Presbyterian Task Force to Release 4-Year Report

The task force handles some of the most contentious issues in the PC(USA), including the topic of homosexual ordinations. It also addresses Christology, Biblical authority and interpretation, and standards of power.

By Pauline J. Chang, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, July 16, 2005

The theological task force responsible for finding the “Christian identity” of the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S., will be publicly releasing its report for the first time.

Since 2001, Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church began working to “lead the PC(USA) in spiritual discernment of our Christian identity in and for the 21st century…seeking the peace, unity and purity of the church.”

The task force handles some of the most contentious issues in the PC(USA), including the topic of homosexual ordinations. It also addresses Christology, Biblical authority and interpretation, and standards of power.

According to the 20-member group, the task force’s general goals are threefold: To deepen our understanding of our Christian and catholic identity and clarify key themes of the Reformed theological and constitutional heritage; to study and evaluate the sources of health and promise as well as the causes of dissension and unrest in the church; and to recommend ways for the church to move forward, furthering its peace, unity and purity.

This coming week, the task force will be holding its penultimate meeting at the American Airlines Training Center near the Dallas Ft. Worth airport, July 18-21. The group will release a draft version of its report at the meeting’s end, and will hold a gathering in Chicago from Aug. 24-25 to sign off the final version.

The final report will be released on Sept. 15, and task force members will travel throughout the church to seek reflections and interpretations on the report before presenting their findings to a denomination-wide gathering next summer.