DISCERNING THE WAY A Process for Discerning God s Future for the Relationship Between Particular Churches and the PC(USA) PREAMBLE 1

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1 DISCERNING THE WAY A Prcess fr Discerning Gd s Future fr the Relatinship Between Particular Churches and the PC(USA) The Presbytery f Suthern New England Apprved May 2007; amended August 2010; Presbytery apprved Sept PREAMBLE 1 The Presbytery f Suthern New England acted t apprve the Discerning the Way prcess in May Subsequently, the 218 th General Assembly (2008) apprved a Cmmissiner s Reslutin (item 04-28) urging a gracius, pastral respnse t churches requesting dismissal frm the PC (USA). The Cmmissiner s Reslutin indicates the will f the assembly that presbyteries and synds develp and make available t lwer gverning bdies and lcal cngregatins a prcess that exercises the respnsibility and pwer t divide, dismiss, r disslve churches in cnsultatin with their members (Bk f Order, G i) with... pastral respnsibility, accuntability, gracius witness, penness, and transparency. In rder t cmply with the will f the Assembly, the Presbytery f Suthern New England amends its Discerning the Way prcess t incrprate the spirit f the Cmmissiner s Reslutin. The intentin f the Presbytery is t prvide a prcess that will fulfill the fllwing gals: discern Gd s will fr the future fr the relatinship between particular churches and the PC(USA), and discern the way fr a gracius, pastral respnse t churches requesting dismissal frm the PC (USA) in accrdance with the afrementined principles f pastral respnsibility, accuntability, gracius witness and penness and transparency. The prcesses described in this dcument are based n the willingness f all parties t be in jint discernment f Gd s will and t wrk twards a mutually agreeable implementatin f what they discern Gd s will t be. The fllwing describes sme principles f discernment that guide this dcument: An expectatin that Gd desires t guide us -- The church's practice f discernment rests n Gd's identity as a self-revealing Gd, One wh wants t be made knwn. Nt elusive r capricius, the Gd wh created us has nt abandned us but desires t be in an nging relatinship with us. Thus ur practice f discernment is rted in a belief in the Triune Gd wh is present with us and will 1 Prtins f the Preamble have been taken directly frm Cmmissiner Reslutin And the Presbytery is indebted t the wrk f ther presbyteries whse dcuments infrm this dcument: the Presbyteries f New Cvenant, Wabash Valley, San Francisc, and Western Nrth Carlina.

2 2 reveal what is needed fr the church t be faithful. Therefre penness in prayer at all gatherings is essential. A willingness t listen --A basic capacity required fr discernment is a willingness t listen, a readiness t be pen t the inner and uter prmptings f Gd's Spirit and t be pen t the ways Gd speaks t us thrugh thers. In fact, we benefit greatly frm the listening hearts f thers, especially thse with whm we may disagree, fr they help us accurately t hear Gd. A respnse f bedience -- Because discernment is where prayer and actin meet, it is necessary fr thse wh listen t Gd t respnd with bedience. After a grup has dne its best t discern Gd's way and has received a shared sense f Gd's leading, it is essential t test that discernment in the cntext f the larger Christian cmmunity. Only then can it mve frward in faithfulness and with cnfidence. Even thugh the entire way may nt be clear, the grup can mve tward the future, trusting that Gd will make further revelatins r crrectins as needed. When a grup finds itself divided and still unsure hw Gd is leading, it is imprtant nt t mve ahead but t wait fr further guidance. Mre prayer and listening, bth t each ther and the larger cmmunity f faith, are required. Adapted frm DISCERNMENT: A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Flwing with the Current f the Spirit in Church Meetings By Marlene Krpf, Cngregatinal and Ministerial Leadership Mennnite Church U.S.A. Mutual discernment requires a high level f trust, cmmunicatin and penness. It is expected that in all phases f this prcess the parties shall abide by the fllwing: Give a gracius witness that hnrs and glrifies Jesus Christ. The cngregatin and the Presbytery (including clergy, fficers, and team members) are pen, transparent and hnest in all their dealings with each ther. The cngregatin and the Presbytery (including clergy, fficers, and team members) prvide all requested infrmatin and dcuments t each ther n a timely basis. The cngregatin s clergy and fficers are willing t prtect the rights f the fficers and members in the cngregatin wh desire that the cngregatin remain part f the PC(USA), r wh desire t remain cngregants f anther PC (USA) church. The Presbytery (including clergy, fficers, and team members) is willing t prtect the rights f fficers and members f cngregatins as they discern whether they will remain part f the PC (USA) r seek dismissal t anther Refrmed bdy. The cngregatin and the Presbytery (including clergy, fficers, and team members) refrain frm any unauthrized, unilateral changes in the way their

