 Letters to the Editor The Layman Volume 35, Number 2, Posted April 8, 2002 |
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Ruling in Sebastian case has major flaw A major flaw I see in the ruling by the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Central Florida is that the court seems to think Sebastian’s session has rewritten the vows of ordination. It has done no such thing. As a member of the session, each elder has the right – the responsibility – to examine candidates for ordination/installation or employment by asking any relevant question. If the candidate has unacceptable answers, the session has the right to vote no, and the ordination vows will never be taken. George Ellsworth Attica-Williamsport Presbyterian Church Attica, Ind Courts being used because vote went against them It’s not surprising, really, that the left will be using the judicial courts to do what cannot be done by the vote of presbyters. The precedent for this has been seen over and over again in our national life – when an elected body will not pass something beloved by the left wing, they find a liberal judge and make it happen that way. Walter B. Funk First Presbyterian Church Horseheads, N.Y. Priority for Christians: saving, not defeating Like many others, I am happy that the Amendment has been defeated. We need to remind ourselves, however, that Christians are not in the business of “defeating,” but saving individuals. Rather in this instance, we are trying, as Christians, to live according to our Christian beliefs. What has been defeated, as least temporarily, is the effort by a group to impose un-Christian values on our Presbyterian Church. Jack Kime Maryville, Ill. May ESV become the Bible of choice You made my day! I read Walter Taylor’s article on the new English Standard Version of the Bible with amazement. After coming to faith in college, the RSV became my translation of choice. Yet over time, some of its language did begin to feel dated. Especially now, while I serve as a pastor of a church with a large “seeker” element, the “thees” and “thous” were stumbling blocks. I had high hopes for the NRSV, but the 1 percent “political correctness” factor was constantly irritating. I tried the NIV and NKJV, both of which are fine translations, but I always missed the accuracy and style of the RSV. Then came the Taylor article. I immediately rushed out and bought a copy of the ESV. Wow! Exactly what I have been pining for years (apart from the “Words of Christ in Red,” which I still don’t get.) My prayer is that the ESV becomes the “Bible of choice” across our land! Tyler L. Easley, pastor Sammamish Presbyterian Church Sammamish, Wash. View of War: Idealism vs. realism The differences between Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and Col. Charles King expressed in the latter’s article can be traced to the classical differences between two schools of strategic thought. Kirkpatrick’s idealist view is based on the belief that all the world’s peoples seek to live together in peace. When the corrupting influences of power politics, ideology and national interests intervene, international politics degenerates into conflict and war. Kirkpatrick’s expression of the United Nations as “our best hope” signifies the idealist hope in international organizations and transnational actors as the best stabilizing forces for a peaceful world order. This view lends itself more to a theology of immanence and human witness to the suffering love of God in Christ as the hope for a better world. King’s realist view acknowledges human nature as fixed, unchangeable and sinful. Since nation/states are simply aggregations of individuals, the best for which we can hope is to manage conflict between nations which will inevitably arise. This view comes closest to Calvin’s view of total depravity and the notion of a transcendent God who comes to us in Christ as the only solution to the human condition. I thank Cliff, Charles, and The Layman for presenting these views. Perhaps, a balance between idealism and realism offers the optimum solution in a church and in a world that both might be described as volatile, ambiguous, complex and uncertain. Sidney L. Leak III Manchester, Tenn. Running the red light unless traffic’s crossing Homosexual marriage is illegal in Ohio. So, they are going to require a license for heterosexual couples but not for homosexual couples? I take it these folks stop at red lights only when there is cross traffic? Tom Taggart Athens, Ohio Lack of response helps to endorse persecution After reading in your article (“Persecuted Christians Overlooked?”) about the lack of response from PCUSA leaders in regard to the atrocities committed against our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, I am appalled and disgusted. They would rather, it seems, spend more effort presenting Islam “as a religion that is compatible with Christianity” than investigating and aiding what the rest of us already know and for which we pray for the Lord’s intervention: the fact that Christians worldwide are being and have been persecuted more within the past 75-100 years than all of previous history combined. Dana J. Smith Great Valley Presbyterian Church Malvern, Pa. Penalizing the faithful and ignoring the defiant We live in an age of contradiction and hypocrisy in the PCUSA. The session of one church presents an amiable request for permission to transfer to another denomination and the pastor is locked out of his office and the session dissolved. Yet, another church directly defies the constitution, even flaunts its disobedience, and the presbytery either ignores the matter, attempts reconciliation or tries to change the constitution so that the rebellious can be considered law-abiding. John H. Pavelko Crossroads Presbyterian Church Walled Lake, Mich. Bravo for dissenting Mt. Auburn Church What an empowering and refreshing breath of fresh air to revive our tired old church! I’m thrilled that the Holy Spirit still moves among us in such a powerful and courageous way. Bravo for Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church! Maggie Ritchey Pittsburgh, Pa. Are born-again Christians significantly different, too? The Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church statement of dissent did leave me with just one question that I am certain its elders have already addressed in an inclusive manner. They said, “the session counsels present and future nominating committees at Mount Auburn to provide fair representation as well ... in other areas of significant human difference.” So, just how many conservative, orthodox, evangelical, Bible-believing elders and deacons have they nominated and/or elected to serve since the policy has been in force? After all, being “born again” must certainly qualify as an area of “significant human difference.” Rev. Bill Pawson Pembroke Pines, Fla. Go into all the world and spread confusion? Why would a Church which cannot make a statement to affirm the lordship of Christ or make a stand on the authority of Scripture and will not enforce its own constitution send missionaries anywhere? What would they say and do? Perhaps they could share their feelings and teach others how to shrug their shoulders. Why would a Christian want to be sent to represent such a church? Is there a need to go into all the world to spread confusion? Save your money for the lawyers! Ron Lane Lilburn, Ga. |
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