When one knows that friends in the faith have been unfairly maligned, duty demands their defense.
Robert L. Howard, Chairman
Presbyterian Lay Committee
The
public statements of Robert Bohl, a former PCUSA moderator and co-founder of the Covenant Network are beneath the dignity of the office he once held. They are also dangerously deceptive to our divided denomination because they misstate the nature of our division and misjudge those who seek to transform and unify the PCUSA under the Lordship of Christ.
Renewal movement involves thousands
The renewal movement includes at least 16 different independent groups plus thousands of individuals and churches.
Renewal leaders drafted and seek to uphold “Union in Christ: A Declaration for the Church,” a strong trinitarian affirmation of the core values of the historic Reformed faith that ought to unite us.
They drafted and seek to implement “Turning Toward the Mission of God: A Strategy for the Transformation of The PCUSA.” Under the banner Presbyterians Together, they worked to strengthen our ordination standards and now seek to uphold the institution of marriage.
Sincerity, integrity impugned
Yet the former moderator impugns the sincerity and integrity of all renewal leaders by alleging that they are not really concerned about Biblical authority, but about control and power, that they have a program of theological cleansing, and that they rebuke civility.
Alleging they are a threat to this and other mainline denominations and to fundamental democratic freedoms, he damns them and wishes they would go away. He fails to see that the real danger to the PCUSA is 40 years of politicized agendas that manipulate the denomination as if she were the handmaiden of secular institutions.
Over the past 10 years, I have become personally acquainted with most if not all of the leaders of the renewal movement. I admire the depth of their faith, their passion for the gospel, their grace and civility, and I count them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Never have I heard any of them condemn their opponents or wish them out of the Church. No rebuking of civility, no theological cleansing, just sincere commitment to our historic Reformed faith and the Lordship of Christ.
‘Radical right’ has left PCUSA
We are not the “radical right.” The so-called “radical right” left the PCUSA long ago.
We are not about personal power and control of the Church. We are about the power of Christ to control His Church, so that the great ends of the Church might be truly promoted.
Here we stand. We are not leaving. We can do no other.
Robert L. Howard of Wichita, Kan., is chairman of the Presbyterian Lay Committee.