Thoughts on the 216th GA

By Michael Herrin

Michael Herrin is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Port Gibson, MS. He attended the 216th General Assembly as advocate for Overture 51.

It was a close run thing. No, I know that lots of other things happened at this General Assembly besides “The Issue.” We have a new moderator, Rick Ufford-Chase, who charmed the Assembly with his youth and enthusiasm and who promises to challenge all of us Presbyterians to be more concerned about mission and outreach in the next two years. The Assembly approved a whole raft of policy papers, some of which are genuinely helpful, some of which are downright embarrassing, and few of which will be read by anyone—even by those commissioners who have already voted on them.

The commissioners learned about another decline of 46,000 in our denomination’s membership last year. They also learned that 70% of all the dollars that flow into our denominations’ coffers are restricted to particular purposes. It would be hard to interpret such numbers as providing resounding support for the status quo, at least in the mind and wallet of the average Presbyterian in the pews. Nevertheless, the commissioners to this Assembly expressed their confidence in our leadership by supporting most of the proposals suggested by the Louisville staff and by re-electing Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick to another four-year term.

But everyone knew during those days in Richmond just as everyone knows now that “The Issue” was the most important topic: “What will the Assembly do about ordination standards?” It was a close run thing, but by a four-vote majority, the General Assembly decided not to take any decisive action. Instead, following the lead of last year’s Assembly, the commissioners decided to await the final report from the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church before suggesting any further changes to our ordination standards. The commissioners wisely decided to let the Task Force do its job, trying to find a way out of the seemingly irreconcilable differences in which we Presbyterians find ourselves.

So, what does all this mean for us Presbyterians? It means that the 217th General Assembly, to be held within our Synod’s bounds in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2006, will be terribly meaningful. That Assembly will already be difficult, as commissioners will, for the first time, be burdened with two years’ worth of overtures to wade through. They will again be asked to approve two years’ worth of budgets—budgets that will have to be balanced with probably 80,000 fewer Presbyterians making contributions (if the current levels of decline continue). The number of commissioners will be larger, so the committees will probably be even more unwieldy.

But plopped down into the midst of all this procedural change will be "The Issue" —the question about ordination standards that will not be able to be put off any longer. For the Task Force will issue its final report in 2006, so one way or another, we Presbyterians are going to have to decide what to do about sexuality and ordination. One way or another, the future of our denomination is going to be decided in 2006.

Frankly, that means that it is terribly urgent that the next General Assembly more accurately represent its presbyteries. It simply won’t do for the Assembly to propose more constitutional changes that will be dead on arrival when they are voted on back home. If we as a denomination are to settle this issue and move on with our life together, if we are to break through the gridlock and restore confidence in our constitution, the 217th General Assembly must take actions that a majority of the presbyteries can enthusiastically support.

And, frankly, that means every presbytery should make sure that those commissioners they send to the next General Assembly are going to vote for the sorts of ordination standards that their presbyteries can endorse. If there was ever a time for presbyteries to ask people about their views on important issues before electing them as commissioners, this is it. If there was ever a time for presbyteries to amend or set aside their standing rules and pick their best and their brightest and their most experienced people to represent them, this is it. And so for the next two years, let each of us work within our own presbyteries for renewal. Let us pray for the work of the Task Force. But above all, let us earnestly and honestly pray that God’s will would be done within the people He has called to be Presbyterians. May He bless the PCUSA with repentance, revival and renewal.