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2005 letters, page 2 Archives of letters to the editor  |
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| Wineskins
have structure to sustain and serve June 28, 2005 David Walters worries in his June 22 posting that the "restless folks" who have banded together to constitute the New Wineskins Initiative (NWI) have seized "an opportunity to engage in fruitless misdeeds." From his perspective, the NWI Constitution (C-NWI) "makes about as much sense as putting screen doors in submarines." He is particularly concerned that NWI's "silly document" carries the "underlying objective" of moving "the PCUSA from a connectional to a congregational structured body." C-NWI does insist on a structure that will sustain, serve, and stimulate the development of congregations. The local church is envisioned as "the primary agent and focal point of kingdom mission and ministry" (C-NWI 3.III.E.1 = chapter.section.sub-sectiuon.paragraph) in the name of Jesus Christ, "the only Head of the Church" (C-NWI 1.6). C-NWI allows congregations to hold title to their own property (C-NWI 3.III.E.1) and provides for local church sessions -- not congregations and not higher governing bodies – to ratify any amendment to the agreed upon structure. Any vote on constitutional changes is to be taken session by session (C-NWI 11). Upholding the "primacy of the local congregation and its ministry of equipping and sending its members in mission to all the world" (C-NWI 3.III.D) does not establish a "congregational structured body." The C-NWI calls for local churches to intentionally connect "with other Christian disciples to build up the body of Christ to spiritual maturity and to reach the world for Christ" (C-NWI 3.III.D). "As the Scriptures teach the value of the counsel and correction of others, of resources shared for common ministry, of banding together for mutual strength and encouragement, and of ministry structures that make optimal use of the gifting of the body, we are led to recognize the benefit and importance of connectional support structures (denominations) by which particular congregations within the broader Church may join together for the sake of more faithful ministry and mission" (C-NWI 3.II.G). In broad strokes, the connectional structure set in place by C-NWI requires local church sessions to affirm and adopt the Essential Tenets and Ethical Imperatives that comprise the first two chapters of the document. C-NWI also mandates that each member church start or join a Ministry Network with at least two other congregations (but no more than seven others). Ministry Networks are charged to maintain a Pastors' Covenant Group in which all clergy, commissioned lay pastors and candidates for certification/ordination are to participate (C-NWI 5.II.E.1). Quarterly meetings for both the Ministry Network and its Pastors' Covenant Group are mandated. Establishing, equipping and fellowship covenant groups for other officers and workers such as elders, deacons, youth workers, and Sunday school teachers is strongly encouraged. The Ministry Network is to "provide a shared ministry event for its congregations no less than two times per year" (C-NWI 5.II.F). Each Ministry Network is required to form or join a broader Support Network by agreeing to partner with at least two other Ministry Networks (but no more than seven others). Support Networks carry responsibility in the disciplinary and certification/ordination processes. There are four mandated committees (Ministry, Equipping, Mission and Judicial) plus a Coordinating Team. Two meetings each year are ordered for the Support Network and more are encouraged "for worship, equipping, prayer, and, when necessary, an efficient business meeting" (C-NWI 6.V.A). Except for the "business meeting" which is a delegated assembly, Support Network gatherings are envisioned as everyone welcome events. The National Network is composed of every member congregation, Ministry Network, and Support Network. It is slated to meet "at least one time per year for "worship; fellowship; Bible study and theological reflection; equipping members and sharing resources; strategic planning for shared ministry and mission; business; and discipline" (C-NWI 7.V.A). The recent event in Edina did a very good job of modeling the vision of holding a concurrent convocation and delegate's meeting. "The delegates" to such meetings in the future "are every pastor in active pastoral leadership in a congregation, and one elder corresponding to each pastor" (C-NWI 7.V.B). C-NWI is now available under "Papers" on the NWI Convocation website. I encourage interested elders and pastors to check it out. Look, and decide for yourselves whether it is a "silly document" or a sincere attempt to remain faithful together in service to Christ Jesus. NWI invites congregations to begin living into the vision while maintaining participation and membership in the PCUSA. How long this season of double