After nearly two hours of consideration of resolutions, alternate resolutions and amendments, the Presbytery of San Diego, meeting March 21 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Escondido, voted approval of a motion to receive and accept the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity, "with the elimination of Recommendation 5. "

Approved on March 19 by the session at La Jolla Presbyterian Church, the wording of the overture was offered after the original Resolution had been defeated and an amended Alternate Resolution had been passed. Waiting in the wings was another motion from the Ecclesiastical Committee to consider an overture that replicated one by the Presbytery of Santa Barbara.

Instead, Rev. Chuck Hammond presented the La Jolla overture, a vote was taken that made it the main motion, and it was approved. He introduced the recommendation with the words: "The Session of the La Jolla Presbyterian Church supports the Biblical, traditional and constitutional position of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on the gifts and requirements for ordination expressed in G-6.0106 of the Form of Government."

The PUP Report's Recommendation 5 has drawn concern and opposition from throughout the denomination. Critics say it opens the door for local option, that is, for churches and presbyteries to declare a candidate's sexual behavior or theological beliefs to be "non-essential" and result in ordination of, for example, practicing homosexuals or persons who might deny that eternal salvation is through Jesus Christ alone.

The original Resolution, presented at the November Presbytery meeting, voiced concern that if the PUP report is approved at the 217th GA in June, that the PC(USA) will have breached its covenant with the San Diego Presbytery, and that the Presbytery would consider itself no longer under the governance of the national denomination.

The Alternative Resolution was presented by Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, having been adopted by its session on March 14. It was also passed by the commissioners. It recognizes the continuing dialog within our denomination regarding sexuality and ordination issues, and calls for the Moderator of Presbytery to appoint a task force by July 15 which would present a plan to address a series of questions at the September meeting of Presbytery.

The Santa Barbara/San Diego overture would have received the PUP report but would have referred Recommendation 5 to a new task force for further study and evaluation of its implications for ordination and governance, with another report in 2008.

After last night's presbytery meeting, I received a lot of questions asking what it all meant. Someone suggested I write to our session to explain my take; so, here it is:

San Diego Presbytery did two things.

The Resolution

First, San Diego Presbytery took a stand about who we are, what we believe, and how we will go forward together. We acted:

• to reaffirm our Essential Tenets,
• to reaffirm our church's traditional teaching, constitutional standards, ordination requirements and definitive guidance regarding human sexuality;
• to set a date certain to respond if the 217th General Assembly acts in such a way as to make a significant change regarding ordination standards or connectional polity; and,
• to renew our commitment to build healthy congregations, build transformational churches, to collaborate in mission together, and to work together in new church development.

Link to the Resolution text.

The Overture

Second, San Diego Presbytery approved an overture that gives the General Assembly the mechanism by which to repent of its current direction and begin to re-establish a sense of order and decency among the presbyteries. By a vote of 114:3, San Diego Presbytery overtured the General Assembly "to receive and accept the report of the Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity, with the elimination of recommendation #5, on page 35, (lines 1048-1072) and its attendant Authoritative Interpretation; in order that we preserve the standards in G-6.0106."

The Presbytery of San Diego respectfully overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

To receive and accept the report of the Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity, with the elimination of recommendation #5, on page 35, (lines 1048-1027) and its attendant Authoritative Interpretation; in order that we preserve the standards in G-6.0106.

What Does It Mean?

In short, we said to ourselves "this is who we are"; and, we said to the General Assembly "please don't break covenant with us."

Now, some specifics of the meeting:

1. The original resolution (that this session had approved and forwarded to presbytery for action) was defeated by a 2:1 margin (44:82 with five abstentions). The vote came after a number of speakers - both for and against the resolution - indicated that they were aware of concerns about the tone of the original and would be in favor of alternate language that accomplished the same goals.
2. After the original received a "no" vote; the alternate was proposed. The alternate basically reframed the declarations of the original in question form. The original said, these are the consequences that a General Assembly action could cause; while the alternate said these are the questions a General Assembly action could require us to answer. In one respect it was even stronger than the original resolution: it provides a date certain (the September, 2006 presbytery meeting) for presbytery to take action. The "alternate" resolution was approved by a hand vote. The hand vote looked to be about 4:1, maybe even a little higher.

