I was a commissioner from Trinity Presbytery at the 221st GA in Detroit Michigan. I wanted to write out some thoughts on this.
The positive: I almost feel like the person who is leaving church, shaking the preacher's hand and saying "Nice tie preacher!" The good things about the experience were not nearly as impressive as the substance. Fellowship with a lot of good, strong people was had. I thought there was a Pennsylvania, Texas, California, South Carolina connection established with some others sprinkled in. The 250 new worshiping communities was a great thing. Always sending out missionaries was good- but we seemed to have as many retiring as being sent out- and it was only a handful. Heath Rada was the best moderator of the three candidates and would not allow for applause or celebration upon the gay marriage vote passing.
Perhaps this could be called "The Postmodern Assembly." It shows in that we allowed and encouraged different interpretations of marriage, confessions, and scripture.
LOCAL OPTION: The headlines read (rightly) "Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Allows Gay Marriage." But the more accurate headline would be "Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Will not Prosecute Ministers for Performing Gay Marriages in States where Gay Marriage is Legal." But that is too wordy. But the former headline is proper in that a line has been crossed that was not crossed before.
This is a bit like the previous three times that "Local Option" was proposed. Only it is the states' law changes that pushed the local option over the edge into reality at this GA. So in any states where the law allows gay marriage, a PCUSA minister may perform the service at a gay wedding. But the caveat is that in the same AI it states: "Nothing herein shall compel a teaching elder to perform nor compel a session to authorize the use of church property for a marriage service that the teaching elder or the session believes is contrary to the teaching elder's or the session's discernment of the Holy Spirit or their understanding of the Word of God." This is a huge change. In the past what one Presbyterian was allowed, all the denomination is allowed. There was a unity and oneness in policy before. In many ways the "Local Option" idea was turned down in previous debates as it divides the church. Today that division (in thought and practice if not in institution) is a reality. This weakens the centralization of our denomination, and makes a denomination that has send out less missionaries, has less outstanding curriculum, starts less churches, and is weaker in disaster assistance and unity less relevant and important.
AUTHORITY AND CONFESSIONS: The Belhar Confession was passed and sent to the presbyteries for vote (confirmation would take a 2/3 vote. Belhar failed to pass the presbytery vote previously. On the floor of GA several conservatives argued (myself included) that Belhar lifts up unity over idealism or even doctrine (2:8,9). This assembly was not even following the confession that it approved the day before. It is clear from this assembly that the confessional standards are not only secondary but seemingly irrelevant. Five times the confessions speak of marriage as between a man and a woman. The Assembly Committee on the Constitution (ACC) in writing advised against the AI, but on the floor only said that there was tension in the constitution and the assembly had the power to alleviate this tension [we could assume by passing Confessional changes- which it refused or was unable to do]. It seems that the majority views the confession only as an informative history of what one people believed/confessed at that time. It seems the majority also views Scripture as a "guide" more than the Word of God to be obeyed [the overture to change this wording also failed]. One thing to watch in the future, with such a view, do we feel we have the right to change the cannon- adding maybe the Gospel of Thomas? While I voted for Belhar before, and advised the presbytery to do so, I will not do that again. I liked the emphasis on unity and racial sensitivity in Belhar- but if we have the ability to ignore it, then why put it in? We are in a crisis of authority- which postmoderns love to revel in, but leaves our young and our church floundering in debate (about what is right), and pride (thinking we know better than scripture).
THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL- A whole day was spent in talking about money- mainly on how not to spend it (Divestment). If we had no money, there would be no debate. Long after we become irrelevant like the Shakers, the endowment and BOP will still be funding folk. In some ways I understand their thinking that if it worked against South Africa, it might work against the idea of settlements in Israel. One thing was affirmed, that we believe and strive to support the existence of both Israel and a Palestinian state. However, the focus was made on divestment from American companies: Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard, and Motorola. The assembly was told there were conversations going on between the MRTI (the branch that oversees the correctness of our investments) and the companies. But some letters and statements cast doubt on those negotiations. For the most part this was a waste. We do not hurt these companies- for we will sell their stock to another buyer- and there are plenty. The Board of Pensions indicated it had money in these, but would only sell them in good time- and not buy any more of their stock. Similarly, we talked about developing a policy to divest from fossil fuel in order to save the planet. I was made aware (just listening to the debate) that it is quite easy to ask GA to divest but sit in our air conditioned and lit buildings while we debated and then get in our cars or jets and use fossil fuel ourselves to get home
In the end, the unity of the church was held in tact by a kind of concessionary compromise (similar to the Missouri Compromise before the Civil War). I am still a believer that even when a denomination or church makes decisions that go against scripture, scripture still teaches us to not divide. Elijah said he was the only one left but he did not leave. God encouraged the prophet with work to do and seven thousand who did not bow the knee to Baal (the fertility God). Thyatira's faithful- in- an- erring- church (Rev. 2) were told to "hold on to what you have until I come." The teaching that was false in Thyatira was the teaching of Jezebel- (also sexual immorality). Jesus himself (Mt. 13) told the parable of the wheat and tares and net asking us not to judge others but let the Lord do the separation. This does not mean to use our discernment- only to not condemn others or separate from them. There were some concessions to Bible believers to make this digestible- but it was like what someone said privately at GA, "coating a rat in poison." After the vote a motion was made to send out GA folks and others for reconciliation. But that is almost like cutting off someone's leg and then sending them flowers in the hospital. Yet, flowers are better than none, and some chocolate makes the medicine go down. Unity is never easy, and does not matter when we all agree. Unity is difficult but is the Lord's work here.
Some scriptures to consider:
"Do not lie with a woman as you lie with a man that is detestable" (Lev. 18:22- "abomination" KJV).
"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. they must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." (Lev. 20:12- same punishment as adultery 20:10 cf. Jn. 8:1-11 where Jesus does not condemn but asks the offender to "leave their life of sin").
In Jesus' own teaching of marriage he says, "But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh...therefore what God has joined together let no one separate." (Mark 10:6-9).
"Sanctify them by the truth, your Word is truth." John 17:17
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Tim. 6:10
