The Presbyterian Layman Volume 32, Number 5 Posted November 11, 1999

Detour into darkness When he learned that the controversial National Network of Presbyterian College Women would be conducting a leadership training event near his community, James Berkley, a Presbyterian pastor, requested a copy of the meeting schedule and stated his desire to attend as an observer. Berkley had read news reports of the network’s Young Women Speak, a publication promoting ReImagining God ideologies. He had also read of the group’s Internet website that included links leading to a lesbian dating service and hardcore pornography. He knew that a special General Assembly committee had found Network resources at odds with Biblical truth and that the Network did not even mention Jesus Christ in its mission statement. So when he learned that this organization would be training its leaders nearby, he decided to look in on its activities. That request prompted national staffer Barbara Dua to fire off a letter to the denomination’s communication office. Dua called for revisions to the General Assembly Open Meeting Policy that would allow for secret meetings. “With all the harassment they have faced this year, and the nature of the charges of which they have been accused, this essentially anonymous request to ‘observe’ the college women caused me to fear for their safety. It also caused me to wonder how many other men might request to ‘observe’ the college women. …” So there you have it. With one broad sweep of her pen Dua has effectively accused this concerned pastor of a form of voyeurism that might endanger the safety of young college women. Berkley certainly was within his rights to observe an activity funded by offerings from his congregation. He certainly was no lurker, and there was nothing “essentially anonymous” about his signed request. Dua’s suggestion was irresponsible and reckless. Why are this organization and others in the Women’s Ministries program area intent on doing their work in the dark? What do they wish to hide from members of the Presbyterian Church? Why do some who support their causes label journalists from the independent press “ecclesiastical stalkers?” (Presbyterian Outlook, Oct. 4, 1999) Scripture says this about those who prefer to dwell in darkness: “For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God” (John 3: 20-21). Barbara Dua’s call for secrecy struck a responsive chord with the denomination’s Advisory Committee on the News. (See story) This organization has launched a proposal that – if adopted by the General Assembly – will give Women’s Ministries the shroud they seek. The General Assembly chose a very wise course for our denomination when it adopted its Open Meeting Policy. We trust that commissioners to General Assembly 2000 will see the wisdom of rejecting the Advisory Committee’s proposed detour into darkness.

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