The most encouraging thing about last night was to see the remarkable unanimity in the presbytery. The overwhelming vote affirming the alternate demonstrated that the issue between the two versions was one of style; not substance. In other words, the original resolution did not quite catch the tone the presbytery wanted, but the issues were exactly those the presbytery desired to address. It is hard to assess how the vote on the original resolution would have gone if there had been no alternate - it may have passed; but that's moot speculation. Regardless, the approval of the alternate is a resounding triumph for San Diego because it is the result of the entire presbytery working on it together for six months.

Further, the vote on the overture to General Assembly (114:3) is as unanimous a decision as I have ever witnessed in a deliberative body. San Diego Presbytery is virtually univocal in its opposition to the Task Force's recommendation that the General Assembly usurp the authority of the Constitution to create local option by fiat.

Last night was a good meeting for Westminster, it was a good meeting for San Diego Presbytery. This presbytery re-committed itself to acting and growing together. Last night re-confirmed the dedication of this presbytery to take responsibility for "being the church here."

Editors Note: This article is taken from the Westminster church website and was written on March 22, the day following the March meeting of San Diego Presbytery.

I am encouraged when I reflect upon the initial months of this Year of Philip. The four pillars of the long range plan that was adopted last year-healthy congregations, transformational churches, new church development, and collaborative mission-are already being implemented in the life of our presbytery. The Committee on Ministry's priority continues to be developing healthy congregations. The EvangelismCommittee is planning to introduce a redevelopment program called "Project 6:15". And today, the Missions Committee will introduce a presbytery mission trip to the Gulf Coast from May 22 to May 28.

The Year of Philip is off to a great start!

On January 17, the pre-presbytery gathering involved open and honest discussion about the PUP report, the proposed PSD resolution, and the PSD open letter. In early February, Presbytery Moderator Jack Baca and I convened a writing team made up of representatives from among the primary authors of both the resolution and the open letter, to see if a common document-with greater appeal for the majority of our presbytery - might result.

On February 21, over 200 people gathered for dinner and an evening discussion at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church. An alternative resolution was presented by writing team members Mike McClenahan and Chris Lenocker, and lively discussion followed. The original resolution will come before the presbytery today for further discussion and action.

I would like for each of my 2006 reports to the presbytery to include "best practices testimonies", which will highlight churches engaged in the types of evangelism described in my initial Year of Philip report.

As we share what God is doing in our churches to reach the lost, I pray we will encourage one another to focus our energies on the Church's missional identity and purpose in these uncertain days.

1. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the aisle…in the church. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with a man who had just come from worship (Acts 8:26-29). Philip reminds us that many even inside the church need the Savior. God loves the lost who sit across the aisle.
   • Best Practices Testimony: Mike McClenahan will share the purpose, focus, and response of a new Sunday evening "545" contemporary worship service for young adults at Solana Beach.
2. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the street…in the community. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with people in the neighboring community of Samaria (Acts 8:4-8). Philip reminds us that people just outside the doors of the church need the Savior. God loves the lost who live across the street.
   • Best Practices Testimony: Bruce Humphrey will share the vision behind "The Porch", Rancho Bernardo's new capital campaign for a second campus, which is designed to reach out into the local community.
3. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the seas…in the world. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with a man from Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-38). Philip reminds us that everyone needs the Savior. God loves the lost who live across the seas.
   • Best Practices Testimony: Mark Swarner will share a new church development partnership between the Village Church, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, and the Outreach Foundation in Kenya.

Pastor Chris Lenocker presented the report of the Administrative Commission for Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church at the March meeting of Presbytery.

It is with a deep sense of humility and hopefulness that the Administrative Commission (AC) recommends to the Presbytery of San Diego that it be dismissed from its partnership with Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church (PBPC) on April 30, 2006.

We have walked along side PBPC for 15 months in an effort to help the church through a time of conflict, transition and reconciliation. That journey has been difficult and filled with brokenness and healing, sin and grace, tears and laughter, anger and joy. The AC has sensed in the last couple of months a desire on the part of the Session and Congregation to move on in their ministry with less and less involvement on our part.

We have utmost confidence in the leadership of PBPC to fulfill the vision that God is creating for them in their ministry and mission to the Pacific Beach Community. The Session has demonstrated its insight into some of the systemic problems that have been a part of their church for many years and are eager to confront those problems with firmness and grace. The Session sees the time with the AC as the beginning of a journey to bring direction, unity and health to the church.

