General Assembly 2023 may not have included fireworks and momentous decisions, but it was still an eye opening experience. I was there to convene the Renewal Fellowship Prayer Room and act as an observer.

July’s Renewal Café will be devoted to a debriefing of GA. Details and invitation below.

Here’s my take on GA.

DEFINITION CONFUSION

For the past two years, The Presbyterian Church in Canada has operated under the understanding that it holds “two parallel definitions of marriage” – different but equal – as confirmed by General Assembly in 2021. This twin concept was affirmed by the adoption of a report by the Clerks of Assembly in 2022 which stated that “The Presbyterian Church in Canada now permits a dual definition of marriage.” (A&P 2022, page 128)

So what are we to make of Principal Clerk Victor Kim’s statement to 2023 General Assembly that “we hold the one position on marriage”?

His statement in full: “Someone has said that we hold two different positions on marriage. The fact is, we hold the one position on marriage, which is within the one position people may to be aligned over on this side [motions with left hand] or over on this side [motions with right hand.] Let me clear that we do not hold two separate positions, which would be one to the exclusion of another. We hold one position, where you may be here or you may be here but they are all accepted. And you can choose.”

If this were a rank-and-file minister or elder, we’d shrug it off. But this was the Principal Clerk. In addition to being among the two top bureaucrats of the denomination, he and the Deputy Clerk act as chief arbiters of church law. When a minister or elder seeks guidance over the application of polity (which I have done on many occasions) they routinely consult the clerks. They aren’t judges, but their opinions carry great weight. From time to time, they issue lengthy and thoughtful opinions on matters of church governance.

So when something is said that appears to be incongruent or a departure from the norm, it’s worthy of analysis.

Let’s put this statement into context.

It was spoken during the midst of a Sederunt 3 discussion on the Clerks’ recommended clarification on how Liberty of Conscience and Action is to be exercised in matters of an ordination, call or installation of a minister or elder who happens to be in a same-sex marriage or living that lifestyle.

The clerks recognized in their report that one’s vote is between them and God and is to be freely exercised according to conscience. But they proposed a new and significant limitation. “If a member of a court speaks against an ordination, induction or installation based on the candidate’s sexual orientation, gender identity or for reasons counter to either of the church’s definitions of marriage, the member could be ruled out of order because such a position would contradict to the teaching of the church,” they wrote. In other words, you have freedom to vote – you just can’t say why. It would also mean that if one chooses to exercise the right to dissent, reasons could not be put in writing. The rationale for this new limitation was that a majority within the PCC had already decided that non-heterosexual activity is not sinful. “So if a person were to raise the subjects again it would be like starting the discussion all over again. Those decisions have been made,” Deputy Clerk Don Muir told Assembly.

As expected, commissioners spoke out – most in opposition of the proposed limitation, but a few in favour. (See report below). Then the principal clerk weighed in with his suggestion that we have “one position on marriage.” In another statement, he described the position as a “spectrum” – hence the logical ability to reside in differences on a single plane. Sort of like a rainbow: choose your colour.

But can one position actually be a spectrum? How is it possible to have “one position” but two places within that position? How can there be only one if we can “choose”?

In the Book of Forms, the word “parallel” is used in two places. First, it describes our secondary standards (theological confessions and a catechism – see Appendix ‘F’): separate documents which say largely the same thing but use different words written at different times in history. Second is the statement on marriage (Appendix ‘L’).

“Parallel” in these contexts is used as an adjective. This sense is described by The Oxford English Dictionary as: “lying or extending alongside each other and always at the same distance apart; continuously equidistant.” In other words, parallel things moving in the same direction, having the same objective but whose paths do not cross. The key concept is that you have more than one.

Words matter. Language is a wonderful thing. Its discovery by toddlers opens a world of knowledge, along with the loss of innocence. Language can be a catalyst and avenue of growth. It can also drive us apart.

I wondered if I was making too much of this. Is it nothing more than “you say tomato and I say  to-mah-to? But then I checked with knowledgeable people I respect who heard the same statement and they’re thinking the same things.

LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE

The following are excerpts from the GA discussion.

“The wording allows this freedom of conscience but yet we’re not allowed to talk about it. Is that what it says?” – Audry Barton, elder (Oak Ridges).

“If a gay, married minister was before a presbytery in a call process . . . it would not be in order for a person to speak against the call based on the minister’s marital status or gender identification or sexual orientation. . . . those are things that have been decided by the church so if person were to raise the subjects again it would be like starting the discussion all over again. Those decision have been made. ” – Deputy Clerk Don Muir in response.

“Within that wide spectrum or eligibility [for ordination, induction and installation] we say people can land anywhere on that spectrum. If you wanted to hold a position here [motions with one hand] you are not disallowing the other position to be held there [motions with other hand]. Liberty of conscience and action is given to you to not participate, but not so you speak against someone’s eligibility based on things we’ve already said are OK. . . .We’re asking people to respect the statements we’ve made.. . . If you choose to voice your reason for voting and that reason is counter what our church has already decided, which is that everyone is eligible to be considered . . . then the moderator can rule out of order.”  — Principal Clerk Victor Kim.

