Dear Church Family,
How do you know when it’s time to go? Many of us have read in the papers or heard on the news that First Presbyterian Church, Orlando is leaving our denomination (PCUSA) and joining the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). Many also know that a new denomination is being birthed, the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECO). Trinity Presbyterian Church in Satellite Beach is leaving the PCUSA to join that group. Both churches are leaving because the PCUSA is drifting away from its foundational understanding of the authority of Scripture and how Scripture is to be interpreted.
For many the breaking point came less than a year ago, in May of 2011 when the PCUSA decided no longer to require fidelity in marriage or chastity in singleness of our pastors, elders and deacons. (See the letter “Our Loving Response to PCUSA Ordination Standards” and the sermon “How to Survive a Seismic Shift” or attached). A handful of other congregations in Central Florida Presbytery have already stated their intentions to leave the denomination, as have numerous churches around the country.
So what about Woodbury? Are we staying or leaving? What’s happening? In large part that depends on you, the members of Woodbury Presbyterian Church. In order to leave the denomination a vote is required by the congregation, and that has to be preceded by a period of prayerful study and conversation, both within the church family and with the presbytery.
Woodbury has not taken any official steps to start leaving the denomination. However, the Session has appointed a Denominational Relations Committee to look into the matter. If we were to leave, where would we go? The committee consists of Anita Richard, Suellen Golden, Bob Buford and Dick Ferguson. Currently individuals on the committee are exploring the pros and cons of joining the EPC (Anita), joining ECO (Suellen) staying in the PCUSA (Bob) and joining the Fellowship of Presbyterians (Dick). The FoP is an organization affiliated with ECO. An individual or a church might join the FoP and remain in the PCUSA.
We will keep you posted on their reports, and you can feel free to ask the pastors or any of the elders for an update any time. We’re a family. There are no secrets. (In fact, all this was shared at the special prayer meeting which everyone was encouraged to attend on Palm Sunday.) Presbytery also knows that this committee has been formed, and the Stated Clerk will get a copy of this email. We are children of the light and refuse to do anything in darkness.
Perhaps some people think we are moving too slowly. There are people who said we should have left last May! Others may think we shouldn’t be looking at this issue at all. I agree it is painful, and wish it would just go away. Unfortunately that won’t happen. A decision has to be made. Here are some of the factors to be considered. These have a lot to do with the timing.
First and perhaps most important, the Session has continually heard the Lord tell us, “You’ll know what to do when it’s time.” We are continuing to listen. (The job of the Denominational Relations Committee is to help us to know how to go in the direction the Lord leads us. What does it take to join ECO or EPC? What does it mean to stay?) Our priority is to follow Jesus and to be ready to go wherever He leads whenever He leads.
Second, the General Assembly will meet from June 30 to July 7 in Pittsburgh. Central Florida Presbytery has sent an overture to the General Assembly (similar to an overture Woodbury sent to presbytery) that we reinstate the old ordination standards. It is possible that through this Assembly the Spirit will lead the denomination to repentance and restoration. In any event, we have asked the question of the General Assembly, “Will you return to biblical standards?” They will answer in early July. It seems to be bad form to ask a question then walk out of the room before it is answered. I doubt that our Session will make any decision before July.
At the other extreme, there are several other overtures asking the General Assembly to define marriage as a covenant between two persons (not necessarily between one man and one woman). In fact, those overtures ask the Assembly to make that decision by what is called “Authoritative Interpretation.” Decisions made by AI do not have to be approved or ratified by the presbyteries. They are church law as soon as the Assembly passes them. They are rare, and very honestly this would be an abuse of Authoritative Interpretation. But it is possible that the assembly will pass such an AI. If it does, I am certain that will make it increasingly difficult for our Session to want to maintain our affiliation with the PCUSA. (I know it will make it more difficult for me.)
So please be praying for the General Assembly. We may have a much clearer picture of how things are going in the PCUSA by July 7. (Of course, it is also possible that the GA will do nothing
this year. That has happened on occasion.)
It is also important that we understand that according to the rules (polity) of the PCUSA, churches hold their property in trust for the presbytery and, ultimately, for the denomination. In our case, Central Florida Presbytery purchased 5 of the 8 acres on which our building is built and gave it to us. But according to the polity, the presbytery has claims to the property and buildings. That means that when a church leaves the denomination, the presbytery might keep the land and facilities. There are cases where that has happened. Sometimes such issues are settled in court. Other times there is a more or less gracious negotiation between the church and the presbytery. In fact, Central Florida Presbytery has a policy for gracious dismissal. (http://cfpresbytery.org/documents/Process%20for%20Pastoral%20Responsibility%20final03032012.pdf ) That process will determine the terms under which a departing church might keep its property.
So what happens if our Session discerns that the Lord is telling us it is time to go? First there will be a series of meetings to explain and explore the situation with the congregation. Central Florida Presbytery will be involved with us in this process. There will have to be much prayer. Then we will have a congregational meeting in which active members will vote on Session’s proposal that we join ECO, EPC or whatever option Session may present. That vote will be reported to presbytery, who will vote on the terms of our dismissal.
There are more complexities, but this letter is already long. Nevertheless, I hope it gives you a pretty good overview. And again, your elders and I will be glad to answer any questions. We will also try to set up a question and answer section on the church website.
And what do we do in the meanwhile?
First, pray and pray hard! Ask God to intervene. Ask God to give wisdom to the General Assembly, to the Presbytery, to our Session. Pray individually. Pray in groups. Pray as a church family. Our prayer vigil on May 7 is extremely important, and I hope every active and concerned member of Woodbury will sign up and participate in that prayer vigil.
Second, continue to love one another like Jesus loves you. Grow in love. Several things are uncertain right now, and in times of uncertainty people tend to get irritable, antsy and self-focused. More important than any decision we will ever make regarding denominational affiliation is the decision to be a people who intentionally invite and allow the love of Jesus to flow through us.
Third, be patient. That’s part of the fruit of the Spirit! In our flesh, it would be easy to get restless during this time of waiting. But remember that until the Lord is leading us in a particular direction, waiting is following. Otherwise, we are wandering off on our own, like wayward sheep. Our commitment to follow Jesus, as a united band of His disciples, is a higher priority than the logo on our letterhead.
Many times and in as many ways over the last several months, your Session has heard the Lord saying to us things like, “I will hold you through the storm.” We have shared that message in worship. The message implies, of course, that a storm is coming. In some ways the storm has already started. But we can trust the Lord’s promise that He will hold us. Our commitment is to follow Jesus. Our calling is to love one another through this. I firmly believe that the best is yet to come. Wonderful days of rich, loving fellowship and powerful, effective ministry await us on the other side of the storm. We will come through this stronger. We will come through this deeper. We will come through this closer to one another and closer to Jesus. Jesus will hold us through the storm. Whether we stay or leave, we will come through this better as long as we follow Jesus.
In Christ’s Love,
Rod<><