Ten overtures transmitted by the Presbytery of Montreal:

1. Overture from the Presbytery of Montreal requesting consideration of the report of the Gracious Dismissal Committee before proceeding to discussions about Remits “B” and “C” from the 145th General Assembly (2019).
2. Overture from the Presbytery of Montreal requesting the charting of a clear and non-punitive way forward for congregations who feel that they must withdraw from the denomination for theological reasons.
3. Overture from the Presbytery of Montreal requesting the restructuring of the PCC into non-geographic synods along theological lines.
4. Overture from the Presbytery of Montreal requesting the national church to pay any court costs and fines incurred in refusing to conduct a same-sex marriage or to participate in a LGBTQI ordination.
5. Overture from the Presbytery of Montreal requesting amendment of Paragraph 48 of the Book of Forms regarding moving to an immediate vote, by replacing the words “if carried in the affirmative” with “if carried by a two-thirds majority vote”.
6. Overture from the Arabic Presbyterian Church of Montreal requesting the formation of two synods, each national in scope, with autonomy in doctrinal issues, discipline, etc., and the formation of presbyteries along generous regional and theological lines, confining General Assembly responsibilities to matters common to both synods.
7. Overture from the Montreal Chinese Presbyterian Church requesting consideration of the report of the Gracious Dismissal Committee before proceeding to discussions about Remits “B” and “C” from the 145th General Assembly (2019).
8. Overture from the Montreal Chinese Presbyterian Church requesting the restructuring of the PCC into non-geographic synods and presbyteries, so that congregations are given full liberty of conscience and action in matters regarding human sexuality while maintaining vital central administrative functions.
9. Overture from Kensington Presbyterian Church urging endorsement of Remit B (2019) and Remit C (2019), adopting them as amendments to church law, and working together on what we share, our common belief in, worship of, and service to our God in Christ.
10. Overture from the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul requesting the establishment of an up-to-date national registry of ministers and congregations regarding their willingness or unwillingness to celebrate same-sex marriages, and the formation of guidelines by which a minister unwilling to celebrate same-sex marriages would refer a couple to a minister who would.

WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada was formed in 1875 as a union of several branches of the reformed and presbyterian Church, all of which held the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the only rule of faith and life and subscribed to the Westminster Confession of Faith as the principal subordinate standard; and

WHEREAS the peace of The Presbyterian Church in Canada was threatened within the first decade of its union by a dispute over marriage — specifically, a dispute over who one was permitted or not permitted to marry; and

WHEREAS the resolution of that dispute entailed an amendment to the basis of subscription to the Westminster Confession, permitting liberty of conscience on one of the clauses concerning marriage; and

WHEREAS the peace of The Presbyterian Church in Canada is at present threatened once again by a dispute over marriage — specifically, a dispute over who one should be permitted or not permitted to marry; and

WHEREAS the unity of The Presbyterian Church in Canada is also at present threatened by a dispute over ordination — specifically, a dispute over who a session is permitted to ordain and admit as an elder and who a presbytery is permitted to ordain and induct or install; and

WHEREAS this dispute over ordination affects the very nature of a session or a presbytery as a mutually submissive and collegial body of presbuteroi at the heart of the presbyterian understanding and practice of authority within the Church; and

WHEREAS the preservation of the peace and unity of Christ throughout the Church is part of the solemn obligation undertaken by all ministers and elders as a vow at ordination; and

WHEREAS the 145th General Assembly sent to presbyteries under the Barrier Act a remit (styled Remit B) asserting that “The Presbyterian Church in Canada holds two parallel definitions of marriage” without offering any basis in either the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the principal standard or in the Westminster Confession of Faith or in Living Faith as subordinate standards for such an assertion; and

WHEREAS the 145th General Assembly sent to presbyteries under the Barrier Act a remit (styled Remit C) affirming among other things that certain individuals may be ordained as ministers and elders provided that “liberty of conscience and action regarding participation” in such ordinations be granted to ministers and elders, without offering any basis in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the principal standard or in the Westminster Confession of Faith or in Living Faith as subordinate standards for such provision, nor providing any basis on which to reconcile such a provision with the recognized principles and practice of Presbyterian Churches as laid down generally in “The Form of Presbyterial Church Government”; and

WHEREAS the 146th General Assembly on the basis of returns from presbyteries may find itself to be in a position to consider and adopt the changes inherent in Remit B and C, 2019, without having offered to the presbyteries or received from the presbyteries their concurrent opinions or judgements on the real and likely effect and impact of such changes on the peace and unity of Christ throughout the Church resulting from such a change of doctrine not rooted in the confessional standards of the church and such a change in polity not rooted in the principles of presbyterial church government; and

