P&R News ² March 1999
Published by Presbyterian International News Service, Inc., Lawrenceville, Georgia
Presbyterian &
Reformed News
Recording the
Story of the
Presbyterian
Church in America
Volume 6 Number 5 September - October 2000
$2.75 per issue/$15.00 per year
The Standing Judicial Commission
(SJC) of the Presbyterian Church in
America (PCA) has spoken, again, in the
John Wood matter, and has once again
decided not to proceed to a trial. Meeting
on October 19, 2000, the SJC determined
not to institute judicial process against
the controversial minister.
Senior Pastor of Cedar Springs
Presbyterian Church (CSPC), Knoxville,
Tennessee, Mr. Wood had been charged
by five PCA presbyteries in conjunction
with a woman speaking at the prominent
congregation on two Sunday evening
services in August, 1998. Western
Carolina, Calvary, Ascension, Eastern
Carolina, and James River Presbyteries
had all petitioned the General Assembly
to assume original jurisdiction over Mr.
Wood after Tennessee Valley Presbytery
(TVP) had failed to act in the matter.
At its March 2000 meeting, the SJC
determined that the judicial matter was
out of order in that TVP purportedly
did act by investigating the situation
and deciding not to proceed. But the
28th General Assembly, meeting in June
2000 in Tampa, Florida, surprised most
observers by overturning the SJCs ruling
and directing the Commission to
investigate the matter judicially.
In referring the matter to the SJC, the Assembly made
reference to Book of Church Order 31-2, which says, among
other things, that if a judicial investigation should result in
raising a strong presumption of guilt of the party involved, the
court shall institute process, and shall appoint a prosecutor to
prepare the indictment and to conduct the case.
The SJC accordingly appointed a three-man panelMr.
Mark Belz, the Rev. Larry Lunceford, and Mr. John Laneto
investigate the matter. That panel met at the Cedar Springs
Church on September 16, 2000, where it took testimony from Mr.
Wood and members of Cedar Springs, and from the Rev. Dr.
Morton H. Smith and the Rev. Dr. Joseph Pipa. Dr. Smith, who is
the current Moderator of the General Assembly, and Dr. Pipa,
President of Greenville (S. C.) Presbyterian Theological Seminary,
had confronted Mr. Wood regarding his views on women
preaching. Both men testified to the panel that Mr. Wood affirmed
that he saw no problem with female preaching.
According to PCANEWS.COM, the panel stated that it
reviewed all available documents and exhibits, and heard
testimony from all parties directly concerned in the matter on
September 16 at Cedar Springs.
The panels report stated that it reviewed two areas in
which possible charges might be considered: (1) the August
1998 occurrences at CSPC when a woman spoke at evening
services, and (2) TE John Woods views regarding women and
preaching.
The official denominational news organ also reported that
the panel stated that the woman did not lead the service on
August 16, but that a ruling elder did, while [a]nother ruling
elder led in prayer. The report states that there was no sermon
by a minister or an elder, but that the woman spoke as planned.
The report also says: Ruling elders and teaching elders who
attended that service testified that when she was speaking she
explained what the Word of God meant, and that she applied it to
the lives of those in the congregation. Some said they felt
uncomfortable or different even though none of the witnesses
interviewed used the word preaching to describe her speaking.
PCANEWS.COM also reported that the panel stated, That
when the Session approved the plan for the woman to speak in
the evening service, the Session did not intend to have her
preach, nor did the Session intend to violate PCA polity. However,
the panel also believes that her speaking likely crossed the line
SJC Declines to Proceed to Trial
in John Wood Matter
Commission rules that woman crossed the line
in her messages in public worship
as evidenced by the testimony of the ruling
and teaching elders who attended the
service.
The full SJC concluded that what
she said crossed the line as evidenced from
the testimony of the ruling and teaching
elders who attended the service. However,
that crossing the line does not require the
institution of process against TE John
Wood. The Commission added a
cautionary word: This highlights the need
for all Sessions to avoid scheduling such
events which may disturb the peace of the
Church.
But the SJC also determined that
the investigation has not resulted in a
strong presumption of guilt (BCO 31-2) on
the part of TE John Wood in connection
with a woman speaking on August 16 and
23, 1998 at CSPC, and therefore judicial
process should not be instituted.
The second part of the
investigation centered on Mr. Woods
views. PCANEWS.COM reported that the
panel report stated that it did not believe
that the event in question was an effort on
Mr. Woods part to promote women
preaching at CSPC or within the PCA.
TE Wood stated to the panel that
he holds to a view that: 1) excludes women
from ordination; 2) excludes women from
preaching (authoritative teaching); 3) permits women to do
basically whatever unordained men can do in the church. Also,
the panel found no evidence of Mr. Woods agitation regarding
or promotion of a view that women should be ordained or that
women should preach in the PCA, either locally at CSPC or in the
PCA generally.
With regard to the second issue, the full SJC decreed: The
investigation did not produce evidence that raised a strong
presumption of guilt that TE John Wood is agitating for or
promoting a view that women be ordained, nor that he is
promoting women preaching the authoritative Word of God in
worship services and therefore judicial process should not be
instituted.
However, in making this determination the SJC is not
endorsing the view of TE Wood that women may do basically
whatever unordained men can do in the Church, and PCA
ministers and elders are cautioned, for the peace and unity of the
Church, to take great care in the teaching and implementing of
views that might give the appearance of promoting a view that
women may be ordained, or that women may preach the
authoritative Word of God in a worship service.
The Standing Judicial Commission met in the Atlanta area on October 19th and 20th. Pictured
from left to right are Bill Harrell, Howie Dunahoe, Chairman John White,
Secretary Robert Ferguson and Jim Smith.
P&R News ² September - October 20002
The following is the report of the Standing
Judicial Commissions investigative panel,
along with its recommendations.
The Executive Committee of the
Standing Judicial Commission of the
Presbyterian Church in America, following
the mandate from the 28th General
Assembly to take original jurisdiction of
the John Wood Matter under BCO 34-1
and directing SJC to investigate the matter
under 31-2, appointed a committee or panel
composed of three members of SJC (RE
Mark Belz, RE John Lane, and TE Lawrence
Lunceford) to investigate the matter and
report back to SJC. The Chairman of SJC
has suggested that the committee include
in this investigative report any
recommendations that the panel might have
with regard to possible judicial process,
recognizing that SJC itself will make any
such determination.
In fulfillment of this mandate, this
committee has reviewed all available
documents and exhibits, and upon notice
to all parties directly heard in the matter,
heard testimony on September 16, 2000 at
Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville, TN (CSPC). A list of exhibits and
the exhibits themselves are attached to this
report. A chronological summary of events
is also attached based upon all of the
evidence the panel has been able to obtain.
It is the panels belief that there are two
areas in which possible chargeable
offense(s) might be considered: (1) the two
August, 1998 occurrences at CSPC when a
woman spoke at evening services, and (2)
TE John Woods views as to women and
preaching.
1. A Woman Speaking At The Evening
Services In August 1998.The current
controversy was touched off when Dr.
Linda Eure spoke at the evening service of
Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville on August 16, 1998. Dr. Eure was
then the director of Womens Ministries at
CSPC. Earlier in the summer, the Senior Staff
Administrative Committee, upon the
suggestion of RE Mack Sells, had
recommended to the Session that she be
asked to speak. The Session had approved
her speaking at that service as well as at the
next weeks evening service (August 23,
1998), to explain her views as well as the
work of Womens Ministries at the church.
It is not clear as to whether TE John Wood
was directly involved in the decision to have
her speak or not, but he states that he
favored the decision. There were two
student visitors at the evening service on
August 16; at least one of whom was
offended, being (in his words) shocked at
seeing a woman mount the pulpit at the 6
p.m. worship service. His complaint was
communicated to the CSPC Session and also
to TE Joseph Pipa.
The panel heard testimony from RE
Mack Sells, who is a member of the Senior
Staff Administrative Committee, and who
was present at the July 7, 1998 meeting of
that committee when the need to plan for
the remaining evening services was
discussed. Evening services at CSPC had
dwindled in size over the years, nearing the
point of extinction. CSPC morning services
usually had approximately 3,000 in
attendance while evening services had as
few as 25 and as many as 60 evening
services were not held in the sanctuary but
in a smaller chapel that is part of the church
complex. It was not uncommon to have
short-term missions reports and musical
presentations in the evening service,
sometimes in lieu of a sermon. In the summer
of 1998, TE Roy Zinn was completing a New
Testament series and it was not his plan to
preach on August 16 or 23. The Session
approved the suggestion that Dr. Linda Eure
speak those two evenings, on Womens
Ministries at CSPC, of which she was the
director. The announcement in the bulletin
read Sunday Evening Service will take place
at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Dr. Linda Eure
will be speaking.
Linda Eure did not lead the service on
August 16; RE Ray Elder did. RE Mack Sells
led in prayer. Linda Eure spoke, as planned.
Ruling elders and teaching elders who
attended that service testified that when she
was speaking she explained what the Word
of God meant, and that she applied it to the
lives of those in the congregation. Some
said they felt uncomfortable or different
and while none of the witnesses interviewed
used the word preaching to describe her
speaking, all witnesses who were actually
in the evening service were clearly negative
about the manner in which Linda Eure
dynamically set forth her views in the
context of the evening service. At least
two of the elder witnesses stated that
considering the manner in which she spoke,
they were sure that the Session would never
approve her speaking again.
It is the panels belief that when the
Session approved the plan for Linda Eure
to speak in the evening service, the Session
did not intend to have her preach, nor did
the Session intend to violate PCA polity.
However, the panel also believes that her
speaking likely crossed the line as
evidenced by the testimony of the ruling
and teaching elders who attended the
service. In other words, the panel believes
that there was an offense. [In a footnote,
the panel added: There was insufficient
evidence to recommend any possible charge
against TE John Wood related to the Linda
Eure incident, because it is unclear as to
whether he played a role in making the
decision to have her speak, and it was
equally unclear as to whether he was in
attendance on either occasion.] The
question is whether this is an offense of
such a nature that indictment should be
issued and judicial process is initiated.
In view of the testimony of elders in
attendance indicating their disapproval of
Linda Eures speaking, and their
prognostication that the Session would
never approve it in the future, it is the
panels recommendation that the Court not
proceed with the prosecution of TE John
Wood for this offense. If consideration were
to be given to prosecution because the
matter has become a public scandal, our
recommendation is the same. Neither TE
Wood nor CSPC has trumpeted this event;
others within the PCA have spread the report
both in private correspondence and in the
secular press.
2. TE John Woods Views Regarding
Women And Preaching.TE John Wood
testified before the panel on September 16.
Based on his testimony as well as the
testimony of other witnesses interviewed
that day, the panel does not believe that the
Linda Eure event was an effort on his part
to promote women preaching at CSPC or
within the PCA. Nevertheless, legitimate
questions were raised about TE Woods
views on the subject through subsequent
statements he made to others inquiring
about the Linda Eure event.
On July 17, 1999, TEs Morton Smith
and Joseph Pipa talked to TE John Wood
by teleconference. Both TEs Smith and Pipa
testified before the panel on September 16,
and stated that in that telephone
conversation TE Wood, in answer to a
question put by TE Smith: do you believe
that a woman can preach in the church?
answered in the affirmative. TE Wood
admitted to this before the panel.
TE Wood also stated to the panel that
in the telephone conference call with TEs
Morton Smith and Joseph Pipa he was
using the word preach in a broad, but he
believes Biblical, sensethe witness that
each Christian bears before the church and
the world, but he also stated that he should
have been more careful to articulate his
belief that women should not be ordained
to the teaching or ruling eldership and that
they should not be permitted to preach in
the traditional sense of authoritative
teaching from the word of God, as teaching
elders are called and ordained to do.
TE Wood stated to the panel that he
holds to a view that: 1) excludes women from
ordination; 2) excludes women from
preaching (authoritative teaching); 3)
permits women to do basically whatever
unordained men can do in the church. His
views in this regard are spelled out in more
detail in the exhibits, including the sermon
he recently gave on the subject at CSPC on
July 2, 2000. This view, he claims, is exactly
the view held by many others in the PCA,
including the late Dr. James Boice.
The panel found no evidence of TE
Woods agitation regarding or promotion
of a view that women should be ordained or
that women should preach in the PCA, either
locally at CSPC or in the PCA generally.
The panel recommends that TE John
Wood not be prosecuted for his expressed
views regarding women and preaching,
unless the SJC as a whole makes a
determination that his views are clearly
outside the boundaries of existing PCA
doctrine.
Report of the Investigative Panel
1-888-646-0038
A Christian Boarding
Final
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homeschoolers
(Paid Advertisement)
SJC Decides Not to Indict John Wood
Coverage of the SJC decision, along with
reaction from various churchmen involved.
TVP Supports Prominent Church
Performing Infant Dedications
Tennessee Valley Presbytery (PCA) decides
to support First Presbyterian of Chattanooga
in its practice of infant dedications.
John Wood Exchanges Pulpits with PC(USA)
Minister
PCA pastor tries to bridge denominational
divide with joint services in Knoxville.
Korean Church Sustains Complaint
Regarding Woman Preacher
A prominent Korean PCA church admits its
error in allowing a woman to occupy the pulpit.
The Saga of R. C. Sproul, Jr.