service will last, no one knows. The tugboat NWI will either succeed in dragging the crippled ship PCUSA into port for a major overhaul or it will be forced to cut the lines secured to our injured denomination's hull. In either event, the tugboat NWI crew is pledged to do our very best in "following Christ into the twenty-first century." New recruits are welcome. Jim Henkel, NWI endorsing church pastor North Benton Presbyterian Church North Benton, Ohio Hollywood pastors are welcomed back June 28, 2005 With my heart having been deeply burdened for my church and pastors – Alan Meenan and David Manock, I returned to the fold Sunday to welcome the pastors back. Many thanks to the diligent people who gathered the needed signatures to stay the wrongly imposed administrative leaves of these two men. There is hope now for our church. With God's divine direction, the divisive issues will be resolved in favor of a strong, unified and peaceful church congregation. Pam Pantell Member for 20-plus years Thanks for coverage of PCA June 28, 2005 As a former minister in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), her first ministerial candidate, and the author of her first history, let me express my appreciation for your coverage of the 33rd PCA General Assembly. However, let me also offer just a couple of corrections to the article. First, the PCA was officially founded in 1973, not 1972. Secondly, Steve Warhurst is associate pastor, not pastor, of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Kingsport, Tenn. Again, many thanks for your coverage of a denomination that is more traditional than the PCUSA, and which, along with other, even more conservative, denominations, may provide a place of refuge in days and years ahead for those who decide to flee a dying organization. Frank J. Smith, Ph.D., D.D., editor Presbyterian International News Service Pastor, Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church (CRPC) of Sheboygan, Wis. Belhar Confession: unity or disunity? June 28, 2005 During the last week and a half or so, most of the articles and letters posted on The Layman Online have been about the New Wineskins Initiative meeting in Minnesota, the net loss of approximately 43,000 church members in 2004, and/or the proposed changes to the church's constitution. There was one additional story, mentioned in the same article as SC Kirkpatrick's constitutional initiatives, that he was going to push for serious consideration by the church to adopt The Belhar Confession as part of The Book of Confessions (and therefore the church constitution). The Belhar Confession was adopted by the predecessors of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in the 1980s in the context of the existence and eventual disestablishment of the reprehensible, racially based practice of apartheid. After the two communions, the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa and the Dutch Reformed Mission Church, unified in 1994, the Belhar Confession was adopted and stands alongside the traditional "Three Forms of Unity" of such churches: the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort and the Heidelberg Catechism. The Heidelberg Catechism, of course, is a chapter in the PCUSA Book of Confessions. The URCSA has offered the Belhar Confession to all Reformed Churches. Just a few weeks ago, the Reformed Church in America (RCA), meeting in its annual Synod (at Union College in Schenectady, New York), moved forward with a plan to also adopt the Belhar Confession as its fourth confessional standard. In the words of the RCA's commission studying the confession and its possible adoption, doing so would be a good idea because:
"we believe that the enforced separation of people on a racial basis promotes and perpetuated alienation, hatred, and enmity" "we believe that any teaching which attempts to legitimate such forced separation by appeal to the gospel, must be considered ideology and false doctrine." "we reject any doctrine which maintains that descent or any other human or social factor should be a consideration in determining membership of the Church" and " we reject any ideology which would legitimate forms of injustice and any doctrine which is unwilling to resist such an ideology in the name of the gospel."will be very popular with the advocates of relaxation of current constitutional (note: non-confessional) standards restricting ordination of practicing homosexuals, etc., by inviting comparison of the current "treatment" of homosexuals with abhorrent racist practices, and the resolution of such by appeal to their "civil rights," as if the homosexual "problem" were one of civil rights (a common tactic in secular American culture). It will be interesting to see how the idea of adding the Belhar Confession to the Book of Confessions advances over the next several years and also to see how the RCA progresses should it continue on the path of adopting it as a fourth Form of Unity. It seems as though it could