Discernment Resources for Amendments

Welcome Members of Presbytery!

The members of each presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church bear the responsibility of voting on proposed amendments that will impact the ability of our diverse sessions and presbyteries across the denomination to ordain and call the individuals they deem qualified for their specific contexts. The vote involves more than one’s personal views. We need to think about the church as a whole, one that includes congregations in varied settings with members who have distinct backgrounds and perspectives.

Diligent presbyters will want to listen to and understand the different sides of the debate. To assist in this important decision-making process, we have prepared this discernment resource page. You will find a historic letter from 13 Former Moderators of the Church, appeals to unity amid our differences, a list of concerns with the exclusionary memorials, the stories of a few LGBTQ+ Cumberland Presbyterians, and our fellow Cumberland Presbyterians who support them, along with relevant scriptural and theological materials. We hope that these resources will aid you in your collective discernment of the wisest course of action for the Church as a whole.

• Text of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (2023)

Historic Open Letter from 13 Former Moderators

Call to Listen to Each Other & Affirm Our Common Ground
“We acknowledge that within both Cumberland Presbyterian denominations there is a wide range of biblical understanding and interpretation. With that said, we should resolve – first and foremost – to love one another, and as an expression of that love to listen to each other, affirming the even greater common ground we enjoy and embrace as Cumberland Presbyterians. Our goal need not be one hundred percent agreement on biblical interpretation, but rather a mature awareness and consideration of the diversity of theological perspectives that a global and multi-ethnic denomination manifests.” ~ Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns Study Paper: A Question of Hermeneutics, Adopted in 2017 by the 187th General Assembly (CPC) and the 145th General Assembly (CPCA)

Duty of Christians to Exercise Tolerance
“While it is necessary that all who are admitted as teachers should be sound in the faith, nevertheless there are doctrines and forms with respect to which men of good character and principles may differ; and in all these it is the duty of all private Christians and religious bodies to exercise forbearance toward one another.” (Introduction to the 1883 Cumberland Presbyterian Confession)

We respectfully request that you consider as a part of your deliberations the following resources:

• Reasons to Deny the Amendments

  • We urge the Church to deny these exclusionary amendments because they threaten the rightful and appropriate authority and discretion of our diverse presbyteries and sessions to ordain those individuals they deem qualified and needed in their contexts. For the sake of the peace and unity, it is crucial to recognize the ongoing reality that the church consists of those who, in good faith, come to different interpretative conclusions on the complex issue of sexuality. As “God alone is Lord of the Conscience,” members should have the prerogative to live according to their conscience. We believe the wisest, most prudent path forward for the church is to continue respecting the rightful authority of our sessions and presbyteries to ordain those they deem qualified, uphold privacy and freedom of conscience for personal relationships, and practice tolerance and forbearance towards those with differing views, rather than seeking to force universal conformity. Continue reading…
• Japan Presbytery’s Response to Proposed Amendments
• Letter from Grace Fellowship: Voting No Affirms Unity (new!)
• Ed Adair’s Recommendation to Reject the Proposed Amendments
• Rev. Sharon Huey: Praying We Embrace the Spirit’s Invitation (new!)
• Rev. Dr. George Estes Opposes Amendments (new!)
• Rev. Tami Terpstra: A Chaplain’s View, A Mother’s Heart (new!)
• Elder John Talbott: Amendments A Simple but Wrong Solution (new!)
• On Respecting the Blessing of Conscience
• Open Letter for Freedom of Conscience on Human Sexuality
• Open Letter: Youth and Young Adult Statement on Inclusion
• A Theological Statement on Inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ Community in the CP Church
• Are We Willing to Embrace Whosoever God Calls Today? (new!)

Stories of those who will be impacted by the amendments

We invited folks to share their stories in order to help leaders of the church know a few of those whom their decision will affect most directly. Since LGBTQ+ Cumberland Presbyterians are among those who will be most impacted by these amendments, we believe it is an ethical imperative to consider them, their stories and the recommended scriptural and theological resources. We believe that those wanting to do their due diligence, will consider these voices and resources carefully.