| 3 Hispanic churches in Texas withdraw, may face eviction |
| Written by Jack Haberer, Outlook editor | ||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, 16 February 2012 01:00 | ||||||||||||||||
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Three churches in Mission Presbytery may all lack a center for worship this Sunday as their presbytery has responded to their “renunciation of jurisdiction” by serving an eviction notice. The three churches, El Principe de Paz Church in Mercedes, Iglesia Presbyteriana Getsemani in San Benito and Iglesia Presbyteriana San Pablo in Brownsville, sent a joint letter to the Mission Presbytery office on Friday, February 10, declaring that they have renounced jurisdiction of the PC(USA) and plan to join another Presbyterian denomination. The four-page letter was signed by two pastors, Hector Reynoso and Tom Johnson, and the three clerks of session, Carmina Flores, Rosie Garcia, and Emma C. Garcia. In a Feb. 13 letter of response to Reynoso, Karen Stocks, the presbytery’s stated clerk, acknowledges Reynoso's reununciation of jurisdiction and directs him to vacate the facility within a few days after retrieving his books and personal items. (Her letter cites the deadline to vacate as "Friday" but also as Feb. 16, which is Thursday.) The letter cites the Book of Order, G-2.0509: “Renunciation of jurisdiction shall remove the teaching elder from membership and ordered ministry and shall terminate the exercise of that ministry.” The letter from the churches cites theological differences with the PC(USA) as their primary reason for departure. Officials of the three churches also state that they sought with others in the presbytery to explore the formation of an “overlay presbytery, which would provide differentiation while still being part of the PCUSA.” This was met with “great hostility” and accusations of being “divisive and schismatic.” Soon thereafter, such efforts were declared unconstitutional, their letter states. They claim the presbytery also adopted a dismissal policy that “does not allow a session or congregation to freely discuss the option of leaving." That policy forced them to meet “and hold conversations secretly in order for presbytery not to intervene,” their letter says. The letter acknowledges that the congregations hold their property in trust and that the presbytery has the right to seize it from them. “Therefore, we appeal to your sense of mercy and implore of you to dig deep within your hearts, and allow us to keep our properties, our assets and bank accounts.” Nevertheless,” they add, “if you decide that it is important for you to keep our buildings and our finances please know that we stand ready to hand everything over to you.” Hector Reynoso, pastor of El Principe do Paz and moderator of the session of San Pablo (which has no installed pastor), told the Outlook that the three congregations have all voted to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In a Feb. 16 letter to the presbytery leaders, Reynoso explains that the renunciation of jurisdiction was, in fact, taken by all three congregations, not just the pastors. They have been “officially received into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church as transitional members,” and are now “under the care and jurisdiction of the EPC now.” Reynoso's Feb. 16 letter says that, since the renunciation was taken by all three churches and not just the pastors, the congregations are interpreting the clerk’s directive for Reynoso to vacate as “asking the session and congregation of El Principe de Paz to vacate the building as well.” Further, his letter says, “In asking one church to vacate its building it is our understanding that you are asking the 3 churches to vacate their buildings.” However, the letter claims, given that the churches have already joined the EPC, Mission Presbytery, “can no more remove one of our pastors, or sessions than [they] can remove the pastor or a session from a Baptist or Methodist congregation.” Stocks told the Outlook that the presbytery did, in fact, adopt a gracious separation policy at a meeting last fall but that the churches have chosen not to follow it. “The presbytery stands ready to work with them on a gracious separation process,” she said.