The AC has brought both individuals and groups together to talk through conflicts, disagreements and hurts. An intentional reconciliation process will be continuing for months to come and will be a priority for the church leadership. The AC has walked along side committees and ministry teams to lend a hand and encourage their efforts to move with hopefulness into the future.

The development of Standing Rules, Personnel Procedures and Operating Procedures has been an ongoing task and is near completion. These rules and procedures will assist the church in carrying out Christ's mission in the church and community. They will also give support and direction for the staff as they resource the mission of the church.

It has been a privilege to be among sisters and brothers of Christ, demonstrating the connectional nature of our Presbyterian Church and to reaffirm our love for one another and our support for Christ's mission in our midst. We thank the Presbytery for this challenging opportunity and will count it as one of the most grace filled experiences we have been honored to undertake.

All records and written communication generated by the AC will be turned over to the Stated Clerk.

As Chair of the AC I wish to thank each one whose name follows for their faithful and generous contribution to this task. It has been a journey of "grace and truth!"

In Christ's Service,

• Rev. Dick Adams
• Elder Anne Clark
• Elder Ben Holman
• Elder Fred Jacobs
• Rev. Tom Johnson
• Rev. Chris Lenocker - Chair
• Elder Gerry Tayler
• Elder Dave Whitmoyer
• Elder Ruth Sweet - Recording Clerk

The Presbytery VOTED to concur in the request that the Administrative Commission be dissolved effective April 30, 2006.

There are now well over 100 overtures that have been submitted. Although the deadline for overtures related to constitutional matters was February 15th, there are more to come! Those that have financial implications are due by April 17. The final deadline for any other overtures is May 1. The PCUSA has assigned temporary numbers to the overtures but those will change once the deadlines have passed and they are assigned to the proper committees.

As soon as a more complete list of submitted overtures is available we will add a list that is sorted by topic for easy reference. We will also include links to commentary and and, of course, a forum for your comments. Watch for a link to Road to Birmingham - Overtures on the home page.

LOUISVILLE - The General Assembly mission budgets must be reduced by a total of $9.15 million between now and 2008, General Assembly Council (GAC) leaders announced on March 14.

A total of $2.7 million has to come out of the unrestricted 2006 budget, and $3.51 million more from the 2007-2008 mission budget. In addition, the restricted portion of the 2007-2008 budget must be reduced by $2.94 million.

The current mission budget - unrestricted and restricted - is $113.9 million. The GAC will vote on the budgets during its April 26-29 meeting.

Staff cuts resulting from the budget reductions will probably be announced on May 1.

"This is clearly part of a longer trend in the church and probably most churches," GAC Executive Director John Detterick told the Presbyterian News Service in a March 15 interview. "Presbyterians are funding mission differently - they are giving to their churches in larger amounts, but are more directly involved both in activity and funding."

The 2006 cuts are based on declining unrestricted giving by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations and presbyteries. Unrestricted receipts in 2005 were $13.9 million - $2.1 million less than the $16 million budgeted. The 2006 budget, also of $16 million, has been revised to $13.3 million.

Total unrestricted revenue was $460,000 under budget last year, Joey Bailey, the GAC's chief financial officer, told the Presbyterian News Service. The decline in giving by congregations and presbyteries was almost offset by above-budget income from bequests, interest and dividends and "other" income - primarily the sale to a Canadian organization of the Web domain name www.religion.com, which the PC(USA) had been given.

Bailey said that the GAC actually under-spent its budget by $2.1 million last year. "If we could do that again in 2006, most of this year's problem would be solved," he said.

However, unrestricted receipts from congregations and presbyteries are expected to decline further - to $12.9 million in 2007 and $12.7 million in 2008 before leveling off in 2009, then increasing slightly to $12.8 million in 2010.

"None of us can see the future," Detterick said, "but I firmly believe that what's being put in place - the Mission Work Plan, a restructured GAC and annual meetings between the GAC and synod and presbytery executives (a new component of the GAC's restructuring) - all will have some payoff and will help bridge the gap between the national and local church. We'll see the results, whatever they are, in the next four years."

The role of the GAC must change, Detterick added.

