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2003 letters, page 2 Archives of letters to the editor  |
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Van Kuiken some credit April 23, 2003 I disagree with the Rev. A. Stephen Van Kuiken's views of on homosexuality and, I suppose, many other topics. In one way, however, I support him. He could have taken his rebuke with a wink and a nod, and gone back to doing quietly what he has done all along. Instead he is apparently insisting that the PCUSA cannot be one thing on paper and another in practice. In this, I see him as an ally against a common adversary – an ally against the lawyers who want to twist the plain meaning of the words of G-6.0106b and against PJCs that prefer to simply ignore the constitution. I would guess that Van Kuiken faces opposition from some in his own camp for pushing the issue to a showdown. Those of us who want enforcement of the constitution and Van Kuiken, who, as I understand him, demands its change, both give the constitution the respect it deserves. The cynics are those who would simply ignore it. Randall Davy Rivermont Presbyterian Church Lynchburg, Va. Van Kuiken decision sounded like a practical joke April 23, 2003 As I was reading the decision by the Cincinnati PJC, I found myself laughing out loud at the humor expressed in what I thought was a practical joke until I realized it was not April 1st. It appears the majority members of the Cincinnati PJC must be in sympathy with the ungodly agenda of the liberal left to normalize homosexual fornication. And they apparently must really believe the fallacious and asinine Benton decision that declares God is somehow obligated to look benevolently upon what He has already called sin merely because the GAPJC "describe[s] services in which God blesses those relationships as holy unions." How else can it possibly be thought a just or reasonable decision to find Rev. Van Kuiken both guilty of performing so-called homosexual marriages and to limit his discipline to a mere rebuke? And this is especially so in light of Van Kuiken's public proclamation that a rebuke won't motivate him to stop his constitution-defying behavior. And let's see: the Cincinnati PJC has unbelievably ruled that refusing to participate in an irregular – and therefore unconstitutional – ordination and installation of self-affirming unrepentant practicing homosexuals would itself bring censure upon Rev. Van Kuiken. Thus, he had a duty to officiate lest he expose himself to disciplinary action. But he is excused culpability for this defiance of the constitution because ordination and installation is the responsibility of the session, the majority rules (apparently even when it is voting to do something illegal and/or irregular in defiant violation of its own vows), and he was 'just following orders'. But is not Rev. Van Kuiken a member of the session? Last time I checked the Book of Order he was. Or is this another instance of the sophistry like that asserted by Clifton Kirkpatrick and Fahed Abu Akel in the 214th GA Recall Petition remedial case that they are not accountable as individuals for what they do in the performance of their office? I suppose this is what the Cincinnati PJC meant when it said that "the polity of the Presbyterian Church is distinct in Christian tradition." Charles Dickens said "the law is an ass." I do not believe for a moment that the prayer of the PJC members will be answered in full. For while an "impartial public" may grant its praise of this psuedo-Solomonic judgment, a Bible-believing, constitution-affirming Presbyterian public can only be scandalized by it. And this is to say nothing of the heartbreak that is most certainly felt by the great Head of the church universal at this parody of righteousness and justice. I think the only way to return the church to sanity on this issue is for right-thinking, Bible-believing, constitution-supporting sessions to send an overture to the General Assembly to amend the Constitution to declare void on its face, without prejudice to the candidate, any irregular ordination, and that participation by any presbyter in such an ordination to de facto renunciation of jurisdiction. When will God's faithful people say "enough is enough"? Rev. Bill Pawson Canton, Ohio What will church be like in 25 years? April 23, 2003 I'm so mad I could bite nails. Is it any wonder this country is going downhill faster than a meteor? It seems that members of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Cincinnati have no backone to say what is right, fearing the backlash of the minority as usual. What message are we saying to the young people of this country? Do whatever you want and don't worry what your church fathers say – you have rights. Hum-bug. I can't imagine what church regardless of its domination will be like 25 years from and, thank God, I will not be around to see it. Peter B. Padavana Appleton, Wisc. PJC should be dismissed, rebuked April 23, 2003 By not enforcing the constitution regarding the second charge, the Cincinnati Permanent Judicial Commission is guilty of