Questions and Answers: Rev. Robert "Bob" Davis

1. What do you see as the most important issues facing the church and General Assembly and why?

The most important issues facing the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and General Assembly are: the Stated Clerk election, the Mission Work Plan, and ordination standards. All three have to do with accountability and integrity.

A. The Stated Clerk’s race is important because the next Stated Clerk will be responsible for helping to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through a major transition. Executive Director John Detterick has correctly described
it as a move “… away from a corporate, hierarchical model into one that’s more networked and relationship-based.” The Stated Clerk will need to provide a clarity of process, must have an ability to equip and resource people
through a time of major transition, and must be able to communicate broadly with brothers and sisters beyond the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to see where and how we can work together to proclaim the good news of Jesus
Christ. Simply doing things the way they have always been done will yield only the results we currently see.

B. The Mission Work Plan is not specifically related to the Stated Clerk race, but is clearly one of the most significant decisions that commissioners will be asked to approve. Prioritizing the use of diminishing resources is an exercise in discipline and accountability. It is the institutional recognition that times are changing and that the expectations of national offices is different than it was a generation ago. The decrease in unrestricted giving with the increase in restricted giving means that presbyteries and congregations are re-asserting their right and responsibility to be good stewards of the gifts they have been given. The connection among the national offices and presbyteries will be strengthened as those changes are made. The national offices cannot do those things that must be done at the local level; the proclamation of the gospel cannot be hired out so that someone else, somewhere else, does something to be the church for us. It has been a hard transition and it is vital that we are good stewards of the people who are experiencing loss, but it is an important and necessary step towards positioning for growth in the future.

C. Ordination standards reflect our willingness to have integrity. Questions arise in the current context: do we mean what we say? Do our words have any significance? If defiance is acceptable in this matter, is defiance
acceptable in other matters as well? Are we willing to listen to our brothers and sisters in Christ outside the PC(USA) or do we simply want them to listen to what we have to say?

Our external witness and proclamation to the world – including efforts to seek social justice and pursue of peacemaking – are undercut when there is no sense of internal accountability and integrity. Thus, these three are the most important issues facing the church and General Assembly.

2. What is your vision of the church for the future, and what specifically would you do as Stated Clerk to assist in accomplishing that vision?

There is no question that a new Reformation is taking place – whether it is called post-modernism or post-denominationalism or anything else. The way the church is now is different than the way the church will be. There is no such thing as status quo.

Presbyterians are uniquely positioned to lead in this new Reformation precisely because we are Presbyterian. We are a confessional church. Connections based upon professions of faith are the foundation for growing networks of believers. Presbyterians have the opportunity to lead and model for others what it means to be connected by confession with one another – that is, connected beyond the walls of local congregations.

These opportunities exist where the people of the church are equipped and empowered to do the work of the church. The vision and gifts I will bring to the role of the Stated Clerk will help position the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) to lead in the growth of this new Reformation.

First, I will bring to the denominational structure a different understanding of the role of higher governing bodies. It is my belief that the national church is designed to build up the covenant life among those on the front lines of ministry -- the local congregation and presbyteries. It is designed to serve, not to be served. It is designed to equip the people of the church to do the work of the church – not to do church for them.

Second, I will be involved restoring ordinary discipline within our covenant life together. I believe that the Book of Confessions is an integral part of our Constitution. Decisions about the course and life of the church need to include an understanding of how the Church historic has confessed its faith before us. I believe that Presbyterians desire clarity in the processes that facilitate our covenant life together. The administrative and judicial processes must enhance the ability to effect ordinary discipline, not thwart it.

Third, I will be establishing network relationships with other Christian bodies in a much more broadly ecumenical manner. Developing confessional connections lead to opportunities for new and growing ecumenical relationships; relationships in which we join with brothers and sisters in Christ for worship and joint mission within and beyond local communities.

It is important to be involved in the institutional ecumenical efforts such as the World Council of Churches, National Council of Churches, and World Alliance of Reformed Churches; but it is not sufficient to be involved only in those
efforts. The new Reformation is occurring by local congregations and presbyteries interacting with Christians in their own area to be a blessing in the name of Jesus Christ in their own community. The beauty of this kind of
ecumenism is that it encourages the people of the church to “be the church where they are.” Further, the distinctive gifts of each tradition are maintained while the collective witness is enhanced. The Stated Clerk can help lead by
emphasizing the importance of these kinds of efforts and by equipping people with ideas about how to get involved.

3. The General Assembly Standing Rules say, “As an officer of the General Assembly, the Stated Clerk shall preserve and defend the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and support the decisions, actions, and programs of the General Assembly. Describe your understanding of the
Stated Clerk’s role in carrying out this constitutional function.

