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2002 letters, page 2 Fowler case another nail driven into wrist of our Lord September 12, 2002 The undercutting of Carmen Fowler's ministry is only another nail driven into the wrist of our Lord and Savior by unbelievers who call themselves "Christians." I think of the book of some years ago: Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth. Jesus banished him, but the (may I say "apostate?") church has welcomed him back in – in power. Paul (II Cor. 10: 4-6) gave us the weapons of our warfare, and we need to rally and focus them. How tragic that they must be used to battle erstwhile brethren who have denied our Savior and Lord. Jesus, help us all! Barbara E. Pugh Orlando, Fla. Central Florida Presbytery out of step September 12, 2002 If Rev. Carmen Fowler is denied membership in Central Florida Presbytery, that presbytery is out of step with all that is holy. It was my privilege to be a member of Carmen's flock in North Georgia. Never have I heard a minister who adhered to the Word of God with more authority, passion and knowledge. Her arguments were all Biblically-based and presented with that greatest of all gifts, love, for those who disagreed with her. Shame on Central Florida Presbytery and whatever their agenda might be. Elizabeth C. Wamsley PCUSA is imploding September 11, 2002 A simple reflection on the rejection of the Rev. Carmen Fowler by the Presbytery of Central Florida ... all organizations require standards for conduct in order to maintain their functional integrity. Without commonly held standards of conduct, an organization remains without an equitable criteria for governance. The PCUSA's standard of conduct is our Constitution, both The Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. Based on The Layman Online's report, the decision of the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Central Florida was based on the committee's refusal to acknowledge that Rev. Fowler's positions are, in fact, constitutional. Our denomination will continue to implode unless our denominational leaders uphold the constitution and thereby maintain our denomination's functional integrity. Without a constitutional standard, our governance will continue to be based on private opinion and personality. This decision is of grave concern to those who seek to maintain the integrity of our denomination. Renee Guth Tucson, Ariz. 'Witch hunt' is on in the PCUSA September 11, 2002 When we passed the fidelity and chasity standard in the Book of Order, the liberal side warned of a "witch hunt" that would take place in grilling people regarding their sexuality. It seems that it is the liberals who are on the witch hunt, at least in Central Florida, where they grill a candidate (Rev. Carmen Fowler) over the issue of per capita and a special assessment of the presbytery to screen out traditional Presbyterians from ministry. And they are witch hunting after churches that do not defy the constitution, but stand up for the basic teachings of the Christian faith, such as the Sebastian session. The witch hunt is on, but it is not the traditional Presbyterians who are hunting. They have become the hunted by the "inclusive, loving, caring" liberals who welcome "all" people into ministry. Pastor Walter Hamer First Presbyterian Church Monett, Mo. Double standard exists in leadership of the PCUSA September 11, 2002 If anyone ever doubted that there exists a double standard in the leadership of the Presbyterian Church (USA), this action confirms it. Since when does an executive position with an organization that upholds historical Presbyterian doctrinal standards and has thousands of Presbyterian (USA) supporters not qualify as a "validated ministry," especially since an executive of an organization that does *not* uphold those standards does qualify? I pray for our denomination. I hope that First Presbyterian in Orlando does decide to withhold per capita in protest against this unconscionable decision. The 500-pound gorilla always gets attention. I'm rooting for the gorilla! Fred H. Anderson Honorably Retired Minister of Word and Sacrament Salem, S.D. Fowler still a member of Georgia presbytery September 11, 2002 Someone has given Carmen Fowler some bad information. A minister remains a member of the dismissing presbytery until received by the new presbytery (D-3.0104). Carmen is still a member of the Georgia presbytery. James Quillin Officers should enforce constitution September 9, 2002 Re: George Stabler's letter about the churches defying the constitution. The members of the Confessing Church Movement do not "condemn" them; instead we challenge them to abide by the final rulings of the highest court in the PCUSA and the repeated decisions of the vast majority of our presbyteries; and we do insist that the officers of the church at all levels defend and enforce the PCUSA constitution. Members of the Confessing Church Movement are NOT defying any final ruling against a confession. The Sebastian case is still in the process of litigation and appeal. Also, to the best of my knowledge, this is the ONLY resolution of a CCM church that has been challenged. Frank Clepper Lake Forest Presbyterian Church Knoxville, Tenn. Isn't it time to say 'Enough is enough?' September 9, 2002 It seems the outstanding question of the day is, "When will faithful Presbyterians finally stand up and shout, 'Enough is enough?'" We can probably dismiss any idea