On the peace, unity, and purity report
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- This Report will not promote the peace and unity of the church
- The Report will not promote the purity of the church
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| STATEMENT OF PRESBYTERIAN RENEWAL MINISTRIES
ON THE PEACE, UNITY, AND PURITY REPORT This statement was issued October 10, 2005. The General Assembly Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church has issued a Report to the denomination, requesting that Presbyterians reflect upon its findings in a period of discernment. We, representatives of renewal organizations in the Presbyterian Church (USA), accept the Task Force invitation and have gathered in Chicago for the purpose of studying and responding to the Task Force Report. Task Force members worked long and hard and are to be thanked for their efforts to create an instrument whose purpose is to help the church discern how to live in peace, unity, and purity. With them, we are grieved by our denomination’s decline and disunity. We had hoped and prayed that from the Task Force Report we would hear a witness to the Word of the Lord that would speak to the needs of our church. In parts of this Report, we do hear a witness to the Word of God. Certain statements affirm God’s eternal triune identity, the singular saving lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of Holy Scripture, and the necessity of living a disciplined and holy life. In spite of these valuable affirmations, we conclude with regret that the Report has not given the church a consistently clear witness to the word of God. Taken as a whole, it constitutes a blend of truth and error that, if adopted, will undermine the church's purity and exacerbate the denomination’s disunity. Indeed, it will promote schism by permitting the disregard of clear standards of Scripture and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The proposed authoritative interpretation would reverse the will of the church without consulting the church through constitutional amendment. Thus, it does not respect the Presbyterian way of delineating and maintaining boundaries for our community. Although higher governing bodies would be permitted to review the work of ordaining bodies, they would not be under any obligation to ensure compliance with confessional standards specifically singled out by amendment and constitutionally required of all governing bodies. Indeed, they would be encouraged to “honor” that work with a “presumption of wisdom.” The proposed authoritative interpretation, which was intended to advance church unity, will further divide the church by inviting all ordaining bodies to do “what is right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). They will have the right to convert a mandated "shall" in The Book of Order to a merely permissible "may" or "might," even though The Book of Order carefully distinguishes between these ways of speaking. In addition, the Task Force Report will not promote unity in the worldwide church. Our brothers and sisters in the non-Western church – the majority church – find our moral confusion troubling. Our relationship with them has been harmed and would be further harmed by the adoption of this Report.
The Report accepts conflicting interpretations of Scripture without doing the hard work of helping the church to assess the respective merits of these interpretations. The Report proposes compromising the one Word of God with “words,” by replacing the witness of Scripture with the product of dialogue. By replacing the authority of Scripture with a consensus-building process, the Report separates the church from its only real source of purity, Jesus Christ. The Lord of the church prays for our purity, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). These observations lead us to conclude that the Task Force Report does not provide what the church needs at this critical juncture in our life together. The Report will not promote the peace, unity, and purity for which the Savior prays, for which we hope, and to which we are committed. Because we cannot commend the whole Report to the church, our renewal organizations will offer resources to assist the church in discerning a better way to seek its peace, unity, and purity. