PLC board member offers ‘An open letter to our readers’ By John H. Jenks The Presbyterian Lay Committee Friday, March 26, 1999 I write as a member and past chairman of the Board of Directors, Presbyterian Lay Committee. I’ve been on the PLC Board for over 30 years, a year after its founding in 1965. At our fall (1998) Board meeting we were joined for dinner by the current PCUSA Moderator, Douglas W. Oldenburg. His presentation was courteously delivered and his manner characteristically gracious. The content of his remarks, though, was dismaying and illustrated the wide gulf that exists in our denomination. Because of the importance of his remarks, and because they were said to reflect not only his own thinking but also those of unnamed colleagues, they merit open reply. First, our moderator suggested that some Presbyterians wonder if the members of the PLC really do love the Presbyterian Church? I have been a Presbyterian elder for more than 45 years. My father was a Presbyterian elder. My father’s father was a Presbyterian elder. I have served and chaired virtually every committee of a “tall steeple” Presbyterian church (Menlo Park) and have taught Sunday School and adult Bible class. I’ve been the elder advocate for six seminarians (3 women) under care of our church and presbytery, all of whom are currently serving as pastors in Presbyterian churches. I have served as a vice-moderator and have been a member and chair of a standing committee of our presbytery. I affirm that I love the Presbyterian Church USA and I know that other PLC board members do likewise. To suggest otherwise because of our effective opposition to some denominational activities is like a member of Congress challenging the patriotism of those on the other side of the aisle. That is not acceptable in the secular society of Washington, D.C. and should not be acceptable within the PCUSA. While I affirm my love for the Presbyterian Church USA, I affirm that I love Jesus and His Church more. Indeed, we are most loyal to our denomination when we urge that its policies and programs be faithful to the scripture and to the Incarnate Word. My support for and involvement in criticisms of some actions of PCUSA leadership is simply an expression of the words of our Lord, “Those whom I love I reprove and chasten” (Rev. 3:19). As a member of the PLC Board, I’ve always seen our criticisms of denominational activities in this context, an expression of tough love. When you see policies and practices that are destructive of something you love, conscience compels you to speak. Second, our moderator expressed his belief that the PLC is excessive in its criticisms. The manner in which we express our views is carefully considered before publication, and our words are chosen to be appropriately proportional. What has been excessive are the aberrations which some in positions of denominational leadership have been willing to accept in the name of “tolerance” – the denial of biblical authority in favor of something called “sexual justice-love,” ReImagining theologies which elevate a pantheon of goddesses to co-equal status with Jesus, and an unmonitored sexual radicalism which has masqueraded as “ministry” to college women. Perhaps our denomination would be better served if its leadership would direct its public criticism to these excesses instead of taking aim at the messenger. As standard policy, each issue of The Presbyterian Layman undergoes a thorough pre-publication review by a large editorial committee of the PLC Board. We are not perfect, but we take our membership in the Evangelical Press Association and our commitment to excellence in journalism seriously. We have readily applauded constructive developments when they have occurred. Following the maxim, “He who has the head to criticize should also have the heart to help,” we are careful to include positive features in each issue of The Presbyterian Layman. And we have expanded our publication efforts to offer several helpful and positive resources to the church, such as Bible study series, books, and a confirmation curriculum. But even as we emphasize the positive when we can, there remain those in denominational leadership who would have the PLC adopt a sanitized party line and convert the pages of The Presbyterian Layman to spin doctoring and public relations. Over and over again, however, our readers tell us that they turn to The Presbyterian Layman to find out news they can’t get anywhere else. And so we will continue to do our best to honestly report the facts, unpleasant as they sometimes can be, and to work vigorously for evangelical renewal as stated in our Objectives reprinted in each issue. Finally, the moderator spoke with hope of our denomination having perhaps “turned a corner” – but also noted continued frustration over the lack of peace and unity within the church. He is inclined towards ascribing disunity, though, to the work of the PLC. “We all love Jesus” it is in effect said, “Why can’t we get on with important matters rather than have controversy on peripheral issues?” These “peripheral issues” should not stand in the way, it is argued, of achieving peace and unity. This argument, though, pleasing as it may sound, fails to acknowledge the root cause of persistent division within our denomination – it fails to recognize that “Theology Matters.” A different Jesus than the Jesus of the Bible, offered at the altar of pluralism and diversity, can never form the basis for real peace and unity. The PLC has stood firm on these principles and has faithfully reported denominational deviations from them. To ascribe ultimate responsibility, however, to the PLC for turmoil which results from disseminating information about these deviations to the men and women in the pews who pay the bills is like blaming the weatherman for the weather. I do not mean to target Rev. Oldenburg for special criticism. He does, however, currently occupy the office of moderator, and so his views are worthy of particular response. Accordingly, I respectfully but resolutely disagree with his diagnosis of what ails the PCUSA and with his prescription for its healing. And I continue to pray for our great denomination, that Jesus would truly be the head of the Church.

The Presbyterian Layman March/April 1999

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