become a "Form of Disunity" if handled poorly within the PCUSA by its advocates or opponents. Eric Wallace Dayton, Ohio New Wineskins movement an answer to prayer June 28, 2005 An open letter to the New Wineskins Do you know what an answer to prayer your movement is to me? I read an AP article in the Fairmont Sentinel "Group could lay ground for split" and learned about you. Every week I long to go to a Bible-teaching church, but I keep hanging in there, not joining it but going every Sunday for two years because my parents go there (First Presbyterian, Winnebago, Minn.). I started a Sunday School for adults and twelve to twenty have come weekly for two years. We are going through Henrietta Mears' What the Bible is All About. I have been so discouraged by our preacher who does not think Bible study class is important. He is friendly to me and glad that my parents have gone there for thirty years, but it unnerves him when I say that the Message should not be the only Bible read from the pulpit or when I say we need to have more adult classes than just mine for a church of 200. I complained that no one ever answered my letters complaining about the stand on homosexuality that was quoted in the Chicago Tribune and no answer when I complained to the editors of the Horizons women's circle guide about their terribly unbiblical and liberal agenda in that Bible study. I have been so discouraged spiritually and go Sunday nights when I can to a Baptist church. I go to the Presbyterian church because people are hungry for the Word and come to my class. Probably no one would come to it in a Baptist Church, so I feel my mission work is in the Presybyterian church, on the other hand I am afraid to ask people to come to it which could lead to confusion about Biblical teachings and lifestyle if they listen to how people talk there. I want a Presbyterian Church like what I grew up in the '50s and I want to help your movement if I can. Priscilla and Clay Bence Winnebago, Minn. Billy Graham's silent side June 28, 2005 Rev. Billy Graham may have concluded his last revival – ever. And the speculation abounds as to who, if anyone, will ever have Graham's broad appeal to emerge as "America's spiritual leader." There may be a reason why Billy Graham appealed to so many and was liked by so many – even by non-Christians: He may have actually been a better politician than he is a preacher. And like a politician running for office, he may have wanted to avoid a confrontation and be considered "divisive" so much that what he ended up preaching was only half of the truth. I can understand the human yearnings to be well-liked and to be well-thought of and to be respected by as many people as possible. And that is apparently just what motivated Billy Graham as he preached salvation through Jesus Christ, forgiveness of past sins, and eternal life while at the same time refusing to answer very simple questions as to what that meant in terms of the "hot topics" issues he deliberately avoided. Apparently, the public as a whole really hasn't a clue what Billy Graham thinks about homosexuality or abortion as it relates to Christianity and a Christian's walk with God. Pope John Paul II had no such problem. Pat Robertson has no such problem. James Dobson has no such problem. Years ago, when Bob Enyart had a TV program on the air, he opened his show with a blanket statement that clearly stated at the beginning of each and every show exactly how he stood on the "hot topics" Billy Graham keeps silent about. While remaining silent on specific questions on specific issues avoids alienating part of your audience so that you can have that broad appeal that appeals to the masses, the Catch-22 of that is that you can also can come across as being secretive, less than completely honest, a little bit deceptive and a master of the bait-and-switch tactic by which Billy Graham baits new believers with the liberalized and censored "good" part of the Good News while switching it over to other preachers to tell them the perhaps not-so-good part regarding the new believers' responsibility to turn away from and to repent of their sins. No, I don't think there will or can be another Christian Billy Graham. When Billy Graham first started coming into his national status in the 1950s and 1960s, there wasn't a Christian mainstream denomination in this country that advocated abortions or gay-rights. Thus certain assumptions could be made about Billy Graham's beliefs when he preached the Good News even if he didn't say anything. And because he hasn't had to say anything for so long, and he refused to answer specific questions for so long, no one really has a good solid clue as to what he really thinks – which is how he, the Christian politician, likes it. No, I don't think there will be or can be another Christian Billy Graham. The American people are too savvy today to let any politician or any religious leader obtain "national status" without them knowing exactly what those