Posted on 08/21/2006 6:41:11 AM PDT by polymuser
In three lawsuit cases involving churches divided over pastoral leadership, the county court upheld the PC(USA) constitutional provision that all property is held in trust for the denomination. Furthermore, the factions seeking to leave the denomination must follow the directions of the presbytery with regard to the control and ownership of church property.
The churches involved were Korean Hope Christian Church, Serone Church and Bethany United Presbyterian Church. The court also ruled in favor of the denomination in a lawsuit against First Presbyterian Church of Torrance, but the decision has yet to be adjudicated.
Each of the four cases reflected "the far greater strain" of "congregations in schism" as Synod of Southern California and Hawaii Stated Clerk Margy Wentz said, according to the Presbyterian News Service.
While the 217th General Assembly maintained current ordination standards for church officers, the majority vote gave greater leeway to candidates for ordination. In turn, frustrated Presbyterians fearing the ordination of sexually active homosexuals formally constituted a new body called New Wineskins Association of Churches at a convocation in July. The body currently consists of 128 PC(USA) congregations seeking to leave the denomination.
In the next six months before the association's 2007 winter convocation in February, New Wineskins is engaging in a "season of prayer and discernment" for congregations and presbyteries to determine whether the covenant that binds PC(USA) member bodies has been breached.
The latest GA approval of an "authoritative interpretation" of the church's Constitution allows a candidate for ordination to state a conscientious objection to a part of the ordination standards. The approval or rejection of the exception is determined by presbyteries and sessions. Critics of the interpretation say that it will allow more liberal bodies to ordain homosexuals.
During the New Wineskins' six-month period, the congregations are called on to inform their church members of the "current constitutional and confessional crisis which necessitates the creation of a new wineskin," take steps to "see that the property of the congregation is protected so that it may serve Jesus Christ and His Great Commission as discerned by the congregation," and recommend that "sessions redirect or designate all General Assembly per capita and mission giving to intentionally support ministries which reflect our faith and missional priorities."
About a half-dozen churches have voted to leave the denomination after the latest GA action, and the Mississippi and San Diego presbyteries have said they will reassess their relationship with the PC(USA), according to the Presbyterian News Service. And most of the churches splitting from the denomination are seeking to take their property with them.
However, in a recent "advisory opinion," General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated, "The constitutional provisions under which congregations hold property for the benefit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) arise out of and reflect our theological conviction that this denomination constitutes one indivisible body, which itself is part of the body of Christ."
New Wineskins co-moderator the Rev. Dean Weaver has sent a letter addressed to Kirkpatrick, Moderator the Rev. Joan Gray and all synods and presbytery executives, in which he reflected the vote of the New Wineskins’ recent approval for a "moratorium on taking disciplinary action against ordained officers or governing bodies engaged in ... discernment discussions regarding the issues of theology and polity which confront our denomination..."
"This is a difficult time that calls for grace and mutual forbearance," said Weaver in the letter.
According to the Presbyterian News Service, Kirkpatrick was on travel and has yet to see Weaver's letter.
ping
Am I correct in my assumption that this means that PC(USA) will now be the owner of many more (now) empty, unused buildings?
25-9. All particular churches shall be entitled to hold, own and enjoy their own local properties, without any right of reversion whatsoever to any Presbytery, General Assembly or any other courts hereafter created, trustees or other officers of such courts.25-10. The provisions of this BCO 25 are to be construed as a solemn covenant whereby the Church as a whole promises never to attempt to secure possession of the property of any congregation against its will, whether or not such congregation remains within or chooses to withdraw from this body. All officers and courts of the Church are hereby prohibited from making any such attempt.
Book of Church Order, Presbyterian Church in America
A (rainbow) proud owner!
Can you guess which denomination is a member of NCC and which isn't?
PCA Unabashed Free Plug
That sure sounds more loving, and, IMO, expresses their faith in their faith.
Ya beat me to it!
FWIW, to those who are not familiar with our church government, the local bodies of the PCA are very suspicious of the home office in Atlanta. (But then, our country would be better off if the States had the same suspicions of the Federal government)
Can you blame them??? Perhaps they should take the Baptists approach and leave the property in the hands of the congregation.
***leave the property in the hands of the congregation***
Umm, we did, because we are very suspicious of the home office in Atlanta.
Sawright. We, the PCA learned our lesson on trusting the home office when we left the PC(USA) back in '73.
Well, there's one notable difference between PCA and PC(USA).
PCA learned from OPC's experience? From here on out, I expect you'll see a lot of clauses like this.
I'll plug the Evengelical Presbyterian Church, too. None of the nonesense you see in PC, USA. They give the rest of us a bad name.
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