“A person’s freedom of conscience, the entire Reformation, is based on the understanding that we are responsible to the authority of scripture. And so we can voice our dissent based on that . . This exclusion puts a document of the church on a higher level than scripture.” – Denise Allen-Macartney, minister (Ottawa)

“Action within a Presbyterian polity involves the expression of one’s opinion, whether one agrees with it or not.” – Brian Fraser, minister (Westminster).

“We respect other positions; we’re trying to work within the situation. . . . Our presbytery is barely surviving . . there are so many congregations closed . . If this were to go, the presbytery may be in danger.” – Alfred Lee, minister (Western Han-Ca).

“Yet one of those two positions . . . holds that certain things go against where I would stand and my congregation would stand and to be told that I can no longer voice that opinion in Christian love and respect  . . . to me takes it too far.” – Sean Howard, minister (West Toronto) – spoken in response to Victor Kim’s “one position” statement

“I cannot help but think of the Rainbow communion and the harm in which words have done to the hearts and lives of many . . . There’s an element of Christian love which is in limiting one’s freedoms at times.” – Hugh Donnelly, minister (Waterloo-Wellington)

After several speakers, Deputy Clerk Muir suggested that the clerks take another look at the guidelines. Debate ended when commissioners referred the issue back to the clerks.

For a full picture of this rich one-hour discussion, go to the YouTube recording of Sederunt 3, starting at the eight-minute mark.

MAID (PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE/DEATH)

In 2017, General Assembly approved a bold statement upholding the sanctity of life in a document named “Physician Assisted Suicide” (PAS.) It was intended as an interim response and it was commended to the church for study. Feedback was received and in 2019, the Church Doctrine Committee (CDC) prepared a report with revisions to the 2017 statement. In 2021, commissioners proposed adding “Medical Assistance in Dying” to the title. In 2022, in response to a significant number of requests, “Physician Assisted Suicide” was dropped entirely from the name.

At 2023 GA, the CDC proposed that they continue to discuss the issue and produce a new report but with no specific deadline. Commissioners replaced that with a more specific motion requiring MAID terminology and reflecting what appears to be wide acceptance of the practice. Commissioners overwhelmingly voted in favour.

Several commissioners referred to the changing landscape and the fact that the 2017 document contained “harmful and triggering” terms, a reference to PAS.

In the words of one commissioner: “Are we looking at the church being part of the decision or looking at providing background support?”

CONFESSION AND LANGUAGE HOSPITALITY

One possibly overlooked General Assembly key moment this year was the final report of the Special Committee Re: Listening, Confession and Associations, which was commissioned in 2021 in response to formal petitions by the Han-Ca (Korean speaking) presbyteries which alleged racism in the PCC.

It was a rich report, prompting lively discussion which extended for more than two hours over two sederunts. To watch it in full, go to the GA 2023 page at presbyterian.ca and click the links for Sederunt 8 (start at the 56-minute mark) and Sederunt 9.

The landmark outcome of the committee – one that will hopefully stand as a permanent statement – was the Confession “regarding the ways in which The Presbyterian Church in Canada has silenced, mistreated and slandered the ‘ethnic contingent’ of the church.” Ethnic contingent is key because it expands the committee’s original mandate to look primarily at the Korean experience.

The confession – which was read to the Assembly in English and Korean – was presented with two main hopes:

1. that it be received and acted upon with a redeemed heart; and
2. that it not be the final word but be part of an ongoing process in which the church strives to become something closer to what Christ ordained.

In that light, commissioners took some of the committee’s recommendations a step further with key amendments.

The recommendation “that geographically defined presbyteries (that are not Han-Ca Presbyteries) reach out to the congregations of Han-Ca Presbyteries within their bounds to build connections, listen and find contexts to express understanding and compassion” was amended to include “other ethnic communities.”

Bob Faris (East Toronto) pointed out that while cultural/language-based presbyteries have their strengths, they “separate us; we’re not talking together until we come to a General Assembly.” Conversations on a local level – presbytery to presbytery – might provide opportunities to understand one another and forge better relationships.

Even within geographic-based presbyteries, work needs to be done to create better relationships between Anglo and other ethnic congregations, committee co-convenor Stephen Kwon said in response.

Several speakers reminded the court that the process might not be easy and would likely include challenges. Said Young Cho (West Toronto) who made the amendment: “It’s going to be hard, but keep trying.”

The formal move to reach out is actually nothing new. Alfred Lee (Western Han-Ca) told commissioners that when Han-Ca presbyteries were created 25 years ago, there was regular interaction with local geographic presbyteries and there were official observers to each others’ courts. “But that got lost. We can reconcile those relationships.”