politicians or religious leaders think about very specific "hot topics." Billy Graham came around at the right time and could get away with "silence" because of his already given status. James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes and any and all others will not have that advantage. The liberal media will never let another Billy Graham take center stage with "silence" on point-blank questions to specific "hot topic" questions. In order for the next "American spiritual leader" to obtain the status of a Billy Graham, that "American spiritual leader" may have to be such a wishy-washy and lukewarm politician to appeal to the liberal media and the masses that he/she really won't appeal to true Christians at all. Robert E. Forman Lakewood, Col. NWI objective: Waken sleeping leaders and steer the PCUSA back on course June 24, 2005 What went on at the New Wineskins convocation? If I had not attended as a voting delegate and, instead, had to rely on the Presbyterian News Service (PNS) for information, I would be led to assume that a few crazy and disaffected dissident congregations of the PCUSA merely got together for another "whine" and cheese party. Certainly, PNS made it clear to me that the party line from Louisville will be, to paraphrase the Wizard of Oz, "ignore those people in Minnesota." We were characterized as:
I find myself a passenger on a ship drifting toward rocks and shoals and nothing is being done to regain steering and get the ship back on course. The first objective of New Wineskins is to waken the sleeping leaders and steer the denomination back onto the course set for us by our Captain 2,000 years ago. However, if the leadership continues to sleep or to dither and ignore the impending disaster, the options for the crew are limited:
Now, there's a real message for the world – we believe in everything and nothing. And PNS just cannot believe that in the 21st century, there are people who actually want to tell the world that:
It is the man-made, deviant and coercive rules and regulations created by an unaccountable and self-protective bureaucracy that we decry. Thus, a system exists that unilaterally imposes a property trust provision in its constitution and allows pastors not serving congregations, and who are thus accountable to no one in this life, may perpetuate the "we believe in nothing" status quo. And another 43,000 folks got fed up and left last year. As they say in Philadelphia, "Go figure!" Many sessions and congregations in the PCUSA may not have had enough time prior to the Edina meeting to prayerfully consider and then endorse the Essential Tenets of our Reformed Faith and the Ethical Imperatives. I say to all those sessions, please do so. You can still sign on. Now is the time. Michael R. McCarty, elder Forks of the Brandywine Presbyterian Church Glenmoore, Pa. If PUP sacrifices purity in favor of unity, it will be like the recent tsunami June 24, 2005 I suspect that what we're going to see if the PUP efforts sacrifice purity in favor of unity will be like the recent tsunami. It attracted a lot of attention as it roared into being, but then it struck with a mighty devastating effect that left behind the dead and a lot of trash and wreckage. Cleaning up what was left behind will take a lot of effort and a long time. Many of us won't be around to do the work. There have to be better, safer institutions for us to flee to. I will pray that, by a mighty miracle, it won't turn out that way. To God be the glory! Rabun B. Harper, elder Saint Stephen Presbyterian Church Chatsworth, Calif. Current system is broken and NWI is proposing a new way of doing business June 24, 2005 Re: David Walters' letter to the editor, posted June 22, 2005 If you will excuse me asking, sir, but what rock have you been hiding under the last few years? To make such a blanket statement as, "The rest of us like our presbyteries and the General Assembly. Some of us still like synods" is so far out of touch with what is happening in the PCUSA as to almost be laughable, if it was not so sad. This is just one more example of how out of touch most of us are. We claim to be a connectional body, but most of our churches do not have a clue what is going on in our presbyteries and at G.A. At least in my church. it is an attitude of indifference; they do not see the connection between us (local church) and them presbytery/G.A. You claim most of us like the current structure when, in fact, I hold to the fact most of pew sitters don't even know about the current structure. I wish the system was still working, but it is broken. Decisions are made on "our" behalf by the G.A., etc., that are never effectively communicated down to the local congregation. Part of this is (IMHO) that the local congregation, if informed, would rise up and say, "Wait a minute, I do not believe in ..." and would hold our leaders accountable for what they do/say. To make decisions for all of us, but keep most of us in the dark, is a bad way to run