heresy. In prescribing an insufficient remedy regarding the first charge, the commission is guilty of perpetuating heresy in a heretical church. The members of the PJC should be dismissed and rebuked for their mockery of God's Holy Scripture. Jim Collins South Carolina Law triumphed over gentle heart and love April 23, 2003 Once again, Pharisee arose from the death to persecute the Christ-followers. And, once again, "the law" triumphed over gentle heart and love. Oh, Lord! Have mercy on us. When will those self-proclaimed "Christians" learn the teachings of Christ and when will they know how to embrace diversities and differences, which were, are and will always be God's creation. Amen. Ihsiung B. Chen PCUSA and United Nations are similar April 23, 2003 I am struck by the similarities between the United Nations and the PCUSA. Both are reluctant to act on their responsibilities, even when offenders under their jurisdiction refuse to comply with previously agreed upon mandates and years of debate. The U.N. was afraid of upsetting a dictator who had been responsible for the deaths of thousands upon thousands of people. A man who hoarded millions of dollars for himself while others went hungry. A man who was responsible for the deaths of thousands more in two unjust wars. The PCUSA, like the U.N. is obviously reluctant to act on its responsibilities to remove unbelieving and unrepentant church leaders who are responsible for the spiritual death of their members, for leading them down the wide road that leads to destruction for so many, and when it finally does act, it does so in such a way that is designed not to upset the offenders too much, all the while leaving them in their positions of honor and responsibility; even in light of defiant statements from the offenders that they will not comply with church and Biblical mandates. It seems that we are not afraid of offending God and the head of our church, Jesus Christ, but we are afraid of offending unrepentant church leaders who profess (demand) to be called Christians regardless of their lifestyles. As James told us, even the demons believe in Jesus Christ! It is by our good works, our lifestyle, the way that we live that we separate ourselves from the demons. (James 2:14-26). "Faith without works is dead!" Sadly, our witness to the world has become marred by our tolerance of un-Christian behavior, lifestyles and doctrine! The line between the world and Christians has become blurred, when it should be clear. Yes, we are all sinners, but the proud, unrepentant and defiant sinner, who lives a duplicitous and licentious lifestyle is not acceptable to God! (Psalm 51) Sadly, history and the study of our Bible shows us that there were times when even God and Jesus Christ had to drop bunker busters, both literally and figuratively speaking. (Genesis 19:24-25; Luke 10:8-16) If our church refuses to assertively uphold its Biblical responsibilities (Matthew 18:15-17), then the only other option is for the true church leaders to seek out true Christian churches, regardless of denominations, so that they can courageously declare the unrepentant churches to be just what they are, unbelieving churches, and to cast them out of the Christian fold once and for all, so they can do and live as they wish. At that point, just like Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah and Bush in Baghdad, we should move forward and not look back. I fear that my own place of worship, Sunrise Presbyterian Church, as well as many other churches, is falling into the trap of remaining silent in light of such happenings! Are we straddling the fence? Are we afraid of risking criticism by steadfastly and openly refusing to embrace the wayward thinking of the Mt. Auburn Church? Instead all of our churches should assertively, but gently (Galatians 6:1-3), carry out the great commission by fervently and effectively teaching our people to observe what Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:20). I think that it is time that we started addressing this issue and teaching our members what God and Jesus expects of us in our lives! Each time the churches of the PCUSA fail to stand up for Christ and give in to worldly values we lose a little more credibility. We become just like a social club! Paul exhorts us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, to be different than the world, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:1-2) We must decide whether we will be hot or cold, because as we know Christ cannot use the lukewarm Church! (Revelation 3:15-16) Scott Maxwell Elder, deacon, Bible study teacher Sunrise Presbyterian Church Miami, Fla. Van Kuiken is closer to Jesus' teachings April 23, 2003 I applaud Pastor Van Kuiken for his courage. We live in a society that is unwilling to acknowledge that gays and lesbians can be in monogamous, committed and loving relationships. The pastor's willingness to acknowledge these relationships in a marriage ceremony is a wonderful, loving act – an act that is much more akin to the teachings of Jesus than those who still denouce gay and lesbian people. K. Jill