Presbyterians Adopt New Statement of Faith

Debate over a controversial document on human sexuality dominated the 1991 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), but the assembly reached agreement on a number of other issues, including a new statement of faith. In a separate vote, delegates adopted a policy dealing with sexual misconduct by clergy.

Delegates to the June 4 through 12 gathering approved a new policy for denominational employees that prohibits sex between clergy and parishioners or church employees and provides ways for victims of misconduct to seek redress within the 2.9-million-member church.

That followed a vote that overwhelmingly rejected a human sexuality document, which had recommended a new sexual ethic that questioned such traditional Christian standards of conduct as prohibition of sex outside of marriage and homosexuality.

The General Assembly voted 491 to 26 in favor of the new policy on sexual misconduct, which was sparked by growing concern about the issue in church and society, according to the Rev. Guinn Blackwell-Eagleson, who led a committee studying proposals for the new directives.

“I think that the assembly has moved to ensure that those who are victims of sexual misconduct can seek justice within the church,” Blackwell-Eagleson said.

Under the new policy a “response team” of at least five people will evaluate allegations of sexual misconduct and recommend whether the church should bring official charges.

The Brief Statement of Faith, approved 412 to 40, was the product of seven years of work and study. The document was approved at last year’s assembly and was then ratified by 166 of the church’s 171 presbyteries before coming back for a final vote this year.

The 80-line document uses language that is intended to be free of gender bias and also makes implicit references to environmentalism and ordination of women.

On the environment, the document observes that people “threaten death to the planet” and “deserve God’s condemnation.”

The statement also underscores the church’s need to acknowledge the role of women and to avoid ascribing only male attributes to God.