WHEREAS considered and substantive available legal opinion suggests that the continuing freedom for ministers and churches to hold and practice marriage on a different basis than that embraced by civil society may best be preserved by ensuring that the doctrine confessed and the discipline exercised by and for ministers and sessions is ordered in and by a consistent and cohesive ecclesiastical framework; and

WHEREAS it is incumbent upon all ministers and elders of The Presbyterian Church in Canada to devote time, talent, and treasure to the furtherance of Christ’s gospel in and for the world, undistracted and unhindered by the diversion and diffusion of further efforts and energies directed at resolving a fundamental impasse on two irreconcilable definitions of marriage and by implication those deemed eligible for ministry; and

WHEREAS the Scriptures testify that Paul (without John Mark) and Barnabas (with John Mark) parted company for a time when their disagreement over the eligibility of John Mark as a candidate for missionary service led them to a sharp disagreement (Acts 15: 39), and yet later the same Paul eagerly sought the same John Mark’s help “because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4: 11)

THEREFORE the session of Parkwood Church, Ottawa humbly overtures the Venerable, the One hundred and forty-sixth General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, to propose and initiate a restructuring of The Presbyterian Church in Canada designed (1) to bring together as one synod those ministers, sessions, congregations, and presbyteries holding the present confessed doctrine of marriage defined as the union of one man and one woman and who affirm that those eligible for ordination as either elders or ministers are expected to teach and to practice no other definition of marriage; and (2) to permit ministers, sessions, congregations and presbyteries who wish to hold and practice a different doctrine of marriage defined as the union of two adult persons and who affirm that those eligible for ordination as either elders or ministers may teach and practice such a definition of marriage be brought together as a separate synod; thus enabling two synods to be constituted, each with ministers, sessions, congregations, and presbyteries mutually accountable within their respective ecclesiastical frameworks; both synods to share in the present resources of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and to co- operate where common cause is affirmed or can be found and affirmed, in the furtherance of Christian witness, while preserving with integrity confessional fidelity and presbyterial polity; or to do otherwise as the General Assembly in its wisdom deems best.

WHEREAS the Presbyterian Church in Canada has accepted the reality that it is deeply divided on the issues surrounding human sexuality; and

WHEREAS protracted study and conversation on the issue have not revolved the differences and are unlikely to at any point in the future; and

WHEREAS some within the church see the push to full and complete inclusion as a human rights issue that must be eventually accomplished at all costs; and

WHEREAS others have clearly indicated that they cannot remain in a church that no longer makes room for what they believe to the non-negotiable historic orthodox understanding of the Scriptures; and

WHEREAS a division within the church would risk putting both those that leave and those who remain in positions where key administrative functions and valued ministries would become unviable; and

WHEREAS the best alternative to a paralyzing and destructive division at this point is a restructuring that would allow for shared administrative functions and collaborative ministries,  combined with the freedom for local congregations to align and collaborate more closely along doctrinal lines and convictions rather than geography; and

WHEREAS other denominations have successfully implemented non-geographic presbyteries; and

WHEREAS the current pandemic crisis has already pushed us to harness technology in ways that have eliminated geographic distance as a hurdle to shared ministry and collaboration; and

WHEREAS several of the Presbyterian Church in Canada’s existing geographically based presbyteries have already declined to the point of unviability and need to be redrawn; and

WHEREAS the Han-Ca East and Han-Ca West presbyteries already provide a robust test case of the feasibility of non-geographic presbyteries overlapping collaboratively with other presbyteries within the bounds of the Presbyterian Church in Canada; and

THEREFORE, the session of Cote des Neiges Presbyterian Church, humbly overtures the Venerable, the 146^th General Assembly mandate a committee that will research the issue and prepare for the 147^th General Assembly, recommendations for the restructuring of the Presbyterian Church in Canada into non geographic presbyteries in such a way that

• local congregations are given full liberty of conscience and action is matters relating to human sexuality,
• existing geographic presbyteries that have declined below the point of viability are redrawn
• we can preserve and maintain vital administrative functions (like the pension plan, the trustee board, etc.) and key shared ministries (like PWS&D, Presbyterians Sharing, the summer camps, etc.)