The son of a famous theologian is thwarted
in his desire to join the PCA.
Louisiana Presbytery Considers the State
of the PCA
Concern over the direction of the
denomination drove Louisiana Presbytery to
have a special meeting in August to consider
the future of the PCA. The keynote speakers
were General Assembly Moderator Dr.
Morton H. Smith, and Greenville Seminary
President Dr. Joseph A. Pipa.
Open Forum: The Role of Women
A seminarian opines on the proper role of
women in the church, and raises concerns
about whether the PCA has bought into
feminism.
Editorials and Letters
We hear from our readers, including Tennesee
Valley Presbytery.
News from the Presbyteries
Of particular interest may be the continuing
theme of how to deal with the doctrine of
creation: see our coverage of Mississippi
Valley Presbytery (PCA) and Northern
California Presbytery (OPC). And Calvary
Presbytery takes a stand against the state
lottery.
Breaking Down Barriers
Why is a former federal civil rights
investigator, pastor of a multi-ethnic church,
donning a Confederate uniform?
New Pastor for Hanna City
A new ordinand becomes pastor of Hanna
City (Ill.) Presbyterian Church.
Conference on Civil Government
A Greeneville, Tennessee, congregation
hosts a conference on the role of civil
government.
THE NEWS AT A GLANCE
1-4
6
6
7
8-9
10
12-13
14
17-26
18
23
25
P&R News ² September - October 2000
3
The initial ruling by the Standing Judicial
Commission (SJC) of the Presbyterian Church in
America (PCA) in the John Wood matter did not
sit well with a majority of the 28th General
Assembly which met in June, 2000, in Tampa,
Florida. Responding to an overture from
Louisiana Presbytery, which asked for the
Assembly to condemn the SJCs original finding
in which the Commission had declared the matter
to be out of order, the Assembly assumed
original jurisdiction and directed the SJC to
proceed.
Now that the SJC has declined to proceed
to trial, reaction to its latest ruling has been swift
in coming.
The Rev. Dr. Joseph Pipa, one of the men
who had personally confronted Mr. Wood with
regard to his views of women preaching, is
contending that the SJC did not do what the
Assembly directed it to do. The SJC was told to
hear from those presbyteries. The committee
only heard from the witnesses on the one side,
and on the other. [The panel] was not going to
discuss the theology, but only determine the
facts. The President of Greenville (S. C.)
Presbyterian Theological Seminary indicated that
he and the Rev. Dr. Morton H. Smith, current
Moderator of the General Assembly, did not
appear as representatives of their respective
presbyteries (Calvary and Western Carolina), but
only were allowed to testify as witnesses. They
[the members of the panel] had no interest in this
meeting in hearing from the presbyteries
regarding what they wanted done.
Dr. Pipa is also concerned because of an
appearance of impropriety with regard to several
of the judges. I reported to the three man
investigative committee that a number of the
members of the SJC were at the Vision 2000 Caucus
that discussed, among other things, the John
Wood case. And it was suggested at that meeting
that they defend John Wood. I was told that the
host pastor left the meeting under protest, saying
that John Wood was wrong and that under no
pretense would he defend him. I approached the
host pastor to commend him for that, and he said
it was the only proper thing to do. I also mentioned
in private to a member of the SJC, that they all
disqualified themselves, no matter how they felt
about the issue, if they were at that meeting.
Regarding the decision of the SJC not to
proceed, Dr. Pipa intimated that there was
contradictory testimony between what it was
reported Mr. Wood said to the panel, and what
he and Dr. Smith said. If we use the grand jury
analogyif witnesses contradict each other,
thats another reason for a trial.
Speaking of Mr. Wood, Dr. Pipa declared,
He did promote it [women preaching]. He said
she did preach in a worship service, and that he
would leave if the PCA didnt allow it.
My big problem is that, when I spoke with
him, I gave him any number of definitions. And
he clearly stated, No, a woman may preach. I do
not buy these distinctions, between exhorting
and preaching and teaching.
President Pipa asserted that the statement
adopted by the SJC, that Mr. Wood does not
believe in women preaching, is not true
because I point blank asked him his view. The
seminary president also noted that the SJC itself
acknowledged that the woman crossed the
linebut, since Mr. Wood approved of her
action, why is there no trial?
Pastor David Coffin, who served on the Bills
& Overtures (B&O) Committee at this past years
Assembly, was one who had argued passionately
and persuasively that the original action by the
SJC was improper. He reacted to the news of the
latest ruling by saying, I must admit that my
main concern in this matter was the dangerous
precedent of the SJC assuming powers which
were not specifically granted in the BCO, RAO,
or Manual. As for the substance of the case, he
said, I dont know all the facts, and thus cannot
comment on the justice of the decision, but I
doubted from the beginning that the SJC would
bring in an indictment, as the views in question,
so far as I understood them, appeared to lack a
certain consistency, and the step of trying a
minister for the first time under these conditions
would require a high degree of confidence that
the action was warranted. He later re-iterated, I
didnt have much hope that the Wood matter per
se would be settled in a manner that would be
satisfactory to all concerned. . . . I didnt really
expect that they would find grounds for an
indictment. In fact, one of the reasons for
proposing the BCO amendment relevant to the
case was because it had been at least plausibly
argued that there were not sufficiently clear
grounds in the Constitution to prohibit the alleged
actions. His hope for overall resolution,
therefore, lay in a three-tier approach: have the
Assembly correct the SJC for its unwarranted,
though obviously well-intentioned,
assumption of power; in so doing have the
Assembly set aside the SJCs dangerously
mistaken construction of the Constitution in
34-1; and at the same time begin the process of
amending the Book of Church Order in order to
make explicit the at least implied standard of the
PCA that women may not preach.
Regarding Mr. Woods views, the pastor
from Fairfax, Virginia, said, Though as I
understand them his views in this matter appear
clearly contrary to Scripture, I dont find myself
too exercised over the possibility of such views
having a great impact in the PCA. I expect that
the obvious internal tensions are simply too much
for most of our men to bear. He stated that he
understood Mr. Woods view to be that a woman
by definition cannot preach because she does
not hold the preaching office, even though she
may perform precisely the same act in the same
setting. In response, Mr. Coffin referred to the
views of Jonathan Edwards, who supposed it
was obvious to all that if there was an office
authorized to preach then there must be some
activity called preaching forbidden to those who
do not hold the office.
Ascension Presbytery was one of those
which had petitioned the Assembly in the matter.
A veteran of that presbytery, the Rev. Dr. Carl
Bogue, Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church,
Akron, Ohio, opined that the SJC ignored a lot
of evidence. We certainly never had the right to
represent our allegations. . . . [The interview with
Mr. Wood in P&R News] wasnt even alluded
to in the report. Dr. Bogue is a member of the
presbytery commission that was responsible for
representing its allegations to the Assembly.
One of the men who had introduced a
resolution at Eastern Carolina Presbytery, asking
that court to petition the Assembly for original
jurisdiction over Mr. Wood, was the Rev. James
Routszong, Pastor of the historic Antioch
Presbyterian Church outside of Goldsboro, North
Carolina. Mr. Routszong stated: I think its an
unfortunate decision. I think given the original
position of the SJC, before they were assigned
the task, it was a foregone conclusion.
The Rev. Dr. James A. Jones, Jr., Stated Clerk
of Louisana Presbytery, said, my reaction to
this is, Im saddened but not surprised, because
some of the SJC members had already voiced
their opinion at the last General Assembly, and
this finding is in keeping with what they had
previously said.
Churchmen React to the SJC
Ruling on the John Wood Matter
(Paid Advertisment)
P&R News ² September - October 20004
After the June, 2000, meeting of General
Assembly, Ascension Presbytery established
a commission to handle its concerns in the
John Wood matter. In a letter dated and
adopted by the commission on August 24,
2000, the presbytery commission expressed
some of its concerns regarding the procedures
which had been set forth by the Standing
Judicial Commission (SJC) judicial panel.
According to Dr. Jay Neikirk, Stated
Clerk of Ascension Presbytery and member
of that courts commission, his commission
never had opportunity to represent the
presbyterys case against Mr. Wood. The
judicial panel had indicated that only those
who were witnesses would be allowed to
address the panel; and had also stated that
no doctrinal issues would be handled by the
panel.
Below is the August 24, 2000, letter
which the commission sent to the judicial
panel. According to Dr. Neikirk, no formal
response was received before the September
16, 2000, hearing in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dear Brothers,
I am writing you on behalf of the
commission which Presbytery erected to take
whatever actions may be necessary with
regard to Presbyterys involvement in the
matter involving TE John Wood. We are in
receipt of your letter of July 29, 2000 (we
assume that is the intended date, the date on
the letter is August 29, 2000) and, as per your
closing paragraph, we wish to share several
questions and concerns about the procedures
set out in the letter. We recognize that these
may arise because the letter does not fully
address all the intended procedures of the
SJC, but, in view of time constraints, we feel it
necessary to set forth our questions and
concerns to you as quickly as possible. Thus,
below you will find four questions/concerns,
two suggestions, and our list of witnesses/
evidence.
The first, and perhaps most serious
concern arises in the first paragraph. The first
sentence summarizes the issue as . . . the
John Wood matter in which some presbyteries
have charged that a woman was allowed to
preach in worship services in the church that
he pastors. . . . This only partially reflects the
concern raised by Presbytery. The issue turns
not only on the event, but even more
significantly on the views of TE Wood. This
is clearly reflected in the fifteenth whereas of
our original overture (Whereas, the Senior
Pastor of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church,
John Wood, has publicly defended the
practice of women preaching, teaching and
exhorting. . .). The concerns noted in the
resolves must be understood in light of this.
That this was (and is) Presbyterys
understanding of the concern it was raising is
reinforced in the materials we filed in response
to the proposed finding of the officers of the
SJC that the matter was judicially out of
order. As part of its appeal to the officers to
reconsider their decision, Presbytery wrote
the following.
. . . we would note that the original filings of
the presbyteries all make reference to the
allegation of the teaching elders having
publicly defended the practice of women
preaching, teaching and exhorting. Thus,
the issue does not just turn on whether a
teaching elder has jurisdiction over worship
in the local church (Reasoning and Opinion
#1). It also turns on TE Woods stated views
and whether those are in conformity with the
Standards of the Church. This clearly rises
to the level of a doctrinal case as per BCO
34-1. (Appeal to Reconsider, I.4 (p. 2).)
We would urge that in the interest of clarity
and respect for the presbyteries who have
raised the concerns the issue as stated by the
panel be reframed to reflect the fact that TE
Woods views are at the heart of this matter.
Our second concern is related to the first.
The fourth paragraph of your letter states in
part ...[d]octrinal issues will not be debated
during this phase of the proceeding. First, it
seems to us that doctrine is the crux of this
matter and thus we do not see how discussion
of doctrinal issues can be avoided in the
proceedings. Second, if the Panel does not
believe this is the appropriate time to raise
doctrinal issues, then when would be the
appropriate time? Perhaps there is a stage (or
multiple stages) of the proceedings of which
we are unaware. If so, we would be grateful to
have a fuller understanding of the procedures.
This leads to our third question. The
Assembly was very clear in its mandate that
the SJC consider this matter after the manner
of BCO 31-2...and that representatives of the
petitioning presbyteries be permitted to
represent their allegations before the SJC.
(B&O Recommendation 24 as adopted by the
28th GA.) BCO 31-2 is dealing with
preliminary investigation. Thus, we would
understand the Assemblys action to mean
that the presbyteries must be heard during
any preliminary investigation. Moreover,
as we understand your process, the next stage
in the timeline would be recommendations
to the full SJC, hopefully at its October
meeting.... (Paragraph 2 of your letter.) If this
is a full statement of the process, then it would
appear to us that the 31-2 investigation would
(or could) be concluded without ever hearing
from the presbyteries. If we are not aware of
some aspect of your proposed procedure we
would welcome clarification. Otherwise, we
would ask you to reconsider the current
direction of the process in light of the directive
of the 28th GA.
Our final concern grows out of the fourth
paragraph of the Panels letter. That paragraph
specifies that the interviews of witnesses will
be private and that there will be no
examination of the witnesses by the parties.
We do not believe there are parties in this
matter at this time (see BCO 31-3 The original
and only parties in a case of process are the
accuser and the accused. The accuser is
always the Presbyterian Church in
America....). Given that, we agree that this is
not the time for witnesses to be examined by
either the presbyteries or TE Wood. However,
we are less sanguine about the private nature
of the interviews. It seems to us that it is
fundamentally unfair not to allow TE Wood
to hear statements that may be made against
him and his position. It also seems that all
interested parties and courts in this matter
will be hampered if they are not allowed to
hear the evidence which various persons may
be prepared to give. At a minimum,
interviewing the witnesses privately will be
much more costly to the Church in the long
run as both parties (if the matter becomes a
case) will then have to contact each potential
witness to determine what he or she knows.
This is not a matter in which the identity of
the one about whom concerns have been
expressed are secret. Both the alleged actions
and the alleged statements are public and, as
we noted above, the matter turns
fundamentally on doctrinal views. Thus we
would advocate allowing TE Wood (or his
representative) and at least one representative
of the petitioning presbyteries to hear the
interviews.
