JUNE 19, 2014
To congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
Earlier today the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) approved a recommendation from its Civil Union and Marriage
Issues Committee allowing for pastoral discretion to perform “any such marriage
they believe the Holy Spirit calls then to perform,” where legal by state law.
They also approved a recommendation to change language in
the Book of Order to indicate that “marriage involves a unique commitment
between two people, traditionally a man and a woman.”
Both decisions came with much thought, discussion and
prayer, and clearly the entire body that is the PC(USA) will be interpreting
these actions for some time.
Please know that the same triune God in whom we place our
hope, faith and trust in is still in control, and that the Assembly’s action
today is the result of deep discernment to hear God’s voice and discern God’s
will.
We concur with the feelings expressed by Teaching Elder
Commissioner Jeffrey Bridgeman, moderator of the Civil Union and Marriage
Issues Committee, during his presentation to the Assembly.
“The apostle Paul tells us that ours is, in fact, ‘the
ministry of reconciliation’ as ‘ambassadors of Christ,’ and he died for us so
that we might be reconciled, that we might become reconcilers,” Bridgeman said.
In this season of both happiness and sadness over the
Assembly’s decisions, we call on you to remember the overflowing grace and love
God gifts us with, and to take seriously our charge to bestow the same grace
and love on one another.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Ruling Elder Heath K. Rada
Moderator, 221st General Assembly
The Reverend Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Ruling Elder Linda Bryant Valentine
Executive Director, Presbyterian Mission Agency
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