3 3 assets are held r managed and d nt initiate civil r ecclesiastical legal prceedings against the ther party. Be cnsistent with the missin & visin f the Presbytery. If at any time any f the Presbytery s Teams determines that the abve expectatins are nt being met by themselves r thers a reprt shall immediately be made t the cngregatin and the Presbytery Cuncil. The Cuncil may then initiate apprpriate measures in the manner and with the authrities described in the Bk f Order (G ). THE OUTLINE OF THE PROCESS Mutual respect and deep cnversatin and prayer frm the basis fr three teams in the discerning wrk f the cngregatin and the Presbytery: the Listening Team, the Review Team and the Implementatin Team. The Presbytery will als frm a Missin Strategy Team fr its wn purpses f discernment. LISTENING TEAM When the leadership f the Presbytery becmes aware, either thrugh frmal cngregatinal actin, cmmunicatin frm the sessin, r thrugh infrmal cntacts with cngregatinal leaders r members, that a cngregatin r its leadership are seriusly questining their cntinued relatinship with the PC(USA), the Cuncil r Executive Presbyter will ffer a pastral visit by a Listening Team. Team members and their leaders will be appinted by the Mderatr with the advice and cnsent f the Cuncil. The purpse f this team is t listen t the cncerns f the leaders and cngregatin and t engage with them in develping a prcess fr mutual discernment f Gd s leading that invlves the cngregatinal leaders, the cngregatinal membership and the Presbytery. The Listening Team will als share with the leaders and members f the cngregatin the prcess utlined in this dcument, titled, Discerning the Way, and, if apprpriate, seek t create an infrmal cvenant between all parties t abide by this prcess r smething similar jintly agreed upn. Nrmally, this listening will be a time f prayer and cnversatin aimed at understanding the cncerns f the cngregatin and identifying steps tward hw the cngregatin will r will nt remain in cmmunin with the PC(USA). Team size will be dictated by the anticipated scpe f effrt, e.g., meeting with several small grups will require a bigger team than meeting with a sessin nly. If, during the initial visits, the team determines that prgress can be made tward recnciliatin thrugh cntinued dialgue, the team will make recmmendatins t the Presbytery Cuncil fr cnducting this cntinued dialgue. If this team effrt leads t reslutin f the situatin, n further actin is required and t Gd be the glry!

4 4 REVIEW TEAM If thrugh mutual cnversatin there cntinue t be serius questins abut the cngregatin s membership in the PC(USA), r at the request f the sessin r the listening team, the Mderatr f the Presbytery with the advice and cnsent f the Presbytery Cuncil will appint a Review Team t further the discernment prcess. The basic bjective f the Review Team will be t mutually engage the cngregatin, its leaders, and the Review Team in a prayerful discernment prcess seeking a mutual understanding f what Gd may will fr the relatinship between the cngregatin and the PC(USA). It is the intent f this prcess that all parties will seek an amicable and equitable agreement abut hw the cngregatin may either remain in the PC(USA) r be dismissed. The fllwing steps are expected t be a part f that prcess: T study and assess the situatin in the cngregatin; T engage in discussin t clarify issues f cncern f bth the cngregatin and the Presbytery, with particular attentin t the fllwing: The guidance f Hly Scripture and the Hly Spirit; The call f Gd t church unity; The value f being a PC(USA) cngregatin; Mutual clarity f the beliefs, practices, and thelgy f the PC(USA); Cnstitutinal prcesses; The exercise f mutual discernment disciplines; and The extent f disaffectin with the PC(USA) in the cngregatin. T recmmend the next apprpriate actins mutually discerned and develped by the Review Team and the cngregatin. The Review Team shall cnsist f 3-7 members, balanced as evenly as may be practicable, given its number, between Ministers f Wrd and Sacrament and elders/deacns, representing varius thelgical perspectives f the Presbytery as best as pssible. It shall make regular updates t the Cuncil, and a full reprt t the Presbytery Cuncil upn the cmpletin f its wrk, and its recmmendatins shall require actin by the Presbytery. The decisin t appint this team will be cmmunicated by the Presbytery t the sessin and all members f the cngregatin immediately. Such cmmunicatin shall set frth the ratinale fr the appintment f the Review Team and the expected steps t be taken and the time frame fr thse steps. If the Presbytery Cuncil learns that actin by the sessin r cngregatin has resulted in an irregularity r delinquency (G ), the Review Team may be granted all the pwers f an Administrative Review Team under G Prir t the granting f such pwers, the Presbytery shall prmptly advise the sessin f the alleged irregularity/r delinquency and the sessin shall have a 15 day perid t answer r crrect such allegatins. The Review Team will nt in any case, hwever, be an Administrative Cmmissin, and will nt have pwer t negtiate settlement matters n behalf f the Presbytery. The Review Team, hwever, may be given certain cnstitutinal authrity by the Cuncil r Presbytery as it seeks t