As we noted above, it may be that your
letter does not provide sufficient detail as to
the processes which the Panel and SJC
envision. If so, perhaps having that additional
detail will satisfy our concerns. However, if
the letter is a full statement of the process,
then we have serious misgivings as to whether
the concerns of the presbyteries can be
adequately addressed and whether the
directives of the 28th GA are being following.
In addition we believe it would be helpful to
know at this time how a prosecutor will be
chosen should this case go to trial. This will
facilitate proper preparation.
Having said all that, we would make two
suggestions (in addition to the one made
above). First, it may be that many of the facts
regarding TE Woods views are not in dispute.
Would the Panel be willing to see if TE Wood
and the witnesses we cite below would be
willing to agree to various facts (particularly
statements by TE Wood) which could then be
stipulated, thus saving much time and money
in the fact finding process? Second, given our
understanding of the issues which are raised
by this matter and the knowledge of the
witnesses we list, it appears to us that any one
persons time of sharing information is likely to
be very brief. Given that, and the fact that we
are not dealing with a case in process at the
moment (thus relieving us of some of the
requirements of BCO 35), would the Panel be
willing to consider allowing those being
interviewed to share what they know by
telephone; or, even better, to conducting this
phase of the process by conference call? We
believe this would save a great deal of time and
money for all concerned.
We thank you in advance for your
consideration of our questions and concerns
and we look forward to your answers. Our list
of witnesses and evidence follows.
Evidence
1. Woman Delivers Message at Cedar
Springs Church, Presbyterian and Reformed
News, vol 5, number 1, March 1999, p. 13. See
especially the material following the subheading
John Wood on Womens Role in the Church.
(copy attached)
2. Overture from the Presbytery of the
Ascension dated July 31, 1999, particularly the
first three whereas clauses. (copy attached)
3. The second overture adopted by
Tennessee Valley Presbytery at its meeting of
October 12, 1999. (copy attached)
Witnesses
1. TE Joseph A. Pipa, Jr., Greenville
Presbyterian Theological Seminary, P.O. Box
690, Taylors, SC 29687; 864-322-2717;
[email protected]. TE Pipa will testify to a
telephone conversation with TE Wood
regarding his views on the matters at hand. TE
Pipa will also be available to testify with regard
to doctrinal matters should that be necessary
and appropriate.
2. TE Morton H. Smith, 109 Connestee
Trail, Brevard, NC 28712; 828-884-5212;
WCFLCSC@InfoAve.Net. TE Smith will testify
to the contents of the same telephone
conversation. TE Smith will also be available
to testify with regard to doctrinal matters should
that be necessary and appropriate.
3. TE Frank J. Smith, 905 Dogwood Park
Dr., Lawrenceville, GA 30045; 678-442-1868;
[email protected]. TE Smith says he has
nothing to add to the article referenced above.
However, if necessary, he is certainly willing to
come to testify to the veracity of the article, etc.
So far as we know, these are the only
witnesses/pieces of evidence that we believe
we need to ask the Panel to consider with regard
to the BCO 31-2 investigation of this matter.
Given that it is the view of TE Wood with
regard to women preaching that is the most
significant part of Presbyterys concern, we do
not believe that our supplying evidence with
regard to the specific events at Cedar Springs
Presbyterian Church is necessary. Should the
panel feel otherwise, we will provide the names
of witnesses to those events as well as a
transcript and/or audio recording of the
pertinent parts of the service.
Again, we thank you for your
consideration of our questions, concerns, and
suggestions, and we pray that God will guide
you in your deliberations to the end that Christ
would be glorified and the peace, honor, and
purity of His Bride would be maintained.
Sincerely in Christ,
Frederick R. Neikirk, Stated Clerk
Letter from Ascensions Commission to the
Judicial Panel in the John Wood Matter
The Standing Judicial Commission habitually meets
at the Westin Hotel at the Atlanta airport.
P&R News ² September - October 2000
5
Summer of 2001
Mission Opportunities
A
re you a college student or recent college graduate that is wrestling
with how you might use your God given gifts to serve Christ?
Would you like to sharpen your abilities to defend the faith and
proclaim the gospel? Are you be interested in working shoulder to shoulder
with established congregations around the world so that you might better
understand the way your gifts might be incorporated into the life of Christ’s
Church? If so, please prayerfully consider whether a summer with RP Mis-
sions might help you in your growth and stir within you the desire to
actively serve Christ wherever He may lead. This organization operates
under the oversight and authority of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of
North America. RP Missions seeks to provide college students with an
introduction to missions from a Biblical and Reformed perspective. We
seek to work with established congregations so that participants will better
understand the ins and outs of the life of the Church and learn to appreciate
and utilize the form of Church government that God has prescribed in His
Word.
Participants should expect to spend three hours each week during the
spring in training/preparation for the upcoming missions. Below you will
find brief descriptions of each of the upcoming trips.
Geelong, Australia (June 14 - July 5)
The summer of 2000 will provide the first opportunity for RP Missions to
travel to Melborne, Australia to work with a congregation on the outskirts
of the city in Geelong. This team will be helping a small congregation of
some 30-40 members to carry out several tasks this summer. First, they will
be doing some door-to-door work to establish contacts in the community.
They will also plan to hold a Holiday Bible Club (VBS) for children in the
community. Young people will also be interviewed on local Christian radio
stations, where they will give their testimonies and present the gospel and
describe their work in Australia. This team will also carry out some minis-
try in the ports around Melborne. As this congregation gets very few visi-
tors, we will be seeking to encourage them by participating in the activities
of their congregation. There are two other congregations we will join in
their outreach efforts. We may spend some time doing some manual labor
to improve the properties and make visitors more welcome. This team is
open to college age young people and there is a limit of 12 participants on
this mission.
Larnaca, Cyprus (June 14 - July 5)
For the second year, RP Missions is sending a team to Larnaca, Cyprus.
This team of four or five young people will carry out some needed improve-
ments on the Church building and will help organize and implement an
English Vacation Bible School. Team members will also be responsible for
developing Sunday School lessons for the children of the host congregation.
This congregation is heavily involved with ministry to refugees and this
team will do what it can to aid in that ministry. Much time will be spent in
the establishment of relationships with the members of the congregation
and with local children who participate in the Vacation Bible School. A
joint outreach effort, distributing pamphlets, will be carried out with an-
other local congregation.
Kobe, Japan (July 18 - August 19)
For the third year, RP Missions will be sending a team to Kobe, Japan. This
team will work with six congregations in the Kobe area. They can expect to
lead English language lessons by using Bible lessons, and they will help each
congregation carry out their Vacation Bible Schools. Some manual labor can
be expected on some of the Churches. Again, much time will be spent estab-
lishing relationships with the members of the congregations for the purpose
of encouraging them and better understanding the worldwide nature of Christ’s
Church. Participants will carry out door-to-door ministry, pamphlet distri-
bution, organizing Bible Studies, giving their testimonies, and will partici-
pate in a youth conference. This team is limited to 4 participants.
Airdrie & Wishaw, Scotland (June 7 - July 14)
These congregations have been involved with RP Missions from its begin-
ning. Now in their fifth year of hosting mission teams, these congregations
are looking to expand their outreach efforts with larger teams. In the summer
of 2001, they are asking for up to 21 young people to spend about six weeks
proclaiming Christ in the areas outside Glasgow. Ministry opportunities
abound and the need for the gospel is great. Team members can expect to
present the gospel in several public schools, distribute several thousand tracts,
survey communities and make invitations to these congregations, organize
Vacation Bible Schools, and participate in a two week course on Reformation
history in England and Scotland. Participants will travel to London and
throughout the south central parts of Scotland during that course. This course
can be taken for graduate credit from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological
Seminary and several other colleges have given credit to students who have
successfully completed this course.
Suriname (August 1 - August 14 tentative dates)
This small team of four or five young people will travel to this tropical nation
to work with five mission churches that are interested in learning how to sing
the Psalms a cappella. Applicants for this team should be able to read music
and should be familiar with and love the Psalms. Participants will hopefully
represent all four parts (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) to better instruct these
congregations in the beauty of a cappella singing. Team members will also
examine the psalms and prepare some short psalm meditations before teach-
ing the psalms.
If you would like more information, please visit our website, write or call
using the information below. Applications are available by mail or by visiting
our website. The application deadline is January 1, 2001.
RP Missions
7418 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15208-2594
(412)731-8690 day
(724)891-6993 evening
E-mail: [email protected]
www.rpmissions.org
P&R News ² September - October 20006
At its spring stated meeting, Tennessee
Valley Presbytery (TVP) of the Presbyterian
Church in America (PCA) declined to take action
against First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga,
Tennessee, for its practice of
infant dedication.
In defending its practice,
the Session of the prominent
PCA congregation proclaimed
that it prefers and promotes
infant baptism, but that the
practice of infant dedication is
not intended to be a sacrament,
nor any substitute therefor.
The elders also stated: A
careful search of scripture
reveals no evidence that
dedication of infants is not
permitted in worship services.
The practice of dedication of
infants is illustrated in the Old
Testament scriptures in the
cases of Samuel and Samson.
Jesus, Himself, when an infant,
was presented to the Lord in
the temple by his parents, as prescribed in the
law of the Lord. Luke 2:22,23.
Finally, BCO 47-6 states, The Lord Jesus
Christ has prescribed no fixed forms for public
worship, but, in the interest of life and power in
worship, has given His church a large measure
of liberty in this matter. And BCO 47-9 lists the
proper elements of worship service and includes,
. . . on special occasions taking oaths.
The Session resolved that, in its judgment,
infant dedication is not prohibited and is
therefore permitted by Scripture. Infant
dedication will continue to be permitted in this
church and in accordance with conditions and
guidelines established by this Session.
Those guidelines are as follows:
1. That the church promote the teaching of
reformed and covenantal doctrine.
2. That, to this end, the Moderator appoint
a committee which would include
representation from the pastoral staff, the
Sunday School, the Diaconate, Women in the
Church, Mens Ministry, and Camp Vesper Point
to propose to the Session within sixty days a
plan to incorporate the teachings of reformed
and covenantal theology throughout the
churchs educational program.
3. That great care be given not to so
emphasize the teaching of doctrine that the
church lose any of its love, warmth, evangelistic
zeal or missions emphasis which continue to be
hallmarks of this church.
4. That the moderator propose for
adoption by the Session (with the help of such
advisors as he deems necessary) guidelines for
continuing the performance of infant dedication
at First Presbyterian Church. At a minimum,
such guidelines shall communicate the
following:
a. We affirm that there are only two
sacramentsbaptism and the Lords Supper. We
affirm that infant dedication is not and shall
not be practiced as a sacrament nor as a
substitute therefor.
b. Pastor and officers of the church
will not promote nor even initiate the offer of
infant dedication but will discuss the matter
only at the initiative and request of parents.
c. Parents who request infant
dedication should be instructed as to why we
baptize infants and why we allow infant
dedication. The parents should prayerfully
consider the instruction and then make their
decision for their children. This instruction
should include the detail that dedication is not
a substitute for baptism and that infant baptism
can still be performed at a later date.
d. The dedication ceremony will be
designed to be distinctively different from the
sacrament of infant baptism.
e. No Teaching Elder will be required
to violate his conscience in performing infant
dedications.
f. A pastor will be permitted to perform
infant dedications only in accordance
with Session-approved guidelines.
g. Make all aspects of baptism/
dedication a positive, faith-building
experience for those involved.
h. Teaching Elders are to
approach this issue humbly, lovingly, and
non-judgmentally with members in order
to edify the whole body of Christ.
5. That no additional infant
dedications be performed until the
guidelines are adopted by the Session.
6. That the Session agree to revisit
and reconsider its position on infant
dedication at the request of a new or
prospective senior pastor.
The parents of those presenting
infants for dedication are requested to
answer in the affirmative these questions:
a. Do you believe by grace through
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for your
salvation?
b. Do you believe that children are a gift
from God, and that God desires His best for your
child?
c. Do you dedicate your child to God and
promise to raise him/her in a Christian home
according to the scriptures?
The pastor is to pray for the child and
parents, including dedicating the child by name
to God, but not in the name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. The pastor also is
to introduce the child to the
congregation.
The matter in Tennessee Valley
Presbytery came to a head through an
overture offered by First Presbyterian
Church, Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia,
pastored by the Rev. Bob Borger. After
TVP voted, 29-34, not to adopt the Ft.
Oglethorpe overture, Mr. Borger placed
a protest on the record.
The first part of his protest quoted the
overture which his Session had sent to
the Presbytery on February 2, 200. That
overture noted that the Tennessee Valley
Presbytery has noted exceptions to the
minutes of First PC, Chattanooga, with
regard to infant dedications on at least
two occasions; that there may be other
congregations in our presbytery where
this practice is under consideration; that this
issue was brought to the attention of the
Tennessee Valley Presbytery at its Spring Stated
Meeting, one year ago (April 17, 1999)); that
infant dedications have historically been
performed because believing parents do not
subscribe to the Reformed understanding of the
According to a story in the August 19, 2000,
edition of the Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel,
the Rev. John Wood, Pastor of Cedar Springs
Presbyterian Church in West Knoxville, was to
exchange pulpits with the Rev. Dr. Arnold Lovell,
a minister of the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.)
[PC(USA)]. The news item, headlined 2
churches to express their unity in spirit, noted
that Mr. Wood was to preach at 5:00 PM at Second
Presbyterian Church, while Dr. Lovell, who
pastors Second Presbyterian, was to preach the
next week at 5 o clock at Cedar Springs.
