An open letter to the presbyters in Western North Carolina Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 J. William Taber 114 Silver Creed Road Morgantown, NC 28655 RE: An Open Letter to the Presbyters in Western North Carolina: Brothers and Sisters in Christ: I urge you to vote to disapprove the recommendation by the Committee on Ministry regarding the renewal of presbytery validation for Parker Williamson's position with the Presbyterian Lay Committee. The recommendation is fundamentally flawed and approval would result in a tragic injustice within the life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). After disapproving the COM's recommendation, I urge you to vote "yes" to validate. The fundamental flaw with the recommendation is found in the Committee on Ministry's report: There are ways to state disagreement, strong condemnation when necessary, and clear calls for repentance that would be and could be valid ministries of this presbytery. The Committee on Ministry of this presbytery welcomes strong prophetic voices reminding us to be open to the possibilities and perils of our denominational life to insure the faithfulness and usefulness of our church for God's glory. The Committee on Ministry believes that the presbytery would also welcome such voices. We are mindful that all of us need to be open to God's continuing reformation of the church. The Layman, through the work of the Chief Executive Officer and Editor, could contribute to that openness to the possibilities and perils of our denominational life, but the manner in which the work is currently being done has been determined by the Committee on Ministry to be more destructive than constructive, more divisive than unifying. This new standard enunciated by the Committee on Ministry is unrealistic and undefined. First, it is unrealistic because nothing upsets a priest more than a prophet in the parish. Prophetic voices are not "welcome." They call us to account. They shine light on areas we prefer to keep dark. The Lay Committee's editorials have pushed, stretched, angered, embarrassed, saddened, and frustrated us – and thank God they have. The prophetic voice is rarely in harmony with the audience being addressed, and is even more rarely considered unifying. Consider: Was Gideon unifying when he destroyed the altar of Ba'al? (Judges 6:28-32) Was Elijah just a voice of reminder when identified as "the troubler of Israel?" (1 Kings 18:17) Was John the Baptist welcome when he called the Pharisees and Sadducees "you brood of vipers?" (Matthew 3:7-10) Was Jesus' manner of ministry constructive when he overturned the money-changers' tables in the temple? (Matthew 21:12-13) How would Paul's ministry fare under the new rule being established by the COM; particularly in light of his condemnation of the Judaizers in Galatians, wishing they would "castrate themselves"? (Galatians 5:12) Second, the Committee on Ministry's report relies upon an undefined distinction between "acceptable" and "unacceptable" prophetic voices. It offers no definition or illustration to indicate where the new line between what is and is not acceptable can be located. This is the very reason why the Book of Order mandates that such criteria be written (G-11.0403, "In making this determination [of who will be the continuing members of presbytery] the presbytery shall be guided by written criteria developed by the presbytery for validation of ministries within its bounds." Make no mistake, the COM's recommendation is based upon a new line drawn – but it is not part of a written criteria developed by the presbytery. This new line is known only in its application, and it appears to have something to do with being nice. The Lay Committee's mission is the driving force in its ministry, "to inform and equip God's people by proclaiming Jesus Christ alone as the way of salvation, the truth of God's Word and the life of discipleship." As Chief Executive Officer and Editor, Parker Williamson has pursued that ministry with energy and integrity since 1989. During those years, the Presbytery of Western North Carolina has consistently recognized and validated this ministry. To approve the recommendation to not validate this ministry is to lift a flawed process over substance. I urge you not to make an idol out of "being nice." To do so is to vote to exclude truly prophetic voices. Parker Williamson, in his position as Chief Executive Officer and Editor of the Presbyterian Layman, deserves your vote affirming the validity of his ministry. Your brother in Christ, Bob Davis, Executive Director The Presbyterian Forum

Respond to this article

Home · Archives · The Layman · PLC Publications Presbyterian Lay Committee · Feedback · Links