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For centuries, Presbyterian Churches have believed and understood that the Christian liberty which Jesus Christ purchased for us by his undeserved but willing death on the cross includes the freedom of conscience. This is affirmed in the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) with unmistakable clarity:
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in anything contrary to his Word, or beside it in matters of faith or worship. So that to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commandments out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also.[1]
In fact, freedom of conscience has been so important that this entire first sentence, even its often neglected second half, is also included in the current Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). [2] That is good. But now it is under attack.
The General Assembly of the PC(USA), at its meeting in 2024, received an overture from the Olympia Presbytery, “On Amending the Book of Order to Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Among the Categories Against Which This Church Does Not Discriminate.” The overture was designated as POL-01, approved by the Assembly, and sent to the presbyteries for their consideration for amending the Book of Order. But two problems immediately arise.
By way of background, the church has long understood the Bible to be the written form of the Word of God, so it is primary among written authorities for the faith and life of the church. The historic creeds, catechisms, and confessions of faith are secondary authorities, intended to summarize the teachings of the Bible on major matters of doctrine such as the Trinity, creation, providence, the incarnation, salvation, sanctification, resurrection, and so forth. The PC(USA) has gathered several of these documents into its Book of Confessions, which is Part I of the denomination’s Constitution. The Book of Order intends to apply the teachings of the Bible and the confessions to the practical concerns of the day to day life of the church. This statement of polity is Part II of the Constitution, and as such it is a third-level authority.
The Bible, of course, is not subject to revision, though the church rightly always seeks better translations and understanding of it. The Book of Confessions can be revised, either by amendment of an historical document or documents, by deletion of an historical document or documents, or by addition of another document or documents, either historical or contemporary. But the process of revision is intentionally difficult, requiring approval by a super-majority of presbyteries, so as to build a significant amount of stability into Part I of the Constitution. For this reason, revisions to it are seldom attempted. By way of contrast, the Book of Order can be revised more easily, by a simple majority of presbyteries, as is appropriate for a practical document having to do with worship, mission, education, and the ordering of the life and work of congregations, presbyteries, synods, and the general assembly.
Therefore, for several decades, those intent upon changing both the faith and the life of the PC(USA) have been content with making only a few amendments to the Book of Confessions, but they have succeeded in having two complete rewrites of the Book of Order and in making numerous amendments to it. One profound problem has been that several of these amendments stand in direct contradiction to the Bible and the Book of Confessions. This gets everything backward, putting the Book of Order into the position of the highest authority in the faith and life of the church, which it was never meant to be.[3]And things are about to get worse.
First, proposed amendment POL-01 intends to insert into the Book of Order, in a list of categories of persons against whom the church shall not discriminate (F-1.0403), the categories of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” But there is not a word about either of these in the Bible. Moreover, there is not a word about either of these in the Book of Confessions. To introduce these novel categories into the Book of Order would be knowingly and willingly to amend it yet again into direct contradiction with both the Bible and the Book of Confessions, despite their stated higher authority.
Second, proposed amendment POL-01 also intends to insert into the Book of Order, in a list of standards for ordained service in the church (G-2.0104b), a requirement that every session and presbytery, in its consideration of persons for ordination and/or installation into any office, examine each candidate’s “commitment to fulfill” all requirements for non-discrimination included in the newly amended section F-1.0403, as described in the previous paragraph.
But surely, taken together, these two amendments would violate the freedom of conscience of any candidate or officer who disagrees with them. These two categories of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are “contrary” to the Word of God or “beside it.” And the requirement that each candidate or officer honor these categories is a “commandment” of men from which God has left the conscience free.
To be perfectly clear, it is not only future ordinations that would be blocked. Even if you are already a deacon, an elder, or a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), this proposed amendment to the Book of Order may affect whether you can or will ever again be installed to active service in that office. If you are a member of a congregation of the PC(USA), this proposed amendment may affect who can be installed to the board of deacons, the session, or as a pastor of the congregation. Consider this very carefully.
So far, for the most part, the PC(USA) has been willing to allow its deacons, elders, and ministers to exercise their “freedom of conscience” in regard to their interpretation of Scripture, to the extent that could be done “without serious departure” from “the essentials of the Reformed faith and polity.” For example, denying the Trinity, the incarnation, salvation, or the resurrection would be a serious departure and would be grounds for withholding ordination and/or installation from that person. Conversely, freedom has been allowed in choosing how many elders to have, when in the worship service to receive the offering, and so forth. But now, an effort is underway to slam the door shut on “freedom of conscience.” Elevating the approval of the two categories of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to be required and essential to holding office changes everything. Anyone who does not approve could be excluded from office. That is not good.
Theology Matters intends to uphold the historic primary authority of the Scripture, the secondary authority of the confessions, and the tertiary authority of our polity. Theology Matters intends to uphold our obedience to our ordination vows, which articulate clearly this order of authority. Theology Matters intends to resist the ongoing efforts knowingly and willingly to amend the Book of Order into direct contradiction with the Scripture and the Book of Confessions, realizing that such anti-confessionalism leads us into post-constitutionalism and government by mere majority, otherwise known as mob rule. Theology Matters intends to stand with, and to support, any who suffer as a result of obedience to our ordination vows. And we invite you to join us in this effort.
[1] The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Part I: Book of Confessions (The Office of the General Assembly: Louisville, KY, 2010), 171, paragraph 6.109, emphasis added.
[2] The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Part II: Book of Order 2023–2025 (The Office of the General Assembly: Louisville, KY, 2023), 11, paragraph F-3.0101.
[3] For more information about the particulars of such amendments and rulings and about their setting within the historical faith and governance of the church, see James C. Goodloe IV, “John Calvin on the Unity and Truthfulness of the Church.” Theology Matters 22.1 (Spring 2016): 1–10. https://www.theologymatters.com/articles/reformation-of-the-church/2016/john-calvin-on-the-unity-and-truthfulness-of-the-church/