Barr Annapolis, Md. Why does Van Kuiken remain in PCUSA? April 22, 2003 Why does Rev. A. Stephen Van Kuiken remain within the Presbyterian Church (USA)? His theology does not align with the church's historic teachings, he has repeatedly stated he will not abide by its polity and he causes great dissension, distraction and discord in the performance of his duties. He could much more effectively serve the Lord elsewhere. There are other denominations that would welcome him with open arms. He (and his church) should peaceably withdraw while they still have opportunity to leave with the congregation property intact. Brian Ahier The Dalles, Ore. Radical left's scorched earth policy April 22, 2003 This is an outrage. If ordination standards do not hold for the entire denomination, neither do property provisions. "Moderates" must wake up and choose, because one side of the denomination is going to have to go, the radical left or the faithful and active evangelicals of the PCUSA. The radical left has shown it is willing to destroy the denomination if it does not get its minority way – a scorched-earth policy. Evangelicals will not destroy it (in fact, by God's grace we nurture it), but neither will we remain to experience ecclesiastical rape over and over and over again. Powell Sykes Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church Burlington, N.C. The aim is to kick out evangelicals April 22, 2003 In Stephen Van Kuiken's statement to the Permanent Judicial Commission, he said that in the 1920s and 30s, "some conservatives tried to impose a narrow method of biblical interpretation upon the entire church, [but that] they were turned back by many faithful Presbyterians such as Henry Sloane Coffin and Charles Errdman." Van Kuiken is correct in saying that the Presbyterian Church "turned back" conservative Presbyterians in the 1920s and '30s. The turning back that occurred during that time period was that many conservative Presbyterian pastors were kicked out of the denomination. Some of the most famous Presbyterians to be defrocked were J. Gresham Machen and Carl McIntire. The reason that Van Kuiken's comments about the '20s and '30s are so intriguing is that on April 15, 2003, Van Kuiken is quoted in the Cincinnati Enquirer as saying, "The difference between us and them is that we don't want to kick them out." How can Van Kuiken say he doesn't want to kick conservatives out when he endorses in his personal statement the turning back of the conservatives in the 1920s and '30s? If he endorses the mass suspension of ministers that were thrown out in 1936, how can he claim that liberals don't or won't want to kick anyone out in the future? The history of the PCUSA over the last century teaches that our church courts will kick evangelicals out for believing in the Bible and keep liberals in for disbelieving the Bible. It is time for this situation to be reversed. Jeff McDonald, law student University of South Dakota School of Law Vermillion, S.D. Who is the slickest? April 22, 2003 Well, it looks like the Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken and Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church greased by, or through, the issue, again. But I wonder: Who is the slickest, the minister, the session or the Cincinnati PJC? Regarding the idea that the Rev. Van Kuiken would be in violation of the constitution for not administering the ordination and installation, I'm not sure if this is more laughable or preposterous! Also, it should be noted that the PJC has now determined that the session is in fact responsible for the ordinations that have in fact taken place. It seems only appropriate that charges be drawn up against the session of Mount Auburn for the next round. I wonder what dodge the PJC will use next. Rev. Steven L. Seng First Presbyterian Church Wellsburg, W. Va. Layman 'cowardly, unbiblically compliant' April 22, 2003 In the April 2003 issue of The Layman, Parker Williamson wrote:
They probably would have listened to The Layman because The Layman always backs American war policy. For The Layman is merely another voice spouting what the president wants to hear. When it comes to war and peace, The Layman never has an independent conscience, never even quotes the words of Jesus, or cites Jesus' attitudes toward the enemy, and frankly, never speaks with authority. That 60 percent of American Presbyterians support American war policy does not surprise me, for we have not taught Presbyterians to think biblically about war and peace. I have been reading this publication for 35 years and have yet to read one biblically informed word in The Layman about war and peace. I have the utmost respect for those who serve in our Armed Forces, and for chaplains, my colleagues in the ministry of Word and sacrament, who minister to soldiers, sailors and flyers who do their duty. I have no respect for the editorial posturing of The Layman which has merely parroted presidential policy from Johnson to Bush 2. Every war in which America has engaged is a just war as far as The Layman is concerned. You speak on the question of abortion