September 08, 2000
September 2000 NACC News Briefs
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A New Audience!
Until now, "News Briefs" has come out only occasionally, and, in most cases, it has gone only to the NACC's officers in the six regions. However, the 2000 AGM in Cranbrook, BC, decided we should broaden the audience through direct distribution to our 103 member congregations. The idea was that, through the congregational contacts, church offices would receive and then photo-copy "News Briefs", making it available to the membership. To make this go faster and easier, the suggestion was that each congregation would identify a contact (preferably a lay person) who could receive each new issue by email. (Where there was no such person, the local region would take responsibility for getting a copy to the charge.) This particular edition deals exclusively with the recent General Council, and under the new arrangements it will come to you (a) through a congregational contact I already know about, or (b) through one of the officers in your particular region. To get the faster service, just have your contact person get in touch with me at the email address below.
God bless - Geoff WilkinsMail: 489 E. Osborne Road
North Vancouver BC V7N 1M4
Phone: [604] 987-9876, Fax: [604] 987-9835
E-mail: Geoff_Wilkins@telus.net
General Council 37
Last month, the United Church's 37th. General Council met for ten days at York University in Toronto. Attended by approximately 400 delegates (or `commissioners'') from across Canada, the GC is the church's highest decision-making body.
In the ten days of deliberations, GC37 processed a huge amount of business. (As an experiment, much of this was handled in one or other of the three experimental Commissions rather than in plenary sessions of the Council itself.) Comprehensive reportage would be impossible here, so what follows is just a selection of items of particular interest and concern to NACC members. The reporting from the sessions has been patchy and sometimes confusing, but I believe the following to be accurate.
- Geoff
Renewal Movement Shut Out
For several General Councils now, the NACC has applied for corresponding privileges, which, if granted, would allow us to contribute a "renewal" perspective to the Council's debates. Initially denied in 1992 (the privilege was granted that year to AFFIRM, the homosexual lobby group), the next two GCs decided to extend it to us too.
This year, General Council received applications from two United Church renewal groups - the COC and the NACC - and our national Chairman, Bob Blackburn, travelled to York University to act as the NACC's intended spokesperson. However, both groups were decisively turned down. The main speaker against the two requests identified herself as a member of AFFIRM. She remarked that AFFIRM itself was not making such an application at this GC (and did not expect to in future), since it was well represented among the commissioners.
Comment: While a separate entity, AFFIRM enjoys the open support of the United Church. In contrast, the NACC is at best tolerated and is seldom allowed to speak directly in the decision-making bodies of the church. The decision of GC37 suggests that that forum too will now be closed to us. As a result, if the NACC is to have any influence on formal decisions taken by the UCC, it will have to be mainly through our member congregations speaking up in their presbyteries and conferences. (GW)
A Point of Order
For about ten years now, the GC has been making changes to the Manual in ways that seem to be prohibited unless the wider church has previously been consulted through a remit (i.e. a referendum). At GC37, a sympathetic commissioner raised a point of order on our behalf, asking for a formal ruling as to whether, under the Basis of Union, sec 8.6.2(1), recent changes to the church's `doctrine, worship, membership, and government'' have been properly introduced. Specifically does or does not 8.6.2(1) govern the by-laws?
After some considerable time, the response of the Council's resident experts was that the changes have not been introduced improperly and that 8.6.2(1) does not apply to them.
Comment: The importance of the question raised by the NACC may not be immediately obvious, but on the final answer rests the validity of many recent (and also proposed) changes to the Manual. Bob Blackburn, as our presence at GC37, attempted to get the experts' ruling in writing, but he was told he would have to wait until the Record of Proceedings comes out, some months from now. When the Proceedings do appear, we may find we have grounds for challenging it. This is an important issue, since the changes in question have significantly altered the face of the United Church in all four of the critical areas mentioned - doctrine, worship, membership, and government. It is our belief that many of them are offensive and pose a danger to the health of the church.(GW)
Sexuality Petitions
Here, four similar petitions (i.e. motions) came to General Council, from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Toronto, and Hamilton Conferences. Despite the geographical distribution, their phrasing was close, sometimes identical. All the petitions asked GC to:
- Encourage the church to take steps to heal the damage caused by its historic position on homosexuality (one petition specifically citing the UCC's 1960 statement that homosexuality is a sin), and Affirm lesbian and gay partnerships, their documentation and celebration in services of blessing, and work for their civil recognition.
