'Billy's letter' prompts call for invitation to youngster The Layman Online Friday, September 28, 2001 TEMPE, Ariz. – "Billy's letter" became a group-think exercise for the executive committee of the General Assembly Council and staff leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Billy is a Los Angeles child whose hand-written letter to the denomination's headquarters in Louisville, Ky., said, "My parents are allowing me to choose my own religion. My friend Eddie says your religion is the easiest. Is that true?" Four groups pondered the letter and reported back to the full committee a range of possible responses, including extolling what they perceived to be the virtues of the denomination - diversity, welcoming, caring people who comfort each other, making sense out of life, the freedom to explore. But they also said Billy deserved a straightforward, simple answer: It is easy to become a Presbyterian by answering "Yes" to the question, "Do you believe Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior?" The hard part, the consensus suggested, is the life of discipleship. Most of the groups also believed a Presbyterian pastor near Billy should be sent a copy of his letter and an invitation to Billy, his parents and his friend Eddie to visit the church. The letter did produce some deeper theological pondering. Neal Presa, a council member who is preparing for the ministry of Word and sacrament, said the letter prompted him to think about "what we believe basically and fundamentally about Jesus Christ." That's an issue that the council has dealt with before when it was asked to affirm that Jesus Christ alone is savior of the world – that no one gains salvation outside Christ. The council stopped short of making that Biblical declaration. So did the 2001 General Assembly. Jeff Bridgeman, a California minister who is chair of the council, said the most important discovery Billy could make is that "this is about God loving you and being in a place to discover how to love God back. Curtis Kearns, associate director of the National Ministries Division, viewed the letter as symptomatic of another concern – that many parents do not introduce their children to the Christian faith. "It is difficult to understand Christians who don't believe their faith should be a priority," Kearns said. Marian McClure, director of the World Ministries Division, said "Billy's letter" was the third she had seen recently from children asking serious questions about the Christian faith. She expressed concern that the Presbyterian Church is not reaching many children.

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