We believe that to remain silent in the interest of preserving the "peace, unity, and purity" of the church is wrong. By dissenting, we hope to return the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to "peace, unity, and purity," for while this injustice is permitted to stand, there is no peace, unity, or purity in our midst. We confidently affirm, as our Constitution suggests, that "synods and councils may err" -- and in this case, our denomination has erred greatly. When there is conflict between the requirements of peace, unity, and purity in the Church (with its all-too-human tendency to err) and the ways and words of Jesus, we should respectfully attend to the ways and words of Jesus.
(The "Declaration of Conscience" was signed by Presbyterians in response to the November 1992 decisions of the General Assembly's Permanent Judicial Commission declaring that the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area cannot ceritfy as ready to receive a call one of its candidates, Lisa Larges, and declaring that the Downtown United Presbyterian Church of Rochester, NY cannot call as co-pastor the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr.)