appropriately in my view. You tend to ignore other important life issues such as capital punishment and assisted suicide. But when it comes to war, you ignore biblical morality, give presidential policy a blank check and berate the stated clerk and the moderator for daring to think differently than you. Can you find so much as a jot or a tittle of scriptural support of American policy? No, you cannot because there isn't any. When it comes to war and peace The Layman is cowardly and unbiblically compliant. When it comes to war and peace The Layman does not know how to distinguish the church of Jesus Christ from America. You merely wrap Jesus in the American flag and try to pass our merciful Savior off as just another compliant American and not as the Palestinian Jew that he was. Shame on you! Neil D. Cowling, pastor Kirk of Our Savior, Presbyterian Church (USA) Westland, Mich. Cincinnati PJC decision could split PCUSA April 22, 2003 Well, the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Cincinnati has just given the gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender crowd the victory that several elections by the people in the pews have denied them. At one fell swoop the PJC has ruled that A. Stephen Van Kuiken and his session can ordain anybody they want to with complete impunity. Sometime ago, I said to The Layman that the PJC in Central Florida Presbytery had fired the first shot in the last great battle for the soul of the PCUSA. It now appears that the Cincinnati PJC has fired what may well be the final shot before the denomination starts to really unravel. I predict that the backlash over this ruling will create a firestorm that the PJC has either unwittingly released or has calculatedly counted on being the last divisive thrust that will probably split the PCUSA. It is inconceivable that the PJC did not realize in advance what the results would be of a ruling that makes a mockery of G-6.0106b, which has been voted on several times by the presbyteries. Put on your armor folks, it won't be long now. Jim Harper, clerk of session First Presbyterian Church New Smyrna Beach, Fla. It's time to throw the rascals out April 22, 2003 How do we as a church get rid of Kirkpatrick and his ilk? The leadership and staff have made the Presbyterian Church a political organization funded by us and run by them to support extreme left liberal positions. I see no evidence of any religious based activity being conducted by them. Why do contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing go to fund a lobbying office in Washington D.C.? This money should go to missions, not to efforts to get the government to do the church's work. What about the separation of church and state they are always squawking about? I guess it only applies to praying in school and putting up Christmas decorations on public property during Christmas, or should I say the Holiday Season. I think it is past time for the people of this church to revolt and throw the rascals out or totally cut off their funds so they have to go elsewhere to conduct their political activities. Let them go work for the Democratic Party. I want them out of my church. Terry R. Mateer Westminster Presbyterian Church Alexandria, Va. Family policy would spawn exodus April 22, 2003 I dare say if this proposed family policy ["Living Faithfully with Families in Transition"] is adopted by the Presbyterian Church, we would be one of the first to leave. And probably our entire congregation would as well! How can a "Christian" pick and choose what he wants to believe out of the Bible? Mr. and Mrs. James Knight Attica, Ind. ACSWP gets desired recognition April 22, 2003 In the January 13, 2003 article (http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/03015.htm), John Filiatreau of the Presbyterian News Service wrote the following about ACSWP's meeting in Plantation, Fla.: ...."Yet it's an obscure group. Many Presbyterians are unaware of its work. Many are also unaware of its existence. That's a problem, because one of ACSWP's chief aims is to see that Presbyterians of all stripes are given a chance to weigh in on important issues." With ACSWP's publication of "Living Faithfully with Families in Transition," it looks like ACSWP got its wish. However, the notoriety just gained by this group is probably not what they had in mind when they were lamenting their obscurity at their meeting in January. John Filiatreau also reported in the above-mentioned article that "ACSWP is funded predominantly by unrestricted funds, the most hard-pressed sector of the PC(USA) mission budget." ACSWP being funded from undesignated mission contributions certainly has a look of similarity to the misuse of One Great Hour of Sharing money to fund the Taco Bell boycott. Larry Rued Elder First Presbyterian Church Bradenton, Fla. The Witherspoon Society and our soldiers April 22, 2003 The efforts by the Witherspoon Society and "Not in Our Name" to gather "support" for troops who refuse to fight reveals the bankruptcy of liberalism in a number of ways. First, they reveal their elitist attitude with a basic