So begins the reinstutionalize of the PC(USA). Many supported the nFoG because it relocated authority to originate at the local congregational level, and allow context of ministry to matter.
Today the Presbytery of Charlotte, very subtly, made their statement against this move by voting to insert policies preventing interim and associate ministers to become lead pastors.
In practice I support this stance but am totally opposedpwe to the procedure of institutionalized policies that prevent exceptions.
By making this a policy the presbytery has trumpeted their authority once again in contrast to the nFOG ideals. Basically this circumvents any real discussion and discernment of a church, COM, and presbytery. and says that the Holy Spirit would only call a pastor through our procedures.
Clearly if any associate were to come forward to presbytery to be nominated for the lead role it should be strongly debated and argued as to why this is what the church community felt called and closely scrutinized. However, what these new policies do is basically say we don’t know how to have honest, open and difficult dialogue so we’d rather just make a policy so we don’t have to figure out what real community is like.
When is the last time a presbytery or COM voted against a church’s call? Too awkward so we will make parliamentary moves to “just get along.”