NEWSLETTER
November 2003
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Absolutely Unacceptable
ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!There is NO WAY that evangelical Christians within the Presbyterian Church can accept the findings of the recent Judicial Commission. Unless Assembly moves decisively to put the situation right, the Presbyterian denomination in this country faces a miserable future – and may fall apart.SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?Completely ignoring historic Christian ethics and the Supreme and Subordinate Standards of the Church, and dismissing the weight of the key Assembly resolutions in 1985 and 1991, the Judicial Commission has come to the bizarre conclusion that since our denomination does not have any actual legislation on practicing homosexuals in ministry, it therefore has no “policy” or “doctrine” on it, and therefore there is no bar to such people being trained, licensed, ordained or inducted into ministry!
It is monstrous that a Judicial Commission of just five people - acting with the powers of Assembly, and with their decisions unable to be appealed – have been able to reverse our church’s policy on practicing homosexuals in ministry, and in the process sideline the Word of God and the Subordinate Standards, and put at naught the agonising struggles of more than ten years of Assemblies. There is no way that such major decisions should be made by any but a full General Assembly, representative of the whole Church.
It means we are in a denomination that has gone against its own constitutional and confessional standards and made a ruling that is conspicuously contrary to the Word of God.It means that our denomination has brushed aside the biblical conscience of many thousands of its members and leaders.
It means that our denomination continues to ignore how 78% of its members voted in the 1997 Referendum.
It means that, until Assembly acts, there is no legal way of stopping practicing homosexuals and lesbians being accepted as ministers in the Presbyterian Church. It means that those practising homosexuals who are already ministers (and protected by a 1996 exemption for those already in the system) will sooner or later be joined by others.
It means that the denomination is being directed not by the Word of God, or by the Subordinate Standards, but by secular arguments about the legal interpretation and relative weight of various Assembly decisions.
It means that our denomination is being hijacked by the agenda of a small group of radicals, relying on lawyers’ arguments behind closed doors.
It means our denomination is again being dragged into public shame and disrepute, so that many members and ministers feel deeply ashamed.
It means we are struggling to retain some members, or to attract others.
It means that Asian and other ethnic congregations are deeply troubled – and that some congregations planning to join us will not now do so.
It means that, technically, we are in a worse situation than the Methodist Church before it split several ways.
It means that, unless the Assembly acts decisively to sort things out, the Presbyterian Church in this country could fall apart, with the remnant facing a long weary inexorable decline.
It is all so tragic, so contrary to all the good and encouraging things that have been happening, so defective a decision-making process, so remote from what the vast majority of Presbyterians want, so sub-biblical, so wrong.
Very definitely, NO! We must remain together. It is extremely important that evangelical churches and members sit tight, and work together to reclaim the church for biblical truth and righteousness. Talk of jumping ship is premature. AFFIRM believes that our priority must be to work together to turn the situation round. This reversal was not made by General Assembly itself, but by a small judicial commission: General Assembly itself must be given an opportunity to put things right. It will not be easy (given the unjust 60% rule that advantages the minority), but - under God - it must be tried.Schism has never been AFFIRM’s agenda. If Assembly fails to establish a policy consistent with biblical standards, however, we believe a major schism may be difficult to avoid. Some would stay, many would go. There would be a split, not a walk-out. It would be protracted and messy. AFFIRM’s strong preference remains a decisive clean-up.
A divided house will not stand. For ten long years, the Assembly has dithered and fluffed and temporized on issues of sexual morality, failing to take a clear and consistent biblical stand – and constantly using legal and procedural devices (such as Judicial Commissions and the 60% rule) to subvert the will of the majority in the Assembly and the church at large. We will not stand for it any longer. If the General Assembly has not made a decision consistent with the Word of God by the time it finishes meeting in Sept. 2004, we believe the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa will never be the same again. From that point, it would face both significant disintegration and slow decline.· PRAY! We can – as individuals and churches - get serious about praying for our church. It desperately needs it. Only God can turn the situation around.· WRITE! We can – as individuals and as Sessions/Parish Councils – write letters of protest and concern to (1) your Presbytery (2) the Council of Assembly (c/- Rev. Kerry Enright, PO Box 9049, Welllington) (3) the Moderator (Rev. M.Thawley, 58 Dyers Pass Road, Christchurch).
· ENLIST! Get as many people as you can to become supporters of AFFIRM, by letting them see this newsletter and receive it themselves (preferably by e-mail). Check whether your friends see it.
· JOIN! Encourage your parish to join the new National Association of Presbyterian Evangelical Churches (see below).
· DIRECT ACTION! AFFIRM believes that at this point redress and reform should be sought through the normal channels.
WILL THERE BE AN EXTRA ASSEMBLY?No one knows. It is possible that some Presbyteries may push for that, and that the Council of Assembly or Moderator may summon such an Assembly. It is not only evangelicals who are upset at this time. Many others are also appalled at the undermining of Assembly, and at the implications of the Commission’s findings for the order and unity of the denomination. It would be better to start sorting things out sooner rather than later. However, should an extra or emergency assembly only have limited representation, that would probably be of limited use, and would be open to the sort of procedural abuse and manipulation with which we are all so thoroughly disgusted. Only a full representative assembly will suffice.
