Presbyterian group issues appeal to congregations The Layman Online Monday, April 10, 2006 A group of Presbyterians who "affirm the unique Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of Holy Scripture (our only infallible rule of faith and practice), and biblical standards for holy living," says it is "preparing a response to the current crisis" in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In "An Appeal to Presbyterians and Congregations within the Presbyterian Church (USA)," the group said the response would be "an alternative for both congregations and individual Presbyterians." The group plans a meeting after the 217th General Assembly, which will meet June 15-22 in Birmingham, Ala. "We appeal to Presbyterians and Sessions, who, like us, are troubled by all of this, to remain strong in their faith and to remain active in their congregations," according to a statement drafted by 21 Presbyterians during a meeting in Montreat, N.C., on March 31. "We will invite them to join us in further action following the June 2006 meeting of the General Assembly." The names of those who drafted the appeal are posted with the statement. Others are invited to add their signatures. Saying they were committed to seeking "to be a church that is faithful to the Word of God," they added: "The marks of the true Church are the Word of God truly preached and the sacraments rightly administered." "The approval of the recommendations of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church will confirm the growing obscurity of these marks," they said. "Our drift away from constitutional integrity is equally tragic. This is increasingly apparent in judicial decisions that have affirmed the celebration of so-called marriages between persons of the same sex and the ordination of individuals in violation of our current standards." They also said: "Denying the truth of Scripture by endorsing and supporting ordination of those who are sexually active outside of marriage, to say nothing of bypassing constitutional process to do so, is not the Presbyterian way. These and other actions of the church are not only offensive, but they also violate our conscience, which is bound to the Word of God. In effect, the Presbyterian Church of which we are a part is departing from her own standards. In response, we believe that the denomination is being called back to faithfulness. "Accordingly, many Presbyterian officers and members have been watching with dismay the slide in our denomination away from biblical faithfulness and from sacramental integrity … We pray that the true and faithful witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) thus may be renewed under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit." The appeal statement was signed by: Dan Barefoot, elder, First Presbyterian Church, Lincolnton, NC Adam Boyd, elder, Montreat Presbyterian Church, Montreat, North Carolina Richard E. Burnett, Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina Michael D. Bush, Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina E.D. Clem, pastor, Greenwood Presbyterian Church, Chester, Virginia Josh Cole, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Waynesville, North Carolina William Reid Dalton III, Burlington, North Carolina Gerrit Dawson, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana James C. Goodloe IV, pastor, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia L. Rus Howard, pastor, Peters Creek Presbyterian Church, Venetia, Pennsylvania Malcolm M. King III, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, LaFollette, Tennessee Robert R. Kopp, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Belvidere, Illinois D. Paul La Montagne, pastor, Second English Presbyterian Church, Amwell, New Jersey Stephen A. Moss, interim pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Lincolnton, NC Robert W. Patterson, elder, Ashburn Presbyterian Church, Ashburn, Virginia Daniel C. Reuter, Brown County Presbyterian Fellowship, Nashville, Indiana Paul Roberts, pastor, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Peter J. Sizemore, elder, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia C. Powell Sykes, pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Burlington, North Carolina Walter L. Taylor, pastor, Forest Park Presbyterian Church, Statesville, North Carolina Jim Wilken, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Marion, North Carolina

Respond to this article

Home · Archives · The Layman · Subscribe to The Layman · PLC Publications Presbyterian Lay Committee · Online book reviews · Feedback · Links