 Heartland Presbytery Pastor suspended, session replaced at Kansas church that voted to leave PCUSA By Patrick Jean Staff Writer The Layman Online Friday, November 16, 2007 The pastor of a Kansas congregation that sought to be dismissed from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has been placed on administrative leave by an administrative commission for Heartland Presbytery.
The Rev. Kirk Johnston was informed of his suspension Nov. 14 by e-mail. The e-mail from Diane Quaintance, clerk of the administrative commission, stated that Johnston was "hereby placed on administrative leave effective Nov. 14, 2007, 5 p.m. until further notice." The e-mail stated three provisions of the administrative leave:
"The administrative commission will assume original jurisdiction on 14 November 2007 at 12 p.m. and replace the session … as set forth in the Book of Order (G-11.0103(s)) until such time as members of the 'true church' (as defined in section G-8.0601 of the Book of Order) can elect a new session from its membership," the e-mail stated. In a phone interview with The Layman Online hours before he was informed of his suspension, Johnston said, "We've done nothing wrong. All we did was seek dismissal. We didn't even disaffiliate, as you know." "We're just trying to honor Christ," he said. "All we want to do is to give praise to Jesus. That's it. That's why we asked in the first place, and that's why we're walking away in the first place." Johnston could not be reached for comment after his suspension. A phone call and e-mail to Heartland Presbytery's executive presbyter, the Rev. Charles W. Spencer, were not returned. More to say in e-mails Johnston had more to say in e-mails to Quaintance and Scott Nehrbass, an attorney for his church. The e-mail to Quaintance addressed his suspension, while the e-mail to Nehrbass was in response to an inquiry from James Borthwick, an attorney for the administrative commission, about a large number of boxes stacked up outside the church building. In the e-mail to Quaintance, Johnston expressed disappointment that news of his suspension was not delivered personally. "Perhaps an emissary with explanation, a prayer, an appeal to purpose or attempt for understanding," he wrote. "You have the authority to see this through – nothing would have been lost by some kindness. After 15 years of co-labor, it would seem the pastoral thing. Not having the courage or grace to face me personally, I receive your e-mail kiss with sadness." "I have considered it a privilege to serve Christ in this presbytery and in no way renounce jurisdiction of the PCUSA," Johnston wrote. "… No amount of money can buy Gospel silence. It does seem fitting that Heartland would try and muzzle such things. Just let me know when you have decided so I can act to keep my family fed and protected from calamity." In the e-mail to Nehrbass, Johnston asked him to pass along to Borthwick the response to Borthwick's inquiry about the boxes. "Oh, there are boxes at our church: hundreds, probably thousands when we are done," he wrote. "They are shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Each little box is a gift to a child who knows neither wealth or Christ. Each box is full of gifts practical and enjoyable, and will be distributed across the world by Samaritan's Purse." "Now, today we will begin another run of boxes in and out – as today I and other staff begin boxing up our worldly things: books, family pictures, notes, personal files," Johnston wrote. "This is a much sadder parade – especially for me after 15 years. But please assure Jim that he can report that nothing that belongs to the 'true church' will leave the building – indeed, if it is found to have even been taken accidentally, it will quickly be returned." Schism disputed, settlement rejected On June 24, the Paola church voted 229-83 to request dismissal with its property from the PCUSA in order to join the EPC. Heartland Presbytery recognizes the vote total as 200-81 because it is not counting the church's youth members, Johnston said. On Sept. 9, the administrative commission met with the session of First Presbyterian Church in Paola and told them of its decision to reject the church's request to leave the PCUSA for the EPC. The decision also was e-mailed and mailed to the church Sept. 11. On Sept. 12, the church session sent a letter to the congregation stating that the administrative commission's decision "is not the end of the matter. … We have retained counsel and are studying a number of options." "We are also defending the true polity of Presbyterianism, that a session is granted the right to determine the shape and substance of the ministry of a particular church," the session wrote. The session's letter also expressed disappointment that the administrative commission conducted "a separate worship service for members who wish to stay and met with them numerous times." That was a sign of things to come; on Oct. 25, the administrative commission sent a letter to the congregation stating that:
The administrative commission sent out its own correspondence Nov. 5:
Remedial complaint against policy Meanwhile, Heartland Presbytery is facing a remedial complaint about its five-month-old policy that advocates tough actions against congregations that are thinking about, but haven't actually voted on, withdrawal from the PCUSA. On June 16, the presbytery approved the policy. Recommended by the presbytery's committee on ministry, the policy included a listing of congregations considering withdrawal and a list of ministers under scrutiny – including the Paola church and its pastor, Johnston. Other congregations may be added to this list, according to the policy, "by vote of the committee on ministry or the presbytery council." In an intensification of strategies outlined in "The Louisville Papers," the policy states that a church's session can be dissolved and the church taken over if the session calls for a congregational meeting to vote on seeking dismissal from the PCUSA. In addition, the policy includes a threat to dissolve the pastoral relationship of a minister if he or she "advocates" for separation from the denomination, adding that members of congregations "who are concerned that their church leadership is contemplating separation" are encouraged to inform the presbytery's committee of ministry. The complaint against the policy will be reported at the presbytery's stated meeting Nov. 17 as an item of information in a report from the stated clerk, the Rev. Maryann S. Farnsworth. She will tell presbytery commissioners that the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Mid-America has agreed to hear the case if an alternative form of resolution can't be found. The 11 plaintiffs who filed the remedial complaint include Johnston and his wife Laurie, who is pastor of a church that sought to leave the PCUSA for the New Wineskins/EPC Transitional Presbytery. On June 10, her church – Hillsdale Presbyterian Church in Hillsdale, Kan. – voted 77-5 for the dismissal request. An administrative commission for Heartland Presbytery rejected the request three months later. On Sept. 9, the commission stated that its members had informed the Hillsdale church about its decision, which also was e-mailed and mailed to the church Sept. 11. In a report to be presented at Heartland Presbytery's stated meeting Nov. 17, the administrative commission will state that its work with the Hillsdale church continues, but no decision has been made. The commission also will report that its work continues with Gashland Presbyterian Church, a congregation in Kansas City, Mo., that voted 333-22 on Sept. 23 to request dismissal from the PCUSA with its property so that it may join the EPC. Patrick Jean is a staff writer for The Layman and The Layman Online. He can be reached at pjean@layman.org. |
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