Synod Votes to Support GA Moderator and Stated Clerk in
Decision Not to Call Special Meeting of General Assembly

by Jane Hines

To: The Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel
Moderator of the 214th General Assembly
The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

Dear brothers in Christ,

The Synod of Living Waters is saddened by present divisions within our church and particularly by the personal attacks on you and other leaders in our denomination that have resulted. When faithful servants of Jesus Christ who have demonstrated loyalty to the constitution of our church and to the Kingdom of God are personally condemned, we cannot be silent.

We concur in today’s decision not to call a special meeting of the General Assembly to deal with divisive issues. That decision was based on an insufficient number of signatures to the call, but it also appears deficient in not specifying what action the Assembly would be called to take.

We do not know how to solve the issues before us, but we are confident that name-calling is not the proper way. Deeply held convictions that differ have always been a part of the church, and legislation is not the way to solve our differences, nor is it an accurate use of the Book of Order.

We regret that the Presbyterian Lay Committee and a small minority of the church pursues a policy of deliberate divisiveness. The same persons who have invoked provisions of the Book of Discipline have also taken vows to uphold the peace and unity of the church as well as its purity. That system is based on trust, not on enforcement.

We call on all persons in the whole church to abide by our constitution. Where transgression is deemed to have occurred, we urge presbyteries and synods to deal with those instances as the Book of Order prescribes. It is improper to lay these issues before you or the General Assembly.

We call on the whole church to stand with you as you uphold the constitution as it was intended to guide our life together. This guidance enables us to work together for the mission and ministry of Christ even as we differ. Our prayer is that God will use this test to strengthen the church.

Adopted by the Synod of Living Waters meeting January 27, 2003, in Smiths Grove, Kentucky.

(signed) Nolan Waller, Moderator
The Rev. Richard Baldwin, Stated Clerk

CELEBRATING COMMUNION AT SYNOD MEETING: Synod Moderator Kenneth Dick; Kentucky Campus Ministry Coordinator Charles Evans; Elder Martha Haynes, Bowling Green; Western Kentucky Presbytery Executive Rich Cooper.