things. To sum up, the current system is broken, some say beyond repair. At least the NWI is proposing a new way of doing business. If it is of God, it will prevail; if it is not, it will fail. (Paraphrasing from Acts where the Apostles are brought before the ruling elders.) Marc Karasek Advice to Lincoln: Write again, but remove abuse and substitute rational thought June 24, 2005 Well, I know from reading Nick Lincoln's letter [letter to the editor, posted June 23, 2005] that he is capable of vicious verbal abuse, petty name-calling, ignorant stereotyping, misuse of terminology and "argumentation" so one-sided as to approach slander. I also know that he's not all that good with the English language. What I don't know is the reason for his vituperative objection, or – perhaps more important – what he would consider to be appropriate behavior. As such, it's impossible to guess whether his screed represents typical liberal special pleading (liberals have the right to enforce the liberal agenda on conservatives, but not vice versa) or whether he's just mad at the world, though "almost as bad as that of the liberal left" would seem to suggest the latter. In any case, if Mr. Lincoln would be so good as to write in again to present his point of view – this time removing the abuse and other emotionally-laden language and substituting rational thought and evidence – I'm sure we would all be greatly edified on this point (and perhaps others, though I'm not sure I should get my hopes up). Rev. Rob Harrison Trinity Church in the Pines Grand Lake, Colo. We must not make the error of basing our answers on emotion June 23, 2005 I have been a supporter of the New Wineskins alternative for a long time. However, when I read that Rev. Dean Weaver, co-moderator of New Wineskins, objected to other Presbyterian denominations because they refused to allow women to serve as ordained officers or ordained few women. His reason: he is committed to being with two female ministers who work with him in the renewal movement. That sounded to me like an answer the other side would give to justify what they do. We must be a church Reformed, that returns to the Word of God. If Scripture supports the ordination of women then make that case. We must not make the error of basing our answers on emotion or we will be right back to where we started from. God has revealed his will in his written Word and the Holy Spirit works through God's Word, not apart from it. John Thomas Conservatives want to enforce their narrow minded reactionary theology on us all June 23, 2005 The arrogance of conservative Presbyterians knows no bounds. It is not enough to have the votes to continue upholding the fidelity/chastity standard. Now they want to enforce their narrow minded reactionary theology on us all. For all intents and purposes, it might as well be the 1920s all over again, with Dr. Gagnon as a self-proclaimed Gresham Machen. (Sorry Bob, you don't hold a candle the good doctor!) The stench of your Pharisaic doctrine reeks almost as bad as that of the liberal left. You are indeed a sorry group of malcontents. Thanks to you, I am going to pledge to the Presbyterian Coalition right now, if only to spit the face of your fascist agenda! Nick Lincoln Richmond, Va. Will New Wineskins leaders 'demand that only new wine fill their skins?' June 23, 2005 The New Wineskins Convocation has come and gone and leaves in its wake some real hope for change. Every effort should be made to turn its potential into reality. Yet, it will be an uphill fight. The vast majority of PCUSA lay members care little about the activities of the national church and the Washington office. They are content to worship on Sunday, be assured by their pastor that their relationship with God is A-OK, and give to support the greater good as led by their pastor. Pastors, excepting those few we read about in The Layman, are content to work within the system leaving politics to the great cloud of bureaucrats in Louisville. Presbyters, by natural selection, have largely bought into the system and are in step with the General Assembly Council. Thus, except for those few churches with courageous pastoral leadership, there will be great and effective resistance to reform. How will the New Wineskins navigate the political waters? What are the planks of their platform? Is it to remain a part of PCUSA and, if possible, bring about reform or is it to demand a right theology, within the PCUSA if possible and elsewhere if necessary. There is a huge difference between these positions and, to have any chance of success, the high level of commitment evident in the latter must be clear from the outset. New Wineskins is proposing a pared down central office that places power in the local congregations, albeit with some sound Biblical tenants in common. The PUP task force may well come back with a report that implies some wisdom in local option, and Rev. Kirkpatrick wants a short Book of Order, which is really an invitation