An Administrative Commission (AC) of the General Assembly has taken six actions in its continuing efforts to address “allegations of disorder” in the Synod of the Covenant. The commission voted Thursday to assume original jurisdiction of the synod, which covers most of Ohio and Michigan, as well as make a commitment to transparency and communication.
In a statement released Friday, the commission, which was formed by the 223rd General Assembly (2018) and had been looking into issues connected with the synod for almost a year, explains that its process has included conducting several listening sessions, reviewing thousands of pages of documents and holding a hearing regarding actions under consideration.
“Prior to its hearing, the AC has met with most of the senior leadership of the Synod, both individually and collectively as the Moderators’ Committee. The AC reached out to and heard from interested persons within the Synod (current and former commissioners, leaders, and executive staff) and its constituent presbyteries,” the statement reads. “The AC conducted oral interviews and also received written comments. It also attended the Synod Annual Meeting in November 2019.”
The Commission’s discernment includes ceaseless prayers and reflection on scriptural texts, in particular Jeremiah 18:1-6 and 2 Corinthians 5:11-20.
Among the commission’s findings:
- Disharmony within the Synod is systemic and long-standing
- The Synod and its presbyteries hold widely differing and inconsistent perspectives on their relationship and respective roles in common areas of ministry
- There is a lack of clear, ample, honest, and loving communications
- Divisions exist around deeply held organizational values and there is a lack of mutual trust
- The parties in conflict have largely disengaged from each other
Those impacted were given opportunity to speak during an open hearing on Wednesday.
“The AC has also considered and inquired of interested parties regarding pathways to reconciliation, especially with the principles of ‘Seeking to Be Faithful Together’ in mind. The AC examined several past instances in which efforts at reconciliation were unsuccessful in attempts to resolve disputes and grievances within the Synod,” the commission statement reads. “Those incidents made clear to the AC the need for broad education and reform and for comprehensive and systematic assessment of common goals and building of trusting relationships. In its current configuration, restoration and reconciliation are not possible.”
New officers have been elected and a corporate resolution has registered newly elected officers of the Synod of the Covenant. In addition, staff members’ service to the Synod of the Covenant has concluded. New Synod committees and moderators are also being elected from among the AC membership, acting as the newly configured Synod of the Covenant.
“Stability for the synod is an important goal. New transitional leadership and a fresh start are important parts of the movement towards stability,” said Rev. Brady Radford, co-moderator of the commission. “We hope this will eventually lead to the synod functioning without significant oversight from the AC.”
Plans are also underway to utilize a professional mediation consultant in the coming weeks to work with “those impacted by the disorder toward healing and reconciliation in order to restore communion.”
Programs and operations, other than judicial process and administrative review, are temporarily suspended for a period of six months, through August 2020.
“We see this original jurisdiction as a temporary measure and desire that through healthy reconciliation, and operational stability, the Synod of the Covenant may become what God desires it to be,” the statement reads. “The AC did not take these steps lightly or easily. We will proceed carefully toward restoring governance of the Synod back to those who will lead into the future, whatever God ordains that to be.”
The AC expressed thanks to those who took part in the administrative review.
The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA), asks the church at large to keep those involved in prayer.
“The church has always faced tough times and this is a difficult situation for us to navigate and to endure. We know that our God is resilient and strong enough to help us discern the clear path to take with regard to the way forward,” he said. “We pray for everyone involved as well as all seek to be faithful to the gospel at this time.”
The entire statement is below.
February 14, 2020
We write on behalf of the Administrative Commission formed by the 223rd General Assembly to address allegations of disorder in the Synod of the Covenant, which has engaged in a special administrative review of various aspects of the history and operations of the Synod of the Covenant and its relationship with its presbyteries and others within its boundaries. The AC has conducted individual listening sessions and held a hearing regarding actions under consideration. The AC now has made several decisions and taken action as a result of its review. This message is to communicate the AC’s recent actions.
Prior to its hearing the AC has met with most of the senior leadership of the Synod, both individually and collectively as the Moderators’ Committee. The AC reached out to and heard from interested persons within the Synod (current and former Commissioners, leaders, and executive staff) and its constituent Presbyteries. The AC conducted oral interviews and also received written comments. It also attended the Synod Annual Meeting in November 2019.