"The real challenge for us is to work through these painful changes in ways that will help us prepare to support mission work in the future," he said. "There is a role for the GAC, but it will be smaller, less resource-producing and more networking, less programmatic and more enabling of the presbyteries and congregations."

Members of the Peacemaking and Social Concerns Ministry Team have been approved by Presbytery Council. Rev. Martha Sexton was elected as chair. Others are 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.

Rachel Kelly, a member of Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church, has been elected to serve as Youth Advisory Delegate representing San Diego Presbytery at the General Assembly Meeting in June in Birmingham, Ala.

A one-day church redevelopment training event for pastors and leaders who seek transformation of their churches, "Project 6:15 - Rebuilding the Walls," will be held Thursday, May 4, at Faith Presbyterian Church. It will be preceded by a one-day Pastor Preparation Training on Wednesday, May 3, also at Faith. Ken Priddy, a church planter and development and redevelopment specialist and founder of United Front Ministries, will lead both training sessions. Brochures have been mailed to all members of Presbytery Council, the Evangelism Committee and the Committee on Ministry.

Project 6:15 is sponsored by the Presbytery Evangelism Committee. The program is designed to serve churches in plateau or decline, and calls them to a lasting commitment to a process of redevelopment that combines spiritual renewal with strategic initiative. It takes its name from Nehemiah 6:15 which relates the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.

Members of the Presbytery Project 6:15 Coordinating Team are Rev. Andy Smith, Rev. David Pierson, Elder Ros Marver, and Elder Beckey McElhaney.

The May 4 Project 6:15 workshop is open to anyone who would like to come. Beckey McElhaney is the primary contact person. Contact her: email Beckey@pbpres.org; telephone 858-273-9312, ext. 115.

March 14, 2006

The Presbyterian Coalition announces a public interview with five members selected by the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church: Gary Demarest, Mark Achtemeier, John (Mike) Loudon, Barbara Wheeler, and Joe Coalter.

The sustained public interviews regarding the intent of the report of this task force will be during an all day meeting on May 10 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois.

Three members of the Presbyterian Coalition board of directors will explore several lines of questions with the members of the Task Force, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 4:30 p.m. The schedule for the day will include one or two short periods when questions from the audience will be entertained.

To register for this event or to obtain further information, contact the Presbyterian Coalition: Terry@presbycoalition.org, or call 703-680-4571. Overnight room reservations at the reduced rate of $99 may be made directly with the Ramada Plaza Hotel by calling 773-693-5800 and mentioning the Presbyterian Coalition.

- Presbyterian Coalition News Release

By Clio McEuen

On May 20, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, a delegation from the Presbytery of San Diego will participate in an all-day meeting with representatives of an Ethiopian desert tribe.

The Rev. Dr. Tom Theriault, associate pastor at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, refers to the tribe as the "A" people at this time for security reasons.

"Our Ethiopian friends are invited to the U.S. every other year," says Theriault, "and this year some of them will join us at Huntington Beach on May 20. You are invited to join the celebration as well. In turn, teams of Americans will visit them in Ethiopia next year - come along!"

Churches are invited to participate in the mission work of Mekane Yesus, a large Christian church in Ethiopia, both financially and in prayer. Solana Beach has published a Lenten booklet about the "A"s, which can be seen and copied at www.solanapres.org/missions or can be obtained with a request for a copy to Pastor Theriault at the church.

"How can you and your church help in spreading Christ's love to these loveless desert dwellers that are asking for our help?" challenges Theriault.

Eight years ago, Theriault felt moved by God to go into the world and spread the gospel. He found his calling was to help some of the 1.7 million of the poorest Muslims on earth.

Making his wish known to the PCUSA General Assembly in Louisville, it was suggested he contact the leadership of Mekane Yesus ("Place of Jesus") as they had asked for help to minister to a forgotten Muslim group who existed as goat and sheep herders in the harsh, desolate deserts of Ethiopia in Northeast Africa

Ethiopia is a highly indebted and poor country, according to Theriault. The government owns all the land; and this means the people have no land to indebt in order to obtain loans. Their desert home is in the volcanically active Rift Valley.

"These forgotten people are still living a nomadic existence and following their animals from one watering hole to the next," relates Theriault. "They live and survive on what water and grazing they can find. And the land-locked desert they live in has daytime temperatures above 100ºF year-round. One alluvial river -- the Awash River -- provides little help. When no water is found, the animals and the people die. "

The Mekane Yesus church had already started visiting and helping these forgotten herders. The job was huge. Soon they partnered with World Vision in Ethiopia. Together, World Vision an Mekane Yesus have brought medical supplies, educational opportunities, animal husbandry, clean water, and a new possibility for life.

