{"id":558,"date":"2008-10-10T01:01:13","date_gmt":"2008-10-10T01:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2008\/10\/the-pcusa-and-church-property-part-16.html"},"modified":"2008-10-10T01:01:13","modified_gmt":"2008-10-10T01:01:13","slug":"the-pcusa-and-church-property-part-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2008\/10\/the-pcusa-and-church-property-part-16.html","title":{"rendered":"The PC(USA) and Church Property, Part 16"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 16 of series: The PC(USA) and Church Property
\n<\/em>Permalink for this post<\/a> \/ Permalink for this series<\/a>
\nToday I\u2019ll finish this series on the PC(USA) and property. (Is that cheering I hear in the background?) I thought I\u2019d review a few main points and add some concluding remarks.
\nThe Book of Order<\/em> of the PC(USA) states that all church property is \u201cheld in trust . . . for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)\u201d (G-8.0201). Taken out of context, this passage might suggest that any congregation that leaves the PC(USA) must always surrender its property. In fact, it seems that quite a few people, including many leaders of denominational bodies, interpret the \u201cheld in trust\u201d clause in this manner. But, given the larger claims of the Book of Order<\/em>, including the fact that the PC(USA) does not exist to advance itself, but rather to further the cause of Christ, and the fact that the PC(USA) explicitly acknowledges that our denomination is only one part of the Church of Jesus Christ, and the fact that we have a process for dismissing a congregation to another denomination, and the fact that we are committed to ecumenical partnerships with other denominations, it seems fully consistent with the Book of Order<\/em> for a presbytery to dismiss a congregation with its property in certain situations. This is consistent with the larger mission and purpose of the PC(USA) because this whole denomination, property and all, exists for the use and benefit of Jesus Christ. Those who read the \u201cheld in trust\u201d clause as preventing presbyteries from letting congregations leave with their property intact are missing the larger point of the Book of Order<\/em>, not to mention the larger point of what it means to be part of the Church of Jesus Christ.
\nFrom a logical and theological point of view, I don\u2019t think the Book of Order<\/em> needs to be changed in order for presbyteries to feel both free and, at times, obligated to let congregations leave with their property. But I am aware that, in practice, congregations often feel intimidated by presbyteries when it comes to matters of property, and presbyteries often feel slighted by congregations that don\u2019t consult with them before voting to leave the denomination. We have a huge lack of mutual trust, honesty, and grace in matters of church property.
\nFor this reason, it might be necessary to amend the Book of Order<\/em> in one way or another. I would be supportive of some amendment to G-8.0201. It might read something like this:<\/p>\n

G-8.0201 Property Is Held in Trust
\nAll property held by or for a particular church, a presbytery, a synod, the General Assembly, or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), whether legal title is lodged in a corporation, a trustee or trustees, or an unincorporated association, and whether the property is used in programs of a particular church or of a more inclusive governing body or retained for the production of income, is held in trust nevertheless for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which exists for the use and benefit of Jesus Christ and his mission. Therefore, there may be situations in which legal ownership of church property should be transferred to another denomination or Christian ministry.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s not polished language, but you get my drift.
\nThe way the Book of Order<\/em> talks about the situations we\u2019re facing in the PC(USA) is not, in my view, particularly helpful. We have a section that reads:<\/p>\n

