Two schisms in one week?
It's been a remarkably turbulent week for the US Episcopal Church; but not only for them. The General Assembly (which ends today) has been meeting at the same time in Birmingham, Alabama. Like their Episcopalian neighbours, the largest Presbyterian denomination in America also elected a , the Reverend Joan S Gray (pictured), though in their case not for the first time (in the past they have elected a female non-clergy moderator).
And like their Episcopalian neighbours, the Presbyterians have been debating human sexuality -- again. But this year's Assembly . In an historic , the Assembly has voted to permit local presbyteries to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether a person living in a same-sex relationship can satisfy the church's ordination standards. It's a complex theological compromise, which has divided pro-gay groups within the denomination: the has welcomed the new policy, while are concerned about the nature of the compromise.
In any case, the likely outcome of the new policy is that conservative presbyteries will continue to refuse to ordain gay and lesbian candidates for the ministry and eldership, while more liberal presbyteries are now free go ahead with ordinations if they believe a candidate's manner of life is not inconsistent with Reformed theology.
Will the new policy lead to schism within PC(USA)? It is likely, I think, that quite a few congregations and some presbyteries will decide to walk apart from the denomination as a result of this Assembly's action. Indeed, the Presbyterian Layman, a conservative Presbyterian publication is already
One group, the New Wineskins Initiative, was already poised to act if the General Assembly adopted recommendation 5. Its leaders had declared that action could provoke a separation. The New Wineskins Initiative includes 115 congregations whose sessions have approved a vision statement, moral imperatives, theological essentials and a still evolving constitution. The organization will meet in Kirk of the Hills Church in Tulsa, Okla., in July 19-22. In addition, two presbyteries -- San Diego and Santa Barbara -- approved resolutions before the General Assembly to assess the consequences of adopting recommendation 5 and to consider their future relationship with the denomination.
The significant difference between PC(USA) and the Episcopal Church in this regard is that there is no Presbyterian equivalent of the Anglican Communion. The American Presbyterians are a member-church of the -- a fellowship (rather than a Communion) of 75 million Reformed Christians around the world, which includes some which already ordain gay and partnered clergy. I doubt very much that we will hear of any Presbyterian denominations voting to resign their membership of WARC because of the PC(USA) decision. Indeed, I would be equally surprised if the theologically conservative Irish Presbyterian Church, which is a founder member of WARC and the mother church of PC(USA), even makes a statement in response to the Birmingham Assembly's decision. Perhaps there are lessons here for the Anglican Communion.
Comments
You've slipped here Will - the church of scotland is the mother church of PCUSA!
Come on William,
theologically conservative PCI???
Perhaps on paper but in practice is PCI really conservative when it comes to...
worship?
women ordination?
inerrancy of scripture?
Genesis account of creation?
charismatic gifts?
ecumenism?
I was a member for 8 years and IMHO theologically conservative types are a minority group.
Regards,
ceejay
The term conservative is relative ceejay, but by international standards PCI is conservative. Compare PCI with the church of scotland or the united reformed church, or the australian presbyterians etc. Within Northern Ireland, PCI is more liberal than other brands of Presbyterianism - but that says more about Northern Ireland than Presbyterianism.
As a minister member of the PCUSA, it was interesting to read your take on the latest General Assembly meeting in Birmingham. There are a few inaccuracies that need to be addressed:
First, we've had far more than two female moderators, and several of them are ministers.
Second, much as I would like, the PCUSA constitutional ban against ordaining non-celebate homosexuals is still in place. Local governing bodies (sessions and presbyteries) might try to ordain LGBT officers, but higher church courts (synods and general assembly) will overturn them.
Third, the Presbyterian Church of Ireland is not the mother church of the PCUSA. The "mother church" of all Presbyterian denominations around the world is the Church of Scotland. We have John Knox to thank (or blame) for that. I hasten to add that the PCI has historic influence with the PCUSA, but no more than the Church of Scotland. As you pointed out, we're not a communion in the sense of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
It was a great article! Thanks for handling the PCUSA issues in a fair and balanced way. I wish we could be as fair and balanced among ourselves.
Reply to Mark:
You point out some inaccuracies in Will's blog on PCUSA, but I've read through it and I can't see what you're worried about.
