GA summary

The GA junkie has a one-page PDF summary of GA activities. However it is still a little confusing on the $2m defense fund. This is only a donor funded account.

PCUSA GAC letter: Interpreting the actions of the 218th General Assembly

Dallas Morning News: Presbyterian News Service: Jerry L. Van Marter

New Wineskins: statement

Here is my micro-summary:

• Moderator: The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, a young (39) contemporary church pastor from San Francisco.
• Stated Clerk: Rev. Gradye Parsons, currently the primary Associate Stated Clerk
• FOG: (Form of Government Revision) the Task Force will continue another two years
• Ordination Standards and Same-sex unions:
• proposed amendment to the constitution that would remove the “fidelity and chastity” language *
• removed all Authoritative Interpretations (AI) on the subject
• a new AI on allowing scruples exceptions for behavior
• Chose to keep the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman
• Confessions:
• Recommend making changes to five questions in the Heidelberg Catechism *
• Recommend including 1986 Belhar Confession *
• Departures from the PC(USA):
• Loses for 2006: 57,572 (2.5%) members
• Start investigation of the EPC is actively recruiting churches away
• Legal defense fund to help presbyteries
• Encourages presbyteries to handle a church's request for transfer pastorally and with graciousness.
• Misc:
• per capita was raised $0.36 to $6.15
• Disapproved of per capita reform overtures.
• Disapproved of divestment because of involvement in the Israel/Palestine conflict
• Approved the Social Creed for the 21st Century
• advocate for single-payer health care.
• General Assembly Council -> General Assembly Mission Council
• Youth Advisory Delegates -> Young Adult Advisory Delegates

* Must be approved by 75% Presbyteries.

One by One

Just to prove I am not too old to learn something new (I just had a birthday: 54) I found a website
(One by One)
that is a refreshing change from all of the GA garbage that is in the news this week.

"OneByOne's mission is to educate and equip the church to minister the transforming grace and power of Jesus Christ to those in conflict with their sexuality. "

EPC/New Wineskins has a Website

This is an example of a good modern website:EPC/NW

Hillsdale PC freed from Heartland, joins EPC

From KC Community News: Hillsdale congregation joins EPC and maintains building

Presbyterian church pays PC(USA) $90,000 for ownership of structure.

The Rev. Leslie King said the $90,000 was a far cry from the more than $400,000 that the building was appraised for by an independent appraiser hired by the commission as well as a county appraiser. She also said it was not the commission’s desire to make it so the Hillsdale congregation was unable to do ministry. But she also emphasized that it was important to the administrative commission that the Hillsdale congregation recognize that they were receiving gifts of generations from the PC (USA).

After discussing their options, the Hillsdale congregation decided to accept the offer, and Johnston said a loan was taken out to pay the PC (USA), which will be on top of the original loan that was used to purchase the building.

From Hillsdale Church website: Free at Last, Free at Last! Hillsdale Presbyterian Church is free at last from the PC(USA), and have joined the growing number of churches with the EPC. The sun is coming up and it looks to be a greeeeat future ahead in doing the Lord's work. Come join us. Thank You Jesus, Amen

Editorial: It's all about the money, is the way that I interpret Rev. King's statement. or as the gamers say: "All your churches belong to Us"

Heartland Presbytery:

• Minutes from April 12, 2008
• Summary Minutes

Peters Creek UPC vs Washington Presbytery

Post Gazette Story: Court says Presbyterians who left church can sue

A Washington County court has ruled that members of a Peters church who left the Presbyterian Church (USA) for a more theologically conservative denomination can sue Washington Presbytery to keep the congregation's property.

In November, members and leaders of Peters Creek United Presbyterian Church voted 207-26 to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) and join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. They filed suit to keep the property. Washington Presbytery, the local governing body for the Presbyterian Church (USA), argued that the denomination's constitution gives control of church property to the presbytery, and that a civil court did not have the authority to interpret or overrule church law.

