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Q1. Why has the Session of First Presbyterian Church, Fort Collins entered into this denominational discernment process?
A1. Like most “mainline” denominations, the understanding of theology guiding PC(USA) leaders has continually “broadened”. Over decades, many leaders in our denomination, by exercising their freedom of conscience, have continually expanded the understanding of Scripture and its Authority, the Person and work of Jesus Christ, and the mission of the church, As the contradicting theologies have grown, division has also grown within the denomination and the “core” theology, which gives unity within the church, has diminished, leaving what is being called a “theological gap”.
The consequences of this gap have, with increasing frequency, produced actions and decisions that the Session believes are inconsistent with being faithful to Scripture and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This inconsistency has produced distrust among fellow Christians inside the denomination, and distrust of our witness in a morally confused world. These actions have also created conflict in the consciences of many of our members.
When we think in terms of the denomination we desire for the future of our children and grandchildren, the consequences of the “theological gap” are sobering, and include:
- At the high point in its history (approximately 45 years ago), the denomination had 4,500,000 members. Today, the denomination has less than 2,000,000 members and the rate of decline in membership is accelerating.
- The PC(USA) is experiencing a dramatic loss of young adults who are the life and vitality of the denomination in the future.
- Infant baptisms are down, and even fewer adult baptisms.
- More than half of PC(USA) congregations have less than 100 members.
- General Assembly agencies, Synods, and Presbyteries, designed to support the mission of local congregations are experiencing significant loss of staff because of budget cuts.
For these reasons, the Session, being responsible for the mission of the church and its “spiritual health and vitality” has entered into this period of discernment for the best “fit” regarding our denominational affiliation, given our intent to continue to follow historical theological and biblical faithfulness. |
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Q2. Will there be other opportunities for congregational members to speak before others of the membership and with the task force on this subject beyond the Congregational Forums?
A2. The congregational forums conducted in March, 2012 are for the purpose of informing our congregation on why the Session has begun a denominational discernment process and the plan for the discernment team going forward, and to listen to initial concerns and questions from those in attendance. Presently, the Task Force is considering four options regarding our denominational alignment:
- Maintain the “Status Quo” regarding our relationship with the PC(USA)
- Remain in the PC(USA), but Differentiate through the Fellowship of Presbyterians
- Become a “Union” / “Joint Congregational Witness” Congregation
- Seek Dismissal to Another Reformed Body (Denomination)
Our Session has authority under the PC(USA) Book of Order to decide our future course within Options 1 and 2. In these options, the church remains fully within the PC(USA).
Options 3 and 4 involve some degree of departure from the PC(USA). Should our Session choose to pursue either of these options, we will enter a new period of discernment in partnership with the PC(USA) Presbytery of Plains and Peaks
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Q3. Why will the congregation not vote on each of the options?
A3. Within the governance structure of a local PC(USA) congregation, the Session is responsible for decisions regarding the theological direction and spiritual welfare of the congregation. Decisions that involve electing church officers, extending or changing terms of pastoral calls, buying, selling, or mortgaging property, or seeking departure from the PC(USA) are made by vote of the congregation. Of the discernment options being considered, only Options 3 and 4 involve another denomination. The congregation will be involved in voting on the adoption of either of these options. |
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Q4. Does Option 1 not allow members of local churches to have an opportunity to try and persuade the PC(USA) General Assembly their decisions are a mistake?
A4. Certainly, Option 1, and 2 would give our church a stronger voice to try and persuade the Presbytery and General Assembly. It is important to understand that our church has been very active at both the Presbytery and General Assembly levels, as well as in many denominational renewal activities over the past twenty years. We are members of the Presbyterian Coalition and Presbyterians for Renewal, and have developed very close relationships with a number of other churches within our Presbytery in an effort to build greater influence in the PC(USA). We, along with many other churches who hold to orthodox theology, have worked hard and strategically within the PC(USA) with decreasing influence to change the direction of the denomination. As the “theological gap” within the PC(USA) continues to widen, churches of similar theological persuasion to us have departed the denomination, continuing to weaken our voice in future General Assemblies, making it even more difficult to influence the direction of the PC(USA).
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Q5. Is it possible to stay in the PC(USA) if there are some things we don’t agree with and can we abstain or refuse to follow the new rulings?
