By Rev. Joel Coppieters, in response to the proposal by the Presbytery of Montreal regarding voting for Remits ‘B’ and ‘C’ on October 15, 2019.

There are three reasons why we should not proceed by secret ballot.

First, throughout this debate there has been a persistent plea for open dialogue with a strong insistence that everyone publicly express their opinions and perspectives. It would seem rather anticlimactic and incongruous at this point when our opinions will finally really count, to seek discreet anonymous voting.

Secondly, for those on the progressive side of this issue, who appear to be pushing for a secret ballot, this is a matter of basic civil rights. If that is the case, this is no moment for anonymity, this is the time to bravely stand and be counted for what you believe to be right.

Thirdly, this is a decision heavy with consequence.

• There are many small churches across the country who have already suffered, lost members and otherwise been hurt through the process of this discussion and for whom this decision will bring the final coup de grâce.
• For most of our ethnic congregations who still firmly stand with the position of the global church, this decision will make their continued outreach to their communities almost impossible.
• For dozens of other churches like Côte des Neiges who have been working for the Gospel within the PCC for over a century and a half, this decision may well force us to walk away from our historic fellowship with the PCC, losing buildings, assets and other resources.
• And for a number of us ministers, this decision may well bring the end of a fruitful ministry, at least within the PCC, and possibly the need to find another vocation.

My brothers and sisters, if you are indeed going to make a decision this heavy with consequence, I simply plead, as a gesture of respect and decency in the process, that you would at least have the courage to stand publicly, to affirm your decision and to assume the weight of its consequences.

Remarks prepared by Rev. Joel Coppieters to the Presbytery of Montreal, October 15, 2019

I cannot vote in favour of these remits for biblical reasons. I echo the report the PCC’s own Church Doctrine Committee presented to the 2018 General Assembly, that after years of study we have not seen sufficient biblical grounds to abandon the longstanding Christian understanding of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

I cannot vote in favour of these remits for theological reasons because my ordination vows included a pledge to uphold not only the Scriptures, at least two historic subordinate standards which these remits contradict.

I cannot vote in favour of these remits for ecclesial reasons. They would isolate the PCC from the overwhelming majority of global Christianity, excluding us from a wide fellowship of the church with whom we have always worked in moving forward the mission of God forward.

I cannot vote in favour of these remits for fear of the reprisals that will come. While the language of the remits themselves promise freedom of conscience and practice, several other clear written communications from the clerks of assembly have already defined that freedom in ways that are hostile and unworkable to those who hold traditional views.

I cannot vote in favour of these remits because while they speak the language of inclusion, they will in fact exclude my Christian brothers and sisters from dozens of countries around the world who are already part of the fellowship of our congregation.

I cannot vote in favour of these remits because I believe that the love of God not only includes and welcomes everyone, but that it also extends an invitation to a broken world, an offer of redemption and of recreation to a holy standard that our Creator has set with our best interests at heart. For me to proclaim any less would be to fail in my call as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.