of effecting any change going through established channels such as overtures. We can, however, take actions one by one. Fasting and praying must head the list. Any member can, and I believe should, go before the session in the particular congregation and seek guidance and counsel about what they can do toward revival, renewal and restoration. When I first heard about the Confessing Church Movement, I wrote more than 150 Presbyterians encouraging them to urge their sessions to join. I asked each of them to write at least ten others. I would have never known about the CCM had not the Presbyterian Lay Committee posted info via its Web site. Neither would I have known about the faithful folks at Circleville Presbyterian Church in New York. While you may or may not agree with their decision to leave the denomination at the expense of $112,500 "tithe," surely you are encouraged by their Biblical faith and their courageous actions. Today, I am sending checks in equal amounts to both the PLC and the Circleville church. This is over and above my contribution to my local congregation. If you also believe "enough is enough" you may wish to do the same. Jasper McClellan San Angelo, Texas Story exaggerated actions by courts September 9, 2002 In a recent online article, "Court briefs affirm and attack Confessing Church resolution," by John H. Adams, after summarizing the current briefs of the Sebastian case, Mr. Adams has the bravado to speak for the pastors and sessions of the Confessing Church Movement and to describe judicial circumstance as follows:
Second, Mr. Adams asserts that dozens of ministers and church sessions are in open defiance of the Book of Order without one church court holding them accountable. Dozens implies at least 24, if not 36 or more ministers or sessions. I know of perhaps six public announcements of defiance which have been met with pastoral if not judicial actions and warnings, most notably from the recent General Assembly meeting itself and from the recent advice of the office of the Stated Clerk to all synod and presbytery offices. Mr. Adams, please don't overstate your opinions and present them as facts, and for the sake of the peace, unity and purity of the church, try to be more accurate in the future. M. Anderson "Andy" Sale General Presbyter, Peaks Presbytery Lynchburg, Va. The presbytery court that ruled in the Sebastian case ordered the church to recant the entire resolution – not merely that which it alleged to be subscriptionist. And it specifically declared that the phrase "infallible word of God" – which is in the Westminster Confession – was unlawful. As to the number of cases of open defiance, 16 congregations in the Presbytery of Hudson River alone have declared their defiance of the constitution without any court action to date. The Editors Passion is not the same as truth or righteousness September 9, 2002 In regards to Veva Larson's comment on Paul Peterson's passion, I agree that Peterson is very passionate about his cause. However, the degree of passion that a person brings is rarely a good measure of the truth or righteousness of a point of view. By Ms. Larson's criteria, the followers of Adolf Hitler would have to be held up as the epitome of truth and righteousness, for there have been few more committed and passionate to their cause, even unto death. More often, passion untempered by a healthy skepticism results in spiritual and intellectual blindness towards ideas and sentiments that differ from our own. We prefer the simplicity of half-truths rather than maintaining the ambiguity that necessarily accompanies a genuine search for truth. We claim to know the mind of God and that God's mind is synonymous with our own sentiments. We engage in self-deception that we justify and rationalize by the passion of our convictions and we refuse to test them by any serious criticism. We justify our own hypocrisy in the name of our cause while condemning others for the same sort of behavior. Ultimately, as we have seen, it undermines our personal integrity and the credibility of our church and its message. Such we have seen in the pronouncements of people such as Paul Peterson and Steve Van Kuiken, nutured and supported by the indolence of our so-called national leadership. It takes little risk to claim obedience to a Christ who is little more than a ventriloquist's dummy for your own viewpoint. It takes little courage to make irresponsible statements or actions when you know that there's small likelihood that you will be called to account for them, for, unfortunately, we still have our Neville Chamberlains today, willing to sacrifice the future of our community for the sake of business as usual. Martin Luther King once preached of the need for integrated people to contain marked opposites within themselves – specifically to be both tough-minded and tender hearted. From his writing, he clearly saw the failure to be tough-minded as a more serious threat to truth and righteousness in the church and in society. Yet people such as Ms. Larson not only condone such soft-mindedness, but actually applaud it. The quotation of Jesus from Isaiah echoes down to us today: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and I would heal them. How many people feel this passage only applies to the other guys, as do many in our church today, and, in so doing, become the very subjects of the passage? Bruce M. Williams Calvary Presbyterian Church San Francisco Passion