Overture 04-61. Concerning Adherence to the Church’s Confessional Statements—From the Presbytery of the Peaks.

The Presbytery of the Peaks overtures the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the PC(USA) to do the following:

1. Examine the matters that come before it in accord with the explicit and inferential declarations of the church’s confessional statements, and reject proposals found to be in conflict.

2. Reaffirm the commitment of General Assembly delegates to the historic confessions of the church.

3. Emphasize the historic confessions of the church in discussion or debate of issues facing the General Assembly, and to reject those proposals found to be in conflict with the confessions.

4. Facilitate study and discussion of The Book of Confessions, with the aim of elevating their place in the life of the church.

Rationale

The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) consists of The Book of Confessions and the Book of Order (Book of Order, G-1.0500).

Of the two parts of this Constitution, the PC(USA) declares the confessional statements of The Book of Confessions to be of first importance, “not lightly drawn up or subscribed to, nor may they be ignored or dismissed” (Book of Order, G-2.0200). The PC(USA) declares itself “prepared to counsel with or even to discipline one ordained who seriously rejects the faith expressed in the confessions” (Book of Order, G-2.0200).

The General Assembly is specifically charged to “take care” that the Constitution of the church is observed (Book of Order, G-13.01031, q, w) and to “warn or bear witness against error in doctrine or immorality in practice in or outside the church” (Book of Order, G-13.0103p).

In the opinion of many in the church, the General Assembly has seriously failed in this responsibility over the last several years, specifically in addressing questions regarding homosexuality and abortion, basically accommodating, instead of confronting, not upholding the direction of the confessions of the church in these matters to the utter dismay and embarrassment of many in the church.

The Presbytery of the Peaks commits itself to elect delegates to the assembly who are well versed in the content of the confessions and committed to be guided by them.