Covenant Network Recommendations
for the 218th General Assembly

The Covenant Network of Presbyterians was founded over ten years ago with two goals: to support the full inclusion of LGBT Presbyterians in the life and leadership of the church, and to work for the health and unity of the church in the midst of deep disagreements.

The Covenant Network affirmed the actions of the 217th General Assembly (2006) in approving the recommendations of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church. We believe those recommendations called the church back to principles deeply ingrained in our Presbyterian tradition and so offered a way for our church to move beyond the controversies which divide us.

In the months since the 2006 GA, we have been encouraged by signs in some places of bridge-building, healthy dialogue, and a renewed emphasis in presbyteries and sessions on discerning the movement of the Holy Spirit while examining those who understand themselves to be called to ordained service as deacons, elders and ministers.

The hard work of the diverse (and unanimous!) Theological Task Force, and the prayerful discernment of commissioners to the 2006 GA, have been threatened by a recent decision of the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission in the case of Bush, et al. v. Presbytery of Pittsburgh. While the GAPJC decision affirmed most of the principles of the 217th GA’s authoritative interpretation of G-6.0108, it also declared that the second sentence of G-6.0106b (“fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness”) – alone among the provisions of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) – is not subject to potential departures. Elevating this one clause directly contradicted a key reminder from the Task Force about our tradition: that ordination standards should be established nationally and applied locally, all with respect for freedom of conscience and emphasis on mutual forbearance – and that this Presbyterian process is especially important when standards are controversial.

We believe the Bush decision was not just bad polity, but also a threat to the way of being church offered by the Task Force and affirmed by the 217th Assembly. Given this judicial decision, we believe that seeking the peace, unity and purity of the church requires working at this Assembly both to reaffirm the traditional Presbyterian process ratified by the 2006 Assembly and to change the standards for ordination.

To that end, we urge the General Assembly to take several actions:

Approve the overtures designed to support the 217th GA’s approval of the authoritative interpretation of G-6.0108.

When the Task Force proposed the authoritative interpretation adopted by the 217th GA, it was emphasized that the principles would apply regardless of how the church’s standards might change in the future. The John Knox overture [Item 05-12,“On Adopting an Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.0108 to Ensure Proper Application of Ordination Standards”] is necessary to restore the integrity of our polity, and the overture from Scioto Valley with multiple concurrences [Item 05-03, “On Directing the Stated Clerk to Collect and/or Develop Models of Examination Procedures]would help the church learn to live out those principles. 

Issue an Authoritative Interpretation making it clear that the “definitive guidance” statements that preceded G-6.0106b, and the subsequent affirmations of them, have no force or effect.

Send to the presbyteries an amendment of G-6.0106b that would remove the provisions aimed at excluding LGBT persons from ordained service.

The PCUSA has been suffering for decades from G-6.0106b and the exclusionary policy that preceded it, which was first called “definitive guidance” in 1978; the current “standard” is theologically, pastorally, ecclesiastically, and evangelistically disastrous. The health of the church and our witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ demand that we remove this failed policy so that we can move into God’s future embracing all whom God has welcomed and called. Items 05-6, 05-8, 05-9, 05-11, and 05-13, from the Presbyteries of Albany, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Genesee Valley, Hudson River, National Capital, New Hope, New York City, the Redwoods, and Santa Fe, offer various approaches that would accomplish this goal.

In our other legislative priorities, we also strongly recommend these measures:

The overture from the Presbyteries of Denver and New Brunswick that would strengthen Presbyterian commitment to pastoral care and to equal civil rights for families of same-gender partners, and establish a study committee to explore the theology and practice of marriage and related matters.

Issues of equality for all families, and the questions posed by the interplay between varying state laws and church policies, confront pastors and sessions. The church’s response should be based on prayerful and thoughtful theological work, informed by both Scripture and the realities of contemporary family life.

Overtures to initiate the process of replacing the inaccurate translation of the Heidelberg Catechism currently in our Book of Confessions with a translation faithful to the original language.

Our Confessions are both a witness to our faith, and a teaching tool for the faithful. The version of the Heidelberg Catechism currently in the Book of Confessions contains several passages that are inaccurate translations of the original language. For the integrity of our witness – historical and contemporary – a more faithful translation should be substituted.