Rev. Jack Baca, moderator of San Diego Presbytery, lead an Open Forum discussion of the presbytery's response to the PC(USA)'s Theological Task Force on Peace Unity and Purity (PUP) Report on February 21 at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church.

Focus of the forum was a new document, titled Alternate Resolution, which was drafted by a writing team composed of pastors and elders drawn from both the Resolution Team and the Open Letter team; the team was convened by Moderator Baca. Rev. Michael McClenahan, senior pastor at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, chaired the group, which met twice and included Rev. Kirk Bottomly (Fallbrook), Rev. Chris Lenocker (Faith), Rev. Steve Locke (El Cajon), Rev. Randy Yenter (Spring Valley), Elder Nancy Harber (Faith), and Elder Em Cummins (Point Loma). Rev. Andy Smith, executive presbyter, was ex-officio with the group.

At the February 21 Open Forum, a wide-ranging discussion followed the presentation of the new document. However, since the gathering was not a formal meeting of Presbytery, no vote was taken. The original Resolution still stands and will be on the agenda to be voted on by commissioners at the March 21 meeting of Presbytery. This alternate resolution would then be introduced also.

The Alternate Resolution calls on the Presbytery to consider immediately a series of questions in the event of a significant change in the PC(USA)'s current standards related to ordination and sexuality and/or connectional polity. It proposes that by July 15, 2006 the Moderator of Presbytery will appoint a task force that will present a plan to address these questions at the September Presbytery meeting.

Following is the text of the Alternate Resolution:

In response to the report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (August 2005), and in light of the continuing dialog within our denomination regarding sexuality and ordination issues, the Presbytery of San Diego hereby resolves:

1. To pray continually that the PC(USA) be restored in peace, unity, and purity through:
   1. Fidelity to its own constitution
   2. Faithfulness to its Reformed heritage
   3. Unity in its biblical and confessional identity and mission
2. To deepen our connectional bonds within the presbytery as brothers and sisters in Christ as we affirm our Presbyterian polity, commitments, and heritage and to renew our commitment to Essential Tenets and Reformed Distinctives (adopted by the Presbytery of San Diego, June 2003)
3. To abide by the standards of the whole church as defined by the Constitution of the PC(USA) (the Book of Order and Book of Confessions), particularly in regard to G-6.0106b, and to reaffirm our church's traditional teaching, constitutional standards, ordination requirements, and definitive guidance concerning human sexuality.
4. To extend the grace of Jesus Christ to all persons regardless of sexual practice or sexual brokenness, and to call the whole church to sexual wholeness as defined by our constitution.
5. To consider immediately the following questions in the event of a significant change in the PC(USA)'s current standards related to (a) ordination and sexuality and/or; (b) connectional polity. By July 15, 2006 the Moderator of Presbytery will appoint a task force which will present a plan to address these questions at the September 2006 Presbytery meeting.
   1. Does the change create a constitutional crisis?
   2. Does the change create a state of biblical and confessional defection?
   3. Has the covenant that binds our congregations and presbyteries together been breached?
   4. Have the changes minimized or eliminated our covenantal obligation to abide by the polity and discipline of higher governing bodies?
   5. Have the changes damaged or compromised the PC(USA)'s ability to exercise governance over its presbyteries?
   6. What will be the future relationship between the The Presbytery of San Diego and the PC(USA)?
   7. What future steps will The Presbytery of San Diego take to address our concerns with the PC(USA)?
6. To renew our commitment to our Long-Range Plan (adopted May 2005) which calls for:
   1. Building healthy congregations
   2. Building transformational churches
   3. Collaborative mission efforts
   4. New church development

Floor debate is anticipated at the March 21 meeting of San Diego Presbytery as a vote is likely to be taken on the Presbytery's response to the Theological Task Force Report on the Peace Unity and Purity of the Church - a long-awaited study of issues that are tending to divide the PC(USA) denomination into liberal and conservative camps. Principal among the issues addressed by the report recommendations are constitutional rules concerning ordination standards, the essential tenets of the Reformed faith, and governance of the denomination.

Presented at the Presbytery November meeting were two documents that have drawn national attention: a resolution drafted by four local pastors that if approved would be forwarded to General Assembly, and an open letter to the resolution team endorsed by a second group of pastors and elders.

The resolution declares that "the covenant between the San Diego Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church (USA) is in danger of being broken by those who no longer stand with us." If the Authoritative Interpretation recommended by the PUP Report, which critics contend would allow "local option" in determining essential beliefs and practices for ordination, is passed by the General Assembly of the PC(USA) next June, such a breach would "render meaningless" the historic standards of the church. It called for a vote on the resolution in early 2006; the vote is now slated for the March 21 meeting.