SHOULD THERE BE A BUDGET BOYCOTT?Many voices are saying that the national church does not listen to anything but financial pressure, and are thus urging a serious withholding of funds – to help bring the national church to its senses.AFFIRM fully agrees that the national church often has extremely defective hearing. But AFFIRM is not at this point endorsing the call to a general budget boycott, in part because we believe that the Assembly and Council of Assembly should first be allowed an opportunity to put things right. Also, apart from some questionable programmes there are still some good things that should responsibly be supported, and some good people who would lose their jobs if national church finances collapse.
AFFIRM cannot tell parishes what to do. But we advise that if a percentage of money is withdrawn, as a symbolic protest, two steps be taken (1) write and tell the Presbytery and the Council of Assembly exactly what you are doing - and why (2) consider retaining the withheld money in a separate account, for remittance at a later date.
WHY DOES AFFIRM OPPOSE IMMORALITY?(A brief note for those who have not been following this for the last 10 years!)Because we believe, on the basis of God’s revelation in Jesus and the Scriptures, that God’s good intention for human sexual relationships is faithful loving marriage between a man and a woman, and that anything less falls short of God’s ways. We believe that leaders in the church should be faithful to God’s word. We believe that God calls Christians to repentance and holiness, and to transformation and discipleship through the work of the Holy Spirit. We deplore any agenda that cheapens and distorts the Gospel.
re DROPPING THE SUBORDINATE STANDARDSAFFIRM is more convinced than ever that the proposal to change the church’s relationship to the Subordinate Standards is extremely unwise at this point, and that it should be firmly resisted. The Standards are less than perfect, and AFFIRM could accept the idea of them being eventually replaced with a substantial contemporary statement of faith. But what we are being offered in their place (a flimsy “Focal Identity Statement”) is woefully inadequate. Instead of sadly neglected doctrinal standards, we would in effect have no standards. That is unacceptable. AFFIRM sees this issue as going deeper than even the homosexual issue: it concerns whether the PCANZ wishes to remain orthodox, or whether it wishes to open the door to all sorts of apostasies and confusions. What is proposed would make any accountability of ministers in doctrine or life virtually impossible.
ANNOUNCING THE FORMATION OF N.A.P.E.C.AFFIRM has always been a fairly loose network. Its role is advisory only. It has no formal membership or subscriptions. It simply has thousands of supporters and people on its mailing lists. It rarely asks for funds. Over the years, more than a hundred parishes have declared their solidarity with our purposes and aims. AFFIRM is not, however, an organisation that directly and formally represents its supporting congregations.In this time of crisis, the Executive of Presbyterian AFFIRM sees a need for a tightened organisational structure, linking evangelical parishes. Accordingly, the Executive has unanimously agreed to establish a “National Association of Presbyterian Evangelical Churches” (NAPEC), as a self-governing sister organisation to AFFIRM. NAPEC will work mainly through e-mail, communicating directly with Sessions/ Parish Councils. Every local church will have a say.
One of the purposes of NAPEC is that evangelical parishes may make a stand and speak with a united voice. NAPEC thus picks up the “Standing Together” initiative of 1999, in which parishes publicly joined a register of those who were standing together within the Presbyterian Church for biblical truth and standards.
Another important purpose is so that as evangelical parishes we may publicly establish our joint identity (within the PCANZ) as distinctly biblical and evangelical Presbyterian churches – in contrast to the denomination at large, which is compromised. Membership of NAPEC will be like a “brand” of quality – an indicator of biblical faithfulness in Gospel, life, and mission.
NAPEC-member churches will remain faithful to the Presbyterian Church’s constitutional and confessional Standards, above all to the Word of God.
NAPEC should not be misunderstood as a preparation for schism. On the contrary, it may even help prevent it. Should both NAPEC and AFFIRM one day become unnecessary, all the better! God alone holds the future.
The basic point is that this is a time when the great mass of evangelical Presbyterian parishes must stand up and work together, more closely than ever before. We can also encourage one another, in positive ways.
A possible NAPEC charter, starting with a statement to be displayed on noticeboards and church signboards…
National Association of Evangelical Presbyterian Churches
Standing together for biblical faithThis church is a member of the National Association of Presbyterian Evangelical Churches (NAPEC)
Belonging to NAPEC means:
(1) we believe in…
· one God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
· Jesus Christ - Son of God, only Saviour, risen Lord
· the authority of the Word of God
· new life in Jesus through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit
· biblical preaching, teaching, evangelism(2) we are committed to…
· the Supreme and Subordinate Standards of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand , and the Apostles’ Creed
· apostolic, orthodox, reformed Christian faith
· spiritual renewal of the local church
· biblical standards of morality and leadership
· building strong ties of fellowship, identity, and shared work with other member churches of the associationMembership of this association is limited to those parishes where the minister has signed assent to this basis, and the Session/Parish Council have voted to join. A subscription is payable. Member churches are urged to place the Header (above) on their signage and newsletter, and the whole statement on a prominent noticeboard.
