Eastern Virginia Presbytery sends
"an open letter to a confessing church," which affirms the
whole church
[7-20-01]
The Presbytery of Eastern Virginia has adopted a resolution to send
"an open letter to a confessing church." In it they confess
the lordship of Christ over the church, affirm confidence in the
governing bodies of our church, and reject the notion that any one
movement within the church can "have more claim to truth, purity,
biblical authority and spiritual integrity than do the deliberations and
decisions of governing bodies of the church."
They call upon sessions and higher governing bodies of the church to
"remember that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a church whose
confessional commitments are those which are found in its Book of
Confessions and Book of Order," "to trust that Jesus Christ
[exercises] his authority in our church through the regular meetings and
procedures of our governing bodies," and "to resist and reject
any claim that the will of Christ for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
is better discerned and represented by 'movements' of one sort or
another within the church."
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AN OPEN LETTER TO A CONFESSING CHURCH
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a confessing
church.
1. We confess that "God has put all things under the Lordship of
Jesus Christ and has made Christ Head of the Church, which is his
body." (Book of Order, G-1.0100)
2. We confess that Christ exercises his authority in the church through
women and men elected by the people to serve as Elders and Ministers of
Word and Sacrament. (Book of Order, G-l.0100.b, G-1.0306 (6))
3. We confess that Christ governs in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
through the deliberations and decisions of elders and ministers meeting
in the governing bodies of the session, presbytery, synod and General
Assembly. (Book of Order, G-4.0301.h.)
4. We confess that "it is necessary to the integrity and health of
the church that the persons who serve in it as officers shall adhere to
the essentials of the Reformed faith and polity as expressed in The Book
of Confessions and the Form of Government." (Book of Order,
G-6.0102)
6. We confess our confidence that the integrity, health and freedom of
our church are being conscientiously and effectively fostered by the
governing bodies of our church in their regular meetings, deliberations
and decisions.
7. We deny that movements which describe themselves as "more
light," or "confessing" or "renewal" have more
claim to truth, purity, biblical authority and spiritual integrity than
do the deliberations and decisions of governing bodies of the church
which decline to participate in these movements.
We call upon sessions, presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
1. to remember that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
is a church whose confessional commitments are those which are found in
its Book of Confessions and Book of Order,
2. to trust that Jesus Christ has been exercising, is
exercising and will continue to exercise his authority in our church
through the regular meetings and procedures of our governing bodies, and
3. to resist and reject any claim that the will of
Christ for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is better discerned and
represented by "movements" of one sort or another within the
church.
Adopted by the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia, Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) at its Stated Meeting on June 26, 2001.
Approved by a vote of 67 to 62.
