Talking about "gracious separation"
[corrected on 9-26-03]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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 21st 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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