Recording the Story of the Presbyterian Church in America
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P&R News ² March 1999 Recording the Presbyterian & Story of the Presbyterian Reformed News Church in America $2.75 per issue/$15.00 per year Volume 6 Number 2 Published by Presbyterian International News Service, Inc., Lawrenceville, Georgia March-April 2000 SJC RULES JOHN WOOD CASE OUT OF ORDER FULL COMMISSION CHANGES OFFICERS STATEMENT OF FACTS AS WELL AS BASIS FOR RULING At its March stated meeting, the full Standing Judicial Commission (SJC) of the Presbyterian Church in America Commission (SJC) of the Presbyterian Church in America ruled the case against John Wood out of order. In a letter (PCA) ruled administratively out of order the judicial case dated November 29, 1999, this judgment was communicated regarding John Wood. The vote was 17 in favor, 3 opposed, to three of the four presbyteries which have filed charges 3 recused, and 1 absent. against the Knoxville pastor. In making its ruling, the full Commission agreed with The officers found that the case was administratively in the SJC officers that the case was out of order, but order, in that it had been timely filed. However, they also disagreed as to why. The officers had said that the case was determined that it was judicially out of order, and cited two judicially out of order. The full Commission said that it was points in doing so. administratively out of order. Furthermore, the full First, they stated that the Session is responsible for the Commission also changed a key finding in the officers conduct of worship (Book of Church Order, 12-5e), and Statement of Facts. they reason from that that any charges with regard to a In making its ruling, the SJC gave two reasons why the woman preaching from the pulpit of Cedar Springs matter was out of order. First, The Session has jurisdiction Presbyterian Church should be directed against the Session. over worship in the local church. From that statement it is Secondly, they declared that Tennessee Valley Presbytery inferred that only the Session, presumably corporately, may did not refuse to act, in that at its October 1999 stated be charged with a matter flowing from its jurisdiction. Second, meeting, that court vindicated the Session of Cedar Springs. The Presbytery did not refuse to act. The reasoning here In making their determination, the SJC officers gave a is that the vindication by Tennessee Valley Presbytery (TVP), Statement of Facts. At least several of the alleged facts which was taken in October (three months after three appeared to be erroneous. presbyteries had in essence brought the matter to the General For example, it was stated that at its Spring 1999 meeting, Assembly), constituted action. [This vindication came apart the Tennessee Valley Presbytery (TVP), having been from a judicial trial or a judicial investigation.Ed.] advised about Western Carolina Presbyterys concern, The case had been brought by three presbyteries, appointed a committee to investigate this matter. There is Western Carolina, Calvary, and Ascension, asking that the no indication in the minutes of the Presbytery that a General Assembly assume original jurisdiction over the committee was appointed at the Spring 1999 meeting. minister from Tennessee Valley Presbytery, when that court The SJC officers further alleged: There was further allegedly refused to act in the matter. The charges revolve discussion on this matter at TVPs Summer 1999 stated around Mr. Woods allegedly having invited a woman to fill meeting. However, the discussion that had been scheduled the pulpit at his church on two occasions in August 1998. for and was conducted at the Summer 1999 meeting was According to at least two of the presbyteries which brought completely informal, and was on the theoretical question as the charges, Mr. Woods views, which favor female to the propriety of women teaching in public worship. The preaching, were also involved. matter of the allegations with regard to Cedar Springs was According to the SJC ruling, the matter began when not on the agenda. Western Carolina Presbytery, at its March 1999 meeting, Thirdly, the SJC officers stated: There is no record of asked Tennessee Valley Presbytery (TVP) to investigate TVP formally responding to Western Carolina Presbytery allegations that Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, until August 3, 1999 by a letter from TVPs Stated Clerk. Knoxville, Tennessee, has had women preachers to fill its However, in point of fact, TVP did not adopt a motion, pulpits. The ruling maintains that TVP discussed the matter SJC officers Robert Ferguson and John White also serve as introduced at the Summer meeting, that would have formally at its April 1999 stated meeting, and again at its July 1999 General Assembly parliamentarians. Here they are pictured communicated with Western Carolina Presbytery. stated meeting. consulting Roberts Rules of Order. Fourthly, the SJC officers maintained: At its Fall stated Shortly thereafter, Western