GA06008

A TTF Primer

Quick Reference Guide to the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church

by Jerry L. Van Marter

BIRMINGHAM, June 15 — One of the most closely watched matters at the 217th General Assembly is the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church (TTF). Some things you need to know:

Where did the task force come from?

With the PC(USA) wracked by a number of potentially divisive issues, the TTF was created by the 213th General Assembly (2001).

What were they told to do?

The TTF was charged "to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in spiritual discernment of our Christian identity in and for the 21st century." It was specifically asked to address issues of Christology, biblical authority and interpretation, ordination standards and power.

Further, the TTF was instructed to develop processes and resources "by which congregations and governing bodies throughout our church may reflect on and discern the matters that unite and divide us, praying that the Holy Spirit will promote the purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."

Who’s on it?

The task force includes 20 members, chosen deliberately for their diversity by the three immediate past General moderators at the time – Syngman Rhee, Freda Gardner and Jack Rogers. One original TTF member, Elizabeth Achtemeier, attended the group’s first meeting, but died one year into the TTF process. She was replaced by her son, Mark Achtemeier, a professor at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.

Other members are Scott Anderson, Madison, WI; Barbara Everitt Bryant, Ann Arbor, MI; the Rev. Milton J. Coalter, Richmond, VA; the Rev. Victoria J. Curtiss, Portland, OR; the Rev. Gary Demarest (co-chair), Pasadena, CA; the Rev. Frances Taylor Gench, Washington, DC; the Rev. Jack Haberer, from Houston when he was named to the TTF, now of Richmond, VA; the Rev. William Stacy Johnson, Princeton, NJ; Mary Ellen Lawson, Greensburg, PA; the Rev. Jong Hyeong Lee, Itasca, IL; the Rev. John (Mike) Loudon, from Lincoln, NE, when he was named to the TTF, now of Lakeland, FL; Joan Kelley Merritt, Bellevue, WA; the Rev. Lonnie J. Oliver, College Park, GA; the Rev. Martha Sadongei, Phoenix, AZ; the Rev. Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, Lowville, NY; Jean S. (Jenny) Stoner (co-chair), Craftsbury Common, VT; Jose Luis Torres-Milan, Aguadilla, PR; Barbara G. Wheeler, New York City, NY; and the Rev. John Wilkinson, Rochester, NY.

What have they done?

After five years of prayer, worship, Bible study, research and dialogue with each other and many others throughout the church, the TTF has produced a report with six substantive recommendations and one procedural recommendation. The six substantive recommendations are:

1. that every Presbyterian witness to the church's visible oneness, avoid schism and live in harmony with all other Presbyterians; and that sessions, congregations, presbyteries and synods renew their partnership with each other and with the General Assembly;
2. that governing bodies, congregations and other Presbyterian groups engage in processes of discernment around difficult issues that have been developed and modeled by the TTF;
3. that all Presbyterians study the Theological Reflection portion of the TTF report;
4. that Presbyterian deliberative bodies explore the use of alternative methods of discernment and decision-making in addition to parliamentary procedure;
5. that the General Assembly approve a new "authoritative interpretation" of the PC(USA) Constitution that maintains the current ordination standards of the church but grants ordaining bodies greater discretion on a case-by-case basis in determining if any departure from a constitutional standard is a departure from "essentials," therefore disqualifying for ordination to church office, subject to judicial review;
6. that the 217th General Assembly approve no additional authoritative interpretations nor remove any authoritative interpretations or propose any constitutional amendments that would change current denominational policy on any of the major issues in the TTF report; and that Presbyterians refrain from judicial action against each other.

What objections to the report have been raised?

Most of the discussion about the report has focused on recommendations five and six.

Critics of recommendation five argue that it will open the door to the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians by creating a "local option" for any ordaining body that wishes to ignore the church’s ordination standards. The task force argues that no standards can be ignored but must be applied to all candidates. "They may decide in a particular case that a person’s departure from a standard is not a departure from essentials, but a body that makes that decision may not determine that the standard is invalid or inapplicable." Returning greater discretion to governing bodies would return the church to traditional patterns of individual conscience evaluated by ordaining bodies.

Critics of recommendation six argue that as a matter of justice for gay and lesbian Presbyterians, G-6.0106b — which requires "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness" — must be removed from the Book of Order, as well as the authoritative interpretation dating to 1978 that undergirds it. The task force argues that "the church will need a period of relative calm in which to reacquaint itself with our traditional patterns of life together" if its recommendations are adopted by the Assembly.

Related article

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Assembly adopts Theological Task Force report

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Minority report promised on authoritative interpretation

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Theological Task Force report clears most hurdles

May 22, 2006
General Assembly backgrounder: Theological Task Force