Presbytery Committees of Correspondence
An Initiative of Members of the Presbytery of Santa Barbara, May 2011
The purpose of the Presbytery Committees of Correspondence is to unite in prayer, deliberation, planning, and collaboration with
those who voted no on amendment 10a to discern together God’s will for our future. We believe that it is essential that we not fragment or carry out individual presbytery or congregational actions. We believe unity best enables our witness and mission. We hold
that a united front provides protection and strength should the denomination respond with hostility. Believing therefore that division
and isolation must be rejected and avoided the Presbytery Committees of Correspondence exist to further unity and conversation
among the many presbyteries as well as congregations and members that desire to acknowledge the authority of Scripture and shape
the church by its singular witness and standards.
There is at this early stage no set plan or intended outcome being sought save faithfulness to the God we love and serve. Every option is on the table and worthy of consideration. We believe change is needed but have not determined what that change should be or
how or when it might best be accomplished and welcome the wisdom of brothers and sisters across the church. We are exploring
some options in our Presbytery of Santa Barbara Committee. We know many others across the country are uniting in conversation
and exploring options for the future. Our goal in establishing the Committees of Correspondence is to encourage this discussion and
provide a place where the many voices and ideas might be brought together for the common good and dissemination and that a
common course might be discerned and taken. We are especially interested in conversations between authorized representatives of
like-minded presbyteries since we believe that action may have to be taken at a presbytery level.
Ultimately our hope and goal lies in faithful action in, by, and for that part of the church for which we are responsible. Conversation is
but a means to an end, not the end itself. Affirming that “truth is in order to goodness,” we hope and urge all Presbytery Committees of
Correspondence join to determine together an appropriate response to both recent decisions and the decades long course pursued by
the Presbyterian Church. Our hope and aim is to design and implement a new way forward, a way that is consistently faithful to the
Scriptures, wholly committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and deeply honouring of the Triune God of grace.
While each Presbytery Committee of Correspondence will organize as it desires and address issues it believes to be most pressing it
is vital that we unite in certain tasks and discussions. We would hope that each Presbytery Committee of Correspondence would…
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Identify all like-minded congregations within their presbytery’s boundaries, making contact with them and including them in
the work of the committee.
Identify any like-minded congregations beyond the geographic boundaries of the presbytery—especially any that might be
within “unsympathetic” presbyteries—making contact with them and including them in the work of the committee.
Pay special attention to small churches or churches within “unsympathetic” presbyteries so they do not stand alone or isolated from needed support and are included in our conversation and strength of unity.
Identify like-minded presbyteries in their geographic area and initiate conversation with them, sharing ideas and plans and
working to discern a common course.
Consider how we might go forward from this point, what God desires of us and what we must do to remain faithful to God
and effective in our mission.
Consider all viable acts and responses, be they great or small that might move us together into the future God desires for us
establish and enjoy.
Share any plans, discussions, and thoughts with all other Committees. Please keep us in Santa Barbara informed of your
work and we will in turn keep all committees informed of the various ideas and plans.
We are currently planning to meet for one day following the Fellowship of Presbyterians gathering occurring in Minneapolis August 2526. We invite each Presbytery Committee of Correspondence to send designated representatives to this meeting on Saturday August
27th that we might discuss together the future and how we might follow God into all he desires for us.
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that
—whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent—
I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind,
by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents.
This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation—
a sign which is from God.”
Philippians 1:27-28