| Tuesday, February 12, 2008, the PC(USA)’s highest court issued a landmark decision that has direct bearing on the intense debate over ordination standards in the PC(USA). For the last twenty months, a confusing debate has raged over the meaning of a new “authoritative interpretation” (AI) of the constitution passed by the 2006 General Assembly. Indeed, congregations have left the PC(USA) in recent months, citing this new AI as a primary cause. The new AI appeared as though it would allow sessions and presbyteries to ordain candidates who were in open violation of our denomination’s constitutional standards for ordination, including the biblical “Fidelity and Chastity” standard. In addition, just last month two presbyteries cited this new AI as justification for their decisions to allow open departures from the “Fidelity and Chastity” standard.
However, in three decisions just issued, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) has ruled that no ordaining body (session or presbytery) has the right to ordain a candidate who is in violation of constitutional standards, including the “Fidelity and Chastity” standard expressed in the Book of Order (G-6.0106b). With these new GAPJC rulings, we can now rest assured that our standards for ordination in the PC(USA) continue to reflect the clear teaching of Scripture and the plain meaning of our constitution.
The authoritative interpretation passed by the General Assembly in 2006 had been recommended by the Peace, Unity and Purity Task Force, and it interpreted section G-6.0108 of the Book of Order, which concerns the “freedom of conscience” of church officers. Many believed that this new AI was intended to extend the “freedom” of officers to the point of being “free” to set aside the clear standards established by the whole church and expressed in the Book of Order. Special interest organizations in the PC(USA) whose mission is to move the PC(USA) toward embracing the ordination of self-affirming, practicing homosexual persons “celebrated” the proposal. PFR and many others in the denomination expressed deep concern over the ambiguous proposal and the impact it might have on the church — certainly bringing confusion and potentially changing the binding character of the denomination’s ordination standards. Since an amended version of the AI was passed by a narrow margin at the G.A. in 2006, the church has been embroiled in debate over what, if anything, had changed.
These recent GAPJC rulings clarify that nothing has changed. According to the GAPJC: “The freedom of conscience granted in G-6.0108 allows candidates to express disagreement with the wording or meaning of provisions of the constitution, but does not permit disobedience to those behavioral standards.” And it continues by stating that the “fidelity and chastity provision may only be changed by a constitutional amendment. Until that occurs, individual candidates, officers, examining and governing bodies must adhere to it.”
PFR believes these GAPJC rulings promote the peace, unity and purity of the church:
First, the GAPJC rulings promote the peace of the church. Over the last two years, debate over the meaning of the new AI has embroiled the church in deep controversy that has not been honoring to Jesus Christ. The new AI has been testimony to the fact that ambiguous legislation promotes discord. While debate over ordination standards will continue, the GAPJC rulings restore clarity to the constitution and bring to an end a particularly divisive chapter in our denomination’s debate on this issue.
Second, these rulings promote the unity of the church. The GAPJC rulings make it clear that all governing bodies of the PC(USA) must adhere to the standards established by the whole church and expressed in the constitution. In other words, the PC(USA) is still one body that follows one set of clear standards for its officers. The PC(USA)’s constitution is intended to be both an expression of the church’s unity and an important means of maintaining that unity. If individual governing bodies within the PC(USA) were permitted to set aside national standards, the unity of the church would be severely compromised. These rulings by the GAPJC make clear that all governing bodies of the PC(USA) are called to function within the boundaries of the one, larger covenant community. Furthermore, by clearly stating that the constitutional amendment process is the only way to change the standards of the church, the GAPJC rulings ensure that the voice of the whole church (expressed through both the G.A. and the presbyteries) will continue to set the standards of our denomination.
Third, the rulings promote the purity of the church. The GAPJC makes it clear that the “Fidelity and Chastity” standard (G-6.0106b), which requires sexual purity of church officers, remains a mandatory provision of the constitution . This standard reflects both the clear teaching of Scripture and the mind of the church. It is one important way in which church officers are called to live as faithful witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the midst of a culture that is confused about God’s design for humanity sexuality, it is particularly important for the church to speak with one clear voice on this issue and for its ministers, elders and deacons to maintain moral integrity.
PFR continues to be grateful to God for our calling to serve in that part of the Body of Christ called the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). And we continue to urge our denomination to engage in a season of prayer and fasting in preparation for the upcoming General Assembly in June and for our ongoing witness to the transforming power of Jesus Christ. |
