An Idea to Share: Ending the PCUSA Ordination Wars...

This proposal is submitted with a desire to avert “playing politics” and promote the peace, unity and purity of the church. May ___________________ Presbytery set the standard for gracious ecumenism according the biblical examples of familial and missional separation modeled by Abram and Lot (Gen 13:5-9) and Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:36-41).

In recognition of the following FIVE POINTS, we respectfully ask Pittsburgh Presbytery to approve the concluding “Five Point Guidance for Gracious Association.”  

1. Recognition of WCRC bodies as part of our Presbyterian and Reformed Family

To preserve the Peace, Unity and Purity of the church and avoid further scandal and fighting, we would affirm our present recognition of denominations and other associations within the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) to be a part of the Reformed “family of faith” to which we also belong.

2. Welcoming fellow ministers to serve in the PCUSA where possible.

We demonstrate this unity in this family of faith by advocating admission of Ministers of those WCRC bodies to serve in positions in PCUSA churches, provided they pass examination according to the current procedures for examination of ministers being received into membership in Presbyteries or being permitted to serve in one of our several congregations, and in keeping with relevant polity, presbytery standing rules and/or procedures, and any existing ecumenical agreements.

 3. Permitting Ministers to freely depart to fellow Presbyterian and Reformed bodies

We permit ministers currently serving in PCUSA churches to be affiliated with, transfer membership to, or accept ordination in, any of these bodies as these ministers determine this to be important to their sense of call and exercise of ministry as confirmed by our sister body's acceptance of their call to do so.

4. Permitting free and gracious dismissal of congregations with property.

While we would encourage our congregations to remain in our communion, PC(USA) polity nevertheless permits Presbyteries to dismiss a congregation to any WCRC corresponding denomination, without any stipulation that would deny the departing congregation possession of its properties and holdings, as that congregation may determine is best for their exercise of mission and ministry. God’s Word bids us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit thru the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3), and this crosses all boundaries that we may conceive for ourselves.

5. Urging financial integrity and consideration by departing congregations as an act of grace.

It is not inappropriate to ask departing congregations to fulfill financial pledges made to Presbytery or other organizations of the PC(USA), or to make other voluntary offerings as gifts of love. These cannot be required, given their voluntary nature, but shall be asked in the spirit of integrity and good faith participation in the Presbyterian and Reformed family of faith.

In light of these five points of ecumenism and grace, we ask Pittsburgh Presbytery to approve the following resolution:

Five Point Guidance for Gracious Association

__________ Presbytery, in the interest of preserving the Peace, Unity and Purity of the church, and to avoid legalistic and divisive battles over property, and to avoid scandal to the gospel from factions and quarreling within or among denominations and organizations in the Presbyterian family, adopts the following guidance for gracious association. This plan is to both fulfill the requirement for a “dismissal policy” as well as, more broadly, be a truly gracious step in the direction of greater Presbyterian and Reformed unity, and to provide definitive guidance for any and all discussions and processes for dismissal or reception of congregations seeking denominational realignment. 

• 1. ___________ Presbytery will continue to acknowledge and recognize those denominations and other associations within the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) (hereafter referred to as “bodies”) to be a part of the Presbyterian and Reformed family of faith to which we also belong.
  2. Desiring to demonstrate this unity in the family of faith, we will receive congregations from other WCRC bodies, and continue to admit Ministers of those bodies to serve in positions in the churches of this presbytery, provided they pass examination according to current procedures for examination of ministers being received into membership in Presbytery or being permitted to serve in one of our several congregations, and in keeping with relevant polity, presbytery standing rules and/or procedures, and any existing ecumenical agreements.
  3. We will continue to permit ministers currently serving in churches of this presbytery to be affiliated with any of these bodies, or transfer membership to, or accept ordination in any of these bodies as they determine this to be important to their sense of call and their exercise of ministry as confirmed by our sister body's acceptance of their call to do so.
  4. We will permit any congregation to be dismissed to any of these bodies as they determine best for their exercise of mission and ministry, and do so without claim on their property or holdings.
  5. Desiring to maintain healthy ecumenical friendships within the World Communion of Reformed Churches, we ask departing congregations to examine the nature and amount of loans made by, or trust funds established for, Presbytery or other organizations of the PC(USA), as well as pledges made, and encourage them to satisfy the loans as required by law, fulfill the pledges to the extent of their ability in either a single sum or a series of gifts over time, and to consider a “gift of love” as testimony to our continuing good toward one another in Christ. Both the pledge and the gift are not requirements but are asked in the spirit of integrity and good faith participation in the Presbyterian and Reformed family of faith.

So, let it be resolved this day,