Nominee for Supreme Court 'faithful' at evangelical church By John H. Adams The Layman Online Tuesday, October 4, 2005 In a story titled "Religious conversion redefined nominee's worldview," The Washington Times reported today that Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers decided three weeks ago to leave Valley View Christian Church in Dallas because of a split in the congregation. The paper said she joined about 200 other former church members who are meeting at a hotel in North Dallas. With confirmation by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate, Harriet Miers will become the third woman named to the U.S. Supreme Court – the Brethren, as the nation's highest-level jurists were called before Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve on the court. The sanctuary of Valley View Christian Church where Harriet Mills is a member. But in her local church – Valley View Christian Church in a Dallas suburb – Miers could not qualify to be elected as an officer. The evangelical Protestant church, an independent offshoot of the Church of Christ, does not allow women to serve as ministers, deacons or elders. Since joining President George W. Bush's administrative team in Washington after his first election, Miers has attended Valley View infrequently. But before moving to the nation's capital, she was a "faithful member" who served on several church committees and taught Sunday evening classes for pre-schoolers, according to Ree Bradley, the congregation's administrative assistant. "She is a very gracious Christian lady," Bradley told The Layman Online. One of the buzz phrases both Republican and Democratic senators have used for the confirmation process is "life experiences." Undoubtedly, some of Miers' 25 years at Valley View provided some experiences of interest. Valley View is unabashedly evangelical. Established in 1964 with 18 charter members, the congregation has grown steadily – and moved frequently to accommodate new members. The most recent building project was the addition of the 1,500-seat sanctuary, foyer and library, office wing, nursery wing, choir room and 10 extra classrooms. That project, which cost $4.5 million, was completed in July of 1999. The 55,000-square-foot church facility is an imposing structure. The traditional brick exterior has a steeple and tower rising 100 feet over a 44-foot arched window of reflective glass. The sanctuary is expandable to 2,200 square feet and includes a large platform capable of handling numerous special events and drama productions. But the congregation's witness to an evangelical faith is its essence. Valley View publishes its statement of faith on its Web site: We believe the Bible to be the only infallible, inspired, authoritative Word of God. As such it is our final authority for all matters of faith and Christian practice. (2 Timothy 3:14-16) We believe that there is one God eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the Creator of all things. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14) We believe in Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, who came to this world to die for our sins and who was bodily raised from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God, who draws people to Christ and who lives in every person who has received Christ. (John 16:8-9; Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:13-14) We believe that man, created by God, willfully sinned and as a result is lost and without hope apart from receiving Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23;6:23; Acts 4:12) We believe that salvation – forgiveness of sins – is available only by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. This free gift of forgiveness is offered to all who receive Christ as Lord and Savior. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:6; John 3:16) We believe the Bible clearly teaches the pattern to receive Christ is to believe in Jesus as God's Son and Savior of the world, repent of personal sin, confess Christ publicly, and be baptized. (Romans 10:9; Acts 2: 36-38; Mark 16:16) We believe that full immersion under water is the prescribed mode of baptism as indicated by Jesus' own example and command, and best depicts our union in his death, burial, and resurrection. (Mark 1:9-10; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4) We believe that the Church is the body and bride of Christ on earth, founded on the day of Pentecost, consisting of all Christians everywhere. (Matthew 16:13-18) "Our beliefs are not innovative," the Valley View statement says. "Anyone familiar with historical Christian teaching will find these statements fall well within the boundaries of evangelical theology. (Evangelical means theology derived from the evangel, or the Gospel. In other words, it's Biblical theology rather than speculative theology or theology rooted in tradition.)" The statement adds, "We try not to be dogmatic about matters on which believers hold divergent views. Our core beliefs are centered in Christ and his message as supported by Scripture. More obscure doctrine, as well as controversial issues about which the Bible is silent, are left to believers to sort out on their own. On these issues we take no official/dogmatic position."

Respond to this article

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