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letter to the Presbytery of Western North Carolina March 26, 2004 We were shocked, but not surprised, to read of how the Rev. Parker Williamson has been treated by his own presbytery. We do not, of course, know all the facts but it certainly appears as if he has been judged on the basis of his Biblical theology and courage to stand for these truths in a church whose leadership seems bent on division. Is it really the case that liberals are the new dogmatists? Is it really the case that today's prime virtue – tolerance – specifically excludes only those who want to uphold the orthodox truths of the Scriptures as expressed in our historic ecumenical and Reformed confessions? Would it not be a bold and welcome step from the Presbytery of Western North Carolina to admit to error in this case and retract its judgment immediately, releasing a man whose ministry it has over the years recognized, to continue that ministry, however much he may be perceived as "a thorn in the flesh" of the denominational leadership? Is there no room for Biblical conservative views, freely expressed, in the PCUSA? We who seek to maintain Biblical orthodox values within the historic Church of Scotland in days of undoubted culturally pluralist challenges and, sometimes, ill thought-out responses to them in our denomination, want to assure Mr. Williamson of our prayers and warm support. Rev. Dr Norman Maciver, chairman Forward Together Church of Scotland.
Neither presbytery or Williamson quite 'Christ-like' March 26, 2004 Today I received Rev. Williamson's booklet [Contending For The Faith] and found it interesting, so I must make a number of comments. The actions taken against him seem unfair, and not Christ-like. His reactions are quite human, but not quite Christ-like either. His long-term criticism of the church bureaucracy has been warranted, and obviously resented by the bureaucracy. Their resistance to actions of the General Assembly should have caused a house cleaning. It has been said that the U.S. government was modeled on the organization of the Presbyterian Church, and reflects many of its failings. Thus, when income decreased, the cuts in expenditures were taken from the field while the bureaucrats protected their jobs. When my command was told to cut personnel, I found that it was the blue-collar workers who were cut – not the planners, etc. When I cut my forms analyst and industrial relations director, I found that, at the next administrative check by my superiors, the members of those shops were critical of my actions. When the payment to the councils of the church were shifted to per capita, my wife talked me out of resigning from the church. It is fine to see my local church doing its giving directly instead of to the World Church Service, which is supporting an unnecessary overhead. It bothers me to see our synod staff loaded with high-paid officers when churches have such a problem paying their ministers. As a delegate to the '70 General Assembly, there was a study of human sexuality presented, which today would seem rather innocuous. There were a couple of statements in it that could have been eliminated, and it would have been unobjectionable, but there was a reactionary group that preferred to keep our heads in the sand and avoid the subject. One delegate to whom I said as much said, "Have you read your Bible?" I thought he should have thought of Christ's comments about saying "Raca." It is odd that all objections to the "chastity amendment" has come from the homosexuals. We've heard nothing from the adulterers, the sexually promiscuous, or those heterosexuals living together without marriage. After all it applies to them, and they are most likely more numerous. Raised as a Campbellite, I believe today in no creed but Christ. He would not be happy with any of the three faiths derived from the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament. Calling the extremists of any of the three "fundamentalist" is a twisting of the term. All three tend to ignore the fundamentals and spend their efforts on their particular interpretations. J.C.G. Wilson Coronado, Calif. Leaders try to silence evangelical voice March 10, 2004 I have watched in silence over the last six years as the leadership of the PCUSA has continued to strike blows against the evangelical membership of the PCUSA. I have concluded that it is an effort to silence the evangelical voice within the denomination. With the recent invalidation of Parker Williamson, and now the "official statements" by Eleanor Giddings Ivory, lobbying against the Marriage Amendment, this agenda could not be any clearer. With every move and every word which is taken and spoken by the leadership of this denomination, the PCUSA moves toward positions that are totally unsupported by the Word of God. The leadership of this Church would move us toward the denial of Christ as Lord and Savior, the invalidation of the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God and the destruction of the family through acceptance of abortion and the ordination homosexuals as clergy. This is no longer the denomination of John Calvin, nor does it live by the Reformed theology of which the denomination was founded. This is a attempt to turn the Presbyterian church into a social club, that has neither life or truth in a world looking for answers. Further, this is an attempt to make this denomination in the image of man, and not in the image of Christ as his Bride. It is a sickening process, that will suck any life and future out of PCUSA. As one who was saved and baptized in the Presbyterian church, I can no longer sit idle and do nothing. If the evangelical wing does not begin to take action, the leadership of PCUSA will succeed in driving out what little life this denomination has. It is a time to take a stand. We cannot continue to let the leadership of this denomination continue to rubberstamp their ungodly political and theological agenda in the name of unity. We must as elders and as sessions do what we can to raise up the banner of Christ. If we need to defer funds, we must do it. If we must join with the Confessing Church, we must do it. If