Your Responses (9)
Martha Leatherman
said:
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San Antonio, Texas P.W. Gregory is exactly right. One other thing is disturbing to me as a member of Mission Presbytery. It was announced quite authoritatively by one of our members during worship on February 19 that these three churches were "struggling" because "some" of their congregations "had left" and so Mission Presbytery had to go to the Valley and help them out by supplying pastors. I don't understand polity--is the COM supposed to be involved. Mission Presbytery meets in less than one week--couldn't this action wait until all the commissioners had a chance to hear both sides and handle things in an orderly manner? Is this the spin Mission Presbytery is putting on this situation? I, for one, would like to know the truth. Will Mission Presbytery acknowledge the deep divisions within the church? Will they act graciously and charitably toward these brothers and sisters in Christ? What does Mission Presbytery need with three empty buildings? |
John Stuart
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Knoxville, TN Ruling elders everywhere should be incensed by this over-reaching hierarchical bullying that is taking place in Mission Presbytery (and probably taking place in other presbyteries too). The Reformation was fought and won to wrest away this misuse and abuse of clergy powers. We've just turned back the clock 500 years. Shame on us. |
Michael Garrett
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Snellville, GA The story doesn't mention the time elapsed between the original letter from the pastors and the reply by the stated clerk of the presbytery. During that time was there any presbytery process to address the issue? Was the stated clerk speaking on her own authority or the authority of presbytery? If her own, since when do stated clerks have the power to publish eviction notices? This event as described only adds fuel to the fire for those who see separation from the denomination as their only option. Surely Mission Presbytery could do better. |
p.w. gregory
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lambertville, nj When I was in Iraq where religious or theological disputes were usually settled at the end of a gun, it was very common, usually when majority Shiia would enter a minority Sunni neighborhood, that the local militia leader would show up at the local house of worship (mosque) and deliver legal notice (fatwa) that they current body had a day, maybe two to vacate the property, or the clear implication was that their heads would be at the ends of poles at the end of the week. Being a Chaplain with my Marines I always had to explain to them that of course this has been way of tribal/clan/religious life in this area of the world, but we as Americans have the tradition of the rule of law. But more importantly we as part of our religious and faith heritage have the aspects of compassion, mercy, forgiveness, tollerance, grace, and co-existence as part of our religious/faith DNA as Americans. Also the Consititutional matters of freedom of faith and freedom of association. Whatever Mission Presbytery, PCUSA, or its apologists or enablers, hope to gain or make a point in this sad narrative of the three churches, it brings shame to all, especially those "in power" or with authority who could have choosen another path. You have choosen legalism over compassion, process over mercy, polity over grace or reconciliation. Property over people, a poor people, a disempowered people, just to show them who is boss and master. Shame, shame. Once that happens you are dead already, just do not know it yet. As I have stated, "Do the right thing". |
Jim Steadman
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Kansas City, KS It's only a matter of time before the whole denomination folds. Everyone should just withhold their money and let it die. |
Walter L. Taylor
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Oak Island, NC Interesting, how the same people who can "reimagine" the faith are such literalists, fundamentalists, when it comes to their interpretation of polity. Ah, we see the limits of "interpretation" finally--if it has any bearings on the presbytery's claim to money and property. |
Casey Jones
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Pearland, Texas Having lived 7 years in Mercedes Texas 25 years ago,I think Mr. Gregory's hunches are remarkably on target: Yes these are small membership congregations; yes they are theological as well as ethnic minorities; yes they do not have lots of material resources to, as Mr. Gregory puts it, "purchase their freedom in the good order and discipline presbyterian way." Add to this mix the fact that some of these congregations have historic ties to the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, and the mix becomes even more interesting. (If memory serves from when I lived there [Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas] one of the Valley Hispanic churches actually had once been a member of a presbytery in Mexico-- and had been founded by a Mexican presbytery...Mexico is 2 to 8 miles from each of these three congregations.) Certainly, historically, many of their pastors had been trained in Mexico. One would think with all the emphasis on flexibilty in New Fog, that Mission Presbytery could find a way to work with these folks, if not for the important sake of their ministry alone, then for the sake of what remains of our relations with the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. |
p.w. gregory
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lambertville, nj I recall the line from the old Spike Lee film-"do the right thing". Never having been to this corner of Texas I will assume some things. Let's assume for the sake of discussion we are dealing with smaller churches in membership, let's assume for the sake of discussion these churches may, may not, have been in communication with their presbytery on a number of levels. And let's assume these good folks are a theological as well as a ethnic/racial minority in their presbytery, and finally let's assume these folks do not have unlimited resources to purchase their freedom in the good order and discipline presbyterian way. So we as a religious entity, tell people already on the margins culturally as well as in the reformed tradition to hit the road, kick them further to the curb because the presbytery did got their pound of flesh on the exit. Shame, shame, shame. Assuming further Mission Presbytery has that capacity. So what exactly was COM, the EP doing during this time to facilitate reconciliaiton? The onus of responsiility is upon them, not the three churches to ensure that what happened, did not happen, when the situation called for adults in the room, they got legal counsel and sent letters. Leadership and management are very different concepts and skill sets. They should not be confused. As one who hosts/nests a Hispanic (Salvadorian) church, and who has a mission in Mercer County NJ, whose Hispanic popualation has risen over 600% in 10 years I am asked by them why the "english" churches are dying all around. I respond we have traded the Holy Spirit for a polity and process and tell ourselves God is speaking to us. I further counsel them to wait a few years before searching for a house of worship to purchase, there will be plenty around to choose from. Yes many former Presbyterian houses of worship will indeed have life, but English will not be the language spoken in worship. |
