Guide to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church Records

In 2001, the 213th General Assembly created the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church (TTF PUP) to lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (PC(USA)) in spiritual discernment of Christian identity in and for the 21st century. Comprised of twenty members, the task force sought to discover ways that the church could live more faithfully in the face of conflicts and disagreements around the issues of biblical authority and interpretation, Christology, ordination standards, and power. The General Assembly charged the task force to set its meetings, deliberations, and conclusions in a theological frame through an ongoing process of biblical study, theological reflection, and spiritual discernment. The task force was co-chaired by Gary W. Demarest and Jean (Jenny) S. Stoner.

Through their meetings from 2001 to 2006, task force members sought to deepen their understanding of their Christian and catholic identity and clarify key themes of the Reformed theological and constitutional heritage; study and evaluate the sources of health and promise as well as the causes of dissension and unrest in the church; recommend ways for the church to move forward, furthering its peace, unity, and purity; study theological issues and Presbyterian polity; and consult with governing bodies and other groups in the church. Before approaching mandated topics, task force members studied resources from scholars and earlier committees and commissions of the church. They conducted Bible study, prayer, and worship at every meeting.

The task force's subcommittee on communication held focus discussion groups at the 214th General Assembly in 2002. The task force adopted a preliminary report to the 216th General Assembly in 2004. During its meeting in Chicago, Illinois from August 24 to August 25, 2005, the task force adopted its final report, "A Season of Discernment...," for the 217th General Assembly. While the task force did not take a position on human sexuality and ordination, it did reach agreement on several points in its final report: "It is a grave error to deny baptism or church membership to gay and lesbian persons or to withhold pastoral care to them and their families...Those who aspire to ordination must lead faithful lives. Those who demonstrates licentious behavior should not be ordained...Sexual behavior is integral to Christian discipleship, leadership, and community life. it is not a purely personal matter...Sexual orientation is, in itself, no barrier to ordination" (page 20). The task force also wrote, "Many of us came to understand how alienating it is for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons to be so regularly identified as a major threat to the peace, unity, and purity of the church" (page 12). The task force also recommended its authoritative interpretation of section G-6.0108 of the "Book of Order" to the 217th General Assembly (page 35), stating the "authoritative interpretation would restore a greater degree of both rigor and flexibility in ordination decisions" (page 36).