we need to get involved in the process, let's get involved. Most importantly, we must begin to be heard. It is to the point where we can no longer afford to be the silent majority. We must stand and unite with Parker Williamson as he calls this denomination to accountablility. This church is moving quickly to the point of graceful separation. My hope is that it does not come to that. Gene Loudon, elder Wenatchee First Presbyterian Church Wenatchee, Wash. Church in Egypt stands by Williamson, Lay Committee March 1, 2004 Since we have heard about the intended actions of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina against the Lay Committee and you personally, we have been praying for this issue. We strongly believe that whatever the outcome of this will be, the Lord will continue to use your ministry to stand firm for the truth because he is faithful. Your experience leads us to confirm that no matter where we are in this world, we will go through some kind of persecution for his name. But it is beyond our understanding that a church that once was sending missionaries all over the world to share the Gospel has now allowed itself to be used by the enemy. Yet, in all of this, let us remember Jesus' own words: "No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15:20). Whereas we are often faced with real physical persecution, the kind of persecution that you are facing is a real spiritual war, and definitely no less intense. But regardless of the type of suffering we endure, let us all be strengthened by Paul's words in Romans 8:17 and 18: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs with God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us." We would like to remind you that your personal involvement with our small church and the involvement of the Lay Committee at large, through your visit and subsequent articles, have been of a great personal encouragement to us all. Please know that we will continue to stand with you in our prayers. May the Lord continue to use you for his glory wherever he may lead. Pastor Magdy Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church of Nag Hamadi, Egypt Silent majority need to become more vocal February 27, 2004 To Rev. Williamson, I extend my heartfelt support and prayers. Disenfranchisement comes to my mind when considering the "railroading" of his "trial" and "validation." The silent majority's need to become more vocal and there needs to be a reclaiming of the historic church to which we faithfully give years of service in his name. Know that he will be kept in not only my daily prayers but the prayers of the church I serve (The Knoxville United Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.). God be with you. Rev. Gilbert Fitzsimmons, Ph.D. Church has paid more attention to Paul and less attention to Jesus' preaching February 27, 2004 I thoroughly agree with Rev. Scott Nesbitt's letter in this month's edition. The decision to "defrock" Williamson is long overdue. Anyone that can say that "inclusivity is inane" is not proclaiming the kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed. I don't have any way of knowing whether the process itself was done appropriately. My biggest question for you people who think you are the only ones that know the truth and that the rest of us are "not Christian" or not "Bible-believing" is how you know that your brains work any better than ours? Are you somehow smarter than we are? If homosexuality is so horrible, why didn't Jesus say anything about it? Yet, Jesus did speak against divorce. But you don't split the church over the issue of ordaining divorced ministers. You say Paul spoke against homosexuality – well, Paul also said women should be silent in the churches. Do you follow that exhortation? And if homosexuality is a sin (note that I am not saying that it is), but if it is, what makes it worse than any other sin that we all commit every day of our lives? Jesus' entire ministry was devoted to including the outsiders that the Pharisees excluded – sound familiar? Why don't you just call yourselves Pharisees – that's exactly how you are acting. I also notice that you are promoting The Passion of the Christ. That movie is just a sickeningly violent version of current pop theology. If the gospel writers thought that the blood and gore was the main point, they would have said more than a sentence or two about it. Read your Bibles and pay attention to what Matthew, Mark, Luke and John emphasized in their versions of the gospels. Even Paul, for whom "the folly of the cross" was the major portion of the message, does not concentrate on the blood and gore of the crucifixion. For Paul, what is important is Christ crucified and risen, and that we follow Christ's example. Did you ever notice that Jesus preached the kingdom of God, and Paul preached the cross? Somewhere along the line, the church has paid more and more attention to Paul, and less and less attention to what Jesus preached. That seems dangerous to me. When we pick and choose what we want to pay attention to and what we want to ignore, we are editing the Bible. We need to be very much aware that we are doing that whenever we interpret the Bible. I do not believe that anyone at The Layman is aware of that. That scares me! Melissa Boling former member PCUSA and 3rd year student at Vanderbilt Divinity School, preparing for ordained ministry 'May your grieving be a source of spiritual growth' February 23, 2004 I, the clerk of session, have been asked to prepare a letter from the elders of Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church. We wanted to share with you the matters that follow. Our unified heart grieves with you over the divisive difficulties being experienced by all our Christian brothers and sisters in the PCUSA and in other denominations claiming the name of Jesus. We are in prayer for you. We realize that division is not of God. The agony, of heart, that you are all suffering in these last days is deeply sensed by us. We cry out for unity in Christ. May our loving Lord, in his mercy, give us, his children, a deeper spiritual awareness of the significance of the price he paid to gain the unity he expects of us. And in these