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A comment by a Presbyterian minister from Chicago, Dirk Ficca, at a peacemaking conference in California in July 2000—"What's the big deal about Jesus?"—sparked an outcry in the denomination and led to the debate at this year's General Assembly.

"The General Assembly clearly was not the Presbyterian Church; it was not the church of Jesus Christ," Williamson says. "They were unable to answer unequivocally the question Jesus asked: Who do you say that I am?"

Rightmyer agrees. "There was a real sadness in my spirit because unbelief was expressed on the floor of the assembly," he says. "There's nothing more essential in the life of our church than the doctrine of the Atonement."

Rogers says that many delegates had reservations about creating new doctrinal statements from the floor. Williamson argues that if the church cannot agree that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, there will be few conservatives left to appease.

"This is a church in anguish," Williamson says. "This assembly ruptured the soul of the denomination."

The PCUSA might not have to wait until 2005 for a formal division, if presbyteries approve the sexuality measure by next year. "We already have schism in the church," Williamson says. "At that point it would take formal shape."

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Christianity Today's Weblog examined the PCUSA General Assembly's decisions.

Media coverage of the vote for homosexual clergy included The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, The Chicago Tribune, and Louisville's Courier Journal.

Coverage of the debate over Jesus as the only savior ran in The Dallas Morning News and Courier Journal.

Presbyweb offers extensive links and posts Ficca's exact comments from July 2000 that led to "The Jesus Debate."

Previous related Christianity Today articles include:

Presbyterians Vote Down Ban on Same-Sex Unions | Opponents say vague wording led to defeat. (March 29, 2001)

Presbyterians Propose Ban on Same-Sex Ceremonies | Change to church constitution, which passes by only 17 votes, now goes to presbyteries. (July 5, 2000)

Presbyterians urged to allow liberals to leave over homosexual ordination | "Irreconcilable" differences exist in the Presbyterian Church (USA) over the ordination of gay clergy. (February 28, 2000)

Presbyterians Support Same-Sex Unions | Northeast Synod rules 8-2 in favor of continuing church's "holy union" ceremonies (January 10, 2000)

Homosexual's Election Upheld | First Presbyterian Church of Stamford (Conn.) did not violate church law by electing an openly homosexual man to governing board. (August 16, 1999)

Presbyterians in Stalemate over Homosexual Ordination (August 10, 1998)

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August 6 2001, Vol. 45, No. 10