The General Assembly of the PCUSA completed its week of work yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama. You’ve read about some of its decisions in the local papers. Among its more important actions:

What I believe to be a deeply flawed statement on the nature of the Trinity was “received” not “approved” by the Assembly – reflecting some of the unease with a document that, while affirming Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as an “indispensable anchor,” suggested that the church be “liberated” to use many other images for the Triune God – Rainbow of Promise, Ark of Salvation, and Dove of Peace; Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, Life-giving Womb; Rock, Cornerstone, and Temple. While each of these terms is Scriptural and may provide metaphorical clues to the nature and work of God, the selected triads are woefully inadequate and misleading as alternatives to understanding the essential nature of the God Scripture tells us is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Commended to the church for study and to be used in the development of liturgical resources, the Trinity paper is not helpful to a denomination already so confused about its own theological identity and its mission and message in a world increasingly torn by all sorts of religious fundamentalism on one side, self-fascinated New Age thought on another, and cold-hearted secularism on yet another.

The controversial Report from the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church (The PUP report) was also approved by the Assembly. Under terms of the PUP Report’s recommendations, any constitutional standard of faith and polity may now be determined by an ordaining body (local session or presbytery) to be non-essential and compliance with it not necessary for ordination. The immediate flash point, of course, has been the constitutional standard that among the standards for the manner of life of those ordained to church office – elder, deacon, and minister of Word and Sacrament – is the requirement of “fidelity in the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” While the assembly overwhelmingly (81% in favor) reaffirmed its commitment to that provision of the constitution, it then approved a measure that seems to allow sessions and presbyteries to declare the standard non-essential and unenforceable. The actual outworking of the PUP recommendations will not be known until such an irregular ordination is challenged in the courts of the church.

This Assembly backed down from the previous Assembly’s hard line policy on divestment from companies doing business with Israel and from its unfathomable support of partial-birth abortion. A summary of the work of this General Assembly will be included as an insert in this Sunday’s bulletin.

So where does all this leave the Presbyterian Church USA? In a very precarious position. Among the Progressives there has already been a call to continued work to delete the “fidelity and chastity” provision of the Book of Order despite the 81% affirmation at this year’s GA. There will be no peace on this issue. Responding to a growing loss of trust in official denominational vision and policy, renewal groups have announced plans for a new missions initiative that will include the much-respected Outreach Foundation and Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship in a move that will simply bypass the General Assembly in funding more Christ-centered mission work. Meanwhile, the Stated Clerk of the GA is predicting a record 85,000-member loss in our 2.3 million member denomination next year alone. Some conservatives believe that the recommendations of the PUP report have effectively ended constitutional connection in the PCUSA and are talking about exit strategies and picking up the pieces after what they believe is the implosion of the denomination that may have begun in Birmingham.

I am urging both caution and action as I talk to others, especially pastors in our presbytery. I would caution against forecasting or expecting immediate disaster. We cannot know how PUP will play out, though there is a formula for great confusion in its contradictory positions. I am encouraging action at our local level as we work together to bring positive and constructive change to our own Presbytery. There are things we can do both formally and informally to model life as a community of congregations and pastors with a focused sense the Triune God’s call in our lives and common mission and a biblical accountability to one another (what Presbyterians always do best).

We will hardly have time to discuss all this on Sunday, but it may be a good time to begin some dialogue. Come to the class and then let’s talk!