last days, may this new awareness bring all true Christian believers … of whatever denomination … into oneness. As best we can, we, here, share your pain; yet, I don't think we could ever sense completely what you are going through. May your grieving be a source of spiritual growth. Yet, what some mean for harm; God means for good … to his children. We cherish with you, the desire to adhere to Biblical purity and to maintain the character and quality of our Reformed theology. Stand strong in him and in his truth, and as you know, he'll never leave you nor forsake you. Our love in Christ goes out to you. We will continue to pray for you for his strength, which is made perfect in weakness, and for his peace to keep your heats and minds. Somehow it will all work out. In his service, John Gonzalez, clerk of session Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church Wilmington, N.C. Please continue your work for us February 23, 2004 As a congregationalist (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches) I have been inspired and upheld in my beliefs by the work of Rev. Williamson and the Lay Committee, as well as by your publication The Layman. Please continue your work for us Christians who value freedom and purity in the churches of the various protestant denominations. My renewal check to the Lay Committee is in the mail. Barbara B. Zaiser 'Stay and fight' or 'Gracious separation:' Which is more helpful? February 23, 2004 Parker Williamson is one of my heroes. I admire his courage, his ability to articulate, and the power of his beliefs. [Have you ever noticed when people start with praise, there is a "but" coming soon?] But the deck is stacked against us. Some 700 "Louisville shepherds" will be "helping" 550 delegates at the next GA. The liberals are in control our educational resources, and the bureaucrats are in control of government. (Make no mistake about it, these folks are fighting for their beliefs and their jobs. Time is on their side. They are in no mood to compromise.) "Fidelity and Chastity" is the only remnant of our former Calvinist faith remaining. With the exodus of evangelicals, one every 13 minutes, it is just a matter of time before that, too, will be exorcised. In the context of relational, Biblical theology, the question we must answer is this: What course of action is most helpful to the sanctification of believers, and which course of action will build up the ministry of reconciliation in the Church of Christ? Today, we are offered two solutions to this crisis: continue the old strategy of Stay and Fight, trying to reform our denomination from within; or Gracious Separation. Which is more helpful? Which will build up? Will it be more helpful to people called to do God's work to graciously separate or continue to stay and fight? Which will serve to build up the true Church better, gracious separation or continue to stay and fight? Given the alternatives, Gracious Separation is the faithful choice. James Tuckett The Old Gray Dog Now's time for Presbyterians to return to PCUSA February 16, 2004 This letter is written for those who have left the Presbyterian Church (USA), as I did many years ago, because you felt that the national leaders never heard your heart or your words and were taking the church where you did not believe God would have his church walk. I attended the Western North Carolina Presbytery meeting in Asheville, N.C., and saw what a mockery the leadership had made of the laws and bylaws of the church and how far they will go to silence anyone who opposes their thinking. (Not so very different from when I left, but much more aggressive and openly hostile to the membership.) It grieved my heart to hear the action taken against Pastor Williamson and his calling. It proved me right in what I had believed so long ago and felt the only course I had to exercise was to leave the church of my fathers and this was a very hard decision for me, an elder at the time, to make. I did not see how one little person could make any difference. Today I know that 1,700 or so have left and still the leadership cannot see that it is walking the church into apostasy. Well, today, I would urge any and all Christians who have left the PCUSA to return and swell the ranks of membership, which will in turn increase the votes at presbytery and begin to make a difference in the voices that will be heard. You can make a difference and I am here to say that the church of God is made up of those Bible-believing peoples who follow his word and recognize sin for what it is and ask forgiveness of God for their continual failures to follow his teachings and having supplanted it with the words of men. Together we all can make a difference and you can direct your money as well as your mind to those works which you know are godly. It seems that suggesting that people prayerfully direct their gifts is the real sin that the national church cannot stand and that is really what has brought about the action they have taken against The Layman. This was very foolish, for if it is of God, they can not stop it and if it is not of God, it will fail. I would like to remind those who feel they know better how to direct funds than the people whose labors have provided those funds, that "The love of money is the root of all evil." Not my words but the words of God, so, if you have a problem with them, take it up with the author. Patricia Madison Don't feel bad about being an outcast February 16, 2004 I have been an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church since 1959. The treatment by the Presbytery of Western North Carolina is not surprising, as the hierarchy of the denomination is determined to continue in power and no alternative voices will be permitted. The farce is that this was presented as a legislative matter, where it really is a heavy-handed power play to silence a voice that speaks for so many Presbyterians throughout the world. The present structure, represented by those in the majority in the Western N.C. Presbytery, can continue their head in the sand movement, while the church they are "protecting" so rabidly is disintegrating around their heads. I send greetings to Mr. Williamson, and