Santa Fe on conscience

Santa Fe overture 01-27 calls for freedom of conscience in dealing with G-6.0106b

[2-7-01]

Read an explanation of the reasons for this overture.

On amending G-6.0108 by inserting a new exemption/waiver clause for governing bodies in order to ensure balance in the church between freedom of conscience with respect to interpretation of Scripture and constitutional governance of the church.

The Presbytery of Santa Fe, meeting in regular session, February 3, 2001, respectfully overtures the 213^th General Assembly (2001) to direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the Book of Order to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative vote:

Shall a new section G-6.0108d and G-6.0108e be added which shall read:

6.0108d In order to respect two foundational principles of the Reformed Faith (freedom of conscience with respect to interpretation of scripture and constitutional governance of the church), to acknowledge that there is selective recognition of practices in the confessions of the church and in scripture which are called sin, and to ensure that freedom of conscience is maintained with regard to interpretation of scripture, when a governing body determines it can not equitably and justly apply the requirements of G-6.106b, it may seek a waiver from those requirements from the next more inclusive governing body. The governing body may grant a waiver by a majority vote for a period of no more than three years. The waiver shall be subject to renewal or to revocation at any time by a majority vote of the governing body. Should revocation of the waiver occur, any person then holding office shall not be affected during the current term of office, and since ordination to office is perpetual, no one can lay it aside at pleasure or be divested of it except as provided in the Rules of Discipline.

6.0108e Paragraph d above may not be amended within 10 years following its adoption by a majority of the presbyteries.

Rationale

It is a very delicate balance to respect at the same time both freedom of conscience with respect to interpretation of scripture and constitutional governance of the church;
There is the risk that in the interest of constitutional governance of the church, freedom of conscience will be denied;
There is the equal risk that in the name of freedom of conscience with respect to interpretation of scripture, constitutional governance of the church will be compromised;
The historic Presbyterian response to this dilemma has been to permit waivers under certain circumstances. This provision for a waiver would help restore a climate of civility and integrity in the church while maintaining that balance between freedom of conscience with respect to interpretation of scripture and constitutional governance of the church;
This provision would help provide an openness in coming to terms with our differences and in respecting different points of view, especially theological points of view and differing points of view on the interpretation of scripture, without stereotyping or shunning people who think, believe, look, or act differently.
From the revisions of Westminster in 1902 through decisions of the General Assembly rejecting the "five fundamentals" and fundamentalism in the 1920s and 1930s to the Confession of '67, the Presbyterian Church has resisted a rigidity which would bind the conscience of believer on nonessentials of the faith.
At the time of the reunion in 1983, in the interest of integrity in the constitutional governance of the church, an exemption was granted those congregations which could not or had not ordained women (after 15 years, the exemption was lifted as the church became more of one mind concerning the ordination of women);
Currently, G-14.0202a(1), in the interest of integrity in the constitutional governance of the church, allows a waiver for congregations from the requirement which calls for election to office of "men and women from among its members;"
As votes on various amendments in recent years have demonstrated, the mind of the church is sharply divided on the provisions of G-1.0106b for any number of reasons. The provision of waivers would help preserve the unity of the church in the name of freedom of conscience with respect to interpretation of scripture and constitutional governance of the church;
Because there is no relief from the requirements of G-6.0106b except through disobedience and/or leaving the church, the church is using valuable resources of money, time, and energy in judicial procedure and/or endless debate. At the same time, it is losing the God-given gifts for service to Christ and Christ's church of countless faithful men and women who in good conscience cannot agree with the provisions of G-1.0106b because of its graceless rigidity and harshness;
This provision for waiver would provide a means for the church to tolerate certain procedures in the church which many find unacceptable while at the same time not endorsing or approving those procedures.

The Reformed understanding of the freedom of conscience has been discussed as presbyteries have debated Amendment O, but is a matter of far broader import. For one thing, numerous overtures to the 213^th General Assembly deal with G-6.0106b on the basis of conscience. Dr. Sarah Melcher looks at Calvin's Institutes to help us consider this issue. [3-13-01]

The Layman won't like this. Check out their recent editorial on the need to limit the freedom of conscience.