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Signed by Rev. Dr. Jerry Andrews, Co-Moderator, Presbyterian Coalition Ms. Gabrielle S. Avedian, Presbyterian Forum Rev. Anita Bell, Co-Moderator, Presbyterian Coalition Rev. Dr. Jim Berkley, Interim Director, Presbyterian Action for Faith and Freedom Elder Marie Bowen, Executive Director, Presbyterians Pro Life Rev. Katie Brandt, Executive Director, Presbyterian Forum Dr. Richard Burnett, Erskine Seminary Rev. Sue Cyre, Executive Director, Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry Rev. Dr. Gerrit Dawson, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Rev. Tom Edwards, Executive Director, New Wineskins Initiative Rev. Don Elliot, President, Presbyterians Pro Life Rev. Dennis Finnegan, Vice President, Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International Dr. Robert Gagnon, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Elder Peggy Hedden, Chair, Presbyterian Lay Committee Elder Bob Howard, Presbyterian Lay Committee Rev. Dr. Brad Long, Executive Director, Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International Rev. Dr. Peyton Johnson, Pastor, Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Tarpon Springs, Florida Rev. Dr. Mark Patterson, Pastor, Community Presbyterian Church, Ventura, California Elder Terry Schlossberg, Executive Director, The Presbyterian Coalition Rev. Cindy Strickler, Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International Rev. James Tony, Presbyterian Coalition Rev. Michael Walker, Executive Director, Presbyterians for Renewal Rev. Parker Williamson, Executive Director, Presbyterian Lay Committee Elder Alan Wisdom, Interim President, Institute on Religion and Democracy Organizations The Institute on Religion and Democracy The New Wineskins Initiative Presbyterian Action for Faith and Freedom The Presbyterian Coalition The Presbyterian Forum The Presbyterian Lay Committee Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry Presbyterians for Renewal Presbyterians Pro Life Voices of Orthodox Women Sessions who endorse the statement The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL The Session of New Hanover Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsville, VA The Session of Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Lebanon, PA The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Mobile, AL The Session of Arcadia Presbyterian Church, Arcadia, CA The Session of the French Camp Presbyterian Church, French Camp, MS The Session of First Presbyterian Church Kokomo, IN The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Oostburg, WI The Session of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA The Session of Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Tarpon Springs, FL The Session of Presbyterian Church of Shippensburg, Shippensburg, PA The Session of Community Presbyterian Church, Ventura CA The Session of Ken Mawr United Presbyterian Church, McKees Rocks, PA The Session of Oak Cliff Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX The Session of Round Hill Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, PA The Session of Kirkmont Presbyterian Church, Beavercreek, OH The Session of Highland Sixth Presbyterian Church, Highland Heights, OH The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Milton, PA The Session of Fremont Presbyterian Church, Sacramento, CA The Session of Dublin Presbyterian Church Session, Dublin, VA The Session of Providence Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island, SC The Session of Mountville Presbyterian Church, Portersville, PA The Session of First Presbytrerian Church, Waynesville, NC The Session of Covenant-First Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH The Session of Second Presbyterian Church, Aurora, IL The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Alliance, NE The Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Levittown, Levittown, PA The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Paola, KS The Session of Mandarin Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, FL The Session of the Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church, Palos Park, IL The Session of Medina Presbyterian Church, Medina, OH The Session of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX The Session of Adventure of Faith Presbyterian Church, Port Orchard, WA The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Branson, MO The Session of the First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI The Session of Colonial Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, MO The Session of North Lake Presbyterian Church, Lady Lake, FL The Session of Osceola Presbyterian Church, Clark, NJ The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Bentleyville, Pennsylvania The Session of Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, Morgan Hill, California The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Ouray Colorado The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, FL The Session of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, FL The Session of the First Presbyterian Church, Evanston, IL The Session of Northeast Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg, FL The Session of Peace