Theriault first led a group from the Solana Beach church and others to visit these people in 1999. He brought home a mission goal to enlist 30 churches to help these remote tribal people financially, educationally and spiritually. To date, 13 churches from all over the United States have partnered to help, according to Theriault.

"Help has already come with the digging of 14 water wells with pumps," Theriault reports. "The people have dug their own canals that feed their fields, families and animals with life-giving water. The people are proud of their crops of bananas, onions, and tomatoes that they need for health and as saleable, money producing crops.

"Now there are also four medical clinics with nurses to treat those that would otherwise die before reaching medical help.," he says

Vaccinations are a prime concern, for there are a myriad of diseases found in the African continent-HIV, malaria, parasites, diarrhea, hepatitis A & E, typhoid, meningitis, rabies, etc. Medical personnel have also trained about 25 midwifes to help lower the number of childbirth deaths (previously 1/10 died)

"One community, concerned with the spread of HIV, developed an anti-HIV drama, which is being presented with good results," he adds. "Eight latrines have been built now that they prefer to tend crops at home, rather than, as they say, to 'chase the tail of their animals.'"

With a ready source of water near at hand, the herders can concentrate on the husbandry of their animals, a skill which they are now being taught. The animals-cattle, goats, and camels--can be pastured on grass developed for desert lands.

Theriault said Solana Beach youth collected and sent money for to pay for materials for cattle crushes or pens so that mass vaccination of their herds can be quickly and safely accomplished. He said 50,000 cattle and 11,000 camels have been vaccinated thanks to funds from churches in Canada and World Vision.

Only 7% of the "A's" can read, according to Theriault. "Children are being educated," he states enthusiastically, "some under trees with two chalkboards facing each other, and the older and younger children sitting back-to-back, facing the boards. Four schools have been built or rebuilt where previous schools had fallen down.

"Now 2,000 'A' tribe children attend school and no longer have to herd stock," Theriault says. "One gentleman is enrolled in the fourth grade with his child, learning so that he can teach other adults in the evening.

Mekane Yesus and World Vision hope to build two bridges soon. They will connect more than four towns and allow equipment to move between them to meet communication, education, and medical needs, as well as to bring in equipment to dig the much-needed water wells in one isolated area.

"One of the requirements for help," Theriault explained, "is that 30 or more members of the tribe agree on what is needed and what assistance they need from World Vision, Mekane Yesus and our 13 U.S. churches. The people are expected to share their labor in the accomplishment. They dig canals from the wells, plant experimental grass developed for them, and market their own produce."

Not all is smooth for the fledgling mission work. For example, Theriault tells this story: the Mekane Yesus office had a sign with "A's" tribe name printed on it, along with the church name. Local Muslim leaders immediately demanded that the sign be removed because it had the name "Jesus" and a Muslim name together, considered blasphemy by the Muslims. The office did so.

"Later, however, American mission teams brought T-shirts with the same logo on them as gifts to the tribe. Popular, the T-shirts were quickly gone. Now they are being worn even in the mosques!"

The main Mekane Yesus church in the desert town is a small building behind the large local mosque. Although there his been violence -- the pastor and elders have been beaten up by their neighbors -- they continue to serve Jesus and the "A's".

Tribal members have related some of their sayings to the American teams who visit from the U. S. every other year: "An ounce of love is better than a ton of bombs." "You give money to a man and he uses it for his family; but you give it to a woman and she uses it for community."

Fifteen women have already been taught business skills by the program and have received financial aid to start businesses of their own.

My thanks to Rev. Dr. Tom Therault for introducing the "A's" and his help with writing this article. -Clio McEuen

Fourteen people have volunteered to represent San Diego Presbytery in a Hurricane Katrina relief project in coordination with the First Presbyterian Church of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, May 22-28. Organized by the Missions Committee of Presbytery, the group will assist in general cleaning, prep and painting, removal of old drywall, installation of new drywall, installation of cabinets, etc., for homes in the Bay St. Louis area, said Rev. Mark Swarner, chair of the Missions Committee