Covenant

We, the members of the Task Force, covenant together that:

• we will be in prayer for each other and for our work that we may faithfully serve God, follow Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, and be guided by the Holy Spirit;
  
  
• we will seek to be guided by Scripture and will regularly study it together;
  
  
• we will worship whenever we gather, inviting all who are present at our meetings to worship with us. With authorization, we will celebrate the Lord's Supper at each meeting as a sign that the peace, unity and purity we seek is God's gift to us in Christ;
  
  
• we will speak the truth with love, expressing ourselves with candor and humility;
  
  
• we will listen, endeavoring to understand each other, especially those whose views seem to differ from our own, maintaining a spirit of openness and vulnerability;
  
  
• we will carry out our work among this community of believers, respecting confidences, showing faithfulness in our relationships, and trusting each other's motivations and dedication;
  
  
• we will model a respectful, loving process of discernment and dialogue, seeking to reach consensus whenever possible, ever mindful of our responsibilities to all the members of our beloved Church;
  
  
• we will communicate regularly and effectively with the whole church on the work of the Task Force in order to include them in the process;
  
  
• we will work in good faith within the open-meeting policy of the General Assembly and welcome the press and other observers present at our meetings, as we seek to discover new and challenging ways "to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in spiritual discernment of our Christian identity in and for the 21st century." We trust the press to perform its part of this responsibility by reporting on our work in accordance with the published ethical standards of the Associated Church Press and the Evangelical Press Association.

We will each commit our best, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to the task entrusted to us.

Mandate

Because we are baptized and profess our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, gather together at the Lord’s table, share in brokenness as well as reconciliation, share a heritage of listening for the way in which Scripture speaks as we struggle with hard issues, share a common although diverse reformed history and confessional heritage, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) shall enter into a season of theological clarification of our Presbyterian identity by:

1. Directing the Moderators of the 213th, 212th, 211th General Assemblies (2001, 2000, 1999), in consultation with the General Assembly Nominating Committee, to appoint a theological task force as follows:

a. The task force is to be composed of seventeen members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), with membership reflecting the theological and cultural diversity of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.).

b. The task force is directed to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in spiritual discernment of our Christian identity, in and for the 21st century, using a process which includes conferring with synods, presbyteries, and congregations seeking the peace, unity, and purity of the church. This discernment shall include but not be limited to issues of Christology, biblical authority and interpretation, ordination standards, and power.

c. The task force is to develop a process and an instrument by which congregations and governing bodies throughout our church may reflect on and discuss the matters that unite and divide us, praying that the Holy Spirit will promote the peace, unity, and purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

d. The task force is directed to make a progress report to each General Assembly, beginning with the 214th General Assembly (2002) and concluding its work and making a final report to the 217th General Assembly.

e. That a report be distributed to presbyteries and sessions by electronic and/or print means at least nine months before the 217th General Assembly.
(September 17, 2005)

2. Calling the church to unite in a sustained period of prayer and reflection on Scripture and our confessions, seeking to promote the peace, unity, purity, and mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).