At the stated presbytery meeting of June 29, 2006, the Presbytery of San Joaquin adopted a document entitled  “The Challenge of Our Time” expressing concern for the direction of the  PC(USA).  Since the statement was written before the 217th GA the presbytery sent it back to the task force for appropriate revisions.  At the presbytery meeting this Thursday, September 21, the revised document will be considered.  A second, responding document entitled “The September Statement of Conscience,” has been prepared by another group.

The original (now revised) document seeks to discern a “corporate solution” for the Presbytery of San Joaquin in light of the PC(USA) GA adopting the authoritative interpretation as part of the Theological Task Force report.  The statement calls for short-term work to understand the immediate implications of connectionalism, especially recognizing ordinations from other ordaining bodies.  It also has a long-term component that focuses on a two year period of discernment that includes prayer, networking with presbyteries and other groups that have a similar concern for the direction of the PC(USA), and investigation of legal implications.  It also calls on the churches and the presbytery to not disengage from the PC(USA) during this two year period and to be sensitive to individuals and churches that take the minority position on these issues.

The alternative document begins by saying that the first document actually encourages congregations to disengage rather than having them stay.  It goes on to say that while the actions taken by the 217th GA are not the ideal solution for either side in the ordination standards debate they are being mis-represented in the press so many in the church have misinformation about them.  Next it talks about the unity of the church and how the PC(USA) disagreements have not reached a level that justifies separations and the negative witness to the world any separations would be.

We will see how this develops Thursday night.