle to peace;
b. the construction and maintenance of walls and fences that illegally encroach upon Palestinian lands, destroying Palestinian rights to own property and pursue livelihoods;
c. the management of checkpoints that dehumanize Palestinians and cut off innocent civilians from their property and natural resources;
d. contributing to and profiting from the relentless, five decade long, military occupation of the Palestinian territories."
This action was not a divestment in Israel, but the denomination's attempt to be consistent in its investment policy.
There were many other actions taken by the 221st General Assembly. These actions can be found in detail at pc-biz.org.
I give thanks for all of the faithful ruling and teaching elders who gave their time on behalf of the church. They took their responsibility to heart and prayerfully considered the work placed before them. I'm thankful that they all voted faithfully as they felt the leading of the Spirit. I trust and I'm thankful to our sovereign God that if the decisions that were made were not according to God's way, God will guide us to the corrected path.
I'm especially thankful to the commissioners from the Presbytery of East Tennessee: Ruling Elders Brenda Hooper and Jeff Paris, and Teaching Elders Wendy Neff and Miki Vanderbilt, and Young Adult Advisory Delegate Ben Terpstra.
Our commissioners will be leading three GA Forums:
Sunday, July 20th - Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (3805 Maloney Road SW, Knoxville), 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday, July 22nd - Mars Hill Presbyterian Church (205 North Jackson Street, Athens), 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Sunday July 27th - Rivermont Presbyterian Church (3319 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga), 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Please note that the GA Forums are for information regarding the 221st General Assembly. The debate and vote on amendments and actions coming from the General Assembly will come before the presbytery at a later time.
I give thanks for all of you and for your faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. May God continue to guide us as we walk Christ's journey together.
Ephesians 3:14-20
Related Links:
Pastoral Letter on Marriage from the General Assembly leadership
Pastoral Letter on Marriage from Presbyterians for Renewal and the Fellowship of Presbyterians
FAQ regarding General Assembly actions concerning Marriage
FAQ regarding General Assembly actions concerning Divestment
Talking points regarding Divestment
Read about other actions of the General Assembly
At least two of these early warriors for U.S. independence fought with Col. John Sevier at the crucial Battle of King's Mountain, October, 1780, a total defeat for Loyalist forces, that ultimately led to the surrender of Cornwallis and the end of the conflict, a year later. 