will continue to support the Presbyterian Lay Committee. He should not feel too badly about being an outcast in a group of Pharisees. Jack Houser Some embarrassed to be Presbyterians February 13, 2004 Is the PFR still "ducking the issue" on how the denomination is treating the Presbyterian Lay Committee? Would your opinion be that More Light would be a more Christ-like affinity group to defend? Do you realize that some of us are embarrassed to be Presbyterians? Do you realize that some of us have repeatedly turned down invitations to be elders or deacons because we did not want to pledge loyalty to a denomination that cares mostly for preserving itself and cares very little about what the truth is about anything? Keith Johnston Berkeley, Calif. PFR's issues director, Jim Berkley, has written in support of Williamson's validation. The editors Lay Committee is a ministry of Jesus Christ February 13, 2004 James Bernhardt suggests that "it is time for Parker Williamson to step down and allow the ministry of The Layman to focus on Jesus Christ and not on The Layman's CEO." What a silly comment! Does Mr. Bernhardt really think the issue is about who leads the PLC and not what the PLC stands for? Does Mr. Bernhardt think that if Parker Williamson left the scene today that the PLC would become some sort of neutral, lukewarm publisher and let the heretics continue without protest or comment? Does Mr. Bernhardt think the PLC does not already touch lives with the ministry of Jesus Christ? Does Mr. Bernhardt think the rest of the people at the PLC are not baptized with fire and would simply acquiesce to those who want to turn a church into a political party with holidays? Does Mr. Bernhardt think that by having Parker Williamson retire, the rest of us would suddenly not care about the misfeasance and malfeasance of church offerings in Louisville? The whole reason for the PLC is about the theology and ministry of Jesus Christ, including shining the light on the money-changers who corrupt that ministry for wacky political purposes. The Holy Spirit will not be deceived.. The PLC is a ministry of Jesus Christ and remains so every day. Philip Pettus, elder Michillinda Presbyterian Church Pasadena, Calif. Ballot was 'confidential,' not 'secret' February 12, 2004 From the written materials of the Presbytery, as a point of description in reports, recommendations and discussions, the term "secret ballot" was used. In the long, complex and hostile exchanges of the meeting of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, that reference, "secret ballot' was a constant. By a decisive majority, we determined that the vote to be taken on the validation or invalidation of the ministry of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, The Layman and, thereby, the ministry of Parker Williamson would be by ballot and not by standing, role-call voting as demanded by Mr. Williamson. We voted by ballot, not by "secret ballot." There was confidentiality, but the only thing that would have made it a "secret ballot" would have been for there to be no report on the outcome of the ballot vote. Our constant use of suspicious and mistrustful terms only fosters our inability to reason together. W. Robert Martin, Jr. (HR) member WNC Presbytery The ballots were secret inasmuch as presbytery commissioners voted not to disclose how they voted individually. The editors It's time to negotiate a separation February 12, 2004 The Presbytery of Western North Carolina voted to invalidate the ministry of the Presbyterian Lay Committee. Yesterday the Synod of the Covenant PJC ordered Cincinnati Presbytery to restore Stephen Van Kuiken to the rolls as an active member of presbytery. Don't you just love unity amid our diversity? If we don't negotiate separation now, soon there will be no need to negotiate at all. James Tuckett The Old Gray Dog Maybe it's time for Williamson to step down February 12, 2004 Maybe it is time for Parker Williamson to step down and allow the ministry of The Layman to focus on Jesus Christ and not on The Layman's CEO. I hear positive things about the curriculum being developed by PLC press, and I believe PLC could take the lead as a kind of Upper Room for the great family of Presbyterians, touch many lives for Christ and actually provide leadership in education and nurture. But that kind of vision must focus on the ministry you have together in Christ and not on the singular voice of Parker. Retire him with honor, keep him writing and speaking, but put someone else at the helm. James Bernhardt Hickory, N.C. An outstanding defense of Williamson February 11, 2004 This was an outstanding defense of a friend. I hope that Mr. John Forlines wants to live to regret the day he joined the Presbyterian church. However, it is not the same church today that it was in 1952. Then, everywhere you went new churches were being built. Now, everywhere you go they are being closed. The General Assemblies are blind to what is going on. Thank you, Mr. Forlines. Ben Brewer Presbytery made a mistake February 11, 2004 I believe that Western North Carolina Presbytery made a mistake in not validating Rev. Williamson's ministry with the Presbyterian Lay Committee. However, I'm a bit shaken by the constant comparisons between Rev. Williamson and Jesus in the letters I've read in The Layman. While I believe that Parker is being singled out and punished for his affiliation with The Layman, I cringe to hear fellow Christians make references that Parker's plight is similar to Jesus'. I hear in some folks' writings quasi-deification of Parker Williamson. Parker may be a modern-day prophet pointing out the need for salvation and repentance, but to continually compare him with Christ is borderline ... no, it is idolatry. Parker is one man within the Church of Jesus Christ – not Christ, himself. Rev. Jim Robinson pastor. Heritage Presbyterian Church Olathe, Kan. Parker T. Williamson agrees wholly with the writer. He would rather be compared to faithful Presbyterians who stand firm in what they believe. The Editor Renewal leaders must take action February 11, 2004 If they can do this in Western North Carolina, it means Presbyterian lay renewal is not as strong as