|
Dear Spring Valley Presbyterian Church Family,
As you may have heard from recent news accounts our General Assembly made several controversial decisions in the recent meeting in June in Detroit. Two concerned same-sex marriage, and a third was concerning divestment from three companies doing business in Israel. Included with this letter at the end is "A Pastoral Letter From The Five South Carolina Executives" concerning these actions. The letter offers a concise account of the actions, and also refers to further FAQ sheets available online at the Presbytery web-site.
Our session has received most of this information and will be in the process of discussing these actions and what it means for our church. Regarding same-sex marriage, the denomination stance is basically that pastors in states where it is permitted can perform such weddings. No pastor or session is forced to perform such weddings if they do not agree with it from their biblical understanding. Amending the Book of Order on the definition of marriage will require a majority of votes of the Presbyteries in order to confirm that change.
The sharply divided vote on the divestment matter represents a significant disagreement within the denomination. This action was narrowly defeated at the previous General Assembly. My guess is that this action will come again for another vote at the next General Assembly in two years, if it is not dealt with sooner.
While there are people who grieve over the actions, there will be others who will be glad. Wherever we may fall in this spectrum as individuals, it's important that we as a church family stay together as we seek to follow the Lord here at Spring Valley. Church history is filled with many times of disagreement over many important issues. The New Testament describes major church disagreements from the very beginning. There will be many disagreements within the greater Christian Church in the future. It is in these times that we are called to listen even more carefully to one another. Those with whom we disagree are not our enemies; they are brothers or sisters in Christ with whom we do not agree.
The Presbytery is hosting three town-hall meetings to discuss the actions of GA. All the meetings are at 7 pm. The first is July 24 at Seven Oaks Church in Columbia. The second is at First Clinton on July 31. The third is at South Aiken on August 7. These meeting would provide an opportunity to hear directly from our delegates to General Assembly, and to hear what others in the Presbytery are thinking.
We don't know what the future holds for the denomination, but we do know who holds the future. Ultimately the church belongs to Christ. I encourage all of us to stay together as we move into the future serving the Lord at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church. While the future of the denomination is beyond us, for me what is most real and tangible is our life together and our ministry as a church family. I encourage us to remain together trusting Christ who is our Head.
Let us remain in prayer for our church.
In Christ,
Jack
A Pastoral Letter from the Five South Carolina Presbytery Executives
June 23, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
In Jeremiah 29:11, God encourages us with these words, "For surely I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope."
The 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) met June 14 - 21, 2014, in Detroit, Michigan. Many complicated issues came before the Assembly that are of interest to the churches of our presbyteries. Our commissioners, as did those of our sister presbyteries, worshiped, studied, discussed, prayed, and together they made decisions in service to the Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Now, over the next two years, commissioners of the 221st General Assembly (2014), and we, as presbytery leaders, will be about the business of interpreting and guiding our members and member congregations through the decisions made.
There are also decisions which each individual presbytery will have to make. These decisions include proposed amendments to the Book of Order and a proposed amendment for inclusion of the Belhar Confession in the Book of Confessions. May we seek to embody the grace and love of our Savior as we engage with these decisions and commit ourselves to one another and to Almighty God as we move forward together in service to Christ's church.
The 221st General Assembly (2014) has taken three significant actions on the teaching and practice of marriage, relating to our life together and to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Book of Order. First, following a lengthy debate, the Assembly approved, in a 371 to 238 vote, to adopt an "Authoritative Interpretation" (AI) of the Constitution. An AI is an interpretation of the Constitution by the General Assembly or the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission. It is binding denomination-wide.The AI approved by the Assembly permits pastors to marry same-gender couples in churches where it is permitted by state law, even though marriage is currently defined in our Constitution as being between a man and a woman. This permission takes effect immediately. Please note: Same-gender marriage is not permitted by state law in South Carolina.
Second, the Assembly approved, in a 429 to 175 vote, to recommend rewriting the Book of Order section W-4.900, in which marriage is defined as between "a man and a woman". The new language being proposed for presbytery ratification defines marriage as "a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and to support each other for the rest of their lives." After several other provisions, it concludes with this important qualification: "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."
Now, unlike an authoritative interpretation, a constitutional amendment is first voted on by the General Assembly, but it must be confirmed by the majority of presbyteries before it is effective. This constitutional amendment to the Book of Order will require ratification by a majority of the 171 presbyteries.
The constitutional amendment to the Book of Confessions will require ratification by a two-thirds majority of the 171 presbyteries. Therefore, each presbytery will vote on these constitutional amendments sometime within the next year. All church councils are under the authority of the Constitution.
Third, the 221st General Assembly (2014) also directed the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board (PMAB) and the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) to engage in the process of working together with churches in the task of reconciliation. The reconciliation process will start with visits to each presbytery. The PMAB and OGA will serve as a resource for each presbytery's discussion of these actions in congregations and the presbytery at-large, as they present voices of reconciliation for the unity of the church.
Included with this letter are Frequently Asked Questions: Civil Union and Marriages (FAQs) about what each of these actions means and does not mean for our presbyteries and for each of our churches. Also included is a Brief Resource Bibliography and responses, which have come from a variety of sources in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Each of our five presbyteries will be moving ahead with plans to report on actions of the General Assembly. This will include receiving reports from our commissioners, providing opportunities for members to ask questions, and preparing ourselves to vote on proposed changes to the Constitution.
We recognize that other issues that the 221st General Assembly (2014) approved will be a cause for joy for some and concern for others. One of those issues is the divestment from three U.S. companies involved in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in the Middle East. After more than a three-hour debate, the Assembly approved, in a 310 to 303 vote, an overture calling for divestment from Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard, and Motorola Solutions. Also included in this mailing is a resource on Frequently Asked Questions: Middle East Issues (FAQs) on this decision made by the Assembly.
Here is a brief outline of Middle East divestment decision: After a 10-year history of attempted engagement with Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard, and Motorola Solutions, the 221st Assembly directed the church to divest its holdings in these three companies, as they violate the denomination's policy of not profiting from "non-peaceful pursuits." The action affirms Israel's right to exist securely. It disavows association with or endorsement of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement. It does not call for divestment from Israel or economic boycotts. The church maintains significant investments in companies that do business in Israel. Another important note is that the Assembly stated the following concerning the controversial study called Zionism Unsettled: The General Assembly "declares that Zionism Unsettled does not represent the views of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."
If there are other issues which are of concern to you, please contact your presbytery leadership and commissioners to the 221st General Assembly (2014). We will be glad to assist you in any manner that we can.
We are aware that there are those who are rejoicing and there are others who are weeping, due to some of the actions of the 221st General Assembly (2014). Therefore, one of the challenges before us is whether or not we are able to exercise mutual forbearance with brothers and sisters who differ from us. Can we show a more excellent way by remaining together in love and forbearance amid our differences? Can we model the way of living that Scripture calls us to embrace: "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15)?
Moreover, Jesus says, "...go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). The Lord is with us. Therefore, let us fix our focus on following Christ's commission to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them.
Praying that it may be so, we remain,
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bruce E. Ford
Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk
New Harmony Presbytery
T. Mark Verdery
General Presbyter/Stated Clerk
Providence Presbytery
Donnie R. Woods
Executive Presbyter/Associated Stated Clerk
Charleston Atlantic Presbytery
Gordon W. G. Raynal
Interim Presbytery Pastor/Stated Clerk
Foothills Presbytery
Danny C. Murphy
Transitional Presbyter
Trinity Presbytery
| 