G-8.0601 Property of Church in Schism
\nThe relationship to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) of a particular church can be severed only by constitutional action on the part of the presbytery. (G-11.0103i) If there is a schism within the membership of a particular church and the presbytery is unable to effect a reconciliation or a division into separate churches within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the presbytery shall determine if one of the factions is entitled to the property because it is identified by the presbytery as the true church within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This determination does not depend upon which faction received the majority vote within the particular church at the time of the schism.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For one thing, I think the word \u201cschism\u201d is not especially helpful here. It is too inflammatory. When those in the PC(USA) describe those who leave as \u201cschismatic\u201d and those who leave describe the PC(USA) as \u201cheretical\u201d or \u201capostate,\u201d we\u2019ve left Christian truth and charity far behind. Nevertheless, this passage from the Book of Order<\/em> appears to limit the actions of the presbytery, not to mention the work of the Spirit and the lordship of Christ. If I read it correctly, G-8.0601 says that if a church votes to leave the PC(USA), let\u2019s say by a 80% to 20% vote, the presbytery can only \u201cdetermine\u201d that the 20% faction \u201cis entitled to the property because it is identified by the presbytery as the true church within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).\u201d The presbytery does not seem to be empowered to recognize that the 80% group should keep its property, even in a situation where the 20% group wouldn\u2019t be able to use it or doesn\u2019t want to keep it. Doesn\u2019t it seem better to say something like: \u201cthe presbytery shall determine how the property might best be used for the mission of Jesus Christ\u201d?
\nIf I\u2019m reading G-8.0601 correctly (and I\u2019d be happy to be shown that I\u2019m wrong), then I think the Book of Order<\/em> is making a theological and tactical mistake here. When a church leaves the denomination, the most important factor for determining who should own the property is not whether or not the church is a \u201ctrue church within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).\u201d This shouldn\u2019t be the main factor even when there is a minority of the congregation that votes to stay in the PC(USA). The most important question, and the only one that ultimately matters, is: \u201cWhat is best for the kingdom of God?\u201d Or, more simply, \u201cWhat does Jesus want to do with his property?\u201d It would be the height of arrogance to assume that Jesus always wants to keep PC(USA) property in the PC(USA).
\nIn fact, some presbyteries have shown the kind of kingdom perspective I\u2019m advocating. They have let churches leave the denomination with their property, sometimes at no expense to the church, sometimes selling the property to the church at a significant discount. But other presbyteries have taken a \u201cPC(USA) only\u201d approach to property ownership, and have, in fact, spent a whole lot of Jesus\u2019 money fighting for the legal ownership to his property.
\nThis move is terrible stewardship, but that\u2019s not all. It\u2019s also an example of the sort of narrow-minded institutionalism that is killing the PC(USA). The more we focus on the PC(USA) and its success, the less we\u2019re focused on the kingdom of God and its success. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own self-preservation as a denomination that we forget our true mission. We forget the call of Jesus to deny ourselves and take up our cross. We forget that sacrifice isn\u2019t expected only of individuals, but also of the church. We forget that we are to give ourselves away for the sake of the kingdom of God. We forget that all church property belongs truly to Jesus Christ.
\nOur intramural lawsuits are not actually protecting the PC(USA), but injuring it. For example, if you were looking for a church, would you want to join a denomination that sues former churches and sister denominations? I wouldn\u2019t. Not in a million years! And neither do thousands upon thousands of potential Presbyterians. So, as we\u2019re fighting each other for property, we\u2019re chasing people away from the Presbyterian church. In our effort to save ourselves, we\u2019re killing ourselves off.
\nFights between presbyteries and churches over church property not only reflect terrible stewardship and suicidal institutionalism, but also damage the mission of Christ. The last General Assembly was absolutely right when it affirmed, in Resolution 04-28, that \u201clitigation is deadly to the cause of Christ.\u201d How many people are turned off, not just to the PC(USA), but also to the gospel by headlines about church lawsuits? I hate to think of the number. Our actions confirm the worst stereotypes of Christians as self-absorbed, institutionally-bound, materialistic, unloving hypocrites. I wonder if we\u2019d continue on this path if we realized how many people we\u2019re chasing away from Christ by our lawsuits and petty in-fighting.
\nWhat will save us from this mess? Nothing<\/em>. The only hope comes if we ask the question differently. Who will save us from this mess?<\/em> The answer comes clearly from Scripture, though the context isn\u2019t at all similar. In writing to the Romans Paul says:<\/p>\n

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.\u00a0 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.\u00a0 For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.\u00a0 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:19-25)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Only Jesus Christ can save the PC(USA) from our sinful ways. Institutional renewal could take all sorts of forms. Yet what the PC(USA) looks like in the future or even whether there is a PC(USA) is not the main point. The main point is Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and Head of the Church. The main point is his mission and his glory.
\nI believe that what\u2019s needed now more than ever in the PC(USA) is a widespread return to Christ. In the old days we\u2019d call this repentance. We need to turn from our sin and turn to Christ. We need to turn from our self-interest and turn to Christ\u2019s interest. We need to offer ourselves, our churches, and our properties to Christ, recognizing his lordship over all.
\nI\u2019m not making this up because I\u2019m so pious or clever. I\u2019m simply restating what we Presbyterians say we believe. In fact, I will close this series by quoting the first section of the PC(USA) Book of Order<\/em>. If you\u2019ve never read this, it\u2019s well worth your attention. And if you\u2019ve read it before, I invite you to read it again.<\/p>\n

G-1.0100 1. The Head of the Church
\nChrist Is Head of the Church
\na. All power in heaven and earth is given to Jesus Christ by Almighty God, who raised Christ from the dead and set him above all rule and authority, all power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. God has put all things under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and has made Christ Head of the Church, which is his body.
\nChrist Calls the Church Into Being
\nb. Christ calls the Church into being, giving it all that is necessary for its mission to the world, for its building up, and for its service to God. Christ is present with the Church in both Spirit and Word. It belongs to Christ alone to rule, to teach, to call, and to use the Church as he wills, exercising his authority by the ministry of women and men for the establishment and extension of his Kingdom.
\nChrist Gives the Church Its Faith and Life
\nc. Christ gives to his Church its faith and life, its unity and mission, its officers and ordinances. Insofar as Christ\u2019s will for the Church is set forth in Scripture, it is to be obeyed. In the worship and service of God and the government of the church, matters are to be ordered according to the Word by reason and sound judgment, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
\nChrist Is the Church\u2019s Authority
\nd. In affirming with the earliest Christians that Jesus is Lord, the Church confesses that he is its hope and that the Church, as Christ\u2019s body, is bound to his authority and thus free to live in the lively, joyous reality of the grace of God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thanks be to God! Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 16 of series: The PC(USA) and Church Property Permalink for this post \/ Permalink for this series Today I\u2019ll finish this series on the PC(USA) and property. (Is that cheering I hear in the background?) I thought I\u2019d review a few main points and add some concluding remarks. The Book of Order of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pcusa-church-property"],"yoast_head":"\nThe PC(USA) and Church Property, Part 16 - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=558"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}