previously estimated. The numbers tell the story. Won't you get it?! It's time for taking inventory and reappraisal in the offices of The Layman. Showers of letters won't succeed in the face of official indifference. Neither wild fulminations nor allusions to Bonhoeffer are sufficiently grounded to change the Presbyterian Church (USA). It's all so much hot air. Renewal leaders and their "supporters" must be willing to carry out action, not simply reaction. Blessings in all you do! Gary Starkey Yakima, Wash. Williamson treated unfairly February 11, 2004 I have been a subscriber to the Presbyterian Lay Committee for years, a great admirer of Parker Williamson, and I am outraged in regard to the grossly unfair treatment that he has received. I stand behind him 100 percent. He had the courage to stand up at his own risk to challenge those who seem to be intent on interpreting the Bible to suit their own lifestyles. I want assure Parker Williamson that I and many, many others join him in this most serious battle to preserve that which we hold dear. M. Jo Daniel Was Williamson out of order? February 11, 2004 Upon second reflection, the recent meeting of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina is more troubling than it originally appeared to be. I have read all the reports in the church press and they report the same problem, even on The Layman Online. And that is the lack of temperance on the part of Parker Williamson. He seems to think that he should be able to freely in church courts. When he shouted at the moderator, he very clearly violated our principle of doing things decently and in order. When he announced his intention to file an action against the presbytery, he also violates the Biblical duty of church people to "come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court…"(Matthew 5:25). To rail against the court in a fit anger only serves to further demonstrate his own intemperance. Parker T. Williamson has written widely about those that have violated G-6.106b of the Book of Order where it talks about those who "refuse to repent of self acknowledged practices that the confessions call sin." The Heidelberg Confession mentions intemperance saying "the Church of Christ condemns … intemperance." If one can assume that Parker's behavior on the floor of Western North Carolina Presbytery was intemperate , then one should be able to conclude that the Rev. Parker T. Williamson's use of intemperate language constitutes a "self acknowledged practice(s) that the confessions call sin." If this is so, then someone in his presbytery or even Paul Rolf Jensen should come forward and file a disciplinary case against him for his intemperance which plain, palatable and obvious. David Walters First Presbyterian Church Andalusia, Ala. Parker T. Williamson was exercising his constitutional right to inform the presbytery of his intention to file a complaint within the PCUSA judicial system. He did not shout but he did speak more loudly when the moderator inappropriately had his microphone turned off. The presbytery's stated clerk said Williamson was not out of order. The Editors Many do not trust Presbyterians in the pews February 11, 2004 In a letter I sent last week, I suggested that we might look with hope to the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in a time when darkness seems to be overtaking our church. I suggested that elements in our own leadership do not seem particularly inclined to follow Bonhoeffer's path of simplicity and straightforwardness, but we who would seek genuine transformation in the church must strive to follow Bonhoeffer's lead. The question remains, however, why we have leadership that seeks to operate in secrecy and convince more by seduction and sophistry than reason and seek to suppress voices of dissent such as Parker Williamson's. It seems to me that the answer to that might be that many do not really trust the people in the pews. They might either believe that their own arguments will be seen as inadequate and weak in the light of open discussion or they might believe that the average parishioner does not have the spiritual roots and/or theological critical thinking resources to put challenges such as Parker's into perspective. But if the latter is the case, who is responsible for this lack, if not the people who have been charged with leading our church in recent years? This is a trap, from which there are only two exits. One would be to own up to our own blindness and seek to change how we are doing business. The other is to seek to discredit or devalue any voices speaking up in opposition, and hope that no one notices what we are doing. This is partisan speculation, of course, but if people in the pews care that this church has a viable future, they have the right and the responsibility to call leadership to account and to insist that there be open discussion in the church, even with viewpoints we might find personally disagreeable. Bruce M. Williams San Francisco, Calif. . Something is wrong with PCUSA's agenda February 9, 2004 The "high priests" of the PCUSA shout, "Crucify him, crucify him." And the incited mob yells, "Crucify him, crucify him." But wait! Like Pontius Pilate trying to wash his hands of the troublesome matter, the mob, to justify their self-righteousness and assuage their guilt only invalidate the ministry of the PLC. They then validate Reverend Parker Williamson as a "minister at-large," in effect an emasculated ambassador for Christ without portfolio. Now what? Continue to seek out and destroy the Taco Bells of "sinful America," continue to libel and vilify a brother in Christ as a war criminal, continue to protest globalization in the name of "social justice?" Globalization is an economic process that creates more jobs and raises the standard of living in Third World countries. I hear still small voices crying in the wilderness (read pews) saying something is terribly wrong here with this agenda, wrong with this scenario, wrong with this so-called gospel. May the upcoming General Assembly receive from above the wisdom and fortitude to "anoint" someone other than King Saul. Now may the God of grace replace my sadness with joy, my anger with peace