Carolina, Calvary, and meeting (October 12, 1999), TVP heard the report of its Ascension petitioned the Assembly to take original Presbyterian Church to allow a woman on staff, under their investigative committee. However, there is no record of jurisdiction in the matter, and try the case. Western Carolinas authority and guidance, to speak from the pulpit on two Tennessee Valley Presbytery having appointed an and Calvarys petition had two specific charges. The first is Sunday evenings, to explain her biblical approach to investigative committee. that Mr. Wood has violated the Biblical teaching of worship Christian Education. Normally, the SJC officers would have no ability to as understood by the Presbyterian Church in America, which At that October 12, 1999, meeting of the Presbytery, determine if a case is judicially in order: that responsibility is to be led by men under the Headship of Christ, in having TVP adopted two resolutions. The first was that the usually falls upon the judicial panel to which the case is a woman fill the pulpit, preach, give instruction and exhort Session of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church (1) is in committed. However, when the officers decide that the the congregation from the Word of God . The second is conformity with the standards of the PCA; (2) has not acted importance of the case mandates that the full Commission that he has violated the clear teaching of the Word of God, in any way injurious to the testimony of Christ or His church; hear it, then the officers must decide that cases judicial as which says that women are to keep silence in the church, and (3) is in submission to their fellow elders, and are eager well as administrative orderliness. and are not to exercise authority over men (I Cor. 14:34; I to maintain the peace and purity of the church. The second The three presbyteries to which the communication was Tim. 2:8-15; 4:13), in violation of the Second Commandment resolution was that TVP openly and plainly declares that it sentAscension, Calvary, and Western Carolinahad as interpreted by our Standards . Ascension Presbytery is not proper for women to preach and teach in the churchs thirty days from the receipt of the notice to put the case in added two additional charges: that Mr. Wood had violated corporate worship. order, if possible. Ascension and Western Carolina the Fourth Commandment (with regard to profaning the Subsequently, the officers of the Standing Judicial considered the matter at called meetings in December. Sabbath) and the Fifth Commandment (with regard to his ordination vow of being subject to the brethren in the Lord). The General Assembly Stated Clerk received these INSIDE THIS ISSUE petitions shortly after they were adopted. The SJC officers did not make a ruling until November, after the October stated Women Preaching and the SJC...............1-3 Ministering Bread to the Hungry.................10 meeting of Tennessee Valley Presbytery. New Magazine, New Office Building...........4 All Aboard the Balsam Valley Railroad.......11 In the meantime, three teaching elders from TVP, on North Florida Decries Newspaper..............5 Letters & Editorials................................12-13 their own accord, met with Mr. Wood in order to discuss the Conference on Sufficiency of Scripture...6-7 News from the Presbyteries..................14-17 matter thoroughly. They presented a report to the October Covenant College Stories.........................5,8 Obituaries.....................................................18 meeting of Presbytery. According to the SJC, what they discussed was the decision by the Session of Cedar Springs Open Forum on Creation........................... 9 Church Sponsors....................................18-19 2 P&R News ² March-April 2000 Both of these presbyteries contended The two presbyteries also directed that there is no basis by which the SJC could Constitutional inquiries to the Committee on rule the case out of order. They also stated Constitutional Business, which reviews the FORMAL OBJECTION that the SJC officers reached conclusions minutes of the SJC. In dealing with cases, the Pursuant to SJC Manual Section 21.2, the the Church, to assume original jurisdiction, based on alleged facts, when there could CCB can, if it finds there has been a violation undersigned, a member of the Standing Judicial i.e., to first receive and initially hear and be no facts in that the matter had never of the SJC Manual or the chapter of the Rules Commission, hereby files a written determine the case. Therefore, the case should been tried by a court. The presbyteries for Assembly Operations dealing with the OBJECTION to the handling of the matter have been styled The General Assembly of respectfully asked the SJC officers to SJC, report such violations to the General styled by the Officers of the SJC as Judicial the PCA vs. TE John M. Wood. If in the produce the documentation . which will Assembly; and the Assembly may on that Case 99-1, Western Carolina Presbytery, et al.