WHEREAS the Presbyterian Church in Canada has long devoted time and resources to studying and debating the matter of LGBTQI sexuality diverting energy away from other important issues; and

WHEREAS the debate on this one issue has revealed a larger theological division within the P.C.C., as is evident in the report from the 2019 General Assembly’s “Special Committee Regarding Implications of Option B (Inclusion)” which read in part, “In truth we differ theologically on many things; the role of scripture, the virgin birth, the resurrection, the place of children, of women and the priorities of the church…”; and

WHEREAS many serious attempts to resolve these divisions have failed to do so as is evident from deep pain being expressed on both sides; and

WHEREAS the smooth functioning of our courts require collegial relationships between members; and

WHEREAS any outcome of Remits B and C (GA 2019) after the 2020 General Assembly will not reconcile the two unbridgeable theological views regarding the basis of authority, resulting in courts prone to conflict; and

WHEREAS it appears that Remits B and C, as adopted at the 145^th General Assembly, were intended to provide an inclusive framework to bridge these differences, but for many in our denomination do not effectively do so; and

WHEREAS a change in doctrine may lead to members abandoning their church, thereby reducing the viability of many congregations; and

WHEREAS Remits B and C (GA 2019) do not safeguard civil and ecclesiastical liability for members holding to the traditional view; and

WHEREAS every member of the P.C.C. desires a place to stand with integrity within our own denomination; and

WHEREAS the P.C.C. already has geographically overlapping presbyteries,

THEREFORE the Session of St. Edward’s Presbyterian Church Beauharnois, does humbly overture the 2021 General Assembly to mandate the formation of overlapping, theologically based, presbyteries and synods, allowing sessions to choose which courts their congregations would affiliate with, or to do otherwise as the General Assembly in its wisdom may deem best.

WHEREAS the remits under the Barrier Act of 2019 seek to change the doctrine and practices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in foundational ways, and

WHEREAS through no fault of its own, and in order to respect public health regulations and intentions due to COVID-19 issues, the Presbyterian Church in Canada was unable to conduct a General Assembly in 2020, and to consider the results of Remits B and C (2019) as it normally would, and

WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada prides itself on being inclusive, and

WHEREAS Assembly Council has decided to move forward with a digital General Assembly in 2021 which will exclude participation of important Commissioner voices of those who do not have the computer skills, equipment, or the effective high speed internet connection, likely including those who live in rural areas, and those who may be more mature, less-educated, and financially challenged, and

WHEREAS the potential for technical challenges to an online meeting are high,  many have experienced large group disruptive or ineffective videoconference meetings, particularly with acknowledging and allowing individual speakers to have their turn, glitches and difficulty in determining close votes, and other basic requirements frustrated by the media being used, and

WHEREAS these frustrations will be exacerbated by over two hundred commissioners attempting to have their voices and votes, heard and considered, and

WHEREAS the results of Remits B and C (2019) deserve complete and comprehensive consideration and debate which cannot be done as effectively on-line, and

WHEREAS the on-going work of the General Assembly needs to be attended to,

THEREFORE the Session of Grace Presbyterian Church, Orleans hereby overtures the next General Assembly to limit the business brought before the General Assembly in 2021 to matters normally brought forward under the “Consent Agenda” and other non-contentious matters; and that specifically the matter of Remits B and C (2019) be postponed until such a time as General Assembly is able to meet face to face to allow for due process, or to do otherwise as General Assembly in its wisdom may deem best.

To the Venerable the General Assembly:

WHEREAS the Book of Forms has constituted the guide by which the business of the General Assembly has been conducted within the Presbyterian Church in Canada since its inception; and

WHEREAS it has not been our practice, and should not be our practice, to intentionally delay items of business properly brought before the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS committees assigned work by one General Assembly traditionally report to the following General Assembly or, having made a genuine effort, seek permission to report to a subsequent General Assembly; and

WHEREAS the matter commonly known as Gracious Dismissal was first presented to the 141st General Assembly in 2015; and

WHEREAS the matter was additionally addressed by many overtures in both the 142nd and 143rd General Assemblies, as well as the report of the Clerks of Assembly at both gatherings; and

WHEREAS the 143rd General Assembly named a Special Committee to consider the complex dynamics of the reports and overtures, and in the end committed the recommendations of the Special Committee to the Clerks of Assembly for further consultation; and

WHEREAS the 144th General Assembly during the discussion of the report of the Clerks of Assembly on this matter decided to refer it back, not to the Clerks, but to the Assembly Council; and

WHEREAS the Assembly Council at its March 2019 meeting appointed a task force of its members to prepare a response for consideration; and

WHEREAS that task force response was presented to the October 2020 meeting of the Assembly Council in order to consider and prepare a response to the next General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, at the October 2020 meeting, Assembly Council refused to do its duty to the Church — to receive and consider the Task Force report, thereby disregarding, demeaning and disrespecting the will of the 144th General Assembly, the long-established practice of the denomination, the legitimate concerns of the authors of the overtures and petitions and the dedicated work of some of its own members, while ignoring the history of this matter which predates by four years Remits B and C from 2019; and

