by Pastor Dan Baumgartner

I regularly invite our staff to read books or magazine articles on a myriad of topics, and then we discuss them at staff meetings. One on the list for August is an article from the Atlantic Monthly called “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” In it Nicholas Carr explores his perception that the “sound bite” mentality created by our voracious use of the Web is making it increasingly difficult for even good readers to sustain concentration through books or longer articles. So, be warned: this column will be longer than normal, and require some focus. I’m writing it because I think you need to know.

The subject is the Presbyterian denomination (PCUSA) to which Bethany belongs. Approximately every two years I write an update after the meeting we call “General Assembly (GA)” which is a national gathering of elected pastors and elders who participate in decision-making. It’s usually the GA votes or proposals that end up in the newspapers, almost always inaccurately reported. This year there has been surprisingly little national coverage of the GA which took place in San Jose at the end of June, particularly in light of some major developments that occurred there. The main topic was of course sexuality, particularly as it impacts ordination standards in our denomination.

Some background first . Nearly every major denomination in the country is fighting, often bitterly, over the interpretation of scripture concerning sexual practice. The major question is essentially “Is homosexual behavior a gift to be celebrated, or part of our sin and brokenness that needs forgiveness and healing?” Our denomination has wrangled over this question relentlessly since at least the late 1970’s. Through judicial rulings called “Authoritative Interpretations” (think: the Supreme Court interpreting the Constitution) the PCUSA took the position that practicing a gay lifestyle was unbiblical and unacceptable for leaders in the church. Through the 1980’s the debate continued as “ecclesiastical court” cases were pushed forward, but with similar results. In 1993 all presbyteries (i.e. 70 Puget Sound area churches make up the Seattle Presbytery) were asked to engage in a three year study of the issue. At the end of that time, the GA voted in 1996 to send to the presbyteries around the country a proposal to add very specific language into the Book of Order, which called for ordained leaders (deacons, elders and pastors) to “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.” This standard applied to heterosexual as well as homosexual people. “Amendment B” was then approved by the presbyteries, and you can find it in G-60106b in the Book of Order.

Over the next years several attempts were made to remove this standard, but were defeated repeatedly. In sweeping stereotype, up to this point the evangelical and more theologically conservative churches were controlling the votes. In 2001 GA formed a Task Force to spend four years on the topic and return with recommendations. The “PUP” (Peace, Unity and Purity) Report was given to the 2006 GA and approved. Among other things, it essentially allowed individual presbyteries to make local decisions regarding ordination standards, a strategy some call “local option.” It was an unusual move for a denomination that prides itself on unity and connectionalism. A judicial case ruling shortly thereafter disallowed local option, saying that local governing bodies could not act against the standards of the Book of Order.

Last month , in a radical turn of events, most of the history I just outlined was turned on its head. That is, the more liberal part of the church controlled the vote. GA did the following:

• Removed all of the existing Authoritative Interpretations which have clarified this issue over the last 30 years. Effective immediately.
• Issued a new Authoritative Interpretation which essentially reinstates “local option.” That is, local bodies decide whether someone coming for ordination who does not abide by the standards, including G-60106b, should be prohibited from proceeding or not. Effective immediately.
• Surprisingly defeated another proposal that would have removed from the “Worship” section of the Book of Order the description of marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman.
• Voted to appoint a committee to study potentially changing the Heidelberg Catechism in the Book of Confessions (written 1563). The issue they are pursuing is removing the term from I Corinthians translated “homosexual perversion.”
• Approved an amendment that would strike G-60106b from the Book of Order and replace it with more inclusive language that does not specify anything about sexuality. This will go to presbyteries for vote over the next year.

For the time being this puts the PCUSA in the very interesting position of having specific standards for leadership in our constitution, but not requiring that anyone live by them.

Okay. So what happens now? It’s very hard to say. Presbyteries will engage in yet another round of arguments and contested voting on “e” above. Around the country, a great deal of animated conversation is now taking place. Churches and pastors with broadly evangelical theologies are quite upset. The reversal of years of consistent ordination standards feels to some like the proverbial “last straw.” Some evangelical churches and pastors left the denomination in 2006, and I expect many more to do so in the next 1-2 years. Some will move to other denominations, like the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. This will precipitate all sorts of secular court cases and lawsuits, since church buildings theoretically belong to the Presbytery, not the individual churches.

Interestingly, GA passed a statement calling for the PCUSA to deal graciously with churches wanting to leave the denomination. But they also started an account to provide funds for engaging in lawsuits with departing churches. There is also talk of forming “non-geographic” presbyteries, similar to Episcopal Church strategies in recent years. And, GA will meet again in 2010. Everything I’ve just discussed could be changed again.

How do I feel personally about all this? Sad. It is my opinion that the turmoil in the PCUSA over these last years will be nothing compared to what happens in the next few. I’m sad that this one single issue continues to sap so much time and energy from a denomination that has been in sharp decline for many years. And I’m sad that, in my opinion, our denomination is taking steps influenced more by the values of our culture than a prayerful understanding of scripture.

What about at Bethany? Nothing changes. I have brought our elders on Session up to speed on these developments, and we will continue to talk about them this fall. Our Bethany Holiness & Leadership Statement remains in effect (you can read it in the church Library or on the Website by going to Sermons, then Teachings, then Leadership). I am very comfortable with that Statement, which sets a scriptural framework for leadership standards including, but going far beyond, sexual behavior. Our Statement fits well with G-60106b I mentioned above, which remains the criteria in the Book of Order. We will continue to try to live into our Statement of Purpose: We believe God intends for our worshipping community to be grounded in God’s love, centered on Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to be a blessing to our world, our city and one another.

Well, I warned you at the beginning that this would be long. It’s not my favorite topic. But you need to know.