Preparing to Defeat Amendment B in Your Presbytery

Preparing to Defeat Amendment B in Your Presbytery Terry Schlossberg The Presbyterian Coalition 703-680-4571 Terry@presbycoalition.org Sue Cyre Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry 540-898-4244 scyre@swva.net With appreciation to the ministry of OneByOne (www.oneby1.org), and to Presbyterians for Renewal (www. pfrenewal.org) for encouraging this series

Preparing to Defeat the New Amendment Bin Your Presbytery Section 5 Talking Points See Resource Packet, pages 51-59

Your contribution to the debate Choose the point that would persuade you if you were wavering

The purpose of your debate speech Clarity, reason and rationale Help presbyters think through the matter on which they will vote

Study the current and proposed language • Side by side comparison in Resource Packet on pages 9-10 • Session 2 of the power point • Amendment packet sent to presbyteries

Arguments in opposition to Amendment B Consult resources in the Resource Packet and on the Coalition website at http://www.presbycoalition.org/campaign.cfm • Biblical and theological arguments • Justice • Review of current literature on scientific evidence • Testimonies of lives transformed • Eight pages of “talking points”

1. Hierarchy of authorities • Scripture cannot be made to support the amendment; it must be supplanted • The historical Jesus is “transmuted” into a concept defined apart from Scripture • Scripture must be demoted to a relative, non-essential authority • Denies sola Scriptura, an essential Reformation doctrine

Theology Matters November/December 2008 Contact Sue Cyre: 540-898-4244 scyre@swva.net

2. The proposed amendment removes a requirement for “fidelity and chastity” • Standard for governing bodies’ decisions would be removed • Reference for court decisions would be removed

The GA court requires specificity “It would be an obstruction of constitutional governance to permit examining bodies to ignore or waive a specific standard that has been adopted by the whole church, such as the “fidelity and chastity” portion of G-6.0106b….” (GAPJC in Bush, Feb. 2008)

3. “Super Sin” argument • Presbytery of New York City in 1976 • Definitive Guidance response by GA in 1978 • See more on the history in email of 12/2/08 on Coalition website at http://www.presbycoalition.org/December%2021.pdf

4. Is homosexuality innate? • Articles by Dr. Christopher Rosik, Resource Packet, pp 59-63 • No science to support a “gay gene” • Testimonies to changed orientation and practices, Resource Packet, pp 69-82

Arguments should show the harm of Amendment B to the churchandThe benefits to the church of the current G-6.0106b

Arguments in support of the current G-6.0106b G-6.0106b is faithful to Reformed faith and polity—solaScriptura. Scripture reveals Christ to us: the “one Word of God”

2. Examination of candidates Confusion over judgments in decision-making and standards by which judgments are measured

Presbytery (or session) examines Judgment of fitness is based on measurements against churchwide standards in the Book of Order

3. Witness to the society’s shift in sexual standards • The courage of the Church to maintain its biblical standards as a faithful witness to the culture • The benefits to marriage and family life • The blessing of committed marriage and sexually abstinent single life

The physical body matters • Temples of the Holy Spirit • Belong to God and not to selves • Scripture and the Church throughout the ages and around the world oppose sexual relationships outside the bonds of marriage

Resources:Talking Points Find resources for “Talking Points” on the Coalition website at http://www.presbycoalition.org/campaign.cfm

Elements of an effective speech • Aim to affect the atmosphere of the debate rather than to be affected by it

Elements of an effective speech • Aim to persuade • Aim to make a witness in a spirit of love and caring, as a defense of the Gospel • Christian faith is about transformation

Elements of an effective speech Be mindful of your demeanor: Come prepared, ready, confident, and calm

Elements of an effective speech • Plan to make only one point in your speech • Work with others to be sure someone is ready with each of the key points • Prepare a second speech with another single point in case your first speech is made by someone else

Elements of an effective speech • Write out your speech • Time it

Elements of an effective speech For more help on preparing your short speech for the debate, look under Resources on the Coalition Campaign web page. The specific link is: http://www.presbycoalition.org/The%20Two-Minute%20Speech-08B.doc

Take courageGive leadership“Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Preparing to Defeat Amendment B in Your Presbytery Terry Schlossberg The Presbyterian Coalition 703-680-4571 Terry@presbycoalition.org Sue Cyre Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry 540-898-4244 scyre@swva.net With appreciation to the ministry of OneByOne (www.oneby1.org), and to Presbyterians for Renewal (www. pfrenewal.org) for encouraging this series

Preparing to Defeat Amendment B in Your Presbytery