06-13 On Amending F-1.0403 and G-2.0401 to Eliminate the List of Those Whom We Refuse to Discriminate Against

The following Overture was submitted to the 219th General Assembly from the Presbytery of Western New York.

RECOMMENDATION

The Presbytery of Western New York respectfully overtures the 220th General Assembly (2012) to direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendments to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative vote:

1.  Shall the second paragraph of F-1.0403 be amended as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added or inserted is shown as italic.]

“The unity of believers in Christ is reflected in the rich diversity of the Church’s membership. In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites persons through baptism into the one body of believers regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography, or theological conviction human sensibilities, constructs, or categories. There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) shall guarantee strive to ensure full participation and representation in its worship, governance, and emerging life to all persons or groups within its membership. No member shall be denied participation or representation for any reason other than those stated in this Constitution.”

2.  Shall G-2.0401, Election of Ruling Elders and Deacons, be amended as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added or inserted is shown as italic.]

“Ruling elders and deacons are men and women elected by the congregation from among its members. The nomination and election of ruling elders and deacons shall seek to express the rich diversity of the congregation's membership and shall guarantee strive to ensure participation and inclusiveness (F-1.0403). [The balance of G-2.0401 would remain unchanged].”

RATIONALE

This overture would strike the list of those whom we refuse to discriminate against, noting instead that “God unites persons into the one body of believers regardless of human sensibilities, constructs, or categories.” The list that this new language would replace keeps growing. It is very tempting—given our present denominational dynamic—to add “sexual orientation” to the list. Yet, when do we stop expanding this constitutional registry? We might also add “body mass,” or “physical deformity,” or “personality type.” We could be yet more inclusive and say regardless of “economic standing,” or “social status,” or “mental acuity;” and the list goes on. Instead of continuing to lengthen the list, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should take the bold step of simply declaring that we refuse to discriminate and leave it at that: “God unites persons ... regardless of human sensibilities, constructs, or categories. There is no place in the life of the church for discrimination against any person,” period.

The laudable goal of expressing “the rich diversity of the congregation's membership” and of guaranteeing “participation and inclusiveness” may not be attainable in practice. For example, persons who are in a minority within “the congregation's membership” may decline to serve when asked; leaving that group or individual without representation. This same situation conceivably could occur in the higher councils of the church as well. Therefore, this goal should remain just that, a goal and not a mandate. The suggested changes, “seek to express” and “strive to ensure,” will preserve the goal without enshrining it as a dogmatic requirement.

The statement in F-1.0403 that “God unites persons through baptism” imputes a causality to “baptism” that surpasses a Reformed understanding of the Sacrament as a symbol that publicly proclaims what God has already accomplished. An individual is a member of “the one body of believers” from the moment he or she repents and believes the Gospel. Baptism celebrates this truth, but does not induce it. The words “through baptism” should be stricken.

Links:

• Overture Submitted (see above)
• Overture on PC-Biz