Stockton Presbytery So What Are We Doing Stockton Polity Engagement Introduction Perspective Orthodox Understanding Introduction Members on all sides of the issues Discussions will ID: 368901
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Slide1
Denominational Issues Town Hall Meeting
Stockton PresbyterySlide2
So What Are We Doing?
Stockton Polity EngagementSlide3
Introduction
Perspective
Orthodox UnderstandingSlide4
Introduction
Members on
all sides of the
issues.
Discussions will
be fair, civil,
gracious.
Purpose
to provide
an
Orthodox
view of
the
issues
facing the
PCUSA.
A
call to
prayerful
engagement.Slide5
Introduction
Theological
freedom within
bounds.
Tolerance
we
call forbearance
.
“
Essential tenets
”- Are
said to be stated in the Confessions (F-2.04) but what is and is not essential, is left to the individual to ascertain “within bounds” (G-2.0105).Slide6
What Are We Doing?
Currently
not planning
to leave the PCUSARedirection of gifts
Healthy
CongregationsSlide7
What Are We Doing?
Adoption of local standards
Mission Statement, Goals and Objectives
Adopted the prior Book of Order (2009-2011) as a part of the Manual of Operations
Committee on Ministry (COM) adopted the same language
Essential Tenets
as teaching tool.
Engagement with the denominationSlide8
Major Issues Prior to General Assembly 2012
6 PartsSlide9
Ordination – Part 1
Fidelity
in marriage or
chastity/ singleness.
Ordination change?
W
e
do not yet know
GAPJC (Parnell):
Could rule Scripture and Confessions not changed; or
Could determine interpretations changed.
April 2012Slide10
Ordination – Part 1
NOTE
: This issue presents itself in the context of homosexual behavior, but we should be clear that is not the issue! The issue is just as applicable to other UNREPENTED
acts. The
sin itself is not the issue as we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).
The issue is the continuing un-repented insistence on calling blessed that which the scripture calls sinful
, and thereby rejecting Scripture and the Confessions. It is the integrity of the truth of scripture at stake. It’s that
freedom but “within boundaries”
thing again.Slide11
Ordination – Part 1
Stockton Overture 1
Commitment to live a
chaste and disciplined life
, whether in holy marriage between a man and a woman, or in single
life.
(
Book of Confessions 4.108; Heidelberg
Catechism).Slide12
Ordination – Part 2
Kenyon
Mandatory compliance to national standard
Stockton Overture
2 –
Freedom
Of Conscience for Sessions and Presbyteries
To maintain orthodox standard
From discipline action for orthodox viewSlide13
Benefits Plan
Pension Board voted to extend such benefits to same sex partners or civil marriages.
No relief of conscience granted
Stockton Overture 3
Reallocate a portion of the plan to a third party providerSlide14
Church/Presbytery Reorganization
Union Church
Stockton Overture 4 – session of a union congregation to decide for itself
Union Presbytery
Stockton Overture 5 – give the Union Presbytery the decisionSlide15
Church/Presbytery Reorganization
Non Geographic Presbyteries
Mid-Council
Commission
San Francisco Presbytery has overtured
to authorize
the use of non-geographic presbyteries
Eliminate
the requirement for GA approvalSlide16
Property
Subject to the trust provisions of the Book of Order regardless of title.
Generally,
upheld
by California civil courts
Question
of who owns the church property
and
less about the use of the
property.Slide17
Property
Presbyteries have been subject to collateral attack in the ecclesiastic and civil courts
Power to Presbytery to decide among irreconcilable factions
Never intended to grant authority to take the property from the congregation completely!Slide18
Property
Stockton Overture 6
- Property
being held primarily for the
local
congregation.
No Discipline for departing
the PCUSA on
t theological
grounds by a vote of at least a 2/3 margin.
Gracious Separation PolicySlide19
Marriage
Redefining Christian marriage
The issue comes to the 2012 GA in two forms.
Marriage
Definition change
from a “man and
a
woman” to “two persons”.
Conduct
of marriage services – allow
PCUSA
pastors to perform same sex
marriages
.Slide20
Marriage
What is an AI?
= Authoritative Interpretation
No
future issue of constitutional import will be safe from a single GA declaration, including the substance of the Confessions.
Stockton Overture 1Slide21
Expectations
GAPJC
may confirm that neither the Scripture nor the Confessions clearly forbid sexual conduct previously known as sinful as Christian orthodoxy has defined it for two millennia.
The definition of Christian marriage may be changed either by direct constitutional amendment or by Authoritative Interpretation.Slide22
Expectations
The Board of Pensions
already decided
to provide same sex partner or marriage benefit and tax the congregations to pay for
it (no payment now).
The Kenyon precedent may be reasserted on the issues of marriage and ordination to require compliance.Slide23
Expectations
The GA may not
restore the
ordination standards
or any of the relief of conscience requests.
BUT –
It might be ok.
WE DO NOT KNOW YET.
So pray, engage, wait, reassess.