The story notes that the occasion for the
pulpit-swapping was the death of a young man,
a member of Cedar Springs, whose family has
long ties with Second Church. The article quotes
Dr. Lovell as saying, It seemed to me that if we
could come together across denominational lines
for those (memorial) services, that we should try
to build other bridges to put aside grief caused
by the theological and political differences of the
two denominations.
Mr. Wood was quoted as referring to John
17, as he said, What was most on our Lords
heart the night before he died was the unity of
his people. That was the final part of his great
prayer to his Father on the night before he was
arrested. His prayer was that we might be one.
Im delighted that we might be doing something
that shows our unity in Christ. Too often, instead,
we have been best known for our divisions.
An ad in the newspaper, sponsored by
Second Presbyterian, touted the LANDMARK
WORSHIP SERVICES! The advertisement
called the two evening services Joint Services
of Unity & Renewal with CEDAR SPRINGS
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The ad stated that
BOTH CHURCHES and the Community are
invited, and ended with the slogan, Bridging
Denominational Divides.
Mr. Wood, who is no stranger to
controversy, has recently been formally charged
in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
with believing in and tolerating women preaching.
The PC(USA), which does not adhere to the
historic Presbyterian view of Scripture, has had
women preachers for many years, and ordains
women to all ecclesiastical offices. As expressed
in the Kenyon case (1975), the denomination
enforces its egalitarian position by prohibiting
anyone who will not participate in ordaining a
woman, from himself being ordained to the
ministry.
According to the Rev. Robert Mills,
Associate Editor of the Presbyterian Layman,
Dr. Lovell has been regarded as an evangelical
leader in the PC(USA). Mr. Mills stated that the
Knoxville minister left his post as a professor of
evangelism at Union Theological Seminary in
Richmond, Virginia, at a time when evangelical
professors were not popular with the seminary
administration.
TVP Supports Practice of Infant Dedications
at First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga
John Wood Exchanges Pulpits
with PC(USA) Minister
sacrament of infant baptism; and that the
substitution of a ritual which could be seen as
competing with a sacrament as an element of
worship violates the Confessional
understanding of the regulative principle of
worship, despite its announced pastoral intention
to not hinder weaker or uninformed believers.
The overture also argues that there is no
provision anywhere in Chapter 56 of the
Directory for Worship for a so-called dry
baptism, and that since the water [of baptism]
is taken as a symbol for the blood of Christ in our
Directory for Worship (as it is in Scripture, e.g.
Eph. 5:26) any dry baptism/dedication could
seem to communicate that an infant could be
acceptable to the Holy God APART FROM the
merit of Christs sacrifice. The overture goes on
to note that our Confession teaches that it is a
great sin to condemn or neglect the Lords
ordinance of baptism and that therefore when
a session allows the substitution of an alternative
ritual for infant baptism, it could have the effect
of causing believing parents to condemn or
neglect this sacrament. The overture states that
the Confession calls us to make a right use of
this ordinance of baptism, and that therefore
to neglect to carefully guard the two sacraments
ordained by Christ our Lord
in the Gospel is to run the risk
of forfeiting the grace
promised therein. The
overture asked the Presbytery
to agree that the practice of
infant dedications as distinct
from the sacrament of
covenant baptism is contrary
to the Constitutional
Standards of the Presbyterian
Church in America and Holy
Scripture.
Mr. Borger commended the
Session of First Church,
Chattanooga, for its study of
the subject of infant
dedications. However, he
also protested the theological
grounds of their position
statement. The Rev. Dr. King
Counts joined Mr. Borger in this protest.
The protest was spread on the minutes of
the Presbytery, with reference to the General
Assembly Committee on Review and Control
(cf. BCO 40-4).
First Presbyterian Church, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
The Fort Oglethorpe church is located adjacent
to the Chickamauga battlefield.
P&R News ² September - October 2000
7
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(http://capo.org/opeds/POFORM.html) before December 31, 2000.
A prominent Korean congregation of the
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) had two
complaints brought against an incident in which
a woman was allowed to preach, and also allowed
to teach charismatic doctrine. In response, the
Session acknowledged the irregularity of the
situation, and pledged not to allow such to occur
again.
In a recent interview, the Rev. Simon Chung,
an Assistant Pastor of the Korean Central
Presbyterian Church (KCPC) of Vienna, Virginia,
explained the action of the churchs elders and
their desire to be submissive to the doctrine of
the denomination. Our Session never allowed a
woman to preach in a pulpit, he said. One of
our staff workers, without Sessional approval,
allowed her to preach. We responded by letter
and we explained that she was allowed to do so
without permission. Our Session said that we
were upset about this. We will not allow a woman
to do this.
Any other guest speaker coming from
outside the church, including any men, would
need permission through the Session meeting.
Were not going against the PCA. We want to
keep with the BCO [Book of Church Order].
Members of the large congregation in
suburban Washington, D. C., lodged a complaint
in May of this year against the Session of KCPC
for violating the Word of God and tainting the
purity of the church by inviting and hosting a
woman to replace Gods ordained minister and
teach the adult congregation of the April 30, 2000
Open Service. Two days later, two members
complained against the Session in connection
with its (I) inviting a false teacher to the
congregation of the April 30, 2:30pm Lords Day
service; and (II) failing to publicly correct the error
once it became notorious.
In support of the first complaint, the
complainants argued that The Word of God says
it is shameful for a woman to speak in church
and that spiritual men everywhere must
acknowledge this: Let women keep silent in
the churches, for they are not permitted to speak;
but they are to be submissive, as the law also
says. And if they want to learn something, let
them ask their own husbands at home; for it is
shameful for women to speak in church. . .If
anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or
spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things
which I write to you are the commandments of
the Lord. [I Cor. 14:34,35,37]
The complaint also stated that The Word
of God even more specifically prohibits women
from teaching or having authority over men
because of creation and the fall, which reasons
overrule appeals for change from contrary
culture or theological fashion: Let a woman
learn in silence and with all submission. And I
do not permit a woman to teach or have
authority over a man, but to be in silence. For
Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was
not deceived, but the woman being deceived,
fell into transgression. [I Tim. 2:11-14]
The complainants request[ed] the session
to acknowledge to the congregation the error of
the April 30 incident (so they will not persist in
their own error) and put in place a policy to
prevent similar errors in the future.
The second complaint alleged that The
womans teaching was contrary to the Bible and
to the PCA Constitution: (1) because of her
audience of men, (2) because it promoted
contrary doctrine, and (3) because it included
contrary worship practices.
The complaint stated that the truth of these
charges can be verified first hand by watching a
Real video stream of the incident on the KCPC
web site (the original English is worse than the
interpretation); however, highlights are below.
The specifications included the following:
(1) The womans teaching was unbiblical
because she directed it to men. Scripture says
women may not teach or have authority over
a man [I Timothy 2:11-14] because they were
deceived in the fall. Rather than usurp authority
by teaching men, the older women should
admonish the young women to be submissive to
their husbands. [Titus 2:4];
(2) The womans teaching was unbiblical
because she promoted contrary doctrine:
(a) She taught that God gave her
direct revelation to give special power and
wind blessings that Christians need for a
victorious life, but the Scripture says that the
Bible is sufficient that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work. [II
Tim 3:17]
(b) She taught she could anoint with
the sign of the Holy Spirit, but the Bible
mentions no such sign and says Christians are
already anointed [II Cor. 1:21-22] and the Holy
Spirit comes and goes as it wills [John 3:7-8],
not according to the will of man or woman.
(c) She taught that God told her to
give the breath of life to Christians, but the
Bible teaches that God gave the breath of life at
creation [Gen. 2:7] and that all men have it till
they die, when God takes it away [Psalm 104:29-
30]. So she cant be telling the truth when she
claims God told her to give Christians what
they already have.
(d) She taught it was acceptable if
those who received from her the power and
wind were overcome such that they couldnt
control themselves and had to lie down. The
Bible, by contrast, says, let everything be done
in a decent and orderly manner and that the
spirits of the prophets are subject to the
prophets. [I Cor. 14:32] Furthermore, she did
not instruct those who thought they spoke in
tongues to be silent in the absence of an
interpreter [I Cor. 14:28] or to test the spirits
to be sure they were of God [I John 4:1], as the
Bible commands. Also, those who felt overcome
in our church service fell back, whereas in every
biblical instance of the people of God
encountering His presence, they fall forward
on their faces.
(3) The womans teaching was unbiblical
because it included contrary worship practices:
(a) She used a Native American chant
and shaman (mudang) spirit drum
accompaniment to worship God. This
misbegotten multiculturalism ignores the
Bibles teaching not to be conformed to the
pattern of the world. [Romans 12:2] Rather than
seeking pagan forms of counterfeit worship, we
should eagerly seek out the kind of worship
acceptable to God, the specifics of which he has
commanded. [Book of Church Order (BCO) 47-
1] Given our disobedience in this matter,
perhaps we should thank God that he has so far
been merciful and not punished us with the death
by fire of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron,
because they offered a sacrifice which He had
not commanded them. [Lev. 10:1-3]
(b) In her pagan prayer chant she
PCA Korean Church Responds to Concern over
Woman Preaching and Her Charismatic Teaching
Prominent Congregation Vows Not to Allow This to Happen Again
(Continued on page26)
(Paid Advertisement)
P&R News ² September - October 20008
by Jerry Johnson
On July 15th, the Westminster Presbytery
had its summer stated meeting. There were
many items on the docket, including the
request of transfer from the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church to the
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) of the
Rev. R. C. Sproul, Jr. Mr. Sproul is the son of
Dr. R. C. Sproul, who pastors St. Andrews
Chapel in Orlando, Florida, and was founder
of Ligonier Ministries. The examination of Mr.
Sproul began at approximately 11:30AM and
dealt primarily with his testimony. At
12:00 noon the presbytery adjourned
for a season of prayer before breaking
for lunch. The presbytery reconvened
at 1:30PM and continued its
examination of Mr. Sproul. The minister
stated his exceptions to the Westminster
Standards including paedo-communion
and a continental view of the Sabbath.
Mr. Sproul repeatedly stated that he
would submit to the brethren and would
not speak nor teach these views if so
instructed by presbytery.
At this point the presbytery went
into executive session, calling Mr.
Sproul back in on two different
occasions to discuss further his views
on education. Mr. Sproul was asked if
he believed it was a sin to send covenant
Christian children into government
schools. He answered in the affirmative.
After the call for the question Mr. Sproul
was approved by a vote of 27 for and 5
against. Immediately following this vote
a member called for a vote to
reconsider and have it recorded on the
minutes. The moderator, Mr. Nat Kelley
of Draper Valley Presbyterian Church,
Draper, Virginia, allowed the motion to
stand. The chair was challenged and
the presbytery voted, 18-13, to support
the decision of the chair. The motion to
reconsider and have it recorded on the
minutes suspended the previous vote
of presbytery on Mr. Sprouls transfer.
Immediately following, a motion was
made to adjourn. It was seconded and
carried.
On August 22nd a meeting of the
Westminster Presbytery was called to deal
with an overture from the Bridwell Heights
Church pastored by the Rev. Larry Ball on the
subject of education and a complaint filed by
Ruling Elder Joe Reynolds of Westminster
Presbyterian Church in Kingsport. This
complaint stated that Roberts Rules were
specific on the circumstances that must exist
in order to allow a motion to reconsider and
have it recorded on the minutes stand. The
basis of Mr. Reynolds complaint was that the
circumstances did not exist. The called meeting
was also to deal with the transfer of Mr. Sproul
and the motion to reconsider. At the beginning
of the meeting the moderator, Mr. Nat Kelley,
set a three hour time limit, starting at 7:00PM,
and the matter was not up for debate. One
minister asked if he made a motion at 10:00PM
to extend the meeting for another hour if he
would be ruled out of order and the moderator
said that he would.
After roughly ten minutes had passed
the stated clerk distributed some items of
interest he felt that the members needed and
explained their content. He finished around
7:40PM and a TE asked the moderator if the
three hours could begin at that time. The
moderator said no that it had begun at 7:00PM.
The overture from Bridwell Heights was dealt
with first and then the complaint from Mr.
Reynolds. During the debate on this complaint
a ruling elder from a church in Johnson City,
Tennessee, declared that Rev. Sproul had
nothing to offer Westminster Presbytery and
that Westminster Presbytery had nothing to
offer Rev. Sproul. This was said in an angry
tone and many of the members felt this
statement was uncalled for. Discussion and
voting lasted until approximately 9:20PM. The
issue of the reception of R. C. Sproul, Jr. was
next on the docket. At this point the Stated
Clerk, the Rev. Steve Meyerhoff, made a motion
to request that presbytery help him with ideas
on how complaints could be streamlined. The
Rev. Henry Johnson asked for a point of order
stating that this was not the business that
brought the presbytery here and could be
better handled at the next stated meeting. The
Moderator denied his point of order and the
chair was challenged. The decision of
the chair was then upheld. Mr.
Meyerhoff stated his point and finished
at 9:40 PM.
The presbytery was now ready to
deal with the motion to reconsider in
reference to Mr. Sprouls transfer. The
presbytery immediately returned to
executive session and dismissed 20
minutes later at 10:00PM asking Mr.