5 5 study and assess the situatin in the cngregatin regarding the alleged irregularity r delinquency: t request recrds f the sessin (G x) (G ); t lk at whatever recrds may be relevant (e.g., hw mney is held, title t prperty, insurance dcuments, mrtgages r ther lan dcuments, crprate fficers, crprate articles, bylaws, deeds, charters especially recent changes in any f these); and t give directives (G ) n behalf f the Presbytery t crrect the irregularity r delinquency. Missin Strategy Team Cncurrent with the appintment and wrk f the Review Team, the Cuncil shall appint a team f persns frm the Presbytery, and mst especially frm the PC(USA) cngregatins in clse prximity t the cngregatin, fr the purpse f reviewing the missin strategy f the Presbytery in the gegraphy currently served by the cngregatin (G a). This team will be knwn as the Missin Strategy Team. Particular attentin will be given t the questin f what the cntinuing missin and ministry presence f the PC(USA) shuld be and hw it might be funded in the event the cngregatin is dismissed t anther Refrmed bdy. denminatin. The Missin Strategy Team will regularly reprt t the Cuncil and may cllabrate and share infrmatin with the Review Team. The Missin Strategy Team will seek t have its wrk cmpleted by the time the Review Team makes its full reprt t the Cuncil. IMPLEMENTATION Ultimately, if thrugh the mutual discernment prcess the Hly Spirit des nt bring t light a way fr the cngregatin and the Presbytery t cntinue t serve Gd tgether thrugh the PC(USA), and the findings f the Review Team s warrant, the Mderatr f the Presbytery will nminate and the Presbytery will elect an apprpriate grup t implement the actins apprved by the Presbytery in accrdance with prvisins in the Bk f Order. The duties and authrities delegated t this grup will be tailred t address the specific situatin f the cngregatin. The Implementing Team shall keep the Presbytery infrmed f actins taken, and shall make recmmendatins directly t Presbytery fr any actins that require Presbytery apprval. Sme f the principles that guide the wrk f the Implementatin Team will be the fllwing: That the discerning prcess fr each cngregatin in the Presbytery that enters the prcess may be unique and different frm thse f ther cngregatins. Thus, the utcmes may be different and are nt t be

6 6 tied t any precedent set by previus r current discernment prcesses in this Presbytery r anther presbytery f the PC(USA). That bth the cngregatin and the Presbytery have a cmmitment t avid civil r ecclesiastical litigatin in keeping with Scriptural injunctins t reslve disagreements between themselves in a manner that avids harm t the Gspel r the Bdy f Christ. That with regard t the held in trust prvisin in the Bk f Order regarding church prperty (G ) which states that wherever "legal title t prperty is ldged"... it "is held in trust nevertheless fr the use and benefit f the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)", the Presbytery believes that all prperty is a tl fr advancing the Gspel and fr the missin f Jesus Christ and that the verriding cncern shall be fr maintaining and strengthening the Church s rganic unity as it fulfills The Great Ends f the Church. Thus, whatever recmmendatin results frm the negtiatins between the cngregatin and the Review Team, they shall seek t minimize the negative impact, whether financial, spiritual, r therwise, n the missin and ministry f bth the cngregatin and the Presbytery. That clarity will be sught n hw the ptential transfer f ministers and members t either a new Refrmed bdy denminatin r anther cngregatin f the PC(USA) can be achieved. That there is a cmmitment t dialg, transparency and penness between all parties (Presbytery, sessin and cngregatin) withut any threat f punishment r reprisal recgnizing that n matter what the end result f the discernment prcess may be that we will all cntinue t be sisters and brthers in Christ. Validatin and Actin n a Cngregatin s desire and discernment t request dismissal If after the Implementatin Team and the team negtiating n behalf f the cngregatin have met and negtiated the terms f dismissal, the next steps in the prcess are these: The cngregatin shall vte t validate the terms f the dismissal. There shall be at least 50% f the ttal membership f the cngregatin present at the meeting Representatives frm the Presbytery will be present and allwed t speak The vte taken will be by secret ballt Fr the vte t be cnsidered valid the ttal vting fr dismissal shall be 75% r mre f thse vting The Presbytery shall then vte n the request fr dismissal at a regular r special meeting f the Presbytery.

7 7 The Presbytery shall hear frm representatives f the cngregatin, including thse, if any, wishing t remain within the PC(USA) The Presbytery shall hear frm the Implementatin Team and the Missin Strategy Team The prpsal shall be presented as a whle, and acted upn withut amendment The final vte shall be preceded by 2/3rds vte required t limit debate The final vte shall be cnsidered passed by 2/3rds f thse cmmissiners present and vting in favr f the dismissal The prpsal shall be presented as a whle, and will be acted upn withut amendment. Shuld the Presbytery vte dwn the prpsal, the Implementatin Team will be requested t cnfer with the Presbytery and cngregatin t identify the reasns fr the vte and whether an amended prpsal wuld be in rder. In such a case it will be assumed that there is nt sufficient clarity t identify the will f Gd n this issue and cntinued discernment is necessary befre any actin is taken by Presbytery r cngregatin. Apprved May 2007 Amended August 2010 Presbytery apprved Sept. 2010