- "Affirm that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered as well as heterosexual expression are gifts from God."
- "Find new and creative ways to encourage congregations of The United Church of Canada to enter into the Affirming Congregation study process, leading to becoming an Affirming Congregation."
At GC37, these matters were addressed in Commission C, where there was some difference of opinion as to how to handle them. It was mildly encouraging that the debate was lengthy (three hours) and involved several very close votes. However, the Commission eventually "overwhelmingly" approved all of them on behalf of the Council, including the renunciation of the church's formal 1960 statement that homosexuality is a sin.
Note: Subsequent to the above, the NACC was again able to raise a point of order through a friendly commissioner. At issue was how the church would handle a minister's conscientious refusal to perform the above "services of blessing" for same sex couples. To this point we are not aware of any response.
Comment: As with the ordination of practising homosexuals, the clear intent here is to continue to press for a new sexual ethic within the United Church. These GC37 decisions represent a continuation in our denomination's radical move away from historic Christian teaching and practice, placing us at odds in this matter, as in others, with the overwhelming consensus in the world church. (GW)
Ted Wigglesworth
The long-drawn struggle to set aside Coronation Presbytery's removal of Ted Wigglesworth from his pastoral charge (and his subsequent removal from ordained ministry by Alberta and Northwest Conference) reached its absolute conclusion at General Council, at least as far as internal United Church processes are concerned.
The string of earlier church decisions against Ted had previously been appealed to the Council's Judicial Committee (JC), which disallowed the appeal. As a result, Ted's final recourse was to ask GC itself for a review of that decision. A review committee was therefore appointed from among the delegates, and, it duly considered whether the procedures followed by the JC had been proper. The conclusion was that the JC had committed no serious breaches of process and the Committee recommended to the Council that the rejection of Ted's appeal be upheld. (That recommendation came as no surprise, if only because the operational guidelines given the committee were very narrow.) The GC adopted their recommendation.
As noted, this GC review was the last step that could be taken within the church's own processes. Now a civil court will be asked to decide whether the disciplinary actions taken against Ted should be set aside until the main civil case is heard, eventually, in the Court of Queen's Bench in Alberta. Postponed from June at the church's request, this injunction application is now scheduled for early October. In the meantime, Ted is attempting to make a living by such means as starting a small beverage supply company and serving as a teacher on call in the public school system. It is now approaching four years since Coronation Presbytery removed him from his pastoral charge.
Comment: The NACC is gravely concerned by the string of procedural errors the church has made in proceeding against Ted. We are also concerned that Ted may have been targeted because of the role he played previously as Chairman of the NACC. The main intent of the suit, however, is that it will press the church to be more scrupulous in how it supervises and disciplines its clergy in future. The NACC's Legal Defence Fund is presently assisting Ted with his heavy legal expenses. If you wish to make a contribution to it, cheques made out to "The Legal Defence Fund" may be sent to the NACC, care of the address at the foot of the first page. Income tax receipts are issued for all donations. (GW)
The Church's Organizational Structure
A major focus for GC37 was a report entitled "A Choice for a Changing Church". This proposed reorganization will take us from the present four levels (local Council or Board - Presbytery - Conference - General Council) to three, with the Presbytery and the Conference abolished in favour of a new body, the Regional Council. Obviously, what is proposed will require considerable readjustment of responsibilities. Also included in the package is a major reorganization of General Council's national office, slated for completion by January, 2002.
The major shift from Presbyteries and Conferences to the Regional Councils will require a remit, and GC has ordered that this occur. Thus pastoral charges and presbyteries will be asked to give their input prior to a decision at the 38th General Council (Wolfville, NS, in 2003. The General Secretary has stated that the reorganization will require no substantive additions to or deletions from the Manual, merely the reassignment of responsibilities.