to local control without annoying Biblical legalisms imposed from above. There is some common ground here. One could see a deal emerging where Kirkpatrick agrees to symbolically rein in the Washington office, shift to more local control, allow sessions to determine ordination standards to allow for coexistence while further study takes place and the upper bureaucracy stays intact. New Wineskins gets some of what it wants and is left with the implication that they have to give a little for the sake of unity. This is real political stuff and the kind of quicksand into which even the most enthusiastic initiatives lose their way. It would ultimately be a huge win for Louisville and the end of New Wineskins. Is there a plan in place to respond to conciliatory gestures and superficial stalling tactics? What is essential and what is negotiable about their position? Are the leaders of New Wineskins willing to demand that only new wine fill their skins? Only clear pre-conditions stand a chance, for victory is only possible when it is clearly defined and nothing short of that is acceptable. True religious reform puts institutions in second place, forsaking the human and seeking after the God whom we serve. How committed will we be should evolution fail and revolution be the only option? These are vexing questions with only one certainty; plan "A" over which we have limited control has no chance unless it is clear that plan "B" over which we have complete control will swiftly follow. John Cowan Cartersville, Ga. 'Silly document' will bind congregations together on the basis of faith in Jesus June 23, 2005 An open letter to David Walters [letter to the editor, posted June 22, 2005] I call you brother because there was nothing in your note to indicate that you do not seek to do the will of our father who is in heaven. If I am correct, you are Christ's brother and mine. Do not be deceived, the liberals have all the votes that they need to allow the ordination of practicing homosexuals and to remove the Authoritative Interpretation from the constitution in the 2006 GA. The New Wineskins will probably not be approved as a constitution for the PCUSA most likely because there will be no new wine at the assembly needing the new vessel! The old vessel is in no danger of bursting; it is collapsing on itself. But 1,307 congregations, representing over 400,000 Presbyterians (1/4 of the PCUSA), believe in their hearts and confess publicly with their mouths (at great peril) that God has sent Jesus, that he raised Jesus from the grave, that he is Lord, the only way to salvation; that the prophets, judges and apostles were not liars; the Bible is the authentic Word of God and that God has not changed; he still calls people to holiness in all their ways. There is a proposal for gracious separation which would provide means for this PCUSA corporation to de-merge legally. And there is this "silly document" which would bind congregations together on the basis of common faith in Jesus the Christ rather than a top-down structure, which daily pounds new nails into his hands, spears into his side and thorns into his brow by its corporate sins. When you clearly see what is surely coming, you may want to more fully examine what the New Wineskins may be ushering in; a sure safe haven. J.H. Logan Sr. McHenry, Md. 'Prayer was integral and essential to our time together in Edina' June 23, 2005 According to John H. Adams, my self-appointed role as the New Wineskins Initaitive's (NWI) public gadfly has rendered me its "sternest critic." My guess is that whatever insult my dear brothers and sisters have suffered from my "pen" in the past offers barely a hint of the vitriolic verbiage that will proceed from other quarters. Witness Jerry Van Marter's choice to call the 85 local churches that sent delegates to the Edina event "dissident congregations" and David Walters' assertion that "their entire concept is either a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' or a Trojan Horse." As my previous posting should make clear, I am on board with NWI. I am certain that God is answering my prayer to bless this effort toward learning his will. Prayer was integral and essential to our time together in Edina. Significant moments within each plenary were spent literally on our knees before the Lord. Friday evening's speaker was canceled in order to devote that entire block of time to a concert of prayer led by our guests and brothers in faith from Egypt, Brazil, Kenya and Argentina. A prayer team was on site to lift up this convocation, its participants and its leadership throughout our days and nights together. Four members of the group I traveled with went back to our motel and watched in prayer for one hour after the close of the Thursday night session. I doubt very much that we were exceptional in that endeavor. God is keeping his promise to draw near to bless NWI because we keep drawing near to the Lord. Our prayers were fueled by our worship. Every morning