and my hostility with love. Amen. Art Montgomery Salt Lake City PCUSA hierarchy shows infidelity to Scripture February 9, 2004 I am a member of a church in the PCA denomination who has watched the decay of the PCUSA with considerable interest, and regret. With the decision to invalidate the ministry of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, the PCUSA hierarchy has once again demonstrated its willful infidelity to the Bible. We have been told that the PLC has been invalidated because of its aggressive tone. Question - was the apostle John somehow less aggressive in his tone in 3 John 9-11? Or Jesus in Mark 11:15-17? Or perhaps the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-32? There is such a thing as righteous anger and outrage over the transgression of God's law and character when express sin and false teaching threaten the church. Is there any doubt that this is the exact situation that the PCUSA finds itself in today? If so, how can the tone of the PLC be out of bounds, when a major theme of both the Old and New Testament is indignation over the sinful compromising of Christ's church? The answer, I suspect, is that the Bible is not taken seriously on these matters by those who are in positions of leadership, which is not surprising. We are told that the PLC is being invalidated because of slanderous and divisive epithets and rhetoric. As I understand it, this charge was a long way from being proven, and was therefore dangerously close to transgressing the Ninth Commandment in Exodus 20. It is important to keep in mind that these broad-based forfeitures of God's Word are being perpetrated not by laypeople, but by church leaders who are trying to shield themselves from criticism and attention. As a result, it has become obvious to the point of being painfully ludicrous that the leadership of the PCUSA has not only failed almost completely to uphold the spirit of Colossians 2:7, but also has contrarily become the embodiment of Colossians 2:8. Lastly, it is important to address what seems to be the official position of PCUSA regarding conservative agitators – that such agitators are threatening the peace and unity of the church. This argument is a misnomer for several reasons. First, there is no peace and unity in the church. Why? Because there can be no peace and unity in the church when the Spirit of Christ which sustains, strengthens and unifies the church is being grieved and quenched by a church leadership that refuses to be faithful to Him. Second, it is an unbiblical argument. In 1 Corinthians 11:19, the Apostle Paul, while commenting on the abuse of the Lord's Supper in the church at Corinth, specifically states that division and disagreement are regrettably necessary "to show which of you have God's approval." No doubt, many divisions in the church are indeed sinful. But nowhere does the Bible place unity over truth, and nowhere does the Bible condone a false unity based on false teachings. The church leadership, having willingly forfeited the authority of Scripture, has also forfeited their right to appeal to Scripture's call for unity to support their own divisive actions. It should strike everyone as a textbook example of intellectual dishonesty for the PCUSA to attempt to make any appeal to the very Book they long ago relegated to the status of semi-authoritative (at best). They apparently fail to see that appealing to a Book that according to them is not fully authoritative renders their appeals to little more than human opinions with no firm basis in divine inspiration. Jason Foster Orlando, Fla. The aftermath of Williamson's rejection February 6, 2004 In the aftermath of Parker Williamson's rejection by the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, let us not give up hope for change in the church. I think even some of Williamson's strongest opponents recognized up front that the action by WNC was likely to be, in many respects, ultimately self-defeating. In a past letter, I noted that when Christ calls us to love one another, he doesn't necessarily ask us to like one another or agree with one another, but he does call us to unconditionally accept one another. The leadership of WNC seems to have forgotten this distinction. Let us resolve not to follow that path, but to accept unconditionally even those who lack the vision to see the positives as well as the negatives in Parker's call. Further, let us remember Dietrich Bonhoeffer's word's as he tried to articulate and encourage others who were similarly beset: "We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds; we have been drenched by many storms ... Are we still of any use? What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straightforward men…." "Who stands fast? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God - the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God…. "Will our inward power of resistance be strong enough, and our honesty with ourselves remorseless enough, for us to find our way back to simplicity and straightforwardness?" Bonhoeffer's words, I believe, stand and remain potentially both a judgment on and a hope for us and the church to which we belong. Many in the church, unfortunately many in leadership, seem to find it more convenient to follow the paths that Bonhoeffer rejects, yet I believe that the full faith and credit of the church as the body of Christ is more likely to be staked on our ability to follow Bonhoeffer's path. Bruce M. Williams San Francisco, Calif. My 2 cents on presbytery's actions February 6, 2004 I spoke these words at presbytery in support of our brother Parker on Saturday, and I still stand by them. "Since others will speak on Parkers behalf, I will speak on my own "I feel betrayed. I have watched as my denominational leaders have consistently disregarded our constitution, our confessions and creeds and, most sadly, the Scriptures. I've watched them shirk their responsibilities and abuse their positions. "The presbytery has betrayed me. The COM, dissenting votes excluded, does not speak for me. I have to wonder, did the COM even read the "Declaration of Conscience?" It is one of the most benign and uncontroversial declarations I've read. All it