The Proposed New Form of Government

1. The Proposed New Form of Government Changes we don’t need

2. The way the New Form of Government has been proposed, it’s all or nothing. • Instead of offering us the opportunity to consider each change on its own merits, we get an omnibus, up-or-down package • Whatever the potential benefits of some provisions, passing nFOG sticks us with some troubling changes… One Crucial Point

3. Changes to how we live as the Church

4. Current G-9.0103: “The governing bodies are separate and independent” New F-3.0203: “The councils are distinct.” New G-3.0106: In discussing the relationship between governing bodies in mission, the terms used are “unity and interdependence.” Changes

5. From “separate and independent” to “unity and interdependence” is a significant change in itself. But the impact of this change is much greater in the way it shifts the meaning of other constitutional provisions… Changes

6. For example, nFOG retains the current language that reads, “the larger part of the church, or a representation thereof, shall govern the smaller.” (F-3.0203) But isn’t this “governing” a very different thing without the balancing assurance of the independence of the smaller governing bodies? Changes

7. The net effect of this change is to shift the PC(USA) away from being a fellowship of governing bodies cooperating in ministry and toward a top-down hierarchy. Changes

8. Changes to our regular operations

9. New G-3.0106: “Each council shall develop a manual of administrative operations that will specify the form and guide the work of mission in that council.” Changes

10. These manuals must replace all the standards and procedures in the current FOG that are absent from the nFOG. For example: • How PNCs may operate in searching for a pastor • What ordination exams a candidate must pass • How many members are required for a quorum • Whether a presbytery will have a COM, a CPM, etc. These answers will be different for each session, presbytery, and synod Changes

11. nFOG’s guidelines for these manuals include numerous constitutional references for which these manuals must account: • 43 constitutional references for session manuals • 25 constitutional references for presbytery manuals Writing and maintaining these manuals will be a major burden on our already-busy presbyters. And the added burdens don’t stop there… Changes

12. Current G-11.0103x: The presbytery has the responsibility “to review session minutes and records at least once each year.” This review is simply to make sure that the actions taken were recorded properly. Changes

13. New G-3.0108a: “Each council shall review annually or biennially, based on the body’s meeting frequency, the proceedings and actions of all entities related to the body, all officers able to act on behalf of the body, and lower councils within its jurisdiction… Changes

14. New G-3.0108a: “…In reviewing the procedures of the lower council, the higher body shall determine whether the proceedings have been correctly recorded, have been in accordance with this Constitution, have been prudent and equitable, and have been faithful to the mission of the whole church. It shall also determine whether lawful injunctions of a higher body have been obeyed.” Changes

15. Under nFOG, the regular routine review must consider each action of every session, every committee, and every officer… …and determine whether each was constitutional, prudent, equitable, and in keeping with the larger mission strategy of the church.

16. To recap: each session must write a manual, and the presbytery must far more extensively review each session’s actions once a year… including the writing of the manual! Anybody want to serve on the Session Records committee now? Changes

17. Changes to how we pursue our mission

18. Current G-10.0102c: The session has the responsibility “to lead the congregation in participation in the mission of the whole Church in the world.” Pretty simple: The session leads the people in discerning and pursuing the mission of the Church Universal, according to the call of the Holy Spirit. But, under the nFOG… Changes

19. New G-3.0201: The session has the responsibility of “leading the congregation in participating in the mission of the whole church.” From “whole Church in the world” to “whole church” doesn’t seem like that big a deal, right? Changes

20. Not so fast… New G-3.0501a: The General Assembly has the responsibility of “establishing a comprehensive mission strategy and priorities for the church.” Synods (G-3.0401) and Presbyteries (G-3.0301c) are to work in accord with G.A.’s mission priorities Sessions’ leadership in missions is subject to the strategy developed by the presbytery (G-3.0303a) and the strategy and priorities of G.A. Changes

21. From mission discerned and led by the session to mission determined, prioritized, and strategized by the General Assembly, synod, and presbytery. This change is intentional, according to the testimony of one of nFOG’s authors at G.A. At G.A., an amendment to retain the session’s authority to determine the congregation’s mission was rejected. Changes

22. Changes to our faith and proclamation

23. Current G-4.0403: “full participation and access to representation in the decision making of the church” is guaranteed to people of “different theological positions consistent with the Reformed tradition” New F-1.0403: Guarantees “full participation and representation in [the PCUSA’s] worship, governance, and emerging life” to “all persons or groups within its membership” “regardless of theological conviction.” Changes

24. nFOG replaces theological diversity within the broad traditions of the Christian faith and the Reformation with the principle that the church must allow people to serve in leadership no matter what they believe. Renouncing the essential tenets of the faith! Changes

25. Current G-6.0202b: “Pastors are responsible for studying, teaching, and preaching the Word…” New G-2.0501: “Teaching elders [pastors] shall preach and teach the faith of the church.” Changes

26. nFOG replaces preaching the Word of God with preaching the faith of the church. Such replacement is rejected by the Theological Declaration of Barmen, part of our Constitution: Changes

27. “Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death. We reject the false doctrine, as though the church could and would have to acknowledge as a source of its proclamation, apart from and besides this one Word of God, still other events and powers, figures and truths, as God’s revelation.” (Book of Confessions, 8.11-12) Changes

28. nFOG replaces preaching the Word of God with preaching the faith of the church. Substituting the human proclamation of the church for the inspired Word of God! There is a word for this: idolatry Changes

29. The proposed New Form of Government is full of changes to our operation, our organization, our mission, and our proclamation… Changes that go against our best interests, our traditions, and our faith… Changes that we don’t need. Please vote “no” on nFOG