EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

W H AT H AS TH E S ES S ION DE C IDE D?
Monday, September 23, the Session of Highland Park Presbyterian Church unanimously adopted a resolution that it believes that God is calling HPPC to terminate its voluntary affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and seek affiliation with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO). Now the Session asks the congregation of HPPC to enter into a time of discernment about whether to concur. The congregation will be asked to vote on the Sessions recommendation at a Congregation Meeting on Sunday, October 27. With a spirit of faithfulness and obedience to Christ, HPPCs leadership is wholeheartedly recommending this course so that we can pursue Gods mission for HPPC: Making disciples of Jesus Christ who make a difference for the glory of God.

OU R PERS PECTIVE ON THE PC (USA)

For decades, leaders and members of HPPC have been wrestling with changes taking place in the theological positions and the governance of the PC(USA) most recently with the two-year study by the session-appointed Denominational Task Force. The Session believes that the PC(USA) has made changes in a number of areas that reflect a significant turning away from the traditional confessions of our faith and from the historical understandings of the authority and interpretation of Scripture. The Session has come to believe that these changes have become a distraction and hindrance to HPPCs ability to pursue our mission. It has become increasingly difficult to remain in fellowship and common mission with those whose core theological beliefs have become so radically different from those historically held by HPPC.

4 MAIN CONCERNS ABOUT THE PC(USA) THAT CALL FOR A CHANGE NOW

Lack of Core Theological Beliefs: The PC(USA) celebrates theological diversity and lacks a theological core. It has no essential beliefs or values to unite the denomination with mutual respect, accountability and authentic connectionalism. HPPC believes it is critical to have essential core beliefs for the theological clarity and integrity of its witness.

The PC(USA) has no Essential Tenets. See the video Essential Tenets at

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/theologyandworship/worship-videos/

The PC(USA) has declared it unacceptable for a congregation or a Presbytery to adopt

Essential Tenets as HPPC has done. Bush v. Presbytery of Pittsburgh, Remedial Case 220-10

Lack of Consensus on the authority of Scripture: The PC(USA) embraces multiple perspectives on Scripture. Recent changes in ordination standards are examples of the PC(USA) making changes that reflect a significant turning away from the traditional confessions of our faith and from the historical understanding of the authority and interpretation of Scripture. We believe in salvation through Christ alone and that Scripture is the Word of God, the final authority for faith and life.

Only 45% of PC(USA) ruling elders, 41% of PC(USA) pastors, and 27% of specialized PC(USA)

ministers strongly agree or agree that only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved according to a national survey conducted by the PC(USA) in 2011. http://www.pcusa.org/media/uploads/research/pdfs/panel_profile_survey_2011_summary_color.pdf Scripture can be authoritative. Bush v. Presbytery of Pittsbury, Remedial Case 220-10.
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The Bush case says that since there can be multiple interpretations of Scripture, no interpretation of

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4 MAIN CONCERNS ABOUT THE PC(USA) THAT CALL FOR A CHANGE NOW, CONT.

Changing Governance Policies and Practices: Without a common faith to provide unity, the higher governing bodies of the PC(USA) increasingly use institutional power to hold the denomination together while at the same time encourage diversity and tolerance for all views except of those, who like HPPC, celebrate theological clarity.

After its takeover of First Presbyterian Church of Longview as it was considering leaving the PC(USA),

Grace Presbytery adopted a dismissal policy for churches desiring to consider leaving that codified the actions it took in Longview. It further clarified in an amendment to its Standing Rules the process for creating an Administrative Commission that has the power to take over churches as was done at Longview. An Administrative Commission can now be created at any time by the action of a small number of people within Grace Presbytery and the Presbytery Council without any notice to the impacted church. The dismissal policy places Presbytery completely in control of the process of discerning whether to change Presbyterian denominations or stay within the PC(USA) with no predictability or certainty of outcome for a local church. The 50% quorum and 90% voting requirement of this policy makes it highly unlikely that a large church would ever meet the standards of the policy; and even if it did, the Presbytery still remains in control of the outcome. Papers, recent GAPJC decisions requiring consideration of fair market value in dismissal decisions and empowering synods to get involved in dismissal decisions.

Trust clause the impact of the trust clause is increasingly being tightened. See the Louisville

Lack of Freedom to Choose Future Pastors: Because of the theological drift of the PC(USA), we are concerned that there is a narrowing pool of future pastors with views aligned with HPPC who will be interested in a PC(USA) church. We are also concerned that the degree of control asserted by Presbytery may be a hindrance in calling a senior pastor at HPPC. This question of denominational affiliation was highlighted in the Mission Study Report of HPPC as one of the key issues that the congregation believes must be resolved before HPPC calls a new Senior Pastor.

Narrowing pool of candidates narrowing interest:

In 2000, only 7% of all PC(USA) pastors were under the age of 40, which means that 93% of all PC(USA) pastors will have reached retirement age by 2025; Leslie Scanlon, Pastors under 40 Face Unique Challenges, The Presbyterian Outlook (2001). http://www.pres-outlook.com/news-and-analysis/1-news-a-analysis/1707-pastors-under-40-face-uniquechallenges.html

Narrowing the pool restrictive policies: Grace Presbytery recently changed its ordination policies

to provide that ordinarily students from conservative seminaries like Redeemer Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary are not eligible for candidacy for ordination. This change in policy directly impacts several HPPC staff who are going to Redeemer or who have already graduated.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

H OW DO TH ES E CON CERNS AF F E C T HPPC?

The concerns about the PC(USA) have already or will have a profound impact on the life and ministry or our church and have been placed into three distinct but inter-related categories: Identity, Mission and Governance. Our Identity | Rooted in Scripture, Jesus at the Center: In light of these concerns, we believe that over time, if HPPC remains under the authority and influence of the institutional PC(USA), the identity of HPPC as a church rooted in Scripture with Jesus at the center will be lost. Our Mission | Making Disciples of Jesus Christ: We hear the words of Christ: You (the church) are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16. We believe the lamp that Christ has entrusted to HPPC is being hidden or dimmed. The integrity of our witness to the gospel may even be questioned because of the perception that we share the commitment of the institutional PC(USA) that has no theological core. Our Governance of HPPC | Common Faith, Common Life: We are concerned over the claims by the PC(USA) that it has a trust interest in HPPC property. We are seeking a judicial declaration of our property rights under Texas law. The property represents not only bricks and mortar but also a cherished resource for use in proclaiming the gospel in the same manner that HPPC has done for nearly 90 years. We are further concerned about the degree of control that the institutional PC(USA) will assert now and in the future over the calling of pastors by HPPC.

T H E RES OLV E
The Session feels the weight of its decision and knows the challenges this discernment process presents to the congregation. The consequences of not taking this action, the promise provided by a change to a new Presbyterian denomination and the clear call from God compels the Session forward. We believe all of the concerns will be turned into positives through a change in Presbyterian denominations.

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