A5. Our Session does have the ability to establish “local standards” in some areas. For example, our Session is guided by locally adopted “Behavioral Standards for Christian Leaders”. However, in some areas those standards are not considered “constitutional” by some within the Denomination, leaving us uncertain as to the possibility of disciplinary action or litigation against us.
With respect to the requirement to pay “dues” for the PC(USA) Board of Pensions health insurance for pastors and included staff members, it is not possible to withhold the portion of the dues that pays for abortion and health insurance for the same-gender partners of church employees. |
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Q6. With Option 4 many churches are leaving with a vote of 90% agreement. Would Session discuss changing this to less, maybe 75%?
A6. Under Option 4, the vote threshold required in each church is determined by the Presbytery, guided by its “Disaffected Churches” or “Dismissal” policy.
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Q7. Why now? What is the one issue that is pushing us now? Is this one issue or long term disagreements with the General Assembly?
A7. For years, our church has been very active at the Presbytery and General Assembly levels of the church, working for the “renewal” of the denomination in an effort to return it to its prominence within the mainstream of the worldwide Church. Actions of the 2010 General Assembly and the majority vote of the Presbyteries in the past year have caused many churches throughout the country to begin to discern their future in the PC(USA). Those actions are:
- A change in ordination standards that is clearly contradictory to Biblical sexual ethics.
- The likelihood that the church’s definition of “marriage” will change from being between a “man and a woman” to being between “two people”, contrary to God’s design for creation and marriage as outlined in Scripture, and
- The inclusion of coverage for same-gender, domestic, partners of church employees in PC(USA) employee benefit plans, beginning on January 1, 2013. This expansion of coverage is funded by revenues from the offering plates of all churches participating in the Board of Pensions employee benefit plans, including our own.
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Q8. Should we ask PC(USA) to explain their rationale for the decisions they have made?
A8. Every major action, including those in Q7. above, begins with a request, with rationale, by a local Session, a Presbytery, or an established area of ministry within the PC(USA). The rationale of each action is extensively debated in the General Assembly and in each of 174 Presbyteries, before votes are taken and the actions adopted. Sessions are aware well in advance of any action and rationale to be considered by the General Assembly or Presbytery.
It is possible to obtain the rationale for each decision from PC(USA) archives.
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Q9. How will employee benefit coverage (pension and health care) be handled for each of the four options?
Q9. All of our Pastor’s pensions in the PCUSA Board of Pensions are “vested”; therefore, they will not lose the retirement income in their accounts under any of the discernment options being considered.
Under Option 1 and 2, employee benefits coverage for all pastors would continue in the PC(USA) Board of Pensions, unless redirected by Session. Under Option 3, Session could continue to purchase pension and health care for all pastors in the PC(USA) Board of Pensions, the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians employee benefit plans, or another provider. Under Option #4, the employee benefits coverage would be purchased under the employee benefit plans of the denomination with which our church would affiliate, or another provider, as directed by Session. |
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Q10. How are other churches in our Presbytery dealing with these issues?
A10. To the best of our knowledge, churches in the Presbytery that are at some level of dealing with these issues represent more than 50% of PC(USA) members in the Presbytery. Most are still in discussion or at early stages of discernment. Two years ago, First Presbyterian Church of Greeley left the PC(USA) after a discernment period. Currently there are no other churches that have completed a discernment process. |
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Q11. If we leave the PC(USA) will the church property be ours or the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks'?
A11. Local church property is held in trust by the Presbytery. Although there are exceptions, as more and more churches are leaving the PC(USA), the presbyteries are dealing with congregations more graciously than in years past in an effort to bring honor to Christ, rather than have property fights. Because our church has worked to maintain good relationships in our presbytery, it is reasonable to anticipate, should our discernment ultimately lead us to Option 4, that we would keep our property through gracious negotiation of a financial settlement to enable the Presbytery to have resources for its future work. There is an established precedent in the Presbytery when First Presbyterian Church of Greeley left the denomination two years ago with a negotiated financial settlement to keep its property. |
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Q12. What exactly are the changes in the Book of Order regarding the change in ordination standards?
A12. Previous standard: G-6.0106b:
“Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.”