The open letter counters by asking that the vote be suspended "until such time we can engage each other, face to face, to discuss not only the issues raised in the resolution but deeper theological issues that might divide us."

"Not that we may disagree theologically with some of your concerns," the letter continued, "but we do disagree with your interpretation of the PUP Report and its possible effect on the church's standards of ordination. We feel that this resolution is premature and is not in the best interest of the whole church."

A fourth option has presented itself. It is anticipated that the Presbytery's Ecclesiastical Committee, chaired by Carole Ostrander, an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Escondido, will come to the floor of presbytery on March 21 with a recommendation that San Diego Presbytery go on record as concurring with an overture to General Assembly from Santa Barbara Presbytery.

Briefly, that overture would dissolve the Task Force on PUP with thanks, approve the report but with the removal of Recommendation 5. This recommendation, which is the heart of the controversies raised by the PUP Report, would be submitted "to careful, precise and intentional scrutiny which will provide for the General Assembly and the larger church well informed, researched and substantiated answers" to a list of ten questions which focus on such issues as local option, fragmentation of the denomination, possible further decline in finances and membership, etc. The five-page overture can be accessed from the Home Page.

Santa Barbara's overture, which was approved on February 25, would direct the General Assembly to appoint a "wise and balanced" Task Force comprised of members drawn from across the theological spectrum of the church. They would be charged with specifically answering the questions, and any others that may be raised through the careful study of Recommendation 5 of the PUP Report. This Task Force would report its findings to the General Assembly in two years (June 2008).

"The Presbytery of Santa Barbara respectfully but passionately calls upon the 217th General Assembly to lead the church boldly into genuine peace, unity and purity," the overture states in its concluding paragraph. "We call upon the General Assembly, in its role as leaders of the church, to evaluate with courage and wisdom the state of the church and the implications of the Report of the Theological Task Force with careful attention given to content and implications of Recommendation 5. We call upon the General Assembly to actively protect the peace, unity and purity of the church and boldly take all steps necessary to lead the church into these goals."

To view the complete texts of these overtures, and other overtures that will be on the docket, go to www.pcusa.org, click on 217th General Assembly logo, then on Business Before the Assembly simply or click This Link.

These are the overtures that appear by their titles to be related to the PUP Report recommendations and to related issues such as Authoritative Interpretations, the Essential Tenets, marriage, sexual behavior, ordination standards, etc. Click the oveture number to view the overture.

Overture 02: On Deleting G-6.0106b, and on Providing a New Authoritative Interpretation-From the Presbytery of Heartland.

Overture 09: On the Authority of Holy Scripture-From the Presbytery of Mississippi.

Overture 11: On Confirming the Requirements in G-6.0106b of "Fidelity" and "Chastity"-From the Presbytery of Mississippi.

Overture 18: On Amending G-6.0106b to Provide for a Decade of Peace Concerning Further Amendment-From the Presbytery of Central Washington.

Overture 23: On Providing an Authoritative Interpretation of G-9.0404d Regarding Session Responsibility to Pay Per Capita-From the Presbytery of Baltimore.

Overture 25: On Amending the Rules of Discipline Regarding Accountability of Governing Body Officers-From the Presbytery of Detroit.

Overture 27: On Reaffirming That Marriage Between a Man and a Woman Is a Gift God Has to All Humankind-From the Presbytery of Redstone.

Overture 28: On Pastoral Counsel for Sexual Sin-From the Presbytery of Redstone.

Overture 30: On Amending Recommendations 4 and 5 of the Theological Task Force Report-From the Presbytery of Mississippi.

Overture 37: On Commending Study of the Authoritative Interpretation of 1978-From the Presbytery of Indian Nations.

Overture 39: On Amending the 1978 Policy Statement of the UPCUSA and the 1979 Position Paper from the PCUS by Deleting Certain Statements-From the Presbytery of Cincinnati.

Overture 40: On Affirming a Common Abrahamic Heritage Among the Three Faiths, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism-From the Presbytery of Newton.

Overture 43: On Being Called to Covenant Community: Rightly Interpreting G-6.0108-From the Presbytery of Riverside.

Overture 46: On Amending G-9.0302 to Give Governing Bodies an Option to Make Certain Decisions by Consensus-From the Presbytery of Detroit.