Presbyterian Church, Goose Creek, SC The Session of J. J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church, McComb, MS The Session of First Presbyterian Church, DeBary, FL The Session of Parkminster Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY The Session of Faith Presbyterian Church of Seminole, Seminole, FL The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg, SC The Session of Mountville Presbyterian Church, Portersville, PA The Session of Ward Parkway Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, MO The Session of the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, Solvang, CA The Session of Buffalo Prairie Presbyterian Church, Buffalo Prairie, IL The Session of Medina Presbyterian Church, Medina, OH The Session of First Presbyterian Church of Winston-Salem, NC The Session of Church of the Redeemer (PCUSA), Snellville, GA The Session of First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, IN The Session of Lebanon Presbyterian Church, West Mifflin, PA The Session of Edgington Presbyterian Church, Taylor Ridge, IL The Session of Windham Presbyterian Church, Windham, NH The Session of Central Presbyterian Church, Towson, MD The Session of Farner Presbyterian Church, Farner, TN The Session of Zionsville Presbyterian Church, Zionsville, IN The Session of John Calvin Presbyterian Church, Ringgold, GA The Session of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC The Session of Community Presbyterian Church of the Lakes, Lake Hughes, CA The Session of Hamilton Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD The Session of Northwest Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg, FL The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC The Session of All Villages NCD, St. Lucie West, FL The Session of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Marietta, GA Presbyterians who add their names in support Paul Leggett, Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Montclair, New Jersey The Rev. John H. Roark, Pastor, Buford Presbyterian Church, Buford, GA Rev. Jim Henkel, Pastor, North Benton Presbyterian Church, North Benton, OH Richard Klein Elder Jennifer Kirkbride, First Presbyterian Church, Wellsburg, WV Rev. Malcolm M. King III, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, La Follette, TN Rev. Neal Humphrey, Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. John C. Zimmerman, Presbytery of Alaska, Honorably Retired Rev. Bruce Becker, pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Olney, Philadelphia, PA Dr. John Buckingham; Elder, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Trussville , Al Rev William F, Albert, recently retired pastor of Concord Presbyterian Church, Sumter, SC. Richard Conway, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Morganton, NC Rev. Rick Gillespie-Mobley Co Pastor Glenville New Life Community Church PCUSA, Cleveland, OH Rev. Toby Gillespie-Mobley Co Pastor Glenville New Life Community Church PCUSA, Cleveland, OH Andy & Judy Carrick, evangelistic PC(USA) missionaries to Japan Rev. William R. Pawson, Westminster Community Presbyterian Church, Canton, OH The Rev. Ray D.E. McCalla, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Wayne, Nebraska Terry J. Tyler, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Nappanee, IN Rev Al Sandalow, First Presbyterian Church, Ellensburg, WA Rev. John Erthein, Elderton Presbyterian Church, Elderton, PA H. Matthew Ferguson, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL Rev. Noel K. Anderson, Executive Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Bakersfield, CA Larry Rued, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bradenton, FL Robert Dooling, Moderator, the Presbyterian Forum Rev. Dr. Kevin McDonald, Associate Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Omaha, NE Rev. Dr. C. Gregory Darden, Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church, Germantown, TN. Rev. Spencer Lawrence, Church of the Cross Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Hoffman Estates, IL Rev Dr Alan Trafford, First Presbyterian, Lake Jackson, TX Marc Karasek, Elder, Norcross Presbyterian Church Rev. Dave Moody, Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Sparta, IL Marshall A. Worden, Elder, Northminster Presbyterian Church, Tucson, Arizona Christopher C. Carlson, Senior Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church, Minnetonka, MN Rev. Christopher J. Williams, First Presbyterian Church, Branson, Missouri Rev. Kriss Bottino, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Kennewick WA Elder Rob Bullock, Clerk of Session, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Florida Elder Greg Ulrick, Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian, Solvang, CA Renee Guth, Northminster