Frank Baldwin, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, has offered these comments on the "Gracious Separation" proposals

The paper on "Gracious Separation" now posted on the Witherspoon Society's Website calls for comment on a number of fronts:

Constitutionality In order to take the proposed steps toward separation, it would first be necessary to amend the Book of Order to provide for the suggested dual system of churches. The General Assembly lacks the power to divide the PCUSA as proposed, and doing so would violate numerous provisions of the Book of Order. Since the drafter of this proposal is a lawyer of some eminence, he must surely know this, so one wonders what the real agenda is.

Decency The proposal is offensive in describing the theology of the proposed progressive church. It is also naïve in concluding that there are only two churches among us, sharply defined. Instead, there are many issues that divide us in various ways, and at different times people line up with those with whom they differ on other matters. We really need each other to think our way through thorny issues. I weep to think of the trauma the plan would cause in all of the particular churches I know if they are forced to choose one or the other of the plan's unpalatable entities. Many members will simply make their exit and leave the rest of us fighting over the bones, Most people strongly identify with their particular church, want to remain together, and find ways of working through differences.

Materialism The plan also reveals that, despite pious words, this is not about theology, or authority of scripture, but is about cash. The so-called confessing church movement has failed to cause schism because there is no pot of gold, no resources to fund other than another second-rate Presbyterian denomination. The new plan would fund schism by dividing up the assets of the PCUSA Foundation other mission funds based on the relative numbers choosing each new denomination. I hope the blatant materialism and insincerity of this plan will offend most Presbyterians. I cannot imagine a General Assembly of our historic church approving anything so bizarre.

What Would Constitute Gracious Separation? While I strongly oppose the draft plan for "Gracious Separation," I think we can afford to be and should be gracious toward those who want to leave us. A presbytery has considerable discretion as to the disposition of property of a particular church which seeks to join another denomination.

G-8.0301 provides: "Whenever property of, or held for, a particular church of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ceases to be used by that church as a particular church of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in accordance with this Constitution, such property shall be held, used, applied, transferred, or sold as provided by the presbytery."

This would allow a presbytery, if it wishes, to permit a particular church to leave with its property, either absolutely or conditionally. Conditions might properly include:

The presbytery's power to act in these ways is underscored by G-11.0103i, which states that presbyteries have the power to "divide, dismiss, or dissolve churches in consultation with their members."

My thought about "gracious separation" is that the PCUSA should allow churches to affiliate with another Reformed denomination, if that is the will of a substantial majority of the members, subject to various conditions deemed appropriate by the presbytery. The whole process ought to be pastoral and loving, and those departing friends ought to be assured that they are welcome back anytime. There is more guidance about this in G-8.0601.

Frank Baldwin

[We received this note on 9-29-03, and are posting it here on 10-1-03]

I have one further correction to offer, and one response. First, I notice that you didn't acknowledge Hans Cornelder's point that www.confessingchurches.org isn't "the website of the 'Confessing Churches' movement," and that in fact there is no such thing, as there is no centralized leadership of any sort whatsoever for the CCM. www.confessingchurches.org is merely an anonymous website which has taken the name of the CCM, and which (as Mr. Cornelder also notes) has very little connection with and draws very little interest from the churches which have joined the CCM. It's purely unofficial and represents very few people, and should be largely ignored.

Second, I agree with most of Frank Baldwin's comments, but I strongly disagree with his implication (or, perhaps, assumption) that the purpose of the CCM is to cause schism. While the PCUSA may come apart in the end, most of the leaders of CCM churches I know aren't interested in splitting the denomination, but in bringing reform and renewal within it. Most of the schismatic conservatives I've had conversations with are far too local in their mindsets to have any denomination-wide plans whatsoever; their concern is purely for their own purity and their own peace of mind, and they really don't seem to care one way or the other what happens to the denomination after they leave (or else they'd stay and work for change). The individual who put together this "gracious separation" document is clearly an exception, but no more than that, as far as I can see.

That said, I should note that though I'm not a supporter of your organization--I'm not a member of any organization within the PCUSA, in fact, but I'd support PFR if anyone--I do appreciate your website and a lot of the material y'all put up.

For Christ and his church,

Rev. Rob Harrison
Grand Lake, CO