RICHMOND, June 29 - The Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations approved part of an overture calling on the Presbyterian Church (USA) to study the relationship between Christians and Jews, but turned down another part that asked for a suspension of General Assembly funding for future "Messianic congregations" until the study is completed.
Joe Small, director of the PC(USA) Office of Theology and Worship, had said the nature of Messianic congregations is "the most deeply theological significant issue that you will have to deal with in this Assembly." It occupied the committee for more than three hours.
The Rev. Grayson Van Camp, who is in specialized ministry on the staff of McCormick Theological Seminary, said: "The PC(USA) has not implemented a policy encouraging new church developments around distinct religious identities. We are concerned that if GA funding is used to establish such congregations . that will establish precedent, and precedent can establish policy."
Mission Advisory Delegate Bernie Adeney said: "I would prefer that this committee not send a national message to the world that we reject Jewish Christians who want to retain their Jewish cultural identity while being Presbyterians."
One observer who was "bitterly disappointed" by the committee's action was Rabbi Gilbert S. Rosenthal, executive director of the National Council of Synagogues, who said: "I think the Presbyterian Church (USA) seems to be rolling back the clock forty years and negating much of the extraordinary progress that has been made during that time. The so-called Messianic church Avodat Yisrael outside of Philadelphia has added to the sense of retreat." Rosenthal said that congregation is "neither fish nor fowl."
The committee also voted to approve a report and policy statement that would amend the preface to the Book of Confessions in order to explain the nature and origin of anti-Roman Catholic language in the confessions; and received and approved a report on the Review of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. |