This portion of the Standing Rules includes two parts: first, preserving and defending the Constitution; and, second, supporting the decisions, actions, and programs of the General Assembly.

Preserving and defending has to do with taking steps to strengthen and enhance the covenant among Presbyterians expressed in the Constitution. There is no question that the process in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) currently is being used to thwart, rather than facilitate, our covenantal life. Efforts to uphold the Constitution have been frustrated on procedural grounds. Because the specific issue of “defiance” has been addressed with Authoritative Interpretations of the Constitution, the Stated Clerk must make clear the administrative processes by which the integrity of our covenant life together may be maintained. Failure to do so leads to schism.

And, unfortunately, schism is occurring. We are suffering schism because defiance of the Constitution is being tolerated.

Defiance is not, and has never been, an appropriate form of dissent within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It is not a liberal/conservative issue. Defiance – by definition – means that the individual refuses to recognize the church’s authority; thus, the individual is breaking the promises made at ordination. Taking a clear, strong stand on the process for responding to defiance does not limit, hinder or discourage appropriate dissent in any way.
Although the Stated Clerk does not and should not have the authority to unilaterally impose process on presbyteries, the Stated Clerk does have the authority to publicly urge, exhort, implore and develop efforts to
preserve the integrity of the Constitution when its integrity is being attacked via defiance.

Supporting the decisions, actions, and programs of the General Assembly involves communicating with the denomination about what the General Assembly has done and interpreting those actions to those outside the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The Clerk is the CEO of the Office of General Assembly, which publishes the Constitution and the Minutes of the General Assembly. It also is charged with creating materials designed to help equip the people of the church in their
understanding of them. Further, when questions arise about the meaning or interpretation of General Assembly actions, the Clerk is responsible for providing clarity.

One example occurred recently when questions were raised about statements made by the Washington Office regarding the denomination’s understanding of same-sex marriages. Although the Clerk released a response citing relevant actions of the General Assembly, he failed to specifically clarify how the statements issued by the Washington Office were erroneous and failed to adequately convey the Church’s position. Supporting actions decisions, and programs of the General Assembly includes this responsibility.

4. What do you see as the role of the Stated Clerk in addressing contentious and controversial issues?

The Stated Clerk’s role in addressing contentious and controversial issues is four-fold. First, it is to help equip the people of the church with the tools and discipline with which to be able to discuss theological issues before issues
become contentious and controversial. Like athletes and musicians, it is important to practice talking theologically with others in order to prepare for the time when real issues are confronted.

Second, the Stated Clerk is responsible for giving “advisory opinions concerning the meaning of the provisions of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and shall give advisory opinions on the meaning of the actions of the General Assembly.” Clarity minimizes contentiousness. The Clerk must make the meaning of the Constitution
and General Assembly actions clear. The Clerk is not an advocate or a mediator. Advisory opinions should not try to balance interpretations in order to avoid controversy; that only confuses matters and ends up heightening the
controversy. The Clerk’s advisory opinions should simply state the matters clearly.

Third, the Stated Clerk must make the process clear for all involved. If the advisory opinions are clear, then the issues are clear, and the processes for supporting an opinion or seeking change are clear. The Stated Clerk can
help this process by laying out the steps to achieve a result. “If this is the result you are pursuing,” should be the Clerk’s opening line, “then, here are the steps necessary to achieve that end.” Further, the Clerk should be able to
describe the ways that those who disagree will challenge and work to prevent those goals.

Finally, the Stated Clerk must make sure that the decisions of the governing bodies are respected. Dissent is appropriate. Defiance is not, and the Stated Clerk must make clear how governing bodies are to exercise their administrative responsibilities.

5. Comment on an item of business before this General Assembly that you are excited about and that you believe will help the church be faithful to its mission to proclaim the Good News.

Although the obvious answer here is, “the Stated Clerk’s election,” let me suggest that the Mission Work Plan is an incredibly important item of business as it seeks to move us to a new way of “doing church.” The discussion moves the focus of national offices from doing ministry for the church to an understanding that they are to equip and support the people of the church in pursuing the ministries they have been called to undertake.

Why is this exciting? Budget discussions tend to be interesting only when your own funds are at stake and -- for many commissioners -- the budgets of the national offices are numbers without meaning. The excitement comes in
realizing that the proposal opens the door to change; commissioners are not locked into funding projects simply because we have always funded those projects. Instead, a prioritized budget looks at each item to see how it fits
with the mission vision for the church. It offers the flexibility to be able to change to meet new challenges and opportunities.

By prioritizing the activities of the national offices, the Mission Work Plan takes an important first step in restoring a perception of accountability. This will be the foundation for building bridges of trust with the congregations and
presbyteries to the benefit of the entire Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).