The Presbyterian Church (USA) has selectively disseminated two “privileged and confidential” documents by denominational lawyers calling on presbyteries to use draconian measures when claiming local church property.<\/p>\n
The tone of the documents is reflected in the words they use to describe the parties: the “true church” \u201d\u201c meaning those who submit to the government and decisions of the PCUSA \u201d\u201c versus the “schismatics” \u201d\u201c meaning those who believe the denomination has abandoned its Biblical and Reformed roots. One recommendation for presbytery representatives is to portray themselves as the aggrieved party embattling the ungodly \u201d\u201c “keep the presbytery in a ‘defensive’ secular legal posture. (Let the schismatics seek Caesar’s help.)”<\/p>\n
That proposal is interesting in that most litigation in church property disputes is begun by presbyteries filing civil complaints and congregations having to defend themselves.<\/p>\n