does is state clearly the reality that 1) there is deep theological schism in our denomination (to not admit this is to ignore the elephant in the room), 2) that others are subverting the constitution (to not admit this is to be blind or in denial), and 3) then goes on to reiterate our constitutional rights. "I must believe that the COM at least read the declaration. Assuming that, I can only conclude one of two things: either you do not affirm what are our constitutional rights, and you therefore are trying to supercede our very order of government, or you have a personal vendetta against Rev. Williamson. Either case I find reprehensible. In either case, you have subverted our rights and you have subverted a man who stands up for our rights, our constitution and our faith. In either case, COM, your recommendation does not represent me. "You have betrayed me. You asked me at my ordination if I would be a friend among my colleagues in ministry. I have tried. Now you have attacked one of my friends and role models. You asked if I would further the peace, unity and purity of the church. I have tried. And now you have eroded the unity by your decidedly un-peaceful stance against Parker, thus showing yourselves to be un-pure. Yes, un-pure. Your actions reveal your bias against Rev. Williamson, The Layman, and the Right. "I stand openly in solidarity with my brother Parker." Rev. George J. Saylor First Presbyterian Church Lenoir, N.C. A comment on the article about the Brazilian Church February 6, 2004 I am glad [Rev. Williamson was] invited to go to Brazil to speak on "Liberalism's threat to the integrity of the Reformed Christian faith." I will be praying for your ministry to my fellow Brazilians. Our church in Ephrata is a Confessing Church and we want you to know that we prayed for you during the past month; having also sent the Presbyterian Lay Committee our letter to be forwarded to the Western North Carolina Presbytery on your behalf I am from Brazil, a former member of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. Ludgero Morais is an acquaintance of mine for many years. It surprises me, though, that he would speak on behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil on this Presbyterian Church (USA)'s situation. I believe that any comment on what goes on (good or bad) in our denomination, should be done by those who are in conversation with us. This kind of rebuke should be more reliable had it come from the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil, which has ties with PC(USA). The very decision of not having anything to do with our denomination, as it has been reaffirmed over and over again in the past few year (I think they closed all the doors for any conversation with us in 1999 or 2000), does not give them the right or even the privilege of making any comment on what decisions (again, good or bad) we make in our church. Morais speaks not on behalf of all the Presbyterian Church of Brazil's pastors and other leaders. Although, I am quite sure, that all of my fellow Brazilian pastors, elders and deacons would uphold you in prayers and have the same strong position on your behalf. But not all the matters that go on between the PCofB and PC(USA) reflect the consensus of the entire church in Brazil. Most of the Brazilian (PCofB) leaders would welcome returning into conversation and developing new relations with the PC(USA), but they are not given the voice to act upon that. Again, I am glad that the Brazilian Church has invited you to be there; but I totally disagree with the source of the rebuke because of a lack of right for doing so, as I explained before. You have my deepest respect and commitment to the cause of the Confessing Church Movement. I'll be praying for your ministry and for your time in Brazil. Rev. Ehud M. Garcia Interim Pastor First Presbyterian Church Ephrata, Wash. Will Louisville listen to Presbyterians from other continents? February 6, 2004 Is it surprising that Presbyterian affiliates from other continents are similarly raising their voices of objection as we have seen happening in the Anglican Church? Do you suppose Louisville and the Presbytery of Western North Carolina will listen and pay attention any better than the ECUSA did? Rev. Steven L. Seng First Presbyterian Church Wellsburg, W.V. PCUSA could use a few more Parker Williamsons February 6, 2004 The Presbyterian Church could use a few more Parker Williamsons. Then it would be more in accord with its own guidelines and with the Bible. Evelyn M. Thom Invalidation? Forget about it! February 6, 2004 Invalidation? Forget about it! I hope Parker Williamson and the Lay Committee will tell the PCUSA the same thing I've told our church over the years as they've paid lip service to open debate while trying to muzzle the loyal opposition: "I will neither give up nor shut up until I am called up!" Many thanks, and keep the faith. Chuck Creamer Santa Fe Presbyterian Church Edmond, Okla. 'Sadness and frustration' at presbytery's action February 6, 2004 It was with sadness and frustration that I read of the recent decision by the Committee on Ministry. No matter how this all plays out in the end, I know you will one day be vindicated when we all stand before God. In the meantime, who may I write to protest this kangaroo court? My wife and I left the PCUSA about 11 years ago (Fremont Presbyterian, Sacramento, Calif.) when our pastor, Darrell Johnson, felt compelled to accept a call from another church, partially because a small but vocal faction within the church complained he talked "about Jesus too much" and apparently made life quite difficult for him. We could not in good conscience remain in the church without becoming a disunifying influence, especially within the congregation we were in, since we were unwilling to see this situation continue unchecked with future pastors. We wanted to be able to go to church to worship our Lord, to learn, to love others, to serve - not to fight. It was with great sadness that we left. We now live in New Hampshire, are members of a little Baptist church, and are raising our three wonderful children to love and serve God. Though we've only been here two years, my oldest daughter