Kirkpatrick outlines "Top
10" issues on tap for 213th General Assembly
Election of moderator, issues of sexuality top
the list
by Bill Lancaster, Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE -- February 27, 2001 --
The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the stated clerk of the Presbyterian
Church (USA), outlined his preliminary "Top 10" list of issues
coming before the 213th General Assembly (GA) when it convenes in
Louisville in June.
Heading Kirkpatrick's list, which he unveiled during a
meeting of the General Assembly Council (GAC) on Feb. 24, was the election
of a moderator to preside over the Assembly and represent the PC(USA)
over the next 12 months. So far there are four candidates: Elder Nancy
Maffett, from Pueblo Presbytery; Elder Sandra Hawley, from the
Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area; the Rev. Jack Rogers, from San
Gabriel Presbytery; and the Rev. Andy Sale, executive presbyter of Peaks
Presbytery.
The next three issues listed by Kirkpatrick had to do
with ordination and human sexuality. "We will have a very large
number, perhaps the largest we have ever had, of overtures in various
ways related to that matter," he said.
"We have a large number of overtures calling
essentially for the repeal of G-6.0106b (of the Book of Order),
the so-called Amendment B (outlining fidelity and chastity requirements
for church officers), or a major modification of it," he said.
"We have several overtures ... (about) provisions
for a waiver for congregations that feel they are not able to ordain
women, (and for) congregations or presbyteries that feel their
conscience is not able to follow G-6.0106b.
"A third series of overtures," Kirkpatrick
went on, "relate to what some have referred to as a 'third way' --
various proposals for special commissions to seek to work for the unity
and peace and spiritual welfare of the church, and see if there may be
some 'third way,' if possible, to both affirm theological truth and to
deal with our differences."
The fifth issue Kirkpatrick predicted would be taken
up by the GA is the Lordship of Jesus Christ, particularly in
relation to people of other faiths.
A sixth issue, he said, is a proposed revision of
Chapter 14 of the Book of Order, which specifies how a local
church goes about calling an associate minister or a temporary-supply
pastor. The revision would shorten the chapter by one-third and give
congregations and presbyteries greater flexibility, he said.
"One of the most fascinating things I've been
engaged with has been the efforts we have taken to reach out to our
friends in the Vatican," he said, referring to No. 7 on his list.
"How do we understand their tradition, as it focuses on a successor
to Peter, and ours on a successor to the Council of Jerusalem? And how
can we move forward in expressing one faith in common Christian
community with Roman Catholics? I believe you will see some
important proposals at this Assembly on that."
No. 8 was a report on domestic violence to be
presented by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy. "I
think there will be a major call for our church to take that seriously
and carry it out," Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick issue No. 9 was an expected "focus at
this Assembly, in a more concentrated way than usual, on our ministries
of higher education." He said there is "a hunger in our
church on how we reach out to college-age young people in our
ministry."
Finally, he said, "there are a number of concerns
coming to this Assembly that [show] we continue to be in the forefront
of seeking global justice." He said this includes global
concerns, such as the world AIDS epidemic and small-arms proliferation,
as well as work for peace and stability in such "hotspots" as
the Middle East and Congo.