While much of the discussion revolved around culture and language, there is an underlying issue, said Mary Moore (Vancouver Island). “I’m a bit saddened that we are not recognizing that the issue is not necessarily fellowship but theological differences and creating safe space for Han-Ca. We need to look seriously about finding a way to enshrine liberty of conscience so they feel safe in the church. Their overture said specifically that it was a theological issue.”

A recommendation by the committee for congregations and ministers – in addition to presbyteries – to reach out was also amended to include “other ethnic communities.”

The Confession didn’t sit well with a few commissioners, who were uneasy about signing off on something when they do not believe they personally have anything to confess. Committee co-convenor Peter Bush acknowledged that, but cited Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “The church may confess the sins of the nation or the church that they have not committed but they still confess on behalf of another. Bonhoeffer’s words haunted me and I’m still trying to figure out exactly what they mean, but I still feel he’s onto something, something very profound. . .. I may not have participated, but the body of Christ has. I’ll just leave it at that.”

The issue of racism goes far beyond one culture, said Germaine Lovelace (Brampton), who cited the frustrations of two Black pastors he knows who are struggling to gain interviews, let alone a call. “There is a problem in the Presbyterian Church,” he told commissioners.

The Confession was adopted, along with recommendations that it be presented during a worship service later this year  “involving members of the multi-racial community” in the PCC, and that presbyteries do the same. An additional motion that the Life and Mission Agency “provide resources to accompany the Confession to deepen our understanding of the concept of race and the role we share in the important work of antiracism” was also adopted.

Language remains a barrier. Han-Ca’s have been attempting for years to get real-time translation during GA. After much discussion and several amendments, commissioners agreed with a suggestion by Barb Sargent (Essex Kent) that translation services be provided at all future General Assemblies.

“I have heard over a number of years of the difficulty that the Han-Ca presbyteries have had, not being able to fully participate because of the issue of language. . . It might cost us a little bit of money, but we should have dealt with it in the past and we need to deal with it now,” Sargent said.

This was amended to include “all languages used in the lower courts of our denomination as needed” and further amended to make it “subject to funding being made available.” There was lengthy discussion over the cost. Citing the great diversity of languages in the PCC, “conceivably, we could be hiring 10-15 translators, on an as-needed basis,” said Peter Kinch (East Toronto.) Even the United Nations has a strict limit on simultaneous translation, he added.

“Simultaneous” was removed and “lower courts” was narrowed to “presbyteries”.

After additional wordsmithing, amendments to amendments and much discussion, the following was adopted: “That at all future General Assemblies, translation to all languages used in the presbyteries of the church be made available as needed, subject to funding being made available by the Assembly Council.”

Read the Confession that arose from this report.

A NEW CREED?

An amended Ionian Creed (Iona Abbey Worship Book) was used during opening worship at The Presbyterian Church of St. David in Halifax. One key addition is in bold.

We believe in God above us,
Maker and sustainer of all that lives,
Of sun, moon and stars,

Of water, air and earth,
Of male and female,
All genders, colours and cultures.

We believe in God beside us,
Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh,
Born of a woman’s womb, servant of the poor,
He was tortured and nailed to a tree.
He bore the suffering of others, but died himself forsaken.

He descended into the earth to the place of death.
On the third day he rose from the tomb.
He ascended into heaven to be everywhere present,
And his reign will come on earth.

We believe in God within us,
The Holy Spirit of transforming flame,
Life-giving breath of the church,
Energy of healing, justice and forgiveness,
Source of resurrection and life everlasting. Amen.

DISSENT AND POWER

Recommendation 1 of the Clerks of Assembly was in response to Overture No. 8, 2019. It boils down the rights of dissent and asks that the court reaffirm the right to dissent if a member was absent with leave or presented prior criticism of a decision. The clerks were proposing to uphold the removal of those rights which were decided by previous Assemblies. Not so fast, said some commissioners. This is an issue of doctrine more than polity, said Denise Allen-Macartney (Ottawa) who suggested that the matter be referred to the Committee on Church Doctrine. Commissioners agreed.

In response to a 2022 decision by the Special Committee on Petitions 1 and 2 (regarding racism) to ensure that the Committee to Nominate Standing Committees be representative of the cultural and ethnic mix of the PCC, the Clerks’ Recommendation 2 proposed that Assembly Council be given the right to recommend committee membership. Currently, the Synods recommend names. Now, the council would be given the right to add its own nominees beyond the names that the synods have provided. Some observers and commissioners were concerned that this places too much power in the hands of the council. However, most commissioners agreed with the clerks. The matter goes to presbyteries for consideration under the Barrier Act.

WE CAN AGREE ON A FEW THINGS

It was encouraging to see unanimous bipartisan (evangelical and liberal) support for the outrage over the persecution of LGBTQ people in Uganda. Same with the National Indigenous Ministries Council and the Special Committee on Listening in response to Han-Ca racism overtures.