In preparation for the Presbyterian Coalition's Gathering VIII, the Coalition has been discussing a paper on the subject of what they are calling "Gracious Separation." 

The Layman in its report notes that the author of the "Gracious Separation" paper is Robert L. Howard, a member of the Coalition board and immediate past chairman of the Presbyterian Lay Committee. It provides what appears to be (but is not labeled as) a summary of the proposal's main points.

The Presbyterian Coalition has taken issue with the Layman's emphasis on the "gracious separation" proposal as one part of its conference.

Another document about "gracious separation" is posted anonymously on an unoffical website of the "Confessing Churches" movement. 

Frank Baldwin, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, has offered these comments on these proposals.

Thanks to Hans Cornelder for pointing out inaccuracies in our earlier report. 
We apologize for the errors!

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Proposed steps for ''Gracious Separation''

[a summary posted by The Layman Online]

1. The General Assembly would create a Reorganization Task Force and impose a moratorium on all constitutional changes during a 4-year interim period.

2. Balanced/equal representation on Planning Groups and teams formed cooperatively to deal with specific aspects of PCUSA assets and entities.

3. Interim arrangements for governance would be implemented while detailed work is completed to divide into two new corporate entities (neither will keep name PCUSA).

4. Every congregation would vote under strict due process guidelines to determine which new denomination it would become a part of. Likewise, boards of colleges, seminaries and other corporate entities of the PCUSA would determine by vote which denomination they would relate to.

5. The task force would approve both new denomination names to avoid too much similarity to old name.

6. The existing GA staff would downsize by attrition. Creation of two new denominations, with double the number of presbyteries, would create ample employment opportunities.

7. At the end of the four-year interim reorganization period, the two new legal entities would exist and the old PCUSA would be dissolved. The two new denominations would determine the size and powers of their own GAs, presbyteries, etc.

8. The pension fund assets would eventually be divided in proportion to the number of ministers who elected to affiliate with each denomination.

9. The Presbyterian Foundation would be divided by two criteria: 1) donor intent; 2) if donor intent is not discernable, then in proportion to the membership of the two new denominations.

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What is Gracious Separation?

This text is taken from an unofficial Confessing Churches website.

Making the Case for Negotiated Separation

Whereas The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Incorporated was formed in 1983 for five Great Ends which it has not only failed to achieve but towards which it has failed to make even incremental progress;

Whereas the ideas behind the 1983 reunion have not proven themselves out over time;

Whereas for the past 20 years we have witnessed dramatic annual decline in membership and viability of congregations;

Whereas, nationally, the entrenched bureaucracy of the PCUSA as now structured gives disproportionate leverage to those with liberal agendas;

Whereas, nationally, the PCUSA as now structured does not and cannot effectively serve the Great Ends of the Church;

Whereas, nationally, the PCUSA has become primarily a political institution devoting much of its time, talent and treasure to secular agendas;

Whereas, we are denomination in defiance of its own Constitution without a demonstrated will among most Presbyterians to initiate and employ the Rules of Discipline to bring compliance and restore fellowship;

Whereas, the ineffective response of denominational leadership to open defiance of the Constitution has encouraged the continued defiance of those who disagree with the majority rule;

Whereas, the current Moderator and Stated Clerk of the General Assembly hold that the mind of Christ has not yet been discerned on the Ordination issue and actively work to overturn the will of the majority ignoring the overwhelming votes across the nation to uphold the historic and biblical Constitutional standards of chastity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between one man and one woman;

Whereas, sexual practice is only the presenting issue of a church theologically divided with oppositional theologies and Christologies, which produce very different priorities for the church;

Whereas, this results in continuous power struggles, political maneuvering, and distraction from the church's primary mission;

Therefore, the PC(USA), Inc. should be dissolved and two separate denominations formed. One consisting of individuals and congregations committed to the exclusive Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Scriptures, and the power of the Holy Spirit to actively transform sinners into saints; and the other consisting of individuals and congregations committed to a more progressive theology of multiple ways to salvation, the shared authority of Scripture and human experience, and the power of the Holy Spirit to actively create unity among sinners and saints.

The dissolution of the PCUSA, Inc. and the reorganization of two subsequent denominations could be accomplished over a four year process of voluntary and cooperative corporate reorganization including:

General Assembly would create Reorganization Task Force and impose moratorium on all constitutional changes during 4 year interim period. Reorganization task force would develop materials and oversee:

1. Balanced/equal representation on Planning Groups and teams formed cooperatively to deal with specific aspects of PC(USA) assets and entities.

2. Interim arrangements for governance while detailed work completed to divide into Two new corporate entities (neither will keep name PC(USA)).

3. Every Congregation would vote under strict due process guidelines to determine which new denomination it would become a part of.

4. Every Board of Trustees of every college, seminary, and other separate corporate entities, would determine by vote which denomination they will relate to.

5. Task force on reorganization world approve both new denomination names to avoid too much similarity to old name.

6. Existing GA staff would downsize by attrition. Creation of two new denominations, with double the number of presbyteries, would create ample employment opportunities.

7. At end of 4 year interim reorganization period -- two new legal entities exist and old PC(USA) dissolved. Two new denominations will determine size and powers of own GA, presbyteries, etc.

C. Special procedures for particular assets.

1. Pension fund -- eventually divided in proportion to minister elections as to denomination affiliation.

2. Foundation -- divided by two criteria: (1) Donor Intent (2) If donor intent not discernable, then in proportion to membership of two new entities.

D. Congregational Decisions/Affiliations.

1. Each Congregational vote would require super majority to determine new affiliation.

2. If less than super majority, then majority would allocate corresponding proportion of Congregation's assets to minority for new church development in other denomination.

E. Presbyteries - Two new interim Presbyteries created within existing geographical Presbyteries. After final reorganization, new denominations create own Presbyteries based on numbers and location of churches.

F. Synods -- Existing Synods cease to function. All reorganization decisions are thru Congregations and Presbyteries.

Support for the idea……

Moderates, Conservatives and Renewalists might support corporate reorganization because:

It will allow them to focus resources of time, talent and treasure on what they perceive to be the core mission of the church: evangelism and discipleship.

It will allow them to structure a 21^st century organization that is downsized, streamlined, missional, and designed to serve congregations.

Recognizing that they do not have power within the structure to bring reform, reorganization would allow for a different kind of denominational structure.

As some within the church continue to press for more inclusive ordination standards and the redefinition of marriage, they may see reorganization as the relief of conscience they seek.

They may see unchallenged control of small institutional structure as better than continually challenging those in control of the existing one.

Progressives might support corporate reorganization because:

It will allow them to focus resources of time, talent and treasure on what they perceive to be the core mission of the church: justice and social righteousness.

Recognizing that they do not have the votes to change ordination standards, reorganization would allow for open standards in a new denomination.

As some within the church continue to press for discipline, they may see reorganization as the relief of conscience they seek.

They may see unchallenged control of smaller institutional structure as better than continuing challenges to their control of existing one.

Participants in the Institutional structure might support corporate reorganization because:

Present positions are threatened by great unrest and lack of trust in the church and continued conflict.

Present positions are threatened by budgetary constraints due in some measure to dissatisfaction with the denomination.

Two new churches will generate more institutional positions.

Two new churches will allow them to do the work they feel called to do with freedom of conscience that they presently do not enjoy.

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