PC, Tucson, AZ Rev. David C. Mauldin, Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Mobile, AL Elders Scott R. and Janet S. Emry, Hilton Presbyterian Church, Newport News, VA Nick Krantz, Pastor, Foster Presbyterian Church, Tukwila, WA Rev. Steven L. Seng, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Wellsburg, WV Rev. John S. Sheldon, First Presbyterian Church, Ocean City, New Jersey Jeff McDonald, Member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Omaha, NE Rev. Thomas E. Smith, Pastor, Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes, Angola, IN Olivia Albert, elder, Westminster by the Sea, Daytona Beach Shores, FL Rev. John Crosby, Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina, MN Jim and Betty Casale, members Community Presbyterian Church, Danville, CA Robert R. von Oeyen, Jr., Pastor, Bethany, Staunton VA Becky Lucci, Elder, Covenant Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX Rev. O. William Hansen, Pastor Emeritus, Church of the Valley, Apple Valley, California Jim & Judy Ritchie, Covenant Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX Robert A. Edmunds, Pastor, First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City, VA James Loman, Elder John Calvin Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX Rev. Benjamin E. Sheldon, Pastor Emeritus Bethany Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Havertown, Penna and Parish Associate, Forks of the Brandywine Presbyterian Church, Glenmoore, Penna W.M. "Bill" Hart, Elder/Deacon, First Presbyterian Church of Sun City, AZ Nancy Lee Cochran, former moderator, Pittsburgh Presbytery; elder, Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, Allison Park, PA Nancy Scott Cross elder, First, San Antonio TX Rev. Toby L. Brown, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Cuero, Texas John Allan Watson, HR, Pastor Emeritus, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Columbus, OH, Member, Presbytery of Scioto Valley Rev. Jim Wilken, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Marion NC Rev. William J. Martin, Pastor, Northeast Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg, Florida Peggy Perry, Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, Kirkland, WA John Huffman, Pastor, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, CA Mr. Daniel L. Gruber, Director of Children’s Ministries, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Omaha, Nebraska Clarke Reed, Treasurer, Presbyterian Forum, Greenville, MS Chris Enoch, Associate Pastor, Magnolia Presbyterian Church, Riverside, CA Reverend Patricia Ward Rev. George F. Major, Pastor, Silex Presbyterian Church, Silex, Missouri Rev. J. Richard Jones HR, Presbytery of South Louisianna Rev. Ronald D. Oldenkamp, Assoc. Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Roseville, Roseville, CA Sylvia D. Dooling-President, Voices of Orthodox Women Marcia Slentz-Whalen, Member of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, Severna Park, Maryland Ken Kettlewell, Honorably Retired, Springfield, Ohio Rev. Dr. William J. Maxwell, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI Carl R. Schmahl, pastor, Warrenton Presbyterian Church, Warrenton, Virginia James E. Stewart, FPC Naples, FL Travis H. Clark, Jr., Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Greenwood, Mississippi G. Alan Crandall, D. Min., Edwin Lindsay Chaplain to Students, University of Dubuque Patricia Geiger, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bradenton, FL Alan Geiger, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bradenton, FL Timothy B. Smith, Pastor Northminster Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, New Mexico Rev. David Weyrick, Stow Presbyterian Church, Stow, Ohio Rev. Steven S. Bryant, First Presbyterian Church, Vicksburg, Mississippi Rev. Wesley Masanosuke Cummins, Associate Pastor, Taiwanese Presbyterian Church of Greater St. Louis Jim Milborn, New Hope Presbyterian Church, Fishers, Indiana Jack W. Fox, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Towanda, Pa. D. Dean Weaver, pastor Knox Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, NY John van Genderen, Elder of the Arcadia Presbyterian Church, Arcadia, CA Kenneth R. Harker, Jr., Elder, Brown County Presbyterian Fellowship, Nashville, Indiana Janet M. Harker, Elder, Brown County Presbyterian Fellowship, Nashville, Indiana George E. Thanos, Community Presbyterian Church, Ventura, California Beverly Wilson Thanos, Community Presbyterian Church, Ventura, California Roderick Orr, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, 420 Main Street, Branson, MO Rev. Jim Hazlett, Pastor Gateway Presbyterian Church, The Dalles, Oregon Michael J. Sorocak, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Mobile, AL Betty