Parker T. Williamson
editor-in-chief
The Covenant Network came out of its closet this month, leaving
no doubt regarding the wardrobe of its choice. This emperor has no
clothes. Largely comprised of princely figures, former moderators and
denominational executives whose tenures coincided with the most massive
membership loss in Presbyterian history, the Network falsely claims a “mainstream”
mantle.
The naked truth is this: While claiming to uphold the Constitution, the
Network pursues sinister schemes to undermine it. Board member Barbara
Wheeler sewed the first stitch when, at the Network’s initial
gathering, she sanctioned lying if necessary in order to circumvent the
denomination’s ordination standards. A more recent thread ran
through the presentation of two lawyer-board members at the Network’s
Minneapolis conference. Don’t openly say you will defy the
Constitution, counseled Peter Oddliefson and Doug Nave. Instead, assign
your own meaning to the words in our ordination standards –
redefine “chastity,” for example – so that you can
publicly affirm the standards while privately denying them.
But morality is not this group’s only bald spot. Its theology is
threadbare as well. Touting an intention to promote “progressive
theology,” the Network has given center stage to heresy. Douglas
Otatti, a theology professor at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia
who denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, has been a Network
favorite. Now along comes Paul Capetz, a former member of Union’s
faculty who told the Network’s Minneapolis gathering that it is
time to get rid of the atonement. “We don’t need any more
crucifixions,” he said.
The Network’s claim that it occupies “the great center”
of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has no more validity than the emperor’s
undraped pretension. But bare facts notwithstanding, this group
continues to parade unabashedly down “center” avenue.
Interestingly, the Network has made overtures to other groups whom it
believes are similarly in the middle of the road, with the apparent hope
of forging an alliance. There was a brief flirtation with the
Presbyterian Coalition several years ago, which was quickly spurned by
the Coalition’s board of directors. It is now seeking an alliance
with other renewalists who might prefer compromise to confrontation. We
trust that whoever they approach will discern the Network’s
deception and keep their distance.
Scripture speaks to those who are looking for something to wear: “Therefore,
take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the
evil day … having girded your loins with truth, and put on the
breastplate of righteousness, and shod your feet with the equipment of
the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which
you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God.” Ephesians 6:13-17
Parker T. Williamson is editor-in-chief of The Layman.