has already led two of her friends to the Lord and both girls have managed to get most of the girls in their elementary school classes to attend the AWANA program. We truly have much to be thankful for. I tell you all of this to encourage you to remember that even though disappointments come, God remains faithful and sovereign. Whatever the days ahead bring, I hope and pray that God will continue to guide both you and your valid and much-needed ministry. Tom Ambrose The prayers of thousands are with the PLC ministry February 6, 2004 The prayers of thousands are with you after the recent travesty of the Western North Carolina Presbytery. I am one of the many who are thankful for your ministry, and for your diligence in exposing the absurdities that plague our denomination. Our prayers will be with you in your appeal process. Please know that you aren't alone - hundreds of thousands of Bible-believing Presbyterians are behind you. Don Leypoldt West Hartford, Conn. 'PC(USA) is a tottering tower of institutionalized hypocrisy' February 6, 2004 The Sanhedrin didn't like the tone and content of Jesus' ministry, and plotted to have Him killed. The Vatican didn't like the tone and content of Martin Luther's ministry, and excommunicated him. Now the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, no doubt with a nudge from Louisville, doesn't like the tone and character of the Presbyterian Lay Committee's ministry, and votes to invalidate it. So, now we have one more bit of evidence (as if more were needed) that the PC(USA) is a tottering tower of institutionalized hypocrisy too many of whose leaders have sold their confessional birthright for the pottage of a socio-political agenda. If the PC(USA)'s liberal/progressive oligarchy really want to know why their membership continues to decline while the nondenominational congregations they so disdain are thriving, I suggest they read Matthew 11:25-26 and Acts 5:34-39. Also, in the spirit of true ecumenism, they might consider some advice from Confucius, who said: "When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns around and seeks for the cause of his failure within himself" (The Chung Yung 14,5:). In the words of the Rev. Bill Pawson, "When will God's faithful people say 'enough is enough?'" Fenton G. Cates elder Ashland, Ore. 'Committee on Ministry can't kill the message' February 5, 2004 It saddens me to read the order of events that went on in North Carolina that invalidated Parker Williamson's ministry. The Committee on Ministry can't kill the message, so they are trying to kill the messenger. I, for one, will continue to support The Layman and Parker Williamson for no other reason than because The Layman is a watchdog of the Presbyterian Church (USA) – they report on issues I need to hear about. Should the word "watchdog" and "church" be in the same sentence? Sadly, the answer is "Yes" based on the track record of the Presbyterian Church. The Layman is a direct response to the church not following Biblical standards and supporting causes that are in direct conflict with the teaching of the Bible. The Presbyterian Church is to blame for this entire mess. We should not need people like Parker Williamson to report on the misdeeds of the church. I'm glad he stood up and said he couldn't take it any more back in 1989 by joining The Layman. Bob Westrich Lincolnshire, Ill. Thank you for 'very accurate account' of presbytery's actions February 5, 2004 Thank you, Layman Online, for providing a very accurate account of the proceedings on January 31st. It is with a sense of relief that this single event is finally over and now Parker can begin his real calling, wherever that may lead us. And lead us he will. If not the next step, it will be soon . . . Gracious Separation is upon us and we must be ready. I would rather be on the sidelines saying, "What are those crazy Presbyterian USAers up to" than standing in the muck saying, "Oh my God, what have we done?" The Confessing Church ministries of our denomination should take heart. No, the end is not near . . . it is the miracle of a new beginning that is at hand. Praise the Lord for continuing to show us the way. Ron Groetsema The Presbytery of Western North Carolina's actions are an outrage February 5, 2004 The actions by the Presbytery of Western North Carolina to terminate the ministry of Parker T. Williamson as chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor in chief of its publications are an outrage. Their disregard of the constitutional mandate to follow written criteria for terminating a ministry demonstrates that this presbytery acts without legal or moral basis. They are acting out their petty power play. They deepen the constitutional crisis of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and hasten its demise. Wolfgang Wulff, elder Setauket Presbyterian Church Follow in the footsteps of Jesus February 5, 2004 I exhort and encourage all who have finally seen the absolute corruption and abusive actions of authority of the Western North Carolina Presbytery's leadership to continue to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, as well as the lead of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. Let us be done with the yoke and shackles of Western North Carolina Presbytery. Let us once for all crown Jesus as our King .... not Bill Taber! Glenda L. Smith, deacon Reems Creek Beech Church Parker Williamson's invitation to speak in Brazil February 5, 2004 Good! Now let's go on the offensive and challenge the extremes of the "left wing." Let''s not sit back and let them "take over." Rev John K. Wilson, pastor First Presbyterian Church Kamrar, Iowa 'I concur' with the presbytery's actions February 5, 2004 I concur with the Presbytery of Western Carolina. "Chief Executive Officer" and "editor" are not set forth in Scripture nor in the Book of Order as "Word and Sacrament." If we are to adhere to keeping the Scriptural guidelines for ministers, then I would offer to Rev. Williamson that joining the "lowly" state of the rest of us might not be so much an insult. The Layman isn't a congregation. Sorry. Andrew Byrne Greenville, N.C. |
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