Sproul to return on September 12th.
On September 12th a meeting was
called for Westminster Presbytery at
Abingdon PCA, a church pastored by
the Rev. Bill Leuzinger. The meeting was
to deal with the vote to reconsider Rev.
R.C. Sprouls request to be transferred
from the ARP to the PCA. The
presbytery immediately went into
executive session. Mr. Sproul was called
in once. Evidently the controversy
surrounded his views on government
schools. The presbytery was behind
closed doors for approximately two
hours and forty minutes. When they emerged,
Mr. Sproul was denied transfer by a vote of 18
to 27. Many of his supporters appeared with
tears in their eyes and told R. C. Sproul, Jr.,
how sorry they were.
Mr. Johnson, a member of Providence
Presbyterian Mission, Wytheville, Virginia,
and a friend of Mr. Sproul, reports that a
member of Presbytery in opposition to Mr.
Sprouls admission intimated that the effort
to have Mr. Sproul join Westminster
Presbytery was to get another Reformed
vote.
Interview with
R. C. Sproul, Jr.
It has been suggested that you are a legalist.
Do you have any comment? (In your opinion,
have you been slandered and/or libeled?)
There are, of course, two different kinds of
legalists. The worst are those who deny the
sufficiency of Christs work, and add some sort
of meritorious works for how we have peace with
God. The Judaizers are an example. The
second affirms the true gospel, but
adds mans laws to Gods laws, saying
Thou shall or Thou shalt not when
God has said no such thing. Given the
context of the debate, I would believe
that the man making the claim would
put me in the second category, not the
first. To determine if I am a legalist, we
have to determine what the law of God
says. If I have gone beyond it, the
accusation sticks. If not, he is an
antinomian. No, I dont think it is
slander. I think its an error.
Why did you want to transfer into the
PCA (particularly if youve been so
critical of it)?
I wanted to transfer to the Westminster
Presbytery because I have a great deal
of respect for many of the teaching and
ruling elders, and because they are
close, it seemed like the best place for
me to be under an authority. I have
been critical of the PCA, as have you
and lots of others. But I have never
argued either that it is not a true church, nor even
that it is not a Reformed church. I know of no
other denomination with as many godly and wise
men as pastors.
What have been your criticisms of MNA and the
PCA?
My criticisms of the MNA and the PCA are very
common. I find the whole church growth
mentality to be troubling, as a lot of people do.
As for the PCA in general, in my judgement, too
often they are unwilling to make decisive stands
on issues that matter; issues like creation, women
in the pulpit, even the relationship of the
evangelical church and Rome. We have PCA
men that are all behind things like Evangelicals
and Catholics Together, a document arguing
among other things that, Evangelicals and
Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ. That
concerns me deeply.
Were you there when an elder said something
to the effect, R. C. Sproul, Jr., has nothing to
offer this Presbytery, and this Presbytery has
nothing to offer him? Would you please
comment on this statement?
It may be that I have nothing to offer the
Westminster Presbytery. I wasnt asking to join
because it was my plan to remake it. I did believe,
however, that the presbytery had something to
offer me, the oversight a pastor needs as he, with
the session, leads a congregation. The majority
apparently believed that to help in this way would
be too problematic for them, and so refused my
request.
Concern has been raised about your views of
worship. In what way or ways do your views
differ with historic Presbyterianism and our
Confessional Standards?
I dont believe my views on worship differ from
historic Presbyterianism and our Confessional
Standards.
How has Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery (ARP)
re-acted with regard to your request for
transfer? Did the unusual actions by
Westminster Presbytery elicit a sympathetic
reaction from Tennessee-Alabama?
The Tennessee-Alabama presbytery was
gracious enough to extend my status as a
teaching elder in good standing until the Spring
stated meeting. I consider that a sympathetic
response, and am grateful.
Where are you going to place your ministerial
credentials?
I am looking at some smaller Reformed and
Presbyterian denominations right now.
Is there anything you would do differently with
regard to the attempt to transfer to the PCA?
I would have done nothing different. I came
looking for oversight. I spoke honestly about
my convictions. And I was refused entrance.
My conscience is clean, and I am perfectly at
peace over the whole matter.
Is there anything else you would like to share
with our readers?
While I am disappointed that the presbytery
apparently found my views outside the bounds
of what was acceptable, and while I still have
the same concerns about the PCA I had before
this happened, I still think the PCA is a perfectly
legitimate denomination. I pray that other
conservative people in the denomination do
not misconstrue this as proof positive that all
those who hold the views I hold are not
welcome in the denomination. I pray for the
peace and purity of the PCA.
Interview with
R. C. Sproul, Sr.
What has been your reaction to the action
regarding your son, and what does it indicate
about the PCA?
It came as an absolute shock to me. I had assumed
the PCA was more committed to Reformed
theology than was indicated by the rejection of
The Saga of R. C. Sproul, Jr.
R. C. Sproul, Jr.
R. C. Sproul, Sr.
P&R News ² September - October 2000
9
R. C., Jr. He has the same name as I do, and the
same theology I do. I was not just surprised, but
I was shocked and disappointed.
However, I still see the PCA as being the
denomination most committed to the Reformed
faith.
Would you compare what happened in this case
to what was happening in the UPCUSA 25 to 30
years ago?
No, theres really no comparison. . . . However, I
still dont understand this action.
My whole thinking and focus since the decision
about R. C., Jr., has not been on the PCA, its
been on helping him to find a denomination where
he can minister. I really dont want to have a
quarrel with the PCA, or Cortez Cooper and his
people.
Was it because of political considerations that
this decision was made?
I wasnt there, I dont know.
R. C., Jr., has taken this a whole lot better than I
have. He said to me, If this decision was motivated
by politics, then Im better off. If it was motivated
by views, then I dont belong in that group.
One of the stated concerns about R. C., Jr., was
that he has taken public stands on controversial
issues. I cant imagine someone objecting to a
minister of the gospel taking controversial stands.
That standard would exclude Edwards, Calvin,
Luther, Augustine, and Paul from the ministry. I
dont understand that kind of thinking.
Iain Murray, in Evangelicals Divided, writes of
those who want to make peace with unbelief and
those who want to be faithful to the Word of
God. Its a strategic decision as to what approach
youre going to take.
It is unconscionable to tolerate the intolerable. It
is equally unconscionable to fight over minor
details of theology. I think we need a church that
is willing to die for the essentials of the faith.
I read your paper. I am very glad for what you do.
It breaks my heart to see a laissez faire attitude
toward the cardinal truths.
I would think that any church committed firmly
to the truths of the faith welcome a man such as
R. C., Jr. The questions they asked had nothing
to do with the faith.
Ive had any number of people apologize to me,
saying that this was not the action of the PCA, it
was the action of one disturbed presbytery. But
I have said that this was not a Lutheran or
Episcopalian presbytery, it was a PCA presbytery
that did this. It was the action of the PCA. After
being overwhelmingly affirmed, 27-5, he was
subject to all these machinations. This is what
my church, my denomination, has done.
Some wanted R. C., Jr., to press charges of slander,
for what was said about him. He doesnt want to
do that. My attitude has been, Lets look for a
place for you.
My focus has been not on the PCA, or Cortez
Cooper, but my zeal for the PCA has been
dampened. Ive been working with the elders of
the church I pastor which is independent, and
Ive been trying to lay the groundwork for three
years for this church to come into the PCA. After
this action, theres not a great deal of zeal among
elders for that.
Why would your elders not be interested in
joining the PCA?
My elders are fearful that the PCA is politically-
oriented, rather than ministerially- or
theologically-oriented.
Where, if at all, do you and your son differ
theologically?
My son and I have essentially the same theology.
Where we differ is that he has been much more
diligent on raising his children in the nurture and
admonition of the Lordwhich is the area where
he apparently got into trouble. His diligence in
this matter shames me.
You know, I was a founding member of
Ascension Presbytery. After leading the fight
on the ECT [Evangelicals and Catholics Together]
matter, that Presbytery, without my knowing
anything about it, sent me a resolution of
commendation. It was one of the most affirming
things that has happened in my 25 years in the
PCA
On the other hand, the situation with regard to
my son felt like someone had kicked me in the
stomach with an iron boot. I fully realize that no
presbytery has the obligation to receive my son
for my sake; but, no presbytery has the right to
treat him the way that they did.
Some have suggested that the issues were raised
by fears to protect the fragile balance of power in
Westminster Presbytery.
Have a lot of people expressed their concern to
you regarding this matter?
Only folks at Knox Seminary, such as Dr. Kennedy.
Nobody here in Central Florida Presbytery has
talked with me about it, nor has anyone from
Westminster Presbytery.
I believe that there are a lot of people who embrace
the Reformed faith, but very few have a passion
to propagate it. R. C., Jr., and I do. That makes us
zealots, and gets us in trouble with those who
dont want to rock the boat.
People are often willing to take a stand for a
particular doctrine, but wont deny the antithesis.
Francis Schaeffer often spoke of this. In the first
half of the twentieth century, people talked like
that. In the second half of the twentieth century,
people didnt want to be a remnant group, they
wanted to be mainstream.
Do you agree with your sons view on government
schools?
Thats not an issue that I crusade about. However,
parents ultimately bear the responsibility to see
to it that their children are educated in the fear of
the Lord. Given the pagan nature of the public
school system, I would think that any discerning
parents would not place their children in such an
environment. Knowingly to turn them over to
such a pagan system would be sin. But its mostly
a sin of ignorance. Most folks dont know the
true nature of the public schools. I agree with R.
C., Jr.s, basic assessment, that Christian parents
have a responsibility not to send their kids into
that environment.
What about paedo-communion?
I do not agree with him on paedo-communion.
However, a cogent argument can be made in its
favor. That should not have been a reason to
keep him out of the PCA. I know of many people
in the PCA who take the same position. He said
that he would submit to the PCA on that matter.
What about burning incense in public worship?
He may have gotten that from me. In my lectures
on Old Testament worship, I note that all five
senses were employed, including the olfactory
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sense. I have said probably that I would have no
Biblical problem with the use of incense. What
disturbs me, and probably R. C., Jr., too, is the
whole contemporary sceneall the drums and
guitars and dance and drama. The seeker-
sensitive, Willow Creek model. Im very
concerned about that.
You know, Calvin was more concerned about
worship than he was about justification.
With regard to incense, just because its not
required does not mean that its prohibited.
However, R. C., Jr., is not on some sort of crusade
to introduce incense into worship.
One of the issues raised, at least in a letter to the
editor of PCANEWS.COM by a member of
Westminster Presbytery, was that your son has
been critical of the PCA, and of MNA in
particular: for example, with regard to church
planting.
I have been, too. If that disqualifies you from the
PCA, then Im a dead duck, too.
I think that there are legitimate things that can be
done: for example, calling up 2000 people to get
100 people there. Thats a matter of prudence. I
supported Terry Gyger on things like that. I was
a part of the Center for Church Planting.
But expediency or pragmatism is not the way we
operate. At Ligonier Ministries, people try to get
us to utilize methods which violate our principles.
If you promise a benefit, it will increase your sales.
But, we cant make promises that you cant really
declare.
And theres nobody more scrupulous about
those principles than R. C., Jr.
The papers presented in this Symposium
make a very positive contribution to the
study of the transmission of the printed
text of the New Testament. . . .May the
studies presented here lead young
evangelical scholars to carry out
disciplined research for themselves rather
than relying on text-book presentations.
Professor Peter J. Johnston, Nairobi
Evangelical Graduate School of Theology
Well-written and beautifully produced,
Letis work offers a searing examination
of the callapse of evangelical authority
in the very area in which they take most
pride. Those of us who belong to that
movement would do well to take heed.
Crawford Gribben, Ph.D.,
Trinity College, Dublin
The Ecclesiastical Text, $19.95
The Majority Text, $14.95
The Institute for Renaissance and Reformation Biblical Studies
P. O. Box 870525, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
www.Kuyper.org/thetext
(Paid Advertisement)
P&R News ² September - October 200010
Pineville, Louisiana (August 12, 2000)
Louisiana Presbytery of the Presbyterian
Church in America (PCA) held a special
meeting today to consider the state of the
denomination. The meeting was in response
to an overture from Auburn Avenue
Presbyterian Church, Monroe, Louisiana,
whose Session has become increasingly
alarmed about the direction of the PCA.
The purpose of the meeting was simply
discussion and the airing of perspectives, with
no action to be taken. The two keynote
speakers were the Rev. Dr. Morton H. Smith,
current Moderator of the PCA General
Assembly and the original Stated Clerk; and
the Rev. Dr. Joseph Pipa, President of
Greenville (S. C.) Presbyterian Theological
Seminary.
Dr. Smiths presentation, How Did We
Get Where We Are?, gave an overview of
American Presbyterian history. He began with
a reading of Ezekiel 37:15-28, and applied the
passage, which deals with false shepherds of
the flock.
The veteran churchman, who is Dean of
Faculty at Greenville Seminary, also made
reference to Thomas McCrie, the late
eighteenth century Scotsman who argued that
church division results in great punishment
by God prior to any re-unification.
Unlike some scholars, Dr. Smith draws a
sharp distinction between the Old Side/New
Side division of 1741, and the Old School/
New School division almost a century later.
