Property Hot Potato

Let me tell a story:

Whose property is it anyway? Perhaps your great grandfather helped build a Sanctuary for your congregation and now as an older person your children and grandchildren attend worship in that building. When does it stop belonging to the people who worship there and start belonging to the people who don't worship there?

In the 80s the PCUSA laid claim to your congregations poperty. In the late 80s or 90s you took an exemption clause thinking you had it back. Then you learned it didn't mean what it said and you lost control again. But you thought, 'well it still will be decided by the presbytery'. But then the presbytery loses control...

Wait a second you say - that would never happen. Just did.

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION FOR PRESBYTERY OF SOUTH LOUISIANA

(approved by the executive Committee of the Synod of the Sun on 04/24/08 and adopted by the plenary on 04/25/08)

In response to the April 8, 2008, letter from pastors and elders in the Presbytery of South Louisiana to Synod Executive Fletcher and to the April 22, 2008, letter from the Council of the Presbytery of South Louisiana, the Synod of the Sun approves the establishment of an Administrative Commission under the general provisions of G-9.0500.

A commission is empowered to consider and conclude matters referred to it by a governing body. The appointing body shall state specifically the scope of power given to a commission. A commission shall keep a full record of its proceedings, which shall be submitted to its governing body to be incorporated in its minutes and to be regarded as the actions of the governing body itself. (G-9,00502)

The decision of an administrative commission shall be the action of the appointing governing body from the time of its completion by the commission and the announcement, where relevant, of the action to parties affected by it. Such decision shall be transmitted in writing to the stated clerk f the governing body, who shall report it to the governing body at its next meeting. A governing body may rescind or amend an action of an administrative commission in the same way actions of the governing body may be modified. (G-9.0505).

This commission, by the review of records and by whatever face-to-face conversations the commission deems helpful, shall determine the validity of the presbytery’s procedures and decisions (past, present, and future) regarding various congregations and their properties. All pending and future decisions regarding property in the Presbytery of South Louisiana shall require the approval of the commission. This commission also shall listen to other expressions of concern and/or dissatisfaction with presbytery leadership and make suggestions as to ways the presbytery can move toward a fuller expression of the ministry of Christ’s church.

This commission shall make either an “in progress” or a final report to the adjourned meeting of the Synod, October 24, 2008, and at each stated meeting thereafter until the work is completed.

Let me break that down for you a bit: the Synod of the Sun at the request of 1/20th of the voting members of the Presbytery of South Louisiana has assumed jurisdictional power to decide all property issues for PSL. Furthermore it is empowering this commission to revisit all past decisions of the presbytery regarding property. The request for this Administrative Commission should have been heard and dismissed.

The property; it's not yours, it's not theirs, its someone elses.

That's when you get it - it isn't Essential Tenets - its Essential Tenants.

You see some in the PCUSA have enacted a mandatory attendance policy. You will attend to their desires - or else.