Overture 25: Women and Men's Roles

This is another overture (Overture 25) from the Northwest Georgia Presbytery.  HT: The Aquila Report

Whereas, we believe that the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America (BCO 26-1) sufficiently addresses the various ordained roles for men and women in the church; and

Whereas, there have been discussions over a number of years within the Presbyterian Church in America regarding the role of men and women in the church; and

Whereas, recent assemblies have declined to settle this matter via study committees (which would inevitably have to propose many BCO amendments to change our practices in these areas, if desired); and

Whereas, these discussions (and practices that deviate from the clear language contained in the BCO sections below) appear to have highlighted and manifested differences of views and practices within the PCA, which could possibly create division among churches and brothers;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Session of Grace Presbyterian Church in Douglasville, Georgia overtures the Northwest Georgia Presbytery, meeting on May 22, 2010, to overture the 38th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America that until or unless there are constitutional amendments to change our BCO, each court is to be reminded to be faithful in upholding the constitutional views of the Church and by adopting this overture to remind our churches and courts specifically:

To reaffirm to the church and the watching world that while both male and female are created in God’s image and have equal redemptive standing before God (Gen. 1:27; Gal. 3:28), and that while all believers are gifted and called to participate in certain aspects of the ministry of the church, yet by God’s design only men are called to ordained roles in Scripture (1 Tim. 3:1; Tit. 1:6) and in our church’s Constitution (see below); and

To urge its members to study and work for the peace and unity of the church by supporting the written Constitution or by seeking to amend it by ordinary process (see BCO 26-1 and 2; Note: this overture is not intended to prevent such process if this Assembly approves any other BCO amendment on this topic.); and

To direct its members to the specific provisions within its Constitution regarding its structure and the nature of ecclesiastical office; that while not exhaustive, this direction includes an exhortation not to contradict in any way these pertinent provisions in the Constitution which manifest our view, to wit:

“The officers of the Church, by whom all its powers are administered, are, according to the Scriptures, teaching and ruling elders and deacons” (BCO 1-4).

“The power which Christ has committed to His Church vests in the whole body, the rulers and those ruled, constituting it a spiritual commonwealth. This power, as exercised by the people, extends to the choice of those officers whom He has appointed in His Church” (BCO 3-1).

“Its [a particular church] officers are its teaching and ruling elders and its deacons” (BCO 4-2).

“The ordinary and perpetual classes of office in the Church are elders and deacons” (BCO 7-2).

“In accord with Scripture, these offices [elder and deacon] are open to men only” (BCO 7-2).

“The office of deacon is set forth in the Scriptures as ordinary and perpetual in the Church”  (BCO 9-1).

“To the office of deacon, which is spiritual in nature, shall be chosen men of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly spirit, warm sympathies, and sound judgment” (BCO 9-3).

“The church Session is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the church, for which purpose it has power: “…to ensure that the Word of God is preached only by such men as are sufficiently qualified (BCO 4-4, 53-2, 1 Timothy 2:11-12)….” (BCO 12-5e).

“The government of the Church is by officers gifted to represent Christ, and the right of God’s people to recognize by election to office those so gifted is inalienable. Therefore no man can be placed over a church in any office without the election, or at least the consent of that church” BCO 16-2).

“Wherefore every candidate for office is to be approved by the court by which he is to be ordained” (BCO 16-3).

“Those who have been called to office in the Church are to be inducted by the ordination of a court” (BCO 17-1).

“Every church shall elect persons to the offices of ruling elder and deacon in the following manner: At such times as determined by the Session, communicant members of the congregation may submit names to the Session, keeping in mind that each prospective officer should be an active male member who meets the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1….” (BCO 24-1).

Accordingly, the 38^th General Assembly thus believes that an adequate measure of clarity, unity, harmony, and peace may be obtained so that we might devote ourselves more to the mission of the church than to continued debates on these subjects.

Adopted by Northwest Georgia Presbytery

May 22, 2010