1. Will doesn't say that you've elevted a female moderator for the first time - in fact, he even notes that you've previously elected a female non-clergy moderator. You may have confused his piece with neighbouring pieces about the first female primate of ECUSA (the episcopal chuch, not PCUSA!).
2. Will's summary of the General Assembly's recent decision is accurate. You're additional comment that higher courts may overturn a presbytery decision does not invalidate the clear nd historic step that's been taken by the general assembly in giving presbyteries a local option.
3. There's some debate about which church is the mother church of PCUSA. The church of scotland is certainly the mother churc of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. BB Warfield has written (you can google it) an article on how PCI is in fact the mother church of American presbyterianism - it was an Irish Presbytery that dispatched Francis Makemie to establish a presbyterian church in the colonies. Makemie was born in Ramelton, county Donegal, in Ireland in 1658.
4. You claim that the church of scotland is the mother church of all presbyterians in the world. Tell that to the presbyterians in Geneva who are living under the misapprehension that their founder, John Calvin, had some influence on John Knox.
As to the first point, Will stated, "Like their Episcopalian neighbours, the largest Presbyterian denomination in America also elected a female leader, the Reverend Joan S Gray (pictured), though in their case not for the first time (in the past they have elected a female non-clergy moderator)." The sentence reads as if the tally of female moderators rests at two: one clergy and one lay. It may seem like I'm quibbling over semantics, but that is how it reads. The fact of the matter is that we have had many women serve in that position, both clergy and lay, ever since we began ordaining female clergy in the middle of the last century. I am not confused by neighboring pieces, as I only stumbled across this one while searching the internet about other matters. As I scanned the search results, I was curious to see what the 91Èȱ¬ had to say about my little American denomination (PCUSA). And I don't need to be talked down to about the difference between the letters E and P. As an American religious leader, I was very aware that the ECUSA and the PCUSA were meeting at the same time this summer. The American press made enough of a stink about it!
As to the second point, Will's summary is the view of some, but not all, and arguably not the majority. I know both of my presbytery's commissioners to the General Assembly (GA) meeting in Birmingham, and thier take on things is a lot different than Will's. There is a great debate raging in the PCUSA (that's the Presbyterians, Paul, not the Episcopalians) over exactly what happened at GA. Extremists on both sides view things very differently, and those caught in the middle are waiting for the dust to settle. Will's summary is in fact contrary to the summary provided by the GA Stated Clerk and by the leadership of my presbytery. I sit on the presbytery committee that is going to be dealing with matters of property if disputes arise over any of our congregations leaving the PCUSA. I've been following this matter for years and have a greater vested interest in it than either you or Will. The only correction I would make to what I wrote last night is, "much as I would like IT TO BE OTHERWISE, the PCUSA constitutional ban against ordaining non-celibate homosexuals is still in place." It was late last night, and I was thinking faster than I could type.
As to the third and fourth points, we can split hairs all you like. Of course Makemie was sent by the PCI. I did say that the PCI has historic influence with the PCUSA! I'm sure we have warm relations with the PCI through our ecumenical officers. However, the Church of Scotland predates the PCI. The Scots Confession is an offical part of the PCUSA constitution. We have no documents from the PCI in the constitution. It may leave a bad taste in some peoples' mouths, but we America Presbies teach that John Knox was the father of Presbyterianism. As to the Genevans' role, we recognize that Presbyterianism is but one expression of the Reformed Tradition as it was established by John Calvin and the church in Geneva. For that reason, we American Presbies also teach that John Calvin was the grandfather of Presbyterianism. I know nothing about Presbyterians in Geneva, but I remember from my history classes that the civil magistrate in Geneva prevented some of Calvin's polity reforms from going into effect. Meanwhile, Knox brought Calvin's polity ideas back with him to Scotland and, presto, modern Presbyterianism took organic form.
Originally, I wasn't "worried" about anything. I just wanted to clear up some inaccuracies, considering the fact that I'm living in the middle of the PCUSA and Will isn't. I didn't mean to step on Irish toes, but there were inaccuracies. Can we shake hands and make up?
When it comes down to it, I still think it was a great article and Will did a good job presenting the different perspectives. To God be the glory.