Comment: Remits do not go automatically to pastoral charges, but in this case that has been recognized to be proper. This means, of course, that every congregation has the responsibility of making its feelings known on the matter.
Something to think about: under the new plan, (a) pastoral charges will be under the direct supervision and discipline of the Regional Councils, and (b) the three core leadership positions on each Regional Council are to be filled by the General Council. This is not reassuring for those who are already concerned about the United Church's increasing emphasis on "top-down" control. (GW)
The Faith
For several years now, the UCC's Theology and Faith Committee has been processing responses to the study document, "Reconciling and Making New: Who Is Jesus for the World Today?" Part of a string of revisionary documents - "The Authority and Interpretation of Scripture" (1992), "Towards a Renewed Understanding of Ecumenism" (1993), "Bearing Faithful Witness" (1997), and so on - this document points frankly and squarely at the person of Jesus and who we believe him to be.
Here again GC debate was prolonged and it produced very close votes - evidently a reflection of the present deep divisions in the church over fundamental faith issues. The upshot was that GC 37 directed that the report be published and widely distributed for further study.
In another decision, the GC ordered the Theology and Faith Committee "to produce a draft of a timely and contextual statement of faith, . . . while honouring the diversity of our church and acknowledging our place in a pluralistic world." This also is to be circulated through the church for study and feedback.
Comment: For those rooted in traditional orthodoxy, both of these decisions will ring alarm bells. It is clear from earlier study documents that, when the UCC's movers and shakers do not feel strong enough to advocate open apostasy, they rely on careful fuzzification of language, presumably in the belief that this will somehow disguise where they intend to move the church. The main argument is that the faith statement of 1940 or the Articles of Faith of 1925 have to be replaced so that modern faith needs can be better met. There is some skepticism about that, but if the honest intent were merely to re-word, without alteration of substance, many could agree with the central office spokesman at GC who argued for moving to "vivid and timely and contextual" language. However, the record points to a huge danger that clarity of wording will disappear and that deeply offensive theology will be introduced, probably with subtlety.
Here again, the ball has landed squarely in the congregational court. It is important that the T&F Committee receive a flood of thoughtful and informed responses from charges whose roots are firmly in Scripture and the reformed tradition. If an &establishment" body like General Council can be as divided as it was, this may be a winnable game - but only if every orthodox pastoral charge accepts the challenges of (a) engaging in serious study and (b) framing and submitting a frank response. (GW)
Post Script: My wife has pointed out to me that the above all reads pretty depressingly. Perhaps some Scripture will serve as an antidote. -- Geoff
- "Be strong and courageous, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished." (1 Chron 28:20)
- Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him: do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Ps 37: 7)
- I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (Ps 40:1,2)
- You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. (Isa 26:3,4)
- Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness. (Lam 3:21-23)
- You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:14,15)
- "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." (Luke 10:18,19)
- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
- Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (Eph 5:8-11)
IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!!!!
An Ecumenical Renewal Event
Sponsored by the Church Alive, the Community of Concern, and the National Alliance (United Church), the Bishop's Committee on Renewal (Toronto) and Anglican Essentials (Anglican Church), and the Renewal Fellowship (Presbyterian Church):
- a renewal conference for
adults, teens and children
Dale Lang, pastor and priest, from Taber AB, whose message of hope after the
shooting death of his son Jason has spoken to millions, and
Gary Walsh, Author, President, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, whose
committed orthodoxy informs an elevated view of the body of Christ and its
mission in the world.
Also: worship, meals, and seven workshops: Engaging in Vibrant Worship, Life in the Spirit, Alpha, Prayer, The Joy and Power of Hope, The Uniqueness of Christ, Gourmet Nourishment (on the Word of God).
When? - Saturday, November 4, 2000
Where? -
Wellington Square United,
2121 Caroline Street
Burlington Ontario
For more information, contact the Renewal Fellowship (Presbyterian Church) at 3819 Bloor Street West, Etobicoke ON M9B 1K7. Phone (416) 233-6581, Fax (416) 233-1743, email cbbrown@home.com
Posted at September 8, 2000 09:04 PM