Cheri and I attended the recent Gathering in Minneapolis of Presbyterian churches concerned about the change in standards of ordination for pastors, elders, and deacons. Several at Grace have been likewise concerned, and so we went in order that we could see for ourselves and report to you first-hand.
We were pleasantly surprised by the tone of the meeting. The leaders were not interested in being angry or in name-calling. They were most forthcoming about their plans, and they had options for all congregations to consider. Here are three.
The first option is, “Most congregations will want to stay with the denomination, and that’s fine. You still have the right to determine whom you ordain as elders and deacons, as well as whom you call as a pastor. So long as your presbytery doesn’t hinder your ministry, why leave?” This is what I’ve been saying all along. There are individuals at Grace who might choose to leave the congregation and denomination, and we’ll miss them, but I know no one who would want Grace to leave.
A second option, which will be taken by a number of churches if it is approved by the General Assembly next summer, is this: a congregation will become a member of two denominations. One will be the PCUSA, as is the case now, but the other will be a New Reformed Denomination yet to be formed. Actually, it is on the drawing board. This way a congregation can say that its beliefs conform to the New Denomination (Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith), while it still supports and engages in certain mission work with the PCUSA.
A third option, but only for those churches who are on the outs with the PCUSA, is to leave the denomination now, which likely would involve going to secular court with the presbytery as to whom owns the building. This process-of-last-resort can be drawn out and costly. Most PCUSA congregations that have left thus far have joined a denomination called the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. -DJ
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