In a separate decision, Judge Paul Pozonsky did not permit a minority from the congregation who wanted to stay in the Presbyterian Church (USA) to become a party to the lawsuit. He ruled that the minority, which the presbytery has declared the "true church" at Peters Creek, was already adequately represented by both Washington Presbytery and the current leadership of the congregation.

Presbyterian membership loss worst in decades

Louisville - Courier Journal story The denomination lost 57,572 members in 2007 and now has 2,209,546 members, a drop of 2.5 percent over 2006.

Layman Online - Website is upgrading!

Layman Online is upgrading their website!

San Francisco Chronicle Views of PCUSA

UPDATED: The author has agreed to update the story.

San Francisco Chronicle story on Sunday, June 15, 2008: Bay Area churches opened door to same-sex vows by Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Religion Writer, has a table comparing Gay Rights and Different denominations. They either have a typo or mis-understanding of PCUSA. They have a check in the box for "Ordain partnered gay clergy". WRONG! They should have checked "Celibacy required for gays, lesbians" [to be ordained] according to this ruling (Top court prohibits scrupling fidelity-chastity standard) by the GA-PJC

General Assembly Blogging

"Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with your God" is the theme for the upcoming 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

If you will be blogging from GA, I would like to add you to the list of links below, no matter what side your viewpoint is:

• PC(USA) page on GA 218
• PC(USA) Official Electronic Site
• Presbyterians For Renewal - GA 2008
• Committee On Local Arrangements
• Layman Online
• GA Junkie
• The IRD (new)

Commissioners:

• Presbytery Outlook: Adam Walker Cleaveland
• Kruse Kronicle
• Mark Smith
• National Capital Presbytery Commissioners
• Grace Presbytery Commissioners

TWO More Churches Disaffiliate! UPDATED

FPC of Roseville, CA 299-1

Fair Oaks PC, CA 741-10

Presbytery of Sacramento: Sierra Mission Partnership

Reformed Pastor Blog: Big CA Churches Go to EPC

FPC of Roseville website

On Sunday afternoon, June 8th at a congregational meeting, the members of FPC voted to disaffiliate from the PC(USA) and to immediately affiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). After waiting, working and praying for this over the past 8 months we have finally become an EPC church!

While there are some remaining pastoral issues to be clarified, the transition was very smooth and rather seamless. The EPC welcomed the church that afternoon and Pastor Jim and Pastor Nancy were received as ordained ministers in the EPC at the same time.

We look forward to working with the New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery and within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church family. Thank you all for your work, prayers, patience and faithfulness.

Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church website:

Sunday, June 8, 2008, marked the beginning of an important, new era of ministry and vision for Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church. At a special called meeting of the congregation, members of FOPC voted to disaffiliate with the PC(USA). 751 official ballots were cast: 741 in favor of the motion, 10 against. The church was received shortly thereafter into the fellowship of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).

The action means that FOPC has expressly ended its voluntary affiliation with the PC(USA) and renounced all jurisdiction of that denomination.

The move comes after many months of leadership by the Fair Oaks Session, including a series of educational meetings and a lengthy period of discernment by the congregation. It also comes after a lengthy period during which Fair Oaks attempted to work in good faith and within appropriate denominational guidelines: In an historic vote on October 14, 2007, the FOPC church family voted overwhelmingly to request that the Sacramento Presbytery dismiss it, with property, to the EPC. Negotiating teams from both FOPC and the Presbytery began work and presented terms of agreement to the Presbytery on December 4. The Presbytery voted overwhelmingly to accept the terms, which included a sizeable ministry gift to the Presbytery, leading the way for Fair Oaks' departure on January 1.

However, before the dismissal took place, and in actions similar to those across the national denomination, the Synod of the Pacific moved to stay the Presbytery’s vote and has yet to officially rule on the matter. Meanwhile, the Synod later blocked another vote by the Presbytery not to pursue appeals in the civil proceedings. Additionally, the Synod ordered the Presbytery to file “timely appeals” in the cases. In April and May, 2008, both Roseville and FOPC won rulings in California Superior Court declaring that the churches, not the Presbytery, own their real property.