The AC has reviewed several thousand pages of documents. Materials were provided to the AC for its review by the Synod, Presbyteries, and individuals, and included the Synod bylaws, its Manual of Operations, the Synod Assembly minutes, minutes of the Moderators’ Committee and of some other committees of the Synod, and internal and external correspondence and emails. The AC also examined the Synod website.
In its proceedings the AC has been guided by “Seeking to Be Faithful Together,” a document adopted by the 204th General Assembly in 1992 and which serves as a resource for Presbyterians in times of disagreement. The AC commends this document to the Synod and its constituencies as they collectively move forward towards reconciliation and healing. A central aspect of Seeking to Be Faithful Together is for the parties to seek to stay in community with each other, even in the presence of tension and strongly held disagreements. This end – which must be held by all parties -- is pursued through mutual respect and trust, and an openness to listening to each other seriously and with a focus on ideas and suggestions.
Based on its review, the AC’s findings are:
- Disharmony within the Synod is systemic and long-standing;
- The Synod and its presbyteries hold widely differing and inconsistent perspectives on their relationship and respective roles in common areas of ministry;
- There is a lack of clear, ample, honest, and loving communications;
- Relationships are strained;
- Work styles often clash;
- Policies and procedures are not widely accessible or understood and are unevenly applied;
- Affected parties do not share a common sense of purpose or vision;
- Divisions exist around deeply held organizational values and there is a lack of mutual trust; and
- The parties in conflict have largely disengaged from each other; while this has reduced overt discord, it does not reflect the notion of healthy engagement of all members of the body of Christ.
The Administrative Commission conducted a hearing at which those impacted were given opportunity to speak in an open forum on February 12, 2020. They were invited to address three potential actions under consideration by the AC:
- The AC engages a Professional Mediator “to promote reconciliation, healing, and restored unity between synod and its presbyteries.”
- The “AC assumes original jurisdiction of the Synod as deemed necessary by the commission.”
- The AC “recommends revisions to Synod procedures and institutes changes that are necessary to ensure fulfillment of the PC(USA) principles of participation and representation as outlined in F- 1.0403 and G-3.0103.”
We give thanks for all those who have participated in this process. The AC has also considered and inquired of interested parties regarding pathways to reconciliation, especially with the principles of Seeking to Be Faithful Together in mind. The AC examined several past instances in which efforts at reconciliation were unsuccessful in attempts to resolve disputes and grievances within the Synod. Those incidents made clear to the AC the need for broad education and reform and for comprehensive and systematic assessment of common goals and building of trusting relationships. In its current configuration, restoration and reconciliation are not possible.
Our discernment includes ceaseless prayers and reflection on scriptural texts, in particular Jeremiah 18:1-6 and 2 Corinthians 5:11-20.
The Administrative Commission has taken specific actions and made these decisions at its meeting onFebruary 12 and 13:
- The Administrative Commission has voted to assume original jurisdiction of the Synod of the Covenant. Therefore, the AC becomes the Synod Assembly replacing the existing commissioners and officers.
- New officers have been elected and a corporate resolution has registered newly elected officers of the Synod of the Covenant. New Synod committees and moderators are also being elected from among the AC membership, acting as the newly configured Synod of the Covenant.
- The newly formed Synod will engage a professional mediation consultant in the coming weeks to guide those impacted by the disorder toward healing and reconciliation in order to restore communion.
- Staff members’ service to the Synod of the Covenant has concluded. The AC, acting as the Synod of the Covenant has agreed to offer reasonable severance packages.
- The Synod will continue to provide for judicial process and administrative review of the presbyteries. Programs and operations are temporarily suspended for a period of 6 months, through August 2020. That includes but is not limited to scheduled Synod assemblies for March, August and November 2020; and Mission to the USA, Mobile Health Fair, Grants and Scholarships, Cabinet on Ethnic Church Affairs (but not the caucuses that support People of Color and Indigenous People).
- A meeting schedule of the newly constituted Synod Assembly will be published with a goal of transparency and welcome to all who desire unity of spirit and reconciliation.
- Broad communications processes will be established to keep you all informed as we make progress toward communion.
We see this original jurisdiction as a temporary measure and desire that through healthy reconciliation, and operational stability, the Synod of the Covenant may become what God desires it to be. The AC did not take these steps lightly or easily. We will proceed carefully toward restoring governance of the Synod back to those who will lead into the future, whatever God ordains that to be.
May God bless all who labor with love for God’s kingdom,
Patrice Hatley and Brady Radford
Co-Moderators of the Administrative Commission for the Synod of the Covenant