assumption that men and women who go into the armed forces are desperately in need of some kind of work and so they are compelled, as a kind of last resort, to serve in the armed forces. Partly, this attitude is a hangover from Vietnam, a war most of them ... or their sixties equivalents ... let the blue collar kids fight while they were safely ensconced in college, university ... or – worse – seminary (which accounts for a lot when you consider the senior leadership of the PCUSA). What they do not understand is that the young men and women who volunteer to serve in the all-volunteer American military do so knowing full well what they getting into. They are far from desperate and are, in many ways, our best and brightest. For instance, do the Witherspooners and "No Namers" know that 60 percent of the enlisted people in the army are married? Do they know that many of them have college degrees? Second, our soldiers and Marines are given ample training in the Geneva Convention and in the Laws of War. Our soldiers and Marines don't need a bunch of pacifistic Presbyterians to advise them what does or does not constitute a legal order and their responsibility, as fighting men, to refuse to obey an illegal order. Third, they seemly are unaware that the young men and women who join the military understand exactly what it is they may be called upon to do. If they are in a combat arms branch of the Army or in the Marine Corps, they train for war constantly. They train for desert warfare at the Army's National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, California, and at the Marine's training facility at Twenty-Nine Palms, just down the road. Urban warfare training is done at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, jungle warfare in Panama, and open terrain warfare at Ft. Polk. Louisiana. They train for war. Their officers study it ...at every level ... from small unit tactics at platoon officer courses to grand strategy at the war colleges. Fourth, perhaps because these Witherspooners and No Namers are somewhat lacking in intellectual integrity, they assume that others are as well. These young men and women are our nation's finest. They know what it means to sacrifice and over 125 of them made that sacrifice so simpering 'Spooners and No Namers can carp along, spinning out their tired, weary words that better belong to a bygone era. Earl H. Tilford Jr. Grove City College Grove City, Pa. Fundamentalists and Unitarians agree April 22, 2003 In the Covenant Network and the PCUSA hierarchy in Louisville, fundamentalist ("Fundie" for short) is a popular label for Bible-believing Christians. Of course, when called liberals they are aghast at the use of labels. They know quite well that most people are well aware of what liberalism is and want no part of it. So, they try to disguise themselves by calling themselves "progressives." This tactic was first used by liberals in the political arena. In the liberal wing of the PCUSA, being basically a political movement with only a tenuous connection with religion, this tactic has spread quickly. The liberal wing of the PCUSA constantly tries to proclaim that they are Christians and Bible believers, too. Perhaps we should seek an unbiased outside view from a source not connected to either wing of the denomination. It seems unlikely that we "Fundies" and Unitarians would agree on anything. There seems to be one area of agreement, though. A sermon by the Rev. Rudi Gelsey, a Unitarian minister, brings out this area of agreement. In a sermon delivered May 19, 1996, Rev. Gelsey claims for the Unitarians the distinction of setting the stage "for main-line denominations to give only discreet lip-service to their historic creeds." It seems that we Fundies and the Unitarians do agree on the abandonment of Christianity by the liberals running most mainline denominations. While I disagree with Rev. Gelsey in almost everything, I would like to offer my respect for his honesty and candor. He proudly proclaims himself a liberal and does not try to use the deceit of hiding behind the term "progressive" like the members of the Covenant Network. His personal religious faith is basically the same as that of the Covenant Network and the Louisville hierarchy – salvation through political liberalism. The difference is that Rev. Gelsey has enough honor and integrity to openly confess his faith. I think faithful Christians in the PCUSA might do best to encourage the "progressive wing" of the denomination to proclaim their beliefs more forthrightly. This may be difficult, though. They know quite well that if they do so they will lose the support of the middle of the church that they are trying to win. Ron McCormick Philadelphia, N.Y. Gay and lesbian issues at the 215th General Assembly April 22, 2003 The distortion of the meaning of Scripture and the attacks on the authority and authenticity of Scripture by those promoting the gay and lesbian agenda are shameless trash. There must be a reasonable and powerful way to put a prompt end to these distortions of the truth within our denomination year after year at the