IRVING, TX - Synod of the Sun, a regional governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA), today unanimously appointed an administrative commission to examine concerns regarding church property and presbytery leadership in South Louisiana Presbytery.
A letter from a group of pastors and elders in South Louisiana to Synod Executive Judy Fletcher, dated April 8, "expressed a concern regarding our presbytery's leadership, particularly pertaining to the presbytery's response to churches seeking title to their properties."
Those same churches sought dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA), the letter said. It further stated that presbytery leaders gave insufficient consideration to denominational protocols on such matters and gave insufficient consultation with other churches.
The signers asked for an administrative commission by synod to review past and pending actions regarding property titles and the dismissal of congregations from the denomination. Even while raising concerns, they expressed gratitude for the extraordinary efforts of presbytery leaders in the wake and stress of the devastating 2005 hurricane season.
Synod Executive Judy Fletcher met with members of the presbytery council of South Louisiana, April 22, and said they concurred that outside consultation would be helpful. The council sent a letter to synod supporting an administrative commission but asking that the power of original jurisdiction not be given.
"This is one part of the church body helping another part," said Fletcher of the synod's action to appoint an administrative commission.
Synod commissioners established an administrative commission charged with determining the "validity of the presbytery's procedures and decisions (past, pending, and future) regarding various congregations and their properties."
The synod document further stated that "All pending and future decisions regarding property in the Presbytery of South Louisiana shall require the approval of the commission." The commission shall also listen to expressions of concern regarding the presbytery's leadership and suggest ways the presbytery can move toward a fuller expression of the ministry of Christ's Church.
After electing seven elders and six ministers representing the other 10 presbyteries in the Synod of the Sun, synod commissioners prayed for the work of commission and South Louisiana Presbytery. The commission is to deliver a report at the Oct. 24 meeting of synod.
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d Bazingo said at 2:52 p.m. on April 28, 2008, 2:52 p.m.
Judy Fletcher is quoted as saying, "This is one part of the church body helping another part..."
Oh man, is that funny. It is also a flat out lie! This is one part of the church Lording it over another. This is one part of the church proving that it is driven by property and money and NOTHING ELSE.
This is pure garbage corruption. I know these comments won't get posted, but this is the truth.
Christ's chruch will prevail over the gates of hell, and the synod is proving how close those gates are.
This is what everyone is thinking.
The synod is a gathering of fools.
d. bazingo
Matt Ferguson said at 1:34 p.m. on April 29, 2008, 1:34 p.m.
The above article wants to paint the picture that the Synod's commission is not coming in to do anything other than to listen, review, and report. If that were the case, then I think all would be fine and dandy with everyone. The problem is there was much more authority given to the commission, authority to rule in an area given only to presbyteries.
In the article above this abusive authority is referred to with the comment, "The synod document further stated that "All pending and future decisions regarding property in the Presbytery of South Louisiana shall require the approval of the commission." That, my friends, is where they stepped over the line in just being one governing body helping another, as they state they are trying to be.
Hopefully, the commission will not overstep and the end result will be something as positive as they stating as their goal. But it doesn't change the fact the Synod, as can be seen in their own article above, is saying one thing while there is really more to their action.
ECHickman said at 9:47 p.m. on April 29, 2008, 9:47 p.m.
For shame...