New standard: G-2.0104:
“Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”
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Q13. Is there an opportunity for local church option while remaining in the PC(USA)?
A13. “Local option” is best realized within denominations that are “Congregationalist” in nature. Such denominations allow a high level of local autonomy to local congregations. Presbyterians are in “Connectional” denominations, wherein there is a high level of equipping, encouraging and holding local churches accountable to each other, with less local autonomy. |
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Q14. Could Option 2 leave the church and its officers open to disciplinary action by Presbytery or the General Assembly, based on fully following the mandates in the Book of Order (Rules of Discipline)
A14. Without change, this remains a possible outcome of Option 2. However, there appears to be growing interest within the PC(USA) to make the necessary changes in the Book of Order to allow Option 2 to work. Among the required changes to the Book of Order would be to allow the formation of Presbyteries based on similar missional and theology concerns, rather than geography as currently required. This would allow Fellowship of Presbyterians churches within the PC(USA) to move to a new “non-geographic” or “affinity” presbytery. As the Denominational Discernment Task Force moves forward, it will be watching actions taken in the 2012 General Assembly in support of this idea. |
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Q15. If Option 2 or 3 is chosen, is financial support of PC(USA) required?
A15. Yes. Under Option 2, financial support for the PC(USA) and the Presbytery would be based on the established per capita assessment agreed upon by the Session.
Under Option 3, financial support for the PC(USA) and the Presbytery would be based on the established per capita assessment agreed upon by Session applied to a number representing 50% of our church membership. Support for the Evangelical Covenant Order or Presbyterians (ECO) would be based on a 1% “tithe” on 50% of our annual church budget. |
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Q16. In Options 1, 2, and 3 are we still responsible to Presbytery?
A16. Yes, however the presbyteries may be different depending on the option. As indicated in Q14. the PC(USA) General Assembly may be considering the creation of presbyteries based on similar theology and missional interests, rather than by geography as is currently required. Should they succeed in doing so, under Options 2 and 3, our presbytery alignment would likely change from the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks to a new presbytery formed by churches with similar theological and missional agreement. |
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Q17. If the Fellowship of Presbyterians uses the current Book of Order (as in Option 2) how does that solve the ordination issue?
A17. The Fellowship of Presbyterians has been working with leaders of the PC(USA) for over a year to allow churches to remain within the PC(USA), yet differentiate themselves by joining together around a common theological “core”, which each church in the Fellowship must affirm and follow. That “core” is defined by the Essential Tenets of The Fellowship of Presbyterians.
The entire statement of Essential Tenets applies to issues of ordination. The issue regarding “fidelity and chastity” is captured on page 8, item 7: “maintain chastity in thought and deed, being faithful within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman as established by God at the creation or embracing a celibate life as established by Jesus in the new covenant;”
The primary point of fellowship for FOP churches in the PC(USA) likely will be the new “non-geographic” presbyteries (See Q14.) expected to be considered by the General Assembly in July 2012. Should the new type presbytery be approved, and since any disciplinary action against a church must reside in a presbytery, the risk of compromising “fidelity and chastity” in the ordination standards becomes minimal. |
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Q18. In Option 4, what other reformed bodies are there?
A18. Should a PC(USA) congregation seek “dismissal’ from the denomination, it must be ‘dismissed’ to another “reformed body”, which must be a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). The list of recognized denominations is lengthy, but includes: The Evangelical Presbyterian Church and The Reformed Church in America. ECO will officially become a denomination in April 2012. They have applied for membership in the WCRC. |
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Q19. Why not an option to become nondenominational?
A19. This option was not included in the mandate given to the Denominational Discernment Task Force by Session. Session will become aware of your question and determine whether they want to also include this option.
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Q20. Did First Presbyterian vote to stay in the PC(USA)?
A20. The PC(USA) (and its predecessors) has been the historical denomination of our church. Accordingly, there has not been a vote to stay. |
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Q21. Am I correct in assuming that the Fellowship of Presbyterians will attempt to remain faithful to standards we have followed in the past? (In other words, it will require little change in theological positions to what we have been following)?
A21. You are correct. Churches participating in the Fellowship of Presbyterians will affirm their Essential Tenets. These are a fair representation of the guiding core theology we have been experiencing in our church for the past couple of decades. You may see these at this link. |
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