doesn't justify wrong beliefs September 9, 2002 Regarding Veva Larson's letter in which she implied that Rev. Paul Peterson, by standing up for what he believes in, ought not be criticized for those beliefs. She seemed to believe that the passion and feeling behind his beliefs justified them. The men who flew the hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon passionately fervently believed that they were doing the will of God by their actions. Nevertheless, their actions and motives were strongly criticized (indeed condemned) by the civilized world. The passion and feeling behind their beliefs certainly did not justify them. What justifies one's beliefs is the simple criteria of whether those beliefs accord with God's revelation. The Apostle Paul listed impenitent homosexuals among those who will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and against whom the Law is laid down (I Cor. 6.9-10, I Tim. 1.9-10), and indicated that homosexuality is a curse by which men and women debase themselves (Rom. 1.24-27). Likewise, Moses indicated that homosexual practice is a sin that the Lord detests (Lev. 18.22, 20.13). Although violence and persecution against homosexuals is impermissible due to the Lord's command to love all men and women, this does not authorize the Church to ordain or install into leadership offices those who flagrantly violate His law. The qualifications for elder and deacon given in I Tim. 3.1-13 are quite explicit. "A bishop must be blameless," and again, "let them serve as deacons, being found blameless." It is not the Lord's command that we only ordain those men and women who do not sin. If it were, the Church would be leaderless. The requirement is that we ordain men and women who have demonstrated a life of faithful obedience to the Lord through obedience to His Scripture, who do not continue in a lifestyle of sin, and who, when they sin, immediately repent of it. Those who practice homosexuality repeatedly or who state that they do not intend to abide by Scripture's proscription against homosexual practice are not fit to hold ordained office in the Presbyterian Church (USA), which belongs to Jesus Christ alone and not to Presbyterians individually or corporately. The qualifications for ordained office are not to be determined by the Church or the Church's temporal leadership, but by Jesus Christ, the Church's Lord, Savior and Bridegroom. Loren Golden Overland Park, Kansas Whose blood is on whose hands? September 9, 2002 The remarks by Paul Peterson regarding the blood on my hands for Matthew Shepard's death make me ask: Is there blood on the hands of That All May Freely Serve for the death of the young boy in Missouri? He was raped by two homosexuals and died at their hands at about the same time Matthew Shepard was killed. Hardly a word was heard in the press about his horrific death, but I am inclined to think that Peterson's baseless nonsense makes them just as guilty as we Presbyterians. Dave Anderson Allison Park, Pa. Confessing Church is defiant, too September 3, 2002 Let me begin by stating that I support the Confessing Church Movement. However, I find it peculiarly interesting that members of the Confessing Church Movement would openly defy a ruling against a confession and then condemn other churches for defying rulings or votes in other matters before the PCUSA. George Stabler Cornelia, Ga. Minister misses the point September 3, 2002 The Rev. Paul Peterson misses (or misunderstands) one technical, but highly significant, point. He asserts that the Book of Order "creates a caste of 'second-class' citizens in our church. ..." If there is anything (in truth, not "thing" but "who") that creates a caste of second-class citizens, it is God as God has guided us through Scripture. The distinction is between repentent and unrepentent persons. Nowhere are people guided to the idea that unrepentence is acceptable. From God's dealings with the Israelites, to John the Baptist, to Jesus, to the message of Revelation, this is born out. And the further truth is not that God desires "second-class" citizens, but just the opposite. It is God's will and desire that people see their sinfulness, turn from it and let God reconstruct us all into the perfection in which humankind was created – in the likeness of God. Rev. Steven L. Seng First Presbyterian Church Wellsburg, W.Va. What about minister's passion, feelings? September 3, 2002 I think that The Layman should have all of the story before they print a story. Do any of you know the passion and feeling behind the way Paul Peterson feels? He stands up for what he believes in, and look where it gets him. I believe in what he is doing and I believe in the rights of homosexuals as Presbyterians. I am proud to say that I would accept a homosexual person in our congregation and I would be proud to have them serve as a session member and an elder. If I am good enough to serve on our session, then they should be, too. Veva Larson Is Montana minister leaving PCUSA? September 3, 2002 Is it true that Paul Peterson is leaving the Presbyterian Church? Has he renounced the jurisdiction of the church and forfeited his ordination, leaving the pastorates he served in Montana, as well as his general presbyter's job, all for the sake of taking a job with "That All May Freely Serve?" My reading of the article was that he had not, but was adding the job as a sort of additional protest against the position of the PCUSA