July 2008
Dear Partners in Ministry in Northeast Georgia Presbytery,
After a four and a half hour flight and over seventy hours and eight days of worship, committee meetings, group luncheons/dinners, and three and a half days of plenary sessions, I thought it wise that I give myself a day or two to rest and reflect over my experience before sharing this pastoral letter with you related to the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
First of all, I want to express my deep and sincere gratitude to the Reverends Phillip Dennis and Glenn Doak, Elders Jerry Coutant and Rick Mechtly, and YAD Maggie Williams for their committed and faithful service as our Commissioners and Youth Advisory Delegate this year. Along with approximately 970 other Commissioners and Advisory Delegates, they spent many hours prior to the Assembly reading materials pertinent to their assigned standing committees and seven and a half very long days listening prayerfully to the varied perspectives on a wide range of subjects being considered. Regardless of any concerns or questions you may have about any actions taken at this Assembly, I strongly encourage you to express your appreciation to them for their service.
Secondly, I would challenge us to frame our response to the various actions of the 218th General Assembly (2008) in the context of the Healthy/Missional Congregations focus of Northeast Georgia Presbytery. Per my “State of the Presbytery” Address at the February 23rd Stated Presbytery Meeting, we have challenged ourselves to be focused on:
1) Making a positive difference in the world; 2) Promoting and facilitating relationships; 3) Creating and maintaining connections between churches and the larger church; 4) Promoting a quality spiritual experience; 5) Fulfilling the Book of Order; and 6) Developing a ministry of the people rather than to the people.
My first suggestion to you regarding the wide variety of business addressed and actions taken by this Assembly is that you visit www.pcusa.org/ga218 and review the various daily news reports for an accurate report of any items in which you are particularly interested. I recommend this approach over depending on any secular or religious press releases to inform you. For more details of the actual proceedings of the Assembly you can proceed further to www.pcusa.org/ga218/pc-biz. Also remember that most of this business is generated by overtures sent forward by one or more of the 173 presbyteries of our denomination.
Election of the Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow, an energetic and light-hearted New Church Development pastor from San Francisco, California, as Moderator was a highlight of the first day of business. Election of Associate Stated Clerk Grady Parsons as Stated Clerk provided a fitting “bookend” to the Assembly on Friday morning. Examples of other business addressed include:
- contributions to continuing Muslim/Christian dialogue;
- multiple matters related to environmental concerns;
- invitations to presbyteries to engage in a church-wide evangelism project called “Wide and Deep;”
- announcement of an anonymous gift of $510,456 to the Joining Hearts and Hands campaign earmarked for new mission personnel;
- referral of the Form of Government Report to an expanded committee to include input from presbytery studies;
- food relief for North Korea;
- reports that $30 million has been committed to Hurricane Katrina Relief;
- continuing dialogue related to Israel and Palestine;
- support for the troops in Iraq as well as concern about the continuation of that conflict; and
- multiple issues related to church polity and ordination.
In addition, our own Sara Covin Juengst (Temporary Supply at the Lincolnton Church) received the Committee on Theological Education Award for Excellence in Theological Education. And there was much, much more!
Of course, issues related to ordination frequently emerge as those receiving primary attention in the secular press, sparking concern as well as confusion on the part of many, and this year was no exception.
One of the items which I encourage you to read about at www.pcusa.org/ga218 relates to an overture presented by John Knox Presbytery. The action taken relates to the procedure to be taken by presbyteries in the examination of candidates for ordination or transfer and states:
“The 218th General Assembly (2008) affirms the authoritative interpretation of G-6.0108 approved by the 217th General Assembly (2006). Further, the 218th General Assembly (2008), pursuant to G-13.0112, interprets the requirements of G-6.0108 to apply equally to all ordination standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Section G-6.0108 requires examining bodies to give prayerful and careful consideration, on an individual, case-by-case basis, to any departure from an ordination standard in matters of belief or practice that a candidate may declare during examination. However, the examining body is not required to accept a departure from standards, and cannot excuse a candidate’s inability to perform the constitutional functions unique to his or her office (such as administration of the sacraments).”
Key words in this action relate to the requirement that every candidate is to be examined on a case-by-case basis with exceptions related to “matters of belief or practice” to be determined by the presbytery of call. This action does displace the action of the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission issued in February 2008 which indicated that exceptions could be made regarding belief, but not practice.
The second item relates to an overture from the Presbytery of Baltimore. The action taken on this overture sends to the presbyteries for a proposed amendment the removal of Book of Order G-6.0106b and replaces it with:
“Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church. Each governing body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate’s sincere efforts to adhere to these standards.”
It is important to note that this action calls for an amendment to the Book of Order and requires approval by a majority of the 173 presbyteries before it takes effect. Further action taken related to this matter removed authoritative interpretations of the 190th General Assembly (1978) of the United Presbyterian Church in the United Stated of America and the 119th General Assembly (1979) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.) on this subject. One further related item to note is that the General Assembly retained the definition of marriage per the Directory for Worship W-4.0901 as “a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship.”
As I have indicated on numerous occasions, I am aware that attitudes and convictions on these subjects, as well as others, vary widely and are deeply held by people who genuinely and fervently affirm Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We in Northeast Georgia Presbytery have faced debates on this subject with respect and understanding for each other in the past, and I would expect the same to be the case this year. As I stated earlier, I believe it is most important that we maintain our focus on developing Healthy/Missional Churches remembering our theme: “Building Community for Partnership in Mission.” Please know that your presbytery staff stands ready to serve with you in this undertaking. If there is any way that I can assist you, please don’t hesitate to call me.
Sincerely,
Ken Meeks, Jr.
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