G.A. level. Richard H. Sharrett Elder Fanwood Presbyterian Church Elizabeth Presbytery, N.J. Leading by bad example April 22, 2003 Once again we have a "head" that does not know our laws, nor understand Christian doctrine. They will not lead by example, except by "bad" example. I would like to see all per-cap monies withheld, and given over to this periodical/E-zine. Maybe they will listen, ask questions, and take feedback when they "can't pay the light bill." The folks in Louisville must take heed. They will stand be for the judgment seat of Christ and have their works tested by fire. Ministers who preach a gospel different from Christ crucified, dead, buried and raised should be warned: If anyone causes My little ones to fall (sin or believe falsehood or false doctrine), it would be better that he should never had been born. John Fenton Seattle, Wash. Mainstream leaders wrong on Iraq April 21, 2003 I am writing in response to the article "Church leaders' anti-war message fails in the pews." There is only one set of leaders whose judgment about the Iraqi War were as wrong as those of the ruling clique in Baghdad: the claque of leadership within the mainstream church, plus Pope John Paul II. Here is a group of leaders who demonstrate both an abject inability to manage the financial and moral affairs within their own institutions while also mustering an incredible amount of smarmy self-righteousness regarding the affairs of democratic nation-states acting in legitimate self-defense. To paraphrase Sir Winston Churchill, "Never have so few been wrong about so much in so short a time." They accomplish this while wrapping themselves in the mantle of self-appropriated prophetic spirit tastefully accented with the phylacteries of being the victims of a vast conspiracy of right-wing radio talk-show hosts and an unsophisticated membership. Theirs is not a performance worthy of the Iraqi Minister of Information, however. He was at least entertaining and is now sorely missed. These leadership folks from the National Council of Churches and their member churches are simply boors. No one will grieve their passing, however unquietly they go into whatever dark night awaits them. Their moral compass is fixed solely on the pole star of their own "informed and critical assessment," an assessment leading them inexorably to the same destination regardless of the topic: "It is always, always America's fault, but please continue to send us money!" Their "critical assessment" apparently blesses a man whose regime is noted for the following actions: running torture chambers; imprisoning 5-year-old children; cutting the tongues out of those who dissent from his policies; hanging Jews in public places; creating, a society where 5,000 children die each month; and pulling the fingernails and teeth out of high-level factotums who had the misfortune of speaking a discouraging word in his presence. All that occurred while he was building palaces with gold-plated bathroom faucets, gold-plated pistols and massive statues of himself. Individuals such as Robert Edgar, Clifton Kirkpatrick, Vernon Broyles, M. William Howard Jr. cannot say they are uninformed about these conditions. For these individuals and their supporters, the only "choice" worthy of the name appears to be that of the "choice" of women to slay their unborn children through abortion and the "choice" for laity to continue pumping money into their pet church entitlement programs. Not one of the predictions made by these false prophets has come true. There has been no ecological disaster. There have not been tens of thousands of deaths, civilian or military. There has not been an immense flood of refugees. There have not been thousands of body bags coming home to America. We are not in a military quagmire. Indeed, coalition forces were restoring power, providing water and moving relief supplies even as ground combat was continuing. To the everlasting chagrin of these officious worthies, we now have two aircraft carriers returning to their home ports, reducing our offensive power in the region to a significant degree. One American division is now completely tasked with the mission of supporting the full recovery of Iraqi civil authority. A detailed list of their errors, miscalculations and moral blindness would fill several pages and likely rivals the gross misjudgments of the Hussein regime. The article concludes with the comment that "for whatever reason, peace isn't selling well." Wrong! Peace is selling quite nicely, thank you. What is not selling at all is the Edsel these false prophets want to sell us as the vehicle for achieving peace. Rev. Donald D. Denton Jr. Richmond, Va. The sickness in the PCUSA April 21, 2003 A number of years ago, I realized I needed God in my life because we live in such a sick society, I turned to God and the Presbyterian Church (USA). Now, I find out the Church, namely the Presbyterian Church (USA), is exactly the kind of sickness I was running away from. I am not as educated as some of our so-called leaders, but I know "sick" when I see it. They constantly are trying to