How well do you know and understand the documents in the Book of Confessions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?
Although all officers make ordination promises to receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions and vow to be guided continually by them, most elders and deacons only have a limited concept of what the ten historic statements of faith really say.
The questions below are designed to help any church board, committee, or presbytery begin a review of the purpose and content of the Book of Confessions to remind our members what the significance of our vows is. Perhaps they can be used after a general introduction so that everyone starts on the same page. *
1. What does the word confession mean in this context? How does it differ from its usage in our services of worship, “The Prayer of Confession”?
2. Is it still a good idea to have a “book” of confessions? Would it be possible to go back to just one confession for a diverse church?
3. What does it mean that confessions are “historically particular statements”? Is it true that Christians have to express their faith in new ways in new times? Can you think of any examples of statements geared to a specific time in the most recent ones, i.e. The Confession of 1967 and the Brief Statement of Faith, that need to be changed or updated for the beginning of the 21st century?
4. The introduction to The Confession of 1967 says “in every age, the church has expressed its witness in words and deeds as the need of time required.” Do you think that the PC (USA) has the unity and theological integrity to begin the process of writing a new confession for our time? How will the debate about the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church influence this possibility? If we are not strong enough to hold together to write a new confession, as some people contend, how will we witness to future believers? How will the Spirit guide a church divided in so many areas? The Confession of 1967 was obviously approved nearly 40 years ago. Since it takes at least five years to research, compose, and approve a new confession (maybe longer if the General Assembly continues to meet biennially), if we started the process in Birmingham this year what steps would be necessary to prepare a new one that would be valid until 2052 and beyond?
5. Would your presbytery be willing to discuss the possibility of presenting an overture to the General Assembly calling for a new confession?
6. If you were going to outline some of the faith topics for a new confession, which traditional ones would receive the most emphasis? Are there new questions that should be addressed to make a 21st century confession more meaningful to today’s younger Presbyterians and following generations?
* For brief summaries of the background of The Book of Confessions and other resources, see my books, Selected To Serve, A Guide For Church Officers (Geneva Press, 2000), and The Presbyterian Deacon, A Guide (Geneva Press, 2003).
Earl S. Johnson Jr. is the pastor of First Church, Johnstown, N.Y.