WHEREAS such action creates an unfortunate precedent by which a small number of well-placed individuals exercised excessive control over the affairs of the denomination; and

WHEREAS the failure of the General Assembly to chart a clear path forward may quite possibly lead to a flurry of costly alternate responses and legal actions across the country; and

WHEREAS other denominations in several countries have already proven that a gracious path forward in such cases is not only possible, but also desirable; and

WHEREAS the prospect of General Assembly’s possible change to the theology of our denomination by approving remits “B” and “C” without providing any options for people who, in good conscience, cannot abide with such change, will create unnecessary bitterness and conflict within the denomination;

THEREFORE, the Session of Grace West Hill Presbyterian Church, Toronto, Ontario humbly overtures the Venerable, the 146th General Assembly to receive the report of the Gracious Dismissal task force as found on pages 1363-1372 of the October 27, 2020 Assembly Council minutes and to consider the recommendations found within that report
or to do otherwise as the General Assembly in its wisdom may deem best.

WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada has debated human sexuality for several decades, and

WHEREAS the debate is a distraction to our mission, undermining our effectiveness, and

WHEREAS the issues pertaining to human sexuality are symptomatic of deeper theological issues, and

WHEREAS the theological divide is evidenced in the report from the 2019 General Assembly’s “Special Committee Regarding Implications of Option B (Inclusion)” which read in part, “In truth we differ theologically on many things; the role of scripture, the virgin birth, the resurrection, the place of children, of women and the priorities of the church…,” and

WHEREAS deviation from a traditional interpretation of scripture regarding marriage and the ordination practices of the church separates the PCC from the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and the majority of churches around the world, and

WHEREAS Remits B and C (GA 2019) are in and of themselves divisive, and

WHEREAS the activism of some on behalf of the LGBTQI community creates a working environment prone to conflict, and

WHEREAS there is a deep love and devotion to the PCC and its system of governance and traditional theology with many in the denomination, and

WHEREAS our system of governance cannot function without a common basis of authority, and

WHEREAS regardless of how Remits B and C (GA 2019) are dealt with, there remains an unbridgeable chasm of difference within the denomination disrupting unity within the PCC,

THEREFORE the Session of St. Andrew’s Moncton humbly Overtures the 146^th General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada to restructure the denomination along two theological lines, one theologically autonomous Synod each along traditional and revisionist lines, with General Assembly and national offices activities being limited to human resource matters such as pension, health and dental; mission and relief activities; and other mutually agreed upon activities and interests; allowing each Session to choose which Synod their congregation would affiliate with; or to do otherwise as the General Assembly in its wisdom may deem best.

WHEREAS the Barrier Act of 2019 seeks to change the doctrine and practices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in foundational ways, and

WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada prides itself in doing things ‘decently and in good order,’ and

WHEREAS, through no fault of its own, The Presbyterian Church in Canada has been unable to conduct a General Assembly in 2020, and to consider the results of Remits B and C (2019) as it normally would have due to COVID 19 issues, and

WHEREAS The Presbyterian Church in Canada prides itself on being inclusive, and

WHEREAS, Assembly Council, in its wisdom, has decided to move forward with a digital General Assembly in 2021 which will exclude participation of Commissioners who do not have access to effective digital means; and

WHEREAS, the results of Remits B and C (2019) deserve complete and comprehensive consideration and debate which cannot be done as effectively on-line, and

WHEREAS the on-going work of the General Assembly needs to be attended to:

THEREFORE, the Session of St. Andrew’s Moncton would Overture the next General Assembly to limit the business brought before the General Assembly in 2021 to matters normally brought forward under the “Consent Agenda” and other non-contentious matters; and that specifically the matter  of Remits B and C (2019) be postponed until such a time as General Assembly is able to meet face to face to allow for due process, or to do otherwise as General Assembly in its wisdom may deem best.

WHEREAS issues surrounding human sexuality have been contentious for decades within The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and

WHEREAS our ordination vows stipulate that we will not take divisive courses of action, and

WHEREAS the actions of the General Assembly of 2019, in sending changes of doctrine and practice through the Barrier Act of the church are very contentious and divisive, as evidenced by the volume of concern raised through the ‘listening’ processes, and

WHEREAS the proposed changes of practice and doctrine (2019 Remits B and C), to the church sent under the Barrier Act contain (inconveniens logicum, Latin) logical inconsistencies,  

THEREFORE, the Session of St. Andrew’s Moncton would humbly Overture that the next General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada would set aside the actions of the 2019 General Assembly in initiating the Barrier Act in the terms that it did, in order to find a way forward, under the unifying guidance of the Holy Spirit, that glorifies God and enhances the mission of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, or to do otherwise that General Assembly in its wisdom may deem best.