The former, he believes, was over
methodology, as well as an evangelistic
concern for a converted ministrya concern
which he and others in the Southern
Presbyterian tradition share. On the other
hand, the 1837 division was definitely
doctrinally driven, with the New School being
open to various non-Reformed views of
salvation.
Dr. Smith noted that although the
Southern Presbyterian Church in 1900 was
basically sound and committed to Old School
principles, a determined thirty-year effort by
Ernest Trice Thompson, beginning in the
1930s, to liberalize the denomination
succeeded.
Dr. Pipas topic was When Is It
Appropriate to Leave? Using the standard
three marks of the church, he stated that a
true church can become an apostate church if
it denies foundational truths, does not
properly administer the sacraments, or
displays a blatant lack of church discipline.
President Pipa also maintained that there
may be two other occasions when it is
appropriate to leave a church, even if it is not
apostate. One is if staying would cause a
person to sin. (Dr. Pipa applied this point by
saying that if presbyteries successfully kept
out a man holding to the calendar-day view of
creation, It would be time to leave.) The
other is if a church was hindering edification,
faith, and love.
Citing the English Puritans as examples,
Dr. Pipa urged patience in the reform of the
church. He also encouraged reform from the
bottom up, rather than from the top down.
Grass roots reform, he suggested, consists of
using the pulpit, the press, and personal
influence.
After lunch, there was a question and
answer time with both men. Following that,
the presbyters who had gathered discussed
the matter. Well over 50 people were in
attendance, including men from at least five
other presbyteries. The official church press
was present, as the Rev. Don Clements
represented PCANEWS.COM.
Tapes of the addresses are available.
Those interested may send $10.00 to
Louisiana Presbytery, c/o the Rev. Dr. Jim
Jones, Stated Clerk, 1605 Melvin Lane, Lake
Charles, LA 70605.
Louisiana Presbytery Considers the State of the PCA
Pineville Presbyterian Church is an Orthodox Presbyterian congregation.
Ruling Elder Dale Peacock makes a point. Dr. Joseph Pipa urged that its not time to leave.
The Rev. Steve Wilkins pastors
the Auburn Avenue Church.
Dr. Morton Smith consults the wisdom of
Scotsman Thomas McCrie.
Ruling Elder Hewitt Carter of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church
presides as moderator of the presbytery meeting.
P&R News ² September - October 2000
11
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P&R News ² September - October 200012
Dear Editor:
Although a number of General Assemblies
of the PCA have declared that women may neither
preach nor teach, the church is once again facing
a doctrinal error intent upon having women do
precisely that, this time in the guise of
non-authoritative teaching. The source is
twofold: the position of TE John Wood and the
session of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church,
and the new Mission to North America (MNA)
regulations regarding who may teach in its
seminars. The John Wood/Cedar Springs case
is particularly troubling for several reasons
already advanced by a number of PCA teaching
elders, and has been well documented in
Presbyterian and Reformed News. Of interest
here, however, is a particular defense that the
defendants offered in the months before GA
acted: that because such women are not ordained,
their preaching is not authoritative, and therefore
is not a violation of 1 Tim 2:11-12. It is not the
point to try the John Wood/Cedar Springs case
here only to deal with the issue of non-
authoritative teaching.
The new MNA regulations involve women
teaching at its seminars. The call for these
regulations arose at the 27th General Assembly
after MNA came under scrutiny for allowing a
woman to teach the Word publicly. Ignoring
available tapes of the incident, the MNA
Permanent Committee recommended that those
responsible be vindicated of any wrongdoing.
GA accepted the recommendation, but also
demanded that MNA report to the 28th GA with
guidelines for speakers in its seminars, particularly
with regard to 1 Tim 2:11-12.
Those guidelines, accepted by the 28th GA,
prohibit women from preaching in an MNA-
sponsored worship service, but do allow women
to teach at MNA-sponsored seminars. They also
state that the primary difference between the
preaching of the Word in worship and the subject
matter of seminars has at its heart the issue of
authority. The content of seminars is not intended
to carry the weight to which the description teach
or have authority over (1 Tim 2:11-12) would
apply. The context of this passage is the Apostles
presentation of instructions for the proper
conduct of public worship and not that of the
more informal seminar. . . . The MNA statement
is to be included in its Key Principles of Public
Worship Practices for MNA Church Planters,
itself a publication drafted in response to serious
allegations raised at the 26th GA that MNA was
allowing only contemporary worship practices
in its church plants in the West. Although
according to MNA the purpose of this document
is to apply the doctrine already found in the BCO
rather than to formulate any new doctrine,
nevertheless, with this idea of non-authoritative
teaching by women, it does indeed introduce a
new doctrine.
This new concept of non-authoritative
teaching is extremely troubling. First, the
exegesis from both parties lacks any semblance
of validity. 1 Timothy 2:11-12 does not prohibit
the single action of authoritative teaching by
women, but two actions: teaching and
exercising authority over men. The Greek
syntax simply does not allow the two prohibitions
to be taken as a single unit. Thus, the act of
women teaching in the church is strictly
prohibited; any adjectives such as
authoritative or non-authoritative used to
describe such teaching are mere mincing with
words, and are superfluous to the clear violation
of the commandment. Simply put, the question
of whether teaching is non-authoritative is a
diversion, not an argument.
Second, both positions suggest that
endorsement by the churchs courts does not
convey authority. Either the session or the MNA
committee authoritatively calls the woman to
speak to its members, but then states that the
teaching that results is not authoritative. My
objections are twofold.
First, this makes a mockery of the historic
Presbyterian concept of church authority. We
are not Southern Baptists. We are not a loose
association of consenting adults. The members
of our church courts are bound by sacred oath
to act in accordance with the clear teaching of
the Word, and unless such actions are found to
be unrighteous in the sight of God, who speaks
authoritatively in the Scriptures, our churches
corporately and our members severally are bound
by oath to follow their decisions. If the authorities
call a woman to speak, and at the same time say
that we are not to listen to her, they speak with
duplicity; and being found to be double-minded
men, they ought not to be entrusted with such
matters. Nor would the hearers ever understand
such a position, for, as Calvin says, to teach
implies the rank or power of authority. Both the
position of John Wood/Cedar Springs and the
position of MNA turn Presbyterian ecclesiology
on its head.
Second, both positions fly in the face of all
Scriptural conceptions of language. The idea of
non-authoritative teaching is a linguistic lead
zeppelinit simply will not fly. If a person
publicly brings the Word of God to others, then
that teaching is by nature authoritative. If it is
not authoritative by nature, then in cannot be
the public bringing of the Word of God to others.
It is therefore little else than the word of man, and
had best be done away with. For we shall give
an account for every idle word, and if the forums
of the church and its arms are only to spread the
word of men, then they have become useless, or
worse, occasions for sin. If, on the other hand,
the Word is publicly taught, then it is necessarily
authoritative, not by the authority of the one
who brings it or the setting in which it occurs,
but because it flows from God who gave it. This
is nothing more than the clear statement of our
Confession: The authority of the Holy Scripture,
for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed,
dependeth not upon the testimony of any man,
or Church, but wholly upon God (who is truth
itself) the author thereof; and therefore it is to be
received, because it is the Word of God (WCF
I.4).
The two parties have sought different ways
to evade this clear doctrine. In the case of John
Wood/Cedar Springs, TE Wood has argued that
because the woman teaching is not ordained,
she cannot be preaching, nor can any teaching
that results be called authoritative. The problem
with this is twofold.
First, it attempts to justify an act forbidden
by Scripture because the person is not ordained
to perform it. But Scripture contains several
references to such thinkingSaul performing a
sacrifice rather than waiting for Samuel, for
exampleand the result is always Gods
catastrophic judgment, not His vindication.
Second, it attempts to invest authority not in the
Word preached but in the person preaching.
While one should always maintain that the Word
requires regular preaching to be performed by
ordained men, nevertheless, as WCF I.4 declares,
the authority springs from the Word itself and
God who is the author of that Word, not from the
ecclesiastical status of the preacher. TE Woods
position is not only non-Confessional, it is
sacerdotalism and popery.
The position of MNA is different,
attempting to justify women teaching on the
basis of setting. The new MNA rules imply that
Paul intends the prohibition only in the context
of a worship service, but that in other general
public gatherings of the church the Apostle
permits such teaching. There are a number of
problems with this stand. First, the implication,
necessary to accepting MNAs position, that
Paul elsewhere permits women to teach publicly,
is patently false.
Second, it attempts to endorse women
teaching by introducing a setting that is an
historical anachronism. It is doubtful if the early
church would have made a distinction between
teaching in worship (which it knew as preaching),
teaching in Sunday School (an occasion
invented only in the 19th century), and teaching
in a seminar. The church had only one general
public gathering, and women were prohibited
from speaking in itnot by a decree limited to
worship, but from a principle based on the
historicity of the creation and the fall. The
commandment is founded upon a creation
ordinance; and as such, its proper application
demands that the commandment should be
expanded to all public teaching in the church,
not diminished to what is formally declared to be
a worship service.
Third, the setting of a seminar is entirely
within the scope of what Paul is addressing.
MNA dismisses 1 Timothy 2:11-12 as non-
applicable because its context is the worship
service. (One wonders whether the MNA
position has been influenced by the use of the
NIV, which gives the chapter the uninspired title
Instructions on Worship.) But this limiting of
the context to corporate worship is fallacious;
the context is orderly conduct within the church,
which is much broader.
The churchs corporate worship certainly
is included in this. The first part of 1 Timothy 2
calls men to pray. It even seems that this portion
concerns prayer that is publicthe avoidance
of wrath and dissension in 2:8 necessitates
more than one being present.
However, that the whole of the passage is
limited to corporate worship goes too far. 1
Timothy 1:5 deals with the goal of all Christian
instruction, and the following verses contrast
this with those who have turned to fruitless and
uninformed teaching. Chapter 3 deals with the
offices of the church. The section concludes
with the statement that Paul writes these things
so that one will know how to conduct himself in
the household of God (3:15). This is certainly
much broader than a worship service.
More importantly, the specific text that MNA
cites as being limited to the worship service (1
Tim 2:12) cannot in any circumstance be so
limited. The MNA formula confounds the two
prohibitions into oneauthoritative teaching by
womenand declares that there are two
possible contexts: the worship service to which
the prohibition applies, and the seminar context
to which it does not. This is exactly contrary to
the text, which gives us two prohibitions
teaching, and exercising authority over menin
a single context. But is that context limited to the
worship service? It cannot be. One might
perhaps argue that teaching is limited to preaching
in a worship service, but one cannot argue (at
least not successfully) that exercising authority
is limited to a worship service. Therefore, because
a single context comprehends both commands,
the context of the verse cannot be limited to
corporate worship. The broader context of orderly
conduct within the church is therefore the proper
understanding.
It is interesting that although the whole of
the MNA argument is an appeal to context, it
avoids the preceding verse (v. 11) and the closing
part of verse 12, both of which, over against the
prohibitions, give the positive commandthat
women are to be silent and humbly receive
instruction. Nor does it mention anything about
vv. 13-15, which clearly indicate that this is a
creation ordinance.
MNA, then, errs when it states that the
primary difference between the preaching of the
Word in worship and the subject matter of
seminars has at its heart the issue of authority.
The content of seminars is not intended to carry
the weight to which the description teach or
have authority over (1 Tim 2:11-12) would apply.
The authority is conveyed by the word of God
that is preached, not by its setting in a worship
service or a seminar. MNA also
errs when it states that the context of this
passage is the Apostles presentation of
instructions for the proper conduct of public
worship and not that of the more informal seminar.
. . . Instead, the context of the passage is to
apply to all the churchs public gatherings.
Therefore, it is clear that neither the
ordination status of the speaker (as TE Wood
advocates) nor the seminar setting of the teaching
(as MNA advocates) provide a shelter against
the prohibition of women teaching. The tumbles
and twists of this conundrum allow no escape
women cannot publicly teach the church of God.
As it has wound through the church courts,
the heat generated by women teaching has
produced a number of defenses other than those
other than those from John Wood/Cedar Springs
and MNA. And so to silence those who oppose
sound doctrine, here are some answers to
common objections.
One common defense of women teaching
is that one woman in the Bible, Priscilla, along
with her husband Aquila, is known to have
taught Apollos (Acts 18:26), and Scripture
contains no disapproving remarks regarding the
incident. First, this is an argument from silence
and a fallacious one at that, for the Bible
elsewhere speaks to women publicly teaching
men. Second, it ignores the obvious private
setting in the text. Calvin concludes his comments
on the passage by noting that we must remember
that Priscilla did execute this function of teaching
at home in her own house, that she might not
overthrow the order prescribed by God and
nature. He clearly states that this private
teaching is no violation of the commandment.
As a matter of fact, he says that Priscilla was
careful not to violate the prohibitionimplying
that the restriction against women publicly
teaching men was both well known throughout
the church and universally followed. Quite
simply, this private situation is no defense for
public teaching. Rather, it shows that Godly
women will avoid it.
Another common defense is that some
women have the gift for teaching. This is an
attempt to confuse elocutionary excellence with
morality. But we should not be led to believe that
there follows from this any Biblical ethic that
would allow a woman to teach or preach publicly.
We begin with four basic propositions:
1. That one can do a thing is no proof that one
should do a thing. For instance, we know that
men are capable of murder, but that is not to say
that men should murder! Quite the contrary.