regarding the ordination of unrepentant practitioners of the homosexual lifestyle. Now, it could be that it is also a hedge against what is appearing to be the less and less likely possibility that the church will live up to its constitution and discipline Mr. Peterson and his wife and the churches which they serve. That would fit with what often seems to be the case with many liberal "protests" – all sound and fury but a golden parachute and no real sacrifice other than that of one's own self-generated internal stress over an on-going situation. I would respect the Petersons and many others like them if they would take their defiance and make a costly statement of their commitment to believe as they claim that they do. Let them renounce the jurisdiction and forfeit their ordination vows in the PCUSA. Let them forfeit their church properties and assets to the presbyteries (even if that means leaving everything to just a few churches in presbyteries and synods where the liberal sentiment is the majority) and let them strike out boldly on their own. They may band together and call themselves a Christian denomination and even use the name Presbyterian as well as the form of polity (though not without a certain irony to those of us watching them constantly make a mockery of it in the present). Imagine denominational staffers leaving their jobs and having to make do with either voluntary service to the new denomination until fundraising builds the proper infrastructure and the like. Many ministers, professors and staffers would have to hold two jobs – one secular and one mostly voluntary to continue their ministry. If they did that, it would speak far more eloquently of both their commitment and the possible justice of their cause. Especially if they could build new churches, raise money to build infrastructures like governing body offices and staff, seminaries and the like. As the late John Leith liked to point out, too many of those who would practice a "new and different Christianity," with liberal theological positions and culturally compromised ethics, do so in a parasitic way by living off the patrimony and established infrastructures and financial contributions and endowments of believers of the traditional and evangelical mainstream that has made up the majority of the Presbyterian church for most of its history. Liberalism has done very little to establish churches or build up churches and raise money for the support of the church. The opposite would seem to be true, as the liberalism that first came to power in the 1920s gradually followed the logic undergirding it, grew more radicalized and drifted apart from the majority of the laity while maintaining power in the leadership of the church. That liberalism presided over 40 years of decline in overall membership, number of churches average attendance at Sunday School, the secularization of church supported schools, and consistent funding crises. I know that history is too complex to lay everything on the doorstep of liberals. I know that I am probably considered both hard-hearted and hard-headed by some moderates and liberals. But even if I am wrong in my details, the truth still remains – if God is on "their side," let them have faith enough to step out and leave us to our hard-hearted, homophobic fate. Build a new denomination and grow it past our unenlightened remnant. If inclusiveness is so attractive, and your theology so relevant, turn the Spirit loose in your faithfulness and build a faith community which would put us unenlightened ones to shame, for in seeing your success despite hardship we might come to see things your way. Are you up to the challenge? Or will you continue to play it safe, make a mockery of the church's constitution and expect traditionalists, conservatives and evangelicals to continue providing funding or, in lieu of that, hijack that which they have already donated and built up? Scott R. Mackey Fort Worth, Texas Death is the byproduct of preaching mush September 3, 2002 Paul Peterson, the former general presbyter of Yellowstone Presbytery and soon to be minister of outreach and education for That All May Freely Serve, stated quite correctly, "Our denomination is turning its back to the word of God on the issue of human sexuality." He adds, "As a denomination we must repent." It is refreshing to hear a liberal talk about repentance unconnected to transgressions against brine shrimp or giant redwood trees. The PCUSA needs to repent. While most moderate and even liberal ministers do not advocate homosexuality or abortion, most never preach against it for fear of hearing those most devastating of words, "I was offended." While the open-minded and spiritually-bankrupt remain inoffensive, some 4,000 children are murdered every day in abortoriums across this nation. Thousands of new cases of AIDS are diagnosed each month while many of our ministers preach feel-good sermons about self-validation or ooze mush about the tenderness and love of God while forgetting that our holy and righteous God is also a God of justified wrath and anger. Liberals have re-imaged God into something totally out of keeping with his holy and righteous character. Because most liberals believe anger and wrath to be bad things, they are reticent to associate these attributes with God. The Scripture, however, refers more often to God's anger and wrath than it does to his love and tenderness. The great theologian A.W. Pink