Overture 51: On Amending G-13.0103r Regarding Authoritative Interpretations-From the Presbytery of Mississippi.

Overture 54: On Amending the Form of Government to Provide for No Further Amendment of G-6.0106b for Eight Years-From the Presbytery of the Upper Ohio Valley.

Overture 58: On Combating the Decline in Members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)-From the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia.

Overture 61: On Adopting an Authoritative Interpretation of the Book of Order-From the Presbytery of Palo Duro.

Gary Hubbard, a member of the board of directors of Baja Presbyterian Missions, reports the following items are needed for the new sanctuary at Dios Con Nosotros Mexican Presbyterian Church in the Otay Section of Tijuana:

• Fourteen 10 foot pews
• Five Vertical Blinds: 2m wide X 1.5m high (roughly 7'X5')
• Four Vertical Blinds: 1.5m wide X 1.5 high (5'X5')
• Two White Boards: roughly 7X5' or something close

There is also a need for audio/visual equipment:

• One 8 channel mixer
• Two Speakers (voice)
• Speaker (Tweeter)
• One Bass
• Three Microphones
• One Keyboard
• Plus a Projector and Screen

Contact Hubbard at garyh@telecarecorp.com

Elder Chuck Smith of Chula Vista Presbyterian Church reported to Council in February that both locations of the San Diego Military Outreach Ministry are operating on their own, having divested from the presbytery. La Mesa Presbyterian Church has taken over the assets of the South County and East County operation of MOM, including payroll responsibilities.

Rev. Richard Greenwood, who has served as Interim Pastor at Chula Vista Presbyterian Church, will leave that post effective March 31, 2006, to relocate to New Philadelphia, Ohio, where his wife, Rev. Deborah Rundlett, has been selected to be the General Presbyter of Muskingtum Valley Presbytery.

Rev. Douglas Satre has accepted a call to serve as Associate Pastor of Nurture and Discipleship at First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Oregon. He had been AP at Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Martha Sexton has been elected by Presbytery Council to serve as Chair of the Peacemaking & Social Concerns Ministry Team. Others on the committee are follows:

• Class of 2006: Rev. Hal Heath, Kyle Holberg, Deb Hammond
• Class of 2007: Rev. Devore Smith, Dick Ruppert, Frank Yates
• Class of 2008: Betsy Barnhart, Henry Payne, Rev. Martha Sexton

WOW! It's Weekend on the World at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, March 25-27. It's a weekend of Global Mission Seminars - six events in all -- featuring Dr. Rob Weingartner, executive director of the Outreach Foundation as presenter. Public events begin with Sunday Worship Services, followed by a brunch and seminar on mission in Africa, Asia and Europe. On Monday morning is a brunch and seminar on Mission in the Americas. Click Here or go to this website's Home Page and download the WOWbrochure.pdf for complete registration information. Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church is located at 2128 Chatsworth Blvd., San Diego 92107. Telephone 619-223-1635.

Many churches have their own lending libraries of religious books, and others would like to start a library. The National Church Library Association can help church librarians with this task.

The San Diego Chapter of NCLA will hold its Spring meeting Saturday, April 1, at Mira Mesa Presbyterian Church, 8081 Mira Mesa Blvd. Registration begins at 9 a.m. After a business meeting there will be roundtable discussions and a tour of the host library. The meeting will conclude at noon with sack lunches and social time. Visitors are welcome.

NCLA is a nonprofit organization serving Christian church librarians who desire assistance with church library development.

The Easter Lilly, a children's mini-musical, will be the 11 a.m. service on Easter Sunday, April 23, at First Presbyterian Church, Oceanside. The combined children's choirs Rejoice and Wee Rejoice, 4 year-olds to 6th graders, will be singing their second musical in five months. Visitors and guests are welcome to this free concert and Easter Service.

La Jolla Presbyterian Church is delighted to have Paul Jacobs, head of the organ department at the Julliard School of Music, perform on Sunday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in their sanctuary. Mr. Jacobs will be presenting pieces by Bach, Messiaen, Handel and Drufle. The public is invited to hear this amazing and unorthodox organist. There is no admission charge; a free will offering will be taken.

Friday, June 30, it's the San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants! First level/lowest level seats are $18.00 (250 tickets) $3.00 back to Presbytery, and second level seats are $12.00 (500 tickets) $2.00 back to Presbytery. Proceeds to be determined by the Council and approved by Presbytery (maximum $1,750). Chairs are Leroy and Judy Lafferty of Faith Presbyterian.