Please drop us a note or e-mail and tell us what you think. We will adjust our proposal in the light of that, and then mail parishes with an opportunity to join. We also propose a parish subscription of $100.
Presbyterian AFFIRM is now ten years old. We were founded in June 1993, after a well-attended meeting held at Greenlane Presbyterian. We have been a consistent voice for biblical orthodoxy and church renewal within the PCANZ. We have often been maligned and misunderstood, but God has been faithful. AFFIRM is grateful for the loyal support and faithful prayers of many thousands of people, and for the generous (and usually unsolicited) financial support of some. It is for such people, scattered across hundreds of parishes throughout New Zealand, that we exist. Our calling is to remain a faithful voice for biblical truth and life, and to share hope and vision.In the course of this year the Exec. of Presbyterian AFFIRM has seen the retirements of our four most venerable Exec. members: Co-Chairman Rev. John McKinlay and the Very Rev. Dr. John Evans, and Exec. members Dr. Beryl Howie and the Rev. Dr. Bruce Nicholls. In different ways, each of these four people has made a fine contribution, not least with their wisdom, experience and unfailing encouragement. We honour them all.The retirement of four Exec. members has inspired us to add several new members, all people of energy and insight. At the same time we have added new Council members in various regions – with more to come.Quite apart from the present (and most unwelcome) crisis, AFFIRM is eager to reinvigorate its programme of positive, mission-related events (as in its nationwide round of “Turning the Church Around” conferences in 2001)The new AFFIRM co-chairmen are Stuart Lange and Steve Jourdain.(a) From a minister whose parish has lost 60-70 people over this issue
“Has anybody asked the people who are supporting the ordination of practicing homosexuals this direct question? "The Presbyterian Church has been in existence in this country for over 150 years. The issue of the ordination of homosexual people did not appear in this Church as a matter of public debate until the late 60s of the twentieth century. Since then it has consumed enormous time energy money and resources, not to mention the widespread grief, division and suspicion from one end of the country to the other. There is still a massive conflict over this issue and the people promoting it quite obviously are continuing to employ a variety of emotive and legalistic strategies to further their cause. So distressing has this issue become that the PCANZ as a denomination has become a deeply divided house with no hope of resolution where this issue is concerned. Indeed it has tainted the activities of the whole Church in many other sectors as well as again and again ambushing time that should be spent on other things. As there is no possibility of fundamental change in the minds of an overwhelming majority of Presbyterians it is time that the Church began to take some very serious steps in the interests of its ongoing health. Would it not be sensible to suggest that the people for whom this issue means so much depart and form their own denomination or attach themselves to another with similar views? By so doing the PCANZ can continue its life unhampered by this seemingly endless debate and the people who wish to pursue their particular sexual preferences and associate them with ordination can do so in another environment which is free of what for them must be a raft of exceedingly tiresome conservative views. To continue on as things are at present may result in some temporary point- scoring but it will not convince the heart of the people who remain emphatically opposed to the ordination of homosexual people, but it will result in even more of the painful hemorrhaging of membership from the Presbyterian Church in the future."(b) from a “‘middle of the road” minister
“THIS Congregation's response? We have sat on the fence seeking unity and peace. We have previously believed that there were checks and balances that no congregation could ever have a Rainbow thrust upon them from outside. However, I - and I suspect others - have been prodded into a NO WAY stance, in open resistance to the way in which this all has been engineered and pushed in extremis by these advocates. I would hope to be at the next (2004) Assembly and will …vote against the Ordination and Licensing of ‘gays’.”Latest title: GROWING GREAT KIWI CHURCHES, Gordon Miller
A 48-page booklet on how to grow an effective Kiwi church, $9-95Other titles…
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11. Signs, Spells and Spooks - Christians and the Occult (George Bryant) $6.95
12. Angels - Fact and Fantasy - (Peter Carrell) $6.95
13. Same Sex 'Marriage'? (Bruce Logan) $7.50
14. Science Needs God - Much More Than It Thinks! $6.95
15. Is There Life After Death? (George Bryant) $6.95
16. Growing Great Kiwi Churches (Gordon Miller) $9.95SEND ALL BOOK ORDERS TO: Rev. George Bryant, 224a Welcome Bay Rd, Tauranga <bryantgw@xtra.co.nz> Ph.07- 544-1669 (H) , 07-544-0682 (W)PLEASE PUT US IN THE PICTURE!Our data base of postal and e-mail addresses is very difficult to keep up to date. People change their addresses, and forget to tell us. Please keep us informed! (Our apologies if you have told us and somehow we missed it). Please advise current contact persons for your Session/Parish Council. Please get others to sign on.AFFIRM has no subscription fee, and the newsletter is offered free to all, as a service to the wider Church. We entirely depend upon people’s freewill donations. As the Presbyterian Church now goes again into crisis mode, with more AFFIRM mailings necessary, this would be a good time for parishes and individuals to consider making a freewill donation! If you prefer to receive the newsletter by e-mail, please let us know.% -----RESPONSE SLIP----------------------------------------------Presbyterian AFFIRM - our commitment to you…
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