wrote, "The wrath of God is a perfection of the Divine character on which we need to meditate frequently ... that our hearts may be duly impressed by God's detestation of sin. We are ever prone to regard sin lightly, to gloss over its hideousness, to make excuses for sin." When the likes of the Rev. Hal Porter, pastor emeritus of the Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, preaches a sermon titled, "Homosexuality is Not a Sin" and the Rev. Steve Van Kuiken, Mount Auburn's current pastor, calls down God's blessing on an unholy union, that is exactly what they are doing ... glossing over the hideousness of sin and making excuses for it. Christ warns in Mark 9:42, "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck." According to Jesus, whose love and tenderness is all too often the subject of liberal sermons, God's judgment poured out on such sinners and falsifiers of the Gospel will be that they are tossed into hell. Jesus uses the image of Gehenna, a smouldering garbage dump, "where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." And as long as this church allows them to do so with impunity, it will be subject to God's anger and wrath. The congregation at Mount Auburn may feel really good about themselves thanks to the efforts of Porter and Van Kuiken and the efforts of their cohorts in TAMFS and the More Light crowd, but they are being led to the dump at Gehenna. Mr. Petersen, like most liberals, likes feeling guilty about the sins of others. Accordingly, he wants us all to share his sense of guilt over the murder of Matthew Shepherd, some act of arson in Missoula, slavery that we fought a Civil War to end, and the subordination of women from ancient Sumer to the rejection of the Equal Rights Amendment. According to Petersen, "Our guilt arises because of legislative discrimination in the Book of Order that creates a caste of 'second class' citizens in our church and a misguided theology, no different from those that justified slavery and subordinated women, held by a narrow majority of our pastors and elders. As a denomination, we must repent." Mr. Peterson's last sentence is right on. The rest is liberal babblerwhacky but is also indicative of how liberals distort the truth (a charitable way of saying "lie") to support their agenda. In reality, the most recent challenge to G6.0106b was denied by nearly a three-to-one margin ... hardly a "narrow majority." Nearly 700,000 Presbyterians have voted with their feet over the past two decades because they can no longer abide the sinfulness that is advocated by groups like TAMFS and the More Light Presbyterians. Even among those who remain, the vast majority support Biblical standards for righteous behaviour and expect it from their church leaders. Furthermore, most of us don't feel guilty about the murder of Matthew Shepherd, fire bombing lesbians in Missoula, slavery that ended 137 years ago or the supposed mistreatment of women simply because we had nothing to do with any of it! Even among the Confessing Church Movement, there are those who want to be careful not to offend, not to seem dogmatic. Give it up! Liberals aren't going to love us. Don't worry about offending them. They are an offense to themselves as well as to heaven. TAMFS and the More Light Presbyterians are dedicated to radicalizing this church and they won't stop until they either succeed or we throw them out. What are we afraid of? That liberals characterize us as "closed-minded?" So what? The mind was meant to close upon the truth. The gospel is offensive and it's dogmatic and we should not be ashamed of stating the truth. There is a definitive truth and that truth is found in Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate. It permeates every word on every page of the complete, authoritative, inspired and inerrant Word of God. Speak the truth and expect it to offend liars, cheaters and the misinformed. The elect will recognize the truth for what it is. The rest are headed for Gehenna. Mr. Petersen is right about repentance. If the PCUSA does not repent and turn from its present course, God will pour out his wrath on what is left of this church. The wrath of a holy and righteous God is inevitable because God is always just. Thankfully, God also promises mercy to those who come to him the only way we can which is in repentance through his son. Earl H. Tilford Jr., Ph.D. Grove City College Grove City, Pa. G.K. Chesterton v. the Evil One September 3, 2002 The following quotes from G.K. Chesterton demonstrate that the Evil One need not be clever or original; the same old stuff works for him generation to generation because we are disobedient in the same old ways, generation to generation: "There are those who hate Christianity and call their hatred an all-embracing love for all religions." – Illustrated London News, 1/13/06 "These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." – Illustrated London News, 8-11-28 Read the vital vaporescence that flies upward from our leaders and theologians whose quest for novelty leads to nowhere, where they promptly plant their flag of Sovereign Conscience. O, that Christians, who are by default and not faith "as harmless as doves," would in obedience "be as wise" as the Serpent. O, for the living likes of a G.K.Chesterton, who told it like it was. And is. Derek J. Simmons, elder First Presbyterian Church A Confessing Church Santa Rosa, Calif. |
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