One of my correspondents has sent word of an extraordinary decision by the PCUSA Synod of the Sun regarding the Presbytery of South Louisiana. That decision essentials suspends the right of the presbytery to make decisions about whether churches may be dismissed to another denomination with their property, which means, as I read it, that the provision of the PCUSA Book of Order that allows presbyteries to do just that has been usurped by the Synod through its appointment of an administrative commission. Here’s the entire text of the letter:
In response to the April 8, 2008, letter from pastors and elders in the Presbytery of South Louisiana to Synod Executive Fletcher and to the April 22, 2008, letter from the Council of the Presbytery of South Louisiana, the Synod of the Sun approves the establishment of an Administrative Commission under the general provisions of G-9.0500.
A commission is empowered to consider and conclude matters referred to it by a governing body. The appointing body shall state specifically the scope of power given to a commission. A commission shall keep a full record of its proceedings, which shall be submitted to its governing body to be incorporated in its minutes and to be regarded as the actions of the governing body itself. (G-9,00502)
The decision of an administrative commission shall be the action of the appointing governing body from the time of its completion by the commission and the announcement, where relevant, of the action to parties affected by it. Such decision shall be transmitted in writing to the stated clerk f the governing body, who shall report it to the governing body at its next meeting. A governing body may rescind or amend an action of an administrative commission in the same way actions of the governing body may be modified. (G-9.0505).
This commission, by the review of records and by whatever face-to-face conversations the commission deems helpful, shall determine the validity of the presbytery’s procedures and decisions (past, present, and future) regarding various congregations and their properties. All pending and future decisions regarding property in the Presbytery of South Louisiana shall require the approval of the commission. This commission also shall listen to other expressions of concern and/or dissatisfaction with presbytery leadership and make suggestions as to ways the presbytery can move toward a fuller expression of the ministry of Christ’s church.
This commission shall make either an “in progress” or a final report to the adjourned meeting of the Synod, October 24, 2008, and at each stated meeting thereafter until the work is completed.
I could be wrong, of course, but I suspect that the Synod would not have taken such a provocative, indeed potentially destructive, course of action without approval from Louisville. As it is, they have encouraged an entire presbytery to consider itself disciplined by higher authority simply for allowing churches to do what they are constitutionally permitted to do. They’ve also, not incidentally, confirmed what lots of observers including me have thought all along, which is that for much of the PCUSA’s leadership, it is all about the property, and little if anything else.
One other thought. If I understand Presbyterian polity, this strikes at the heart of it. In Presbyterian polity, the presbytery, not the denomination, is the basic unit of governance, which is why decisions such as forming and dissolving churches, ordaining ministers and approving pastoral calls is vested in the presbytery. This action runs utterly contrary to that approach to church governance. This is a dark day for the Presbyterian Church (USA).
April 26, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I also suspect that the Synod would never have intervened if the question concerned a Presbytery’s adherence to the Fidelity-Chastity provision of the Constitution. No, it’s all about money and property. I bet the corrupt Renaissance Popes are laughing about this, wherever they are.
April 26, 2008 at 1:59 pm
The synod of the Sun has opened another front in a attempted coup overthrowing the polity of the PCUSA so they can swithch to a hierarchial style of church government. Will there be a call to arms by the conservatives or will they continue to see no evil, hear no evil, and a refusal to speak out against the evil?
April 26, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I, too, am appalled. I see no authority in the PC(USA)’s Book of Order for a synod to appoint an AC, but I have come to beleiev that in the PC(USA), the Book of Order is optional. Rather than clog your blog with a longer reply, see my comments at http://aoundthescuttlebutt.blogspot.com/
Mac
April 27, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Two things:
1) Yes, this is a dark day for the PCUSA. But things haven’t exactly been bright for a while. Much easier to get lost in the dark than in the light, and this move isn’t the first ‘lost’ move they’ve made, and it definitely won’t be the last.
2) The PCUSA leadership isn’t all about property. They’re all about ‘survival’. The problem, of course, is that their idea of survival bears no resemblance to Scripture’s vision of Kingdom triumph. They can’t hold onto their people; 40 years of membership bleed demonstrate that. So if they can’t hold onto people, the next best thing is to try and hold onto property. It’s a survival thing – they have to be able to hold onto something in order to survive, or so they think. The problem is that Jesus didn’t endure the crucifixion for church pews, organs, or stained glass windows – he did it for people.
April 30, 2008 at 11:27 am
Does this strike at the heart of Presbyterian polity? Yes, but Presbyterian polity has long been ignored and trampled on. The PCUSA wants to firmly hold property and retain money. But, they can’t stop the people leaving. In several decades, this denomination will become largely symbolic of its former self.
Jason:
“The problem is that Jesus didn’t endure the crucifixion for church pews, organs, or stained glass windows – he did it for people.”
Quite true! But, far too many become comfortable with those conveniences and are loathe to take a stand on anything that would hurt their comforts.
April 30, 2008 at 1:01 pm
[...] Presbytery of South Louisiana. In addition to quoting much of yours truly’s opinion (found here), it has further details on the letter from PSL members to the Synod of the Sun that resulted in [...]