As FOPC begins to write a new chapter in its long history of Kingdom ministry, we ask for your prayers for our friends in the Sacramento Presbytery and her member churches as they seek to continue their work in the PC(USA). We also ask for prayers for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and our new family of churches as we move forward to labor together for the cause of Christ.

UPDATED: Just When I Thought I Knew How Low PCUSA Could Stoop!

UPDATE 1: June 8, 2008: Disaffiliate Vote:150-6-6

Layman Online is covering an attempt by Presbytery of South Louisiana to get a TRO against Woodland PC (size:289) in New Orleans to hold a session called congregational meeting to consider whether to disassociate from PCUSA.

Layman Story 1: Judge denies presbytery's attempt for TRO

Layman Story 2: New Orleans church disaffiliates from PCUSA

Reformed Pastor Blog: Nice Try, People

Classical Presbyterian Blog: What Wondrous Love is This? A Micah Three tactic is thwarted in secular court.

The Path of Redemption Blog: Christ or the PCUSA? One of Jesus’ Dudes Stands up for the Gospel

• May 21, 2007: Woodland files court case to have Church declared property owners
• Oct 2007: Presbytery approved stipulated final judgments in the cases that declared each church the owner of its property
• April 27, 2008: Synod of the Sun forms AC over Presbytery Property Matters!
• June 2, 2008: Meeting of Administrative Commission of the Synod of the Sun.
• June 3, 2008: Presbytery Meeting.
• June 5, 2008: Presbytery's executive issues warning not to meet.
• June 6, 2008: Presbytery files court request for TRO, Prelim. Injunction, and Permanent Injunction
• June 8, 2008: Congregational Meeting @ Woodland Vote:150-6-6
• June 10, 2008: Co-Pastor, Dr. 'Scott' Luckey's birthday
• June 16, 2008: Court Hearing.

I Will Make It Legal! (Emperor Whitewater Valley)

Emperor Whitewater Valley has voted to implement two Administrative Committees with powers only a Dictator could love.

To make matters worse, they misused the procedures to stifle debate, in a way that warms Satan's Heart.

• Reformed Pastor's Blog: Whitewater Valley Draws the Knife
• Layman Online: Powerful administrative commissions could remove sessions, pastors of churches rethinking PCUSA ties

Summary Quote from Reformed Pastor:

Welcome to the new PCUSA, where considering leaving is thought-crime, and will be dealt with summarily.

Presbyterian Lay Committee Steps Up to The Plate!

Layman Online is reporting that the Presbyterian Lay Committee has filed an amicus brief (Friend of the Court) to set the facts straight on PC(USA).

Or to match the analogy that I have been using: The Return of The Jedi! part 2

classical Presbyterian Blog: The PLC Enters the Fray

College Corner Votes to request Dismissal/Disaffiliation

The Return of the Jedi

From the Layman Online:

• Ohio church votes to request dismissal from PCUSA despite threat of powerful administrative commission
• Vote to request dismissal 2 years in the making

• Vote to request dismissal 82-17
• Vote to authorized disaffiliation if presbytery refuses dismissal.

The Jedi/Empire analogy if very fitting. The Empire tries to rule with force, the Jedi try to follow the law and are for peacefully negotiations.

The Empire Strikes First!

Layman Online is reporting on Whitewater Valley Presbytery (64 Churches/20,000 members) vote scheduled for June 4 on a recommendation for two Administrative Commissions. The recommendations sound overpowering, possessive and threatening! This report makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up! From the recommendations:

• "The COM sincerely hopes that no other churches will seek separation."
• If a session, pastor or congregation "moves toward expressing a desire” to leave, the AC can immediately hire a lawyer and start separating the sheep from the goats.

Damn the Book of Order! - Full Speed Ahead!

• First United Presbyterian Church (aka College Corner Presbyterian Church) 133 (2006) in College Corner, Ohio Lawsuit and TRO against the presbytery.
• Wallace Street Presbyterian Church(160) in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Reformed Pastor has a very thorough and in-depth analysis. Because We Can

Lincoln Trails Synod