and evening, worship was job one. We blessed God together, we praised the Lord with one voice, we humbled ourselves together before the throne of grace, we all did abide in the written word of God and the living Word, Jesus Christ, met us in our labor of thanksgiving. As a member of the crew of tugboat NWI, I will work toward living into the reality envisioned by the newly adopted Constitution. First and foremost, my work will be a continuing work of prayer. I encourage my crew mates to keep joining in this task, for we must prevail in the courts of heaven in the certain hope that God's will shall be done on earth. Above all else our plea should be for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to receive blessing and honor and glory and praise now and forever. And all God's people said: "May it be so!" Jim Henkel, NWI Endorsing Church Pastor North Benton Presbyterian Church North Benton, Ohio Eastminster Presbytery God is watching the situation at Hollywood Presbyterian June 23, 2005 I am very disturbed to read The Layman information on Hollywood First Presbyterian Church! I grew up in Denver, Colo., and was a member of Montview Presbyterian Church when Dr. Arthur Miller was head of the Presbyterian churches. I am now an elder at Community Presbyterian Church, Benson, Ariz. I do believe the removal of the Rev. Dr. Alan Meenan and the Rev. Dr. David Manock by the presbytery has nothing to do with the ministers but is a greedy grab for a choice parcel of real estate in downtown Hollywood. God is watching! I am prayerful the congregation will stand behind their ministers and their elected session. Shame, shame! God is watching, and so is everyone else around the country. Peggy Sulfridge-Harden One cannot be both Christian and pro-choice June 23, 2005 As if it isn't already obvious, the PCUSA's position as a denomination on abortion is one of the reasons for the decline in membership in the PCUSA. The recent formation of an organization supporting abortion rights headed by a PCUSA minister bearing the somewhat vague and misleading name "Christian Alliance for Progress" is sure to help this trend continue. (Point to ponder: If the purpose of the organization is to support abortion rights, why don't they use the word "abortion" in their name? Could it be that they are afraid to admit what the purpose of their organization really is?) Catholics admonish so-called "pro-choice Catholics" by saying that one cannot be both Catholic and pro-choice. This needs to be taken one step further. One cannot be both Christian and pro-choice. Read the article Stephen V. Gilmore Charlotte, N.C. Kirkpatrick determined to root out the Biblical Jesus from the PCUSA June 22, 2005 Once again, our esteemed clerk, Clifton Kirkpatrick, seemingly fails to see the forest for the trees. His actions each year contribute to the loss of nearly 2 percent of members. This foolishness could be attributed to blindness, neglect or an act of the will. Having said that, I must back up and eat my words. Cliff knows exactly what he is doing, and, aligned with cohorts in the Covenant Network, he is determined to root out the Biblical Jesus from the PCUSA. Peace, unity and political correctness are the key words in his approach to religion as he strives to make the denomination an intellectual universal church. Without a strong belief in the Christ of the Bible and surrender to him there is no peace or unity. Why would a serious Christian want unity with a dead and decaying body? Cliff should be pleased that only 43,000 members left the denomination last year. Were local congregations able to take their property with them and pastor's pensions not be in jeopardy there would be a great sucking sound as the PCUSA rolls are emptied. The man has great positional power and uses it effectively behind a facade of bumbling ineptness. I never took Rationalization 101 in college so it is difficult for me to understand the belief that casseroles and enchiladas are going to bring the PCUSA back to the glory days of great mission work and the Word of God being preached from the pulpit. Sorry, Cliff, but it is evident that people are attracted to churches where Christ is honored, glorified and followed. Fortunately my church here in Greenville is doing that without encouragement and support from Louisville. Bill Arthur Greenville, S.C. Last year 43,175 Christians were delivered from evil June 22, 2005 I asked the question to the ministers of our Presbyterian church: "What does it mean to be a Presbyterian?" It could have been an easy answer: to worship Almighty God and love your fellow man. I did not receive an answer. Neither did 43,175 Christians who left the Presbyterian Church (USA) last year. Why did they leave? However, Almighty God was listening and answered their prayers. Each Sunday in Presbyterian churches across America devoted Christians pray the following prayer:
William M. Reeves Birmingham, Ala. |
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