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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. Period of Discernment Recent Actions – GA 2008. History of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We came to this continent in the 17 th century (“Puritans”). Presbyterians have split and reunited several times. Constitution: Book of Confessions Book of Order.

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Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

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  1. Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Period of Discernment Recent Actions – GA 2008

  2. History of the Presbyterian Church (USA) • We came to this continent in the 17th century (“Puritans”). • Presbyterians have split and reunited several times. • Constitution: • Book of Confessions • Book of Order

  3. Where is the Denomination Going? • There has been a debate about issues: • Divinity of Christ • Ordination Standards • God’s will for our sexuality • Individual Conscience vs. denomination standards • Teaching and Authority of Scripture • The Nature of Christian Life

  4. Voices of Sophia • Re-Imagining Conference – 1993 • PC(USA) Group – Voices of Sophia-1994 • Promotes Feminine Images of God • Promote Reproductive Freedom- Abortion • Call to Ministry Persons of all Sexual Orientations • Denies Deity and Uniqueness of Jesus

  5. 2001 GA Statement on Christ • Overture submitted to GA stating salvation is found in Christ alone. • GA unable to affirm the overture. • Compromise proposal – Jesus is “unique”. • Compromise approved. • In response, Desert Hills published its own “Summary of Beliefs”.

  6. 2002 Summary of Our Beliefs • The reality of God who is self-revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. • The Deity of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. • The integrity and authority of the Bible as God’s Word. • Jesus Christ’s atoning death on the Cross.

  7. 2002 Summary of Our Beliefs (Cont.) • The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. • Salvation comes only by God’s grace through Faith, not through human efforts. • The necessity for moral behavior. • The coming of Jesus Christ to judge the world at the end of human history.

  8. 2006 GA – Trinity Paper • Non-Traditional Statements about Trinity • Metaphorical in Character • Report “received for study” – not approved • Again Introduced to the 2008 GA • Report and Study Materials were approved in 218th GA.

  9. 2006 & 2008 AI – “Scruples” • 2006 GA approved PUP Authoritative Interpretation – candidates can “Scruple”. • GAPJC Overruled Interpretation – 2/2008. • 2008 GA reaffirmed PUP Authoritative Interpretation. • Now applies to all Ordination Standards.

  10. 2008 GA – Changes to Heidelberg Catechism • Reduces confessions from authoritative statements to historical documents. • Delete language “Christ alone is God’s own eternal son” to read “natural son”. • Rejection of the Deity of Christ

  11. 2008 GA – Changes to Heidelberg Catechism • “Certainly not! Scripture says, ‘Surely you know that the unjust will never come into possession of the kingdom of God. Make no mistake: no fornicator or idolater, none who are guilty either of adultery or of homosexual perversion, no thieves or grabbers or drunkards or slanderers or swindlers, will possess the kingdom of God’.” • Based on I Corinthians 6:9-10.

  12. 2008 GA – Changes to Heidelberg Catechism • “Certainly not; for as Scripture says no unchaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, greedy person, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or anyone like that shall inherit the kingdom of God.” • A portion of I Corinthians 6:9-10 was omitted, as catechism was written for children. • Advocates wish to return to catechism as originally written.

  13. 2008 GA Adopted Social Creed • Promotes quality public education and universal healthcare • Tax and budget policies – Equalize wealth • Immigration policies to protect family unity • Multilateral diplomacy over unilateral force • Nuclear disarmament and redirect military spending to peaceful uses

  14. 2008 GA – Equality for Homosexuals • GA Approved Resolutions supporting: • Same-sex marriages in Civil Court. • Against definitions of marriage – as between man and woman. • Support legal cases furthering equal civil rights for homosexuals. • Recommended removing “chastity in singleness or fidelity in marriage” clause.

  15. 2008 GA – Interfaith Statement • Unqualified support for Muslim document, “A Common Word between Us and You” • “Participation in Sacred and Holy observances in each other’s traditions” • “Celebrate religious holidays together, setting aside days of worship” • Contradicts our Summary of Beliefs

  16. The Issues that Confront Us • Passed a resolution that Jesus is “unique” • Allow candidates to scruple any standard • Confessions become historical documents • Redirects us to pursue “social justice” • Participate in sacred observances of other faiths that do not recognize Christ’s Deity • Diminished importance of Christianity

  17. Summary – Period of Discernment • Please contact the Connectional Committee: • Please talk to us.

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