2. That one should do a thing is no proof that
one can do a thing. We can take obedience to
Law of God as an example. We know that we
should keep the Law of God perfectly, but that is
not to say that we can keep the Law of God
perfectly. Indeed, we cannot!
3. That one cannot do a thing is no proof that
one should not do a thing. This was the argument
used by our grandfathers: If man were meant to
fly, hed have wings! In this case, grandpas
horse sense had more horse-and-buggy in it than
logical sense.
4. That one should not do a thing is no proof that
one cannot do a thing. This is but the
contrapositive of proposition 1: We should not
murder, but that is no proof that we cannot. The
conclusion that follows is that capability and
morality are in no way dependent upon each
other. In other words, just because a woman can
teach, even teach well, does not mean that she
should teach. In fact, from the fact that she can
teach, or even teach exceptionally well, absolutely
nothing follows about whether she should teach.
Ability is by no means the standard of sin.
Yet this is exactly the defense that one PCA
minister offered me. We had a woman speak at
the MNA conference last year. She was an
extremely gifted speakershe did a very good
job. The only logicalalthough admittedly
gruffresponse to such a statement is, So
what? In saying that she was a good speaker,
the pastor has said absolutely nothing about
the ethics of the situation. Whether those actions
were sinful or not can only be determined by
whether they violate the Law of God. And in
such cases, they definitely do.
But there is more to the Biblical ethic than
this. Our Larger Catechism gives us a clear manner
Open Forum: The Role of Women
P&R News ² September - October 2000
13
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by which we are to interpret the Law. That as,
where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is
forbidden; and where the contrary sin
is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded. .
. (WLC 99.4). This Confessional hermeneutic is
buttressed by an abundance of Scripture.
Godliness requires that we not only proscribe
the negative, but affirm the positive commands.
But although MNA is quick to insist that the
larger context of 1 Tim 2:11-12 is worship, it fails
to exegete the preceding verse (v. 11) and the
closing part of verse 12, both of which, over
against the prohibitions, give the positive
commandthat women are to be silent and
humbly receive instruction.
And so I ask the question that no one has
ventured to ask MNA: In what way do the new
MNA rules affirm that a woman should receive
instruction quietly and with entire
submissiveness?
If that question cannot be answered
satisfactorilyand it cannotthere exists ample
evidence that these new rules are contrary to the
Law of God and will become a stumbling block to
our churches.
Finally, it is our sad duty to note the direction
in which this new concept of non-authoritative
teaching is leading us. If this new concept of
non-authoritative teaching, if these new MNA
seminar rules, are not consistent with the Word
of God, then what are they consistent with? The
answer is that they are consistent with feminism,
and will most certainly introduce an un-Biblical
worldview into our churches.
The movement of women to ordination, in
almost all denominations in which it has occurred,
has been in three stages.
s Stage 1Proposition: A woman may do
anything that a non-ordained man may do. This
proposition seems truthful and harmless; in fact,
however, it is false, and deadly to the church. At
its core, it contains the feminists essential maxim
that women and men are equal not only in honor
but also in function. It denies Scriptures positive
teaching of a distinctive role for each sex, and
affirms only the prohibitions regarding what a
woman may not do as a kind of glass ceiling. It is,
in fact, an all-out attack on the Biblical structure
of the family, which is essential to Covenant
theology, and is instead a well-disguised
acceptance of a feminist worldview. It is worth
noting that, in the John Wood/Cedar Springs
matter, by obtaining a resolution from Tennessee
Valley Presbytery affirming the sessions right to
invite unordained persons to teach, while at the
same time declaring that a woman would be called
to teach at an upcoming missionary conference,
the accused parties secured a presbytery
decision that affirmed precisely this.
Stage 2Proposition: A woman may do
anything that an ordained man may do, but may
not hold the office. By the time this stage occurs,
actions are no longer judged as either sinful or
not, and feminist ideology is resisted in name
only. The offense is often camouflaged in the
early stages by changing the setting to a place
where a great number of church members can
neither observe nor protest against it: women
missionaries performing functions forbidden to
women, but allowed to them because a mission
church has no elders; women preaching at a
seminar or convention, where there is no session
to direct activities or to be held accountable, and
so on. At other times, it is allowed because the
woman is under the cover of her authority or
husband (an allegorical justification favored by
broad evangelicals), or is denied linguistically:
the woman is sharing, not preaching (monikers
which can be determined only by examining form
and matter), or the speaker is not called a preacher,
a la Anne Graham Lotz and her recent Just Give
Me Jesus events.
Given the widely ranging abilities of both
women and men at public speaking, eventually
some women rise in their reputation as teachers,
even over a number of their male counterparts.
Because there is no examination of the form or
matter of their teaching, and no prosecution of
their actions, these women teachers are no longer
described as being in sin, but are instead called
gifted, as both Billy and Franklin Graham have
described family member Anne.
The incident related earlier of a PCA minister
telling me that the MNA woman teacher was an
extremely gifted speakershe did a very good
job, is typical of the radical willingness to
overlook obvious sin that ischaracteristic to this
stage. The new MNA doctrine and its practice
are at this stage already.
Stage 3Proposition: A women has been
given the gifts to preach by God; therefore, it is
wrong to deny her ordination. This is the only
logical outcome of accepting the proposition in
Stage 1. Feminism became the implicit doctrine
at that stage, and Stage 2 has allowed it to parade
before the church and gather support. Those
who are faithful to the Law of God have been
denied the right to prosecute those responsible
for sin, resulting in the dreadful condition that
others no longer conduct themselves in godly
fear (Deut 13:11, 17:12-13, 19:20-21). The result is
that the people are deceived by the speakers
eloquence into believing that this product of
human effort is instead an indication of the will of
Godthat the bestowing of Divine Gifts is
certain proof of His approvaland that it would
be sin to deny it.
We should not deceive ourselves, then,
regarding the course upon which MNA is
leading us. Most certainly the Potomac
Presbytery amendment to the Book of Church
Order, which will prohibit women from teaching
in a worship service, is a fine amendment, and
should be passed without delay. But it is only a
glass ceiling that will eventually crack, and the
new MNA rules provide a hammer to repeatedly
strike at the glass.
Twenty-seven years ago, the PCA was
founded in an attempt to escape liberalism, and
the issue of women preaching was a central issue.
How is it, then, that only a quarter of century
later, we are embracing what we deemed odious
only a short time before?
Yours in Christ, Mark Rooze
Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Student, Taylors, SC
P&R News ² September - October 200014
Robert Shapiro, Editor-in-Chief
Frank J. Smith, Ph. D., Editor
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Editorial and Business Address:
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PURPOSE: The purpose of Presbyterian International News Service is to advance fellowship, piety, and
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dissemination of news about and of interest to the PCA and through the publication of articles and editorials
which promote historic Presbyterian doctrine and practice.
POLICY: Signed articles and editorials are the responsibility of each individual author. Unsigned articles and
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the clerk listed is responsible for the material. Correspondence (whether by letter, fax, or e-mail) sent to the
Editor dealing with a topic previously discussed in this publication will be considered a Letter to the Editor
unless it is clearly marked Not for publication. Letters to the Editor should ordinarily be 250 words or less,
and may be edited for space considerations.
SUBSCRIPTION POLICY: Presbyterian and Reformed News is published bi-monthly, and is sent, free of
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Editorials and Letters
Remembering our
Retirees
Its that time of year again to think of the
retired ministers and ministers widows. Ever
since the inception of the Presbyterian Church
in America (PCA), there has been a concern
to take care of the churchs servants who have
reached their golden years.
Continuing the Southern Presbyterian
tradition of what was called The White Gift
Program, the PCAs Insurance, Annuities,
and Relief (IAR) has encouraged the giving
of funds towards the end of December for
ministerial relief.
We want to join with IAR in encouraging
this benevolence effort. Too often we dont
honor those engaged in pastoral ministry; and
too often we forget those who no longer are
actively involved in preaching the word.
However, even in retirement, many of these
saints storm the gates of heaven in prayer.
Moreover, many of them are available to give
wise counsel to those of us who havent
achieved as many hoary hairs.
So, when the appeal is made this year, be
sure to give generously, wont you? IAR
thanks youand we do, too.
Hooray for the
Koreans!
One of the stories weve covered in this
issue of the newspaper is that of an incident
in which a woman preached at a Korean PCA
congregation in suburban Washington, D. C.
Thankfully, this story appears to have a happy
ending.
Korean Central Presbyterian Church is
the largest Korean church in our
denomination. Being a large congregation,
the elders might have thought that they didnt
have to submit to PCA polity and could still
get away with it. But the Session at the Vienna,
Virginia, congregation, instead of being
defensive about the situation, officially and
formally acknowledged that what had
happened shouldnt have happened, and they
pledged not to let it happen again.
We always knew that the Korean
brethren in our denomination were known for
their evangelistic zeal and personal piety. We
are happy to celebrate another positive
characteristic which these men have
demonstrated, viz., the ability to correct what
was wrong and to take measures to prevent it
from occurring in the future.
When congregations step outside of
Scripture and our Constitution, we trust that
they will be able to look to and to emulate the
fine example set forth by Korean Central
Presbyterian Church. Hooray for the Koreans!
Letters
Dr. Smith,
Thanks! for your PCA history and the
three editions of P&R News.
Like yourself, I am a life-long student of
history . . . mostly U. S. military. Over the
years I have expanded into social and religious
(America). About four years ago, it dawned
on me that few of our church members knew
anything about our rich Presbyterian/
Reformed heritage. So I wrote little stories
that were simple and concise (as I could keep
them!). Parishioners have been favorably
responsive. Would like to see the historical
societies of our various Presbyterian/
Reformed clans provide monthly columns on
church history, for local church bulletins.
Will complete your book soon. You have
Editorial Note:
Due to unforeseen circumstances
beyond our control, this edition of P&R
News is coming out a couple of weeks
late. This is the first time in our five and a
half years of publishing that we have failed
to meet a press deadline. We appreciate
your understanding.
done a monumental work for our beloved
Presbyterian faith!
(Col.) Howard Humphrey, Elder,
PC(USA), DeSoto, Texas
To the Editor:
In response to those who complain that
PINS is somehow a threat to the peace,
harmony and purity of the PCA, I offer the
following: I have a dog. She is nothing special
nor spectacular. She is old and overweight.
She sleeps a lot. Occasionally she barks when
startled by an unusual noise, but then she
rolls over, stretches and goes back to sleep.
She is as docile, harmless and good natured
as a dog can be. One day a friend came over
to visit. We sat in the shade to talk and the old
dog ambled over to us. In a moment my friend
said, This dog stinks; you need to bathe her!
And her breath is atrocious; you need to give
her some mint. And look here, she has fleas!
And theres a tick! You need to put an
insecticide collar on her. Shes so bloated she
probably has worms; you need to take her to
the vet. You know, I cant for the life of me
figure out why my friend found so much
fault with my dog. She and I were perfectly
content with things the way they were. I guess
some people just like to make trouble. Alas,
now Ive got to decide whether or not to do
anything about all the things my friend
pointed out that are wrong with my dog!
Trouble maker!
TE J. Ray Bobo, Heidelberg, Mississippi
Dear Mr. Shapiro,
As you know, Tennessee Valley
Presbytery decided at our Spring 2000 stated
meeting to address our concerns about the
Presbyterian and Reformed News in the form
of a letter. There is a wide spectrum of opinion
regarding the value of your paper among
members of our presbytery. A few appreciate
your style of reporting, others deeply resent
what they view to be a prejudiced and biased
style, and still others are ambivalent. And yet,
it is clear that presbytery as a whole is
concerned about what we view to be the
inflammatory focus in much of your reporting.
We have no desire to impinge, or call into
question, your right to publish your paper,
but we do not believe that you are Recording
the Story of the Presbyterian Church in
America, as you claim on your masthead. In
our judgment, rather than recording the story
of the PCA, your paper is focused on fostering
your particular concerns for the PCA to such
a degree that your paper could leave many
with a distorted image of our church. It is for
this reason that your paper appears, to us, to
be unbalanced and a distortion of the true
story of the PCA.
The true story of the PCA is not just about
its controversial issues, but about the
extension of the kingdom of God and the work
being done to proclaim the Gospel of Grace all
around the world. Yet, if someone unfamiliar
with the PCA read your paper, they would
likely conclude that the church is so riddled
by argument and strife that nothing
constructive is being accomplished. The fact
is many wonderful and fruitful ministries are
ignored by the P&R News.
Mr. Shapiro, we sincerely believe that
even with the controversies within our
denomination, the PCA is a shining witness
to the whole counsel of Gods truth, and
should be treated by the press in a more
balanced and objective way. We ask that you
not claim your paper is telling the story of the
PCA when, to a large degree, you focus upon
the difficult and divisive issues. We urge you
to consider carefully how your paper effects
the witness of the PCA, the fellowship of her
members, and the relationships between her
presbyteries, by failing to portray a balanced
and accurate picture of what we are all about.
...with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, showing forbearance to one
another in love, being diligent to preserve
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(-Ephesians 4:2-3/NASB)
For the Sake of His Glory,
J. Render Caines, Stated Clerk
Submitted to TVP by: TE- Dr. J. Render Caines,
TE- Dr. King A. Counts, TE- W. Dennis Griffith
P&R News ² September - October 2000
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Worship, complete with the full text of the scripture proofs.