rewrite the Bible to suit their lifestyle, and that, my friends, is what a few other religions do. But even they do not promote homosexuality, same-sex marriage. I, for one, will stay only in a church that preaches, teaches and lives by God's Word. Not their perverted word. J.R. Gates Attica, Ind. Letter writer should take a look in the mirror April 21, 2003 The Rev. Michael Sean O'Brannon ["Like Ebola, disease threatens PCUSA"] would do well to look in the mirror and remember Jesus' words "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged and the measure you give will be the measure you get." While the Rev. Dr. O' Brannon says that "liberals are elitists; they basically think they know better," it is clear that he thinks he knows better, and will use a chain of tortuous reasoning to convince the reader of that dubious claim. He says that liberals have "little faith in others," yet he obviously has no faith in those who occupy the other end of the ideological spectrum. I see no evidence of Christian charity, or observance of our Lord's commands to love our enemies, only name-calling and finger-pointing and a lack of humility. Whatever your thoughts may be on the issues he raises, the use of overwrought diatribe that takes no prisoners makes one wonder if the writer has ever reflected on the possibility that he may not have all the answers sewn up as neatly as he thinks. From the tenor of his letter, I doubt it, and so by our Lord's own words, he stands in judgment by the judgment he has made. The Rev. W. Patterson Lyles Letter writer's statement was powerful April 21, 2003 Thank you for printing the Rev. Dr. Michael Sean O'Brannon's letter. What a powerful statement! Surely, his name must be mud among the "elites" of the PCUSA. R.C.Oates Brookhaven, Mass. Immorality a source of division, corruption April 17, 2003 Just for the record, the letters that are widely accepted as genuinely Pauline, namely Romans, I & II Corinthians, I Thessalonians, Philippians and Philemon, are highly consistent and firm when they speak about issues of sexual morality. Paul sees immorality as a source of division and corruption in and for the community. Further, Paul is conscientious about differentiating between when he feels he is speaking his own opinion and when he is speaking in the Spirit. On moral issues, it is clear that he sees his words as coming from the Spirit. Don't take either my or the Social Policy group's word for this – read it for yourself. The first argument cited from the Social Witness Policy has no real scholarly basis. Regarding the second argument, Greek culture was frequently less stringent on sexual issues than Judaism, but it was pagan, not a community called in covenant to the One God. Paul's roots and sensibilities here are almost entirely Judaic, going back to the beginnings of the Bible. He was, by his own admission, a Pharisee. We might call him a radical (in the sense of rooted) conservative. The story of Adam and Eve may be mythical, but modern scholars have recognized myth as representing human truths too deep for mere facts to explicate. If the Social Witness Policy is presented honestly, therefore, we should freely admit that our church's proposed policy 1) is to ignore honest scholarship, 2) to affirm paganism and deny obedience to the One God, 3) to deny that there are any truths that are not merely relative and yet 4) to hold our immediate experience in such high regard that it is sufficient and necessary to deny the claims of 3,000 years of Scripture and tradition while simultaneously claiming to be a true inheritor of its authority. I admit to be baffled how anyone could manage to hold these opinions in any kind of consistent unity or logic, but I admit that I'm probably not a "true believer" in the way that the people who wrote this document are. Bruce M. Williams San Francisco, Calif. Diverse rhymes with perverse April 17, 2003 It sounds to me that the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy is promoting the acceptance of "perverse" families rather than diverse. I know these words rhyme, which may be why they use the latter when they mean the former in hopes of pulling the wool over the eyes of God's faithful Bible-believing people. And to top it off, I can't believe we paid money for this report. Someone should be fired. Rev. Bill Pawson Westminster Church A Confessing Church Canton, Ohio Like Ebola, disease threatens PCUSA April 17, 2003 I am both a retired pastor and theologian living and serving in the Pittsburgh Presbytery area and am a graduate of both San Francisco Theological Seminary (M.Div,1973) and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Ph.D, 1986, University of Pittsburgh). I am deeply disturbed by the in-your-face prevalence of attitudes in our PCUSA, and I hope that you folks have the courage of Christ to publish this "letter to the editor" that dares to declare the truth regarding the disease that troubles our denomination. The Politics of Evil: Jesus says that we shall know the truth, and the truth shall set us free (John 8:32). There is a spiritual sickness prevalent