The PCA’s General Assembly answered Overtures 12, 17, and 22 in the affirmative today. The Assembly did so by approving a request of the Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel; the request directs the Stated Clerk’s office to petition President Obama and other federal officials, requesting “the protection and meaningful continuance of the free exercise of religion within the armed forces of the United States.” The request was prompted by the possible repeal of the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuality.

The Committee of Commissioners of Mission to North America (the agency that oversees PCA chaplains who serve in the U.S. military) answered the overtures by amending the original, proposed letter. The amended letter does not reference the “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) policy, but stressed overarching concerns about Title 10 (that portion of the U.S. Code dealing with homosexuality in the armed forces), and protecting the free exercise of religion by chaplains. The amended letter says: “It is of utmost importance that you take all necessary measures to insure that our chaplains are free, without censure, to preach, teach, and practice in accordance with the beliefs of this denomination.”

The change in the letter reflects an ongoing debate over the extent to which the church, and the PCA specifically, should speak into public policy matters. Commenting on Overtures 12, 17, and 22, PCA pastor David Coffin wrote: “Synods and councils are rightly forbidden from intermeddling in such [matters], CF 31.4. The leaders of the church are not warranted by the Lord of the church to rule in these matters and they have been granted no particular qualifying competence.”

He noted that the PCA has already spoken to the DADT policy, referring to the “Declaration of Conscience” adopted by the 1993 General Assembly in response to the Clinton Administration’s first contemplation of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” “The PCA has spoken clearly on this subject in a manner consistent with her principles [through this Declaration],” said Coffin.

A key question is whether DADT represents a “case extraordinary,” terminology used by the Westminster Confession of Faith, which would override the guidance given in CF 31.4. During the MNA Committee of Commissioners meeting Douglas Lee, executive director of the Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel (PRJC), argued that the debate of DADT is extraordinary. “This particular sin has ramifications much more broad than others,” said Lee. He continued, “DADT is part of a much, much bigger issue. It elevates homosexual behavior to a protected class.”

Overtures 12, 17, and 22 (submitted from Rocky Mountain Presbytery, South Texas Presbytery, and Savannah River Presbytery) outlined a number of potential consequences should DADT be repealed, saying that chaplains may be vulnerable to charges of discrimination if they preach, teach, or counsel in accordance with the passages in the Bible which speak of the sin of homosexual practice. Also, the overtures say, marriage retreats conducted by chaplains may have to include homosexual couples.

The overtures state that any government decision permitting homosexuals to serve openly in U.S. military services will interfere with the Christian ministry of evangelical chaplains in the armed services, particularly the nearly 270 sponsored by the PRJC.