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Membership losses Why are people liberal on sexuality? Re: Membership loss nearly 1.7 million October 6, 2000 An antidote to membership losses The Sept/Oct 2000 Layman reported the PCUSA lost nearly 1.7 million members from 1965 to 1999. That is almost a 40 percent loss, and the loss trend shows no sign of reversing. If we take Matthew 28:19 seriously, but hold back from inviting our neighbors for want of a suitable message or method, a new web site on the Internet was built especially for us. Check out http://www.doorbell-evangelism.org William A. Whitman Elder Northminster PCUSA Seattle, WA Start your own church with your own point of view Re: PCUSA membership loss rate increases 25.4 percent May 26, 2000 My wife and I have been members of the Presbyterian Church for more than 30 years, and over the last 10 years we have heard and read where groups that don't like the fact we follow the word of Jesus Christ, and his teachings, should leave the church, and that we should put up with their offbeat and liberal way of thinking. We just read where the rate of attrition in the PCUSA increased by 25.4 percent in the past year. Why? Because some of the membership thinks we must ordain homosexuals and lesbians to hold any office, plus we must re-write the Bible so it suits their way of thinking as they can't stand the truth from the Bible as we know it today. Every time we have a meeting of the General Assembly over the last few years we have had to put up with these liberal points of view to be presented to the General Assembly for voting on. When the vote fails then this group parades up and down the aisles carrying their banners as if to say, "We'll be back with our point of view, and the heck with yours." My wife and I have a suggestion for these people who want to change the church to their point of view. Why don't you start your own church to match your point of view: Then you can ordain homosexuals; you can change the Bible to meet your point of view; you can marry people of the same sex. There is just one thing you will find that may not be to your liking. On Judgment Day, I would not suggest any heavy clothing. John R. Melrose Brentwood, Calif. Conference revealed why members fleeing Re: PCUSA membership loss rate increases 25.4 percent May 18, 2000 I cannot discern from articles that I have read if the loss of membership by the PCUSA is at an acceptable level, if in fact loss is ever acceptable. However, after reading about the Religious Communications Congress at which Jesse Jackson spoke, I have no doubts as to why the denomination is losing members. That the PCUSA was involved in it at all is a commentary on the progressive loss of Biblical footing in the church, at least on the national level. Continued vilification of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit cannot continue to be supported by the church without further rebellion by the truly saved, evangelical branch of the church. Membership will continue to erode. I am ashamed that the Presbyterian Church, the evangelical organization of our Scottish forefathers and one of the carriers of the Gospel of Christ to America, has lowered itself to the extreme left side of political issues and the tolerance of non-Christian foolishness such as the Congress espoused. Continuing to follow this course of action can only lead to the possible loss of any Christian message to our world today or into the future. Ronald Glass Church whittled down by Sophia worshipper August 13, 1999 The church I now pastor was a former PCUSA church. The former pastor held communion in the name of Sophia and she appeared to be an active supporter of the ReImagining Conference. By the time I took over, the former pastor had whittled the church down to about 10 very tired and confused members. Since our divorce from the PCUSA, we have built this rural congregation up to around 250 regular attenders. The answer to our decline was very simple: We have sought to lift high the Name of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; and, we have sought to unfold the Scriptures verse by verse. Our church still receives copies of The Laymen, for which I am thankful. I was horrified as I read your latest issue by how the enemy of our souls, the Father of lies, has penetrated so deeply this historic church. There is no room for dialogue with those who hold such a low view of Scripture and worship other gods. We have such a short stewardship of days in this life that we each must consider whether or not those days are best spent defending a denominational/political structure or advancing the kingdom. My vote is the latter. (See: the "great commission" by Jesus). But having said that I still encourage you to fight the good fight even though that will probably lead – in my estimation – to a split. I say the sooner the better. Pastor C.J. Alderton Ignacio, CO A pitiful way to count It is a pity that we measure our gains in the PCUSA by number of members we lose. The concerned members don't have to take a poll to find out what is wrong; all that is required is to look at the Presbytery of Louisville. This information should be sent to ever member of the church. The pastors won't mention the problem. We have become an extension of the liberal wing of the Democrat party. Ben W. Brewer |
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