throughout the church that is ever so deadly to the human soul as either Ebola or AIDS is to the human body. This treacherous disease is our oldest enemy, that which in the Biblical narrative of Genesis led to the fall of Creation. Its name is "hubris," arrogant pride towards and defiance of God. There is a political attitude in both society and the church that dangerously expresses this sickness of self-centered arrogance. Its name is "liberalism." With their "progressive" theological and social agendas, the liberal community seeks to "upgrade" the world in the name of freedom, justice and open-mindedness. Yet, what is the essence of the liberal mind-set? Let us examine several key points which together can give us the overall picture of this pathological condition. Liberals, in the name of women's rights, are guilty of being the driving force behind the worst instance of genocide in the history of the world, that of millions of unborn children here in this country. What good is their concern for freedom and justice, when liberals deny it to the innocent unborn? Secondly, liberals, in their stance against capital punishment, are so concerned about the horrors of criminal execution, but what good is their concern for freedom and justice when these liberals deny it to the innocent victim of a capital crime? Thirdly, liberals as pacifists are so opposed to war that they cannot countenance the necessary sacrifices that sometimes must be made so that others may share in this experience of freedom and justice that liberals take for granted. What good is their concern for freedom and justice when liberals deny it to a suffering, dictator-oppressed people like the Iraqis? Indeed, concern for the greater good is a notion quite foreign to the self-absorbed thinking that typifies liberalism. Liberals are elitists; they basically think that they know better. This makes them cynical because they have such little faith in others. As such, they are essentially egotistical and self-serving. Finally, liberals are simply cowards. The cowardliness of liberalism is markedly evident in its selfish disregard for the unborn, the victim, and the oppressed, except where it serves its own purposes. Cowardliness reaches out to cowardliness. Indeed, the cowardly liberal has much in common with cowardly women fearful of being responsible mothers, cowardly murderers who prey on the weak and innocent victim and cowardly dictators who savage their own people. Liberalism cannot give the freedom that it pretends to stand for. It is the lie of freedom, justice and truth. It serves Lucifer, the lord of lies, as it seeks to remake God into its own image and have us disregard the divinity of Jesus Christ, who showed us the one, true way of life as courage of the heart! Rev. Dr. Michael Sean O'Brannon Family policy proposal reflecting dying denomination April 17, 2003 To sanction gay and lesbian couples as family as the Holy Bible sanctions family, one man and one woman for a lifetime producing children for the glory of God, is appalling and Biblically incorrect. Gay and lesbians need to be reached for Christ with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Is not that what the Great Commission teaches us in Matt. 28:18-20? For the PCUSA either to deny or abandon the Great Commission is in disobedience to Christ's commands and for the PCUSA to push for sinful lifestyles of gay and lesbian couples or bisexual couples, the PCUSA will become irrelevant as a church body. How can the PCUSA call itself a mainline denomination, when it seeks to be irrelevant by endorsing what Christ and Paul call sinful? The numbers reflect since 1967 a dying denomination and that continues to die by endorsing sin. If the 2003 General Assembly in Denver adopts this policy concerning diverse family, it will further destroy the PCUSA unless the majority rise up and enough and elect capable men and women of integrity to take back the PCUSA obeying the Biblical commands of Scripture. Lou. S. Nowasielski Wilmington, Del. Advisory Committee needs help April 17, 2003 We have some really sick people in the Presbyterian Church (USA) who are out to destroy the denomination. Please, have some one help the people who are responsible for the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy. They need help. William M. Reeves Birmingham, Ala. Advisory Committee's 'ungodly recommendation' April 17, 2003 Has Satan taken complete control of this committee? What they are recommending is so far removed from Jesus Christ, the Bible and all of its teachings that I can hardly believe a group of people claiming to be Christians could produce such an ungodly recommendation. For all of the years, I have been in the Presbyterian Church (since l93l) I think it is time to leave. We have (my wife and I) not made a pledge this year since we have been convicted by the Holy Spirit to stop supporting the non-Christian programs promoted so boldly by this denomination (i.e. late term abortions, same-sex marriages, homosexual lifestyle). Dean Murphy Wichita, Kan. |
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