Statement from the
Session of Dardenne Presbyterian Church regarding actions taken at the
2006 General Assembly
of the
Presbyterian Church (USA)

TO THE MEMBERS OF DARDENNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

YOUR SESSION in response to the 2006 General Assembly has taken the following actions:

The Session affirms the stands taken at General Assembly,

• to only “receive” rather than to endorse the Trinity Paper and to affirm that only the biblical formula of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” is to be used in baptisms;
• to agree with the changes in abortion policy understanding the need to protect the lives of unborn children which should not be ended;
• to understand that there is a difference between the God of Islam and the God of the Christian faith;
• to continue to include G-6.106b (which requires that officers of the church live in fidelity in the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or in chastity in singleness) and in the 1978 Authoritative Interpretation which proscribes homosexual practice from officers.

Even with an amendment to the Peace, Unity and Purity Report passed by the General Assembly, the SESSION indicates its concern over the future of the PCUSA by adopting the following actions:

• The final installment on 2006 Per Capita will be set aside and a decision to send the money or not will be made near the end of the year. Also 2007 Per Capita will be set aside and a determination concerning sending to the denomination or to renewal groups will be made at a later time.
  
• That for 2007 all mission monies to the denomination will be designated giving by the Session.
  
• The Session of Dardenne Presbyterian Church states, “We hereby declare that in our discernment of the movement of the Holy Spirit, that any violation of a mandate of the Book of Order is a failure to adhere to the essentials of reformed polity and thus presents a bar to ordination or installation.” With this statement the Session clearly upholds the biblical and constitutional standards for ordination, including the requirement of officers to live in fidelity in the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or in chastity in singleness.

Pastor Gary Myers, Moderator of the Session