· Examine our distinctives.
· Examine our publications.
· We offer both historic reprints and contemporary works in defense of our
Presbyterian heritage.
VISIT THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN PRESS
www.amprpress.com
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Reaching out to the
Community
Every year on Labor Day weekend,
Coeburn (Va.) Presbyterian Church
participates in the towns Guest River
Rally. The congregation has acquired a
reputation for its succulent barbecue.
Members of the church engage in whats
called pig pickin which entails picking
apart joints of meat which have been
smoked and basted for many hours.
Pictured here at right is Deacon Phillip
Clay as he applies a marinade of home-
made barbecue sauce.
Pictured below is the tent where the food
is prepared and served to hungry fair-
goers. Coeburn is located in the
mountains of southwestern Virginia. This
coal mining region is about an hour north
of Kingsport Tennessee.
P&R News ² September - October 200016
CHRIST COLLEGE
For Christ and Christendom
Atlanta Metro Campus and Classical Virginia Campus
Distinctives:
* Truly Reformed Theology (TR)
* Comprehensive Biblical Worldview (not
integrationism)
* Bible-based Ethics/Law
* Presuppositional Defense of the Faith and its Worldview
* Optimistic Eschatology
* Literal Six-Day Creation
* Explicitly Christian Politics and Economics
* Christian History
Atlanta Metro Campus in Cumming, GA, at Chalcedon Presbyterian Church
Complex (Joe Morecraft, Pastor); future plans include land and construction
of a new campus to accommodate 500.
Programs for all situations:
- Bachelors degrees (4-year)
- Associate degrees (2-year)
- Christian Classical Curriculum
Christian Thought major (Theology, Philosophy, History,
Literature, Politics/Law, Economics, other Courses); future
anticipated majors in above areas and in Journalism, Business,
Sciences, Education (including Classical Christian Education),
and others.
Christ College, Dr. Louis Ferreira, 115 Church Street, Cumming, GA 30043
Phone: (770)844-0335/205-9390 E-mail: [email protected]
OR
Christ College, 434 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24504
Phone: (804)528-9552 Fax: 528-1673 E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ChristCollege.org
Christ CollegeLife Preparation for the Advancement of Christs Kingdom
Lynchburg, VA, location near Blue Ridge Mountains and many historic sites
(Appomattox, Patrick Henry home, Lexington, Charlottesville).
(Paid Advertisement)
P&R News ² September - October 2000
17
Later, Ascension missionary TE Samuel Mateer
was given time to report to the presbytery,
including something of his pilgrimage from
Ascension to Ecuador to Chile.
Candidates and Credentials Committee
chairman, RE Raymond Gilliland, presented Mr.
Arthur Kenyon who, upon examination, was
approved for licensure.
Chairman TE Robert Peterson, as part of
the Administration Committee report, presented
the nominees for Moderator and Vice-Moderator
for the year 2001. TE Jeffrey C. Noyes was chosen
Moderator, and RE Kevin A. Condon Vice-
Moderator. The preliminary budget for 2001 was
also presented.
The Mission to North America Committee,
TE James Funyak, chairman, reported the closing
of the Venango County mission work, but
affirmed the continuation of the Clarion County
work. There had been an effort made to
find a church planter for both of these works as
a yoked work. Under New Business, an
overture from Hillcrest Presbyterian Church
(mother church for the Clarion work) was taken
up which would commit presbytery to a
significant increased commitment to the Clarion
work, especially financially. Presbytery, usually
reluctant to budget beyond normal expected
income, coalesced in support of this sizable
undertaking.
Presbytery had previously set up a
commission to deal with any matters necessary
with respect to the matter involving TE John
Wood. Chairman TE Carl Bogue reported that
the Standing Judicial Commission was meeting
on the same day as presbytery, so we did not
have an official word on their action. It was noted,
however, that the three man Investigative Panel
for the SJC had concluded their report finding
that the alleged facts were basically correct and
that there were two areas in which possible
chargeable offense(s) might be considered.
However, the panels recommendation was that
TE John Wood not be prosecuted for his
expressed views regarding women and
preaching, unless the SJC as a whole makes a
determination that his views are clearly outside
the boundaries of existing PCA doctrine. The
presbytery commission was disappointed in the
process and the conclusions, but perhaps the
biggest objection was that the petitioning
presbyteries were, contrary to the General
Assembly action, not permitted to represent
their allegations before the SJC.
It should be noted in regard to the 25th
Anniversary of the Presbytery that a great time
of fellowship and remembering of Gods great
blessings in those early days of the formation of
the Presbytery of the Ascension was
enjoyed by all.
Carl W. Bogue, Correspondent
Calvary
July Stated Meeting
The Sixty-Seventh stated meeting of Calvary
Presbytery was held on July 22, 2000, at Shannon
Forest Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South
Carolina. Presiding was the Moderator, the Rev.
Richard Thomas. The Presbytery divided in
order to hear sermons from Mr. Andries Louw,
and Mr. Rob Hamby. When the court came
together, the Lords Supper was celebrated.
The ruling elders of the Presbytery who have
died since last summers meeting were
memorialized. They are: Robert C. Mack
McAbee, Center Point Presbyterian Church,
Moore, South Carolina; George Edward Brown,
Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, Greenville,
South Carolina; and John Martin Preis and James
Ladson Gwinn, Trinity Presbyterian Church,
Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Ruling Elder Dan Jarstfer was elected as
Moderator in Nomination.
Presbytery approved the reports of the
following commissions: to install TE Jim
Stephenson as Pastor of Horizon Presbyterian
Church, Greenville, South Carolina; to install TE
Carl Robbins as Pastor of Woodruff Road
Presbyterian Church, Simpsonville, South
Carolina; and to ordain and install Tim Miessler
as Pastor of Beech Street Presbyterian Church,
Gaffney, South Carolina.
The Rev. Ward Giannini, having resigned
as teacher and chaplain at New Covenant School,
was placed on the roll of presbytery without call.
The Rev. Ray Craig was dismissed to South
Florida Presbytery, where he has been called as
Pastor at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
Presbytery dissolved the pastoral
relationship between the Rev. Randy Jenkins and
Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Abbeville, South
Carolina, and dismissed Mr. Jenkins to Eastern
Carolina Presbytery.
Mr. Adrian Brashier was taken under care
as a ministerial candidate. Mr. Mike Keens
internship was approved as completed, and his
candidacy transferred to Western Carolina
Presbytery. Presbytery voted to accept Mr. Ozzie
Kenyons previous experience as adequate to
fulfill his internship requirement; he had served
at Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church,
Valencia, Pennsylvania. Mr. David McIntoshs
internship at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church,
St. Louis, Missouri, was approved as having
been completed. Mr. Todd Smiths proposed
internship plan at Roebuck (S. C.) Presbyterian
Church was approved. Mr. Josh Martins
completed internship at Second Presbyterian
Church, Greenville, South Carolina, was
approved. Mr. Jay Nelkins completed internship
at Reedy River Presbyterian Church, Minturn,
South Carolina, was approved.
The $1,965.24 available to Calvary
Presbytery candidates at Covenant Theological
Seminary was divided equally among Messrs.
Steve Lammers, Matt Lucas, Frank Matthews,
and Shawn Slate. Messrs. Lammers and Slate
were approved to receive the Lamb Fund aid
load at Covenant Seminary.
Presbytery examined and approved for
ordination Mr. Rob Hamby and Mr. Jay Nelkin.
Mr. Hamby has been called to be a campus
minister at Furman University; the salary package
totals $30,000 plus benefits. Mr. Nelkin has been
called to be Pastor of the Reedy River Church,
with a package of $23,000 plus benefits.
Upon examination, Mr. Andries Louw was
licensed to preach.
Presbytery unanimously approved the
following resolution, offered by the Rev. George
Busch:
Whereas the congregation of New Hope
Presbyterian Church, Abbeville, SC, has
expeditiously moved from a church-owned manse
to privately-owned home ownership for their
pastor, and
Whereas the trustees dealt with the church
with sensitivity and with the business with
integrity, and
Whereas the members of New Hope have
volunteered much labor,
Therefore, be it resolved that Calvary
Presbytery commends the generous and
charitable spirit in which New Hope
Presbyterian Church (PCA) has cared for its
pastor and family with much tenderness and
love, and that this resolution be read at the July
2000 meeting of Calvary Presbytery and spread
in our minutes, and that the public reading and
publication of this resolution be recommended
to the Session of New Hope to note the way in
which this church has cared for its pastor with
distinction.
The Presbytery voted to instruct the
Candidates Committee to make inquiry of
Reformed Theological Seminary regarding the
status of Dr. Mark Futato, a professor at the
Orlando campus.
The Presbytery approved a resolution in
opposition to gambling, and instructed the Stated
Clerk to communicate to the news media its
opposition to the lottery [see separate box].
September Called Meeting
At a called meeting on September 9, 2000,
Calvary Presbytery transferred the Rev. Richard
C. Cain from North Georgia Presbytery, and the
Rev. John R. Fastenau from Fellowship
Presbytery. Mr. Cain has been called to be a
church planter in North Greenville, South
Carolina, with a total package of $75,000. Mr.
Fastenau has been called as Pastor of Liberty
Springs Presbyterian Church, Cross Hill, South
Carolina, with a total package of $40,000.
Central Carolina
The 82nd stated meeting of Central Carolina
Presbytery was held at Countryside Presbyterian
Church, Cameron, North Carolina, on July 15,
2000. The Moderator, the Rev. Alex Coblentz,
opened the meeting with prayer, and then turned
the pulpit over to the host pastor, the Rev. Mike
Ericson, who led in worship including preaching
a sermon and leading in a season of prayer.
The minutes of April 22, 2000, were approved
with two corrections. One of them was that the
statement attributed to the Rev. Tom Henry,
stating he would be more clear on the Gospel if
he participated again [in an interfaith
celebration], was stricken.
By a vote of 56-0-0, Presbytery approved
Ascension
July stated meeting
The summer stated meeting of the
Presbytery of the Ascension met July 29, 2000,
on the northeastern frontier of the presbytery.
Hosted by the Presbyterian Church of Wellsville,
New York, worship was led by the host pastor,
Kenneth Thompson, preaching on the character
of Moses from Exodus 3:1-12.
TE Earl Fair reported for the Administration
Committee on (1) plans for the 25th anniversary
celebration to be held on October 20th at Hillcrest
Presbyterian Church in conjunction with the
October presbytery meeting, with dinner at 6 p.m.
followed by recollections, worship and
communion beginning at 8 p.m.; (2) the committee
recommended that the commission on the Wood
Matter be reconstituted with the addition of
Stated Clerk Frederick R. Neikirk. The
recommendation was approved.
Presbytery heard the licensure examination
of Earl Cornuet and sustained the examination.
Following the order of the day, presbytery
approved the transfer of candidacy of Arthur
Kenyon. Charge was given by TE Nick Protos.
The proposed change in the standing rules
in regard to visitation by presbytery to local
congregations received a second reading and
was approved.
Reports of other committees were received
as docketed.
Presbytery voted to hold a called meeting
on August 26th at Gospel Fellowship Church
for the purpose of conducting examinations
(Arthur Kenyon). The meeting was adjourned
with prayer by moderator at 3 p.m.
October Stated Meeting
Hillcrest Presbyterian Church in Volant, Pa.,
hosted the October 20-21 meeting of the
Presbytery of the Ascension. Moderator RE
Richard L. McBane convened Presbytery for
worship and celebration of the Lords Supper in
commemoration of 25 years of Gods goodness
since the founding of the Presbytery of the
Ascension. Participating in the service were TE
Frank Moser, charter member and only stated
clerk of the presbytery prior to his
leaving the presbytery, TE Charles Winkler and
TE David Karlburg, members of Pittsburgh
Presbytery (formerly a part of Ascension), TE
Arthur Broadwick, a charter member of the
presbytery, preaching from 1 Timothy 3:1-16 on
Clinging to Your First Love, and TE Carl W.
Bogue, the only TE charter member still in
Ascension Presbytery, officiating at the Lords
Supper.
Worship was preceded by a dinner and a
program of reminiscences by a panel of older
members of the presbytery. Special notice was
made of the late Dr. John H. Gerstners significant
influence on the formation of the
presbytery. Various missionaries were introduced,
including TE Jim Kobb and TE Sam Mateer, the
first two missionaries commissioned by the
Presbytery of the Ascension.
Saturday morning was used to involve all
the presbyters in the reading and reviewing of
sessional records. This was followed with a
season of prayer prior to recessing for lunch.
Later in the day the Records Committee chairman,
TE Jerry Knight, brought a report of needed
corrections in sessional records.
TE Dennis Gill, chairman of Christian
Education Committee, reported on upcoming
camping programs and changes necessitated by
presbytery not running its own camp as in recent
years.
TE Dale Szallai, chairman of Mission to the
World Committee, highlighted two missionaries
in attendance for the meeting. Satoshi and Cally
Kawachi were introduced to the presbytery as
recently called to Senegal, West Africa.
News from The Presbyteries
RESOLUTION AGAINST THE LOTTERY
Whereas Scripture exhorts against succumbing to the get rich quick schemes such as
gambling, and
Whereas gambling is an expression of