Gilmore, elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bradenton, FL. Rev. Paul A. Terry, Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church, Cranston, R.I. Pat Riggins DVM Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, Indiana Rev. Cameron S. Smith, Appomattox Court House Presbyterian Church, Appomattox, VA Reverend Jeffrey Carlson, Pastor, Oakhill Presbyterian Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan Jim Kettlewell, Elder, Christ Presbyterian Church, Canton, OH Elder, Mary Beth Bustle, First Presbyterian, Bradenton, Florida James E. Stewart, First Presbyterian Church, Naples, FL Daniel S. Williams, Pastor, Second Presbyterian Church, Staunton, VA Miriam F. Huseby, Member, Sequim Community Church, Sequim, WA John L. Boone, Elder, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN Daniel S. Williams, Pastor, Second Presbyterian Church, Staunton, VA Jack Lindstrom, Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX Rev. Robert L. Simmons, D.Min, Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Phoenix, Arizona Ed McLean, Member First Presbyterian Church of Maitland, Fl Chaplain (Major) Ernest L. Vermont, Deputy Installation Chaplain, Fort Meade, Maryland Rev. Dr. Donald R. Howie, St. Andrew Presbytery Dr. John F. Sloop, First Presbyterian Church, Harrisonburg, VA William R. Clark, elder- First Presbyterian Church Greenwood, MS Rev. Donald D. Wade IAOP, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Snellville, GA Rev. Dr. John R. Kerr Pastor, Mill Creek United Presbyterian Church, Hookstown, PA Jim Robbins Elder First Presbyterian Church Fort Collins, Colorado Donald G. Belanus, Ph.D., Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth, Virginia Sherry Clark, First Presbyterian Church, Greenwood, MS Rev. Dr. William J. Parr - pastor - Nor'kirk Presbyterian, Carrollton, TX Rev. Dr. Kari Turner McClellan, First Presbyterian Church of Levittown Rev Alan Wilkerson, Kenton Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR Michael J. Imperiale, pastor, 1st Pres Salt Lake City Rev. Frederick F. Thrower, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood Tod Gilmore, Elder, Central Presbyterian Church, Downingtown, PA The Rev. William Lee Kinney, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Pine Bluff, Arkansas Mary Ellen Flowers, Elder, FPC, Vicksburg, MS Paul Rolf Jensen, General Counsel, Westminster Fellowship, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA Rev. Scott T. Wiest, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Pikeville, KY Pastor Daniel Bloesch, Attica-Williamsport Presbyterian Church, Attica, IN. Rev. Gary W MIller, Pastor, Minden Presbyterian Church, Minden, LA Sandy Robbins Deacon First Presbyterian Church Fort Collins, Colorado Rev Jon Sharpe, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Levelland, TX. Rev. Dr. Timothy McQuade, pastor, Loveland Presbyterian Church, Loveland, OH John Buckingham MD Nancy Alexander, elder, Arbor Dale Presbyterian Church, Banner Elk, NC Dan Tapia,Elder,Community Presbyterian Church,Ventura Ca. Robert Powell, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Fort Collins, CO Dennis Kviz, Elder, Sunset Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon Rev. Dr. Rusty Douglas, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Greenwood, MS Mary Elizabeth Jepson, layperson, Donegal, PA Presbytery Jim DeCamp, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Oostburg, Wisconsin Rev. Dr. Meagan M. Boozer, Pastor, Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church, Spring Run, Pennsylvania Larry D. Baskin, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Florence, Alabama Elder Barbara Peterson, Sunset Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon Dr. David M. Cook, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Lakeland, FL Christine King, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bradenton, FL Ken King, First Presbyterian Church, Bradenton, FL Johanna Wright, Member, Montreat Presbyterian Church, Montreat, NC Rev. Jean H. Throckmorton, member-at-large, Riverside Presbytery, Ridgecrest, CA Mark A. Washburn, Fort Worth, Texas Dick Wright, Elder, Whitworth Presbyterian Church, Spokane, WA Carol Stauffacher, elder. Community Presbyterian Church, Ventura, CA Fred Stauffacher, deacon, Community Presbyterian Church, Ventura, CA Ken Mulder, Sr. Associate Pastor, Sunset Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR Rev. George Saylor, First Presbyterian Church of Lenoir, NC Dick Harris, Houston Texas, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church Mike Gibson, pastor, Munford Presbyterian Church Bob Sundquist, elder, First Presbyterian Church, Paola, KS Download 86.07 Kb. Share with your friends:
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