Background
Reasons for the discontent leading to this possible separation include, but are not limited to:
- general discontent with the PC(USA)'s decisions on issues such as homosexuality and abortion
- growing dissatisfaction with the PC(USA)'s interpretation and enforcement of its constitution and
- the recent reception of documents such as the PUP (Peace, Unity, and Purity) Report at the 2006 General Assembly which asserted that it is up to the ordaining body to determine whether a candidate meets current ordination standards, even though they cannot set aside any constitutional standards.
Some in the New Wineskins movement believe that this created a constitutional loophole for persons engaged in sexual activity outside of marriage to become ordained by a sort of "local option" which allows them to declare a scruple against the stated constitution.
Another recent document that was received by the PC(USA)'s General Assembly was a report entitled "The Trinity: God's Love Overflowing". This document, which is more familiarly known as the "Trinity Report," suggested that the terms "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" may be supplemented (although not replaced) by other language, including such formulations as "Speaker, Word and Breath" and "Fire that Consumes, Sword that Divides, and Storm that Melts Mountains". The NWAC considers both of these documents to be in error in several places.
The New Wineskins movement believes that such declarations are a departure from the PC(USA)'s historic grounding in biblical theology and its own Reformed confessions. The New Wineskins Association of Churches has crafted a constitution that emphasizes local church ministry as opposed to denominational hierarchy, and consists of specific theological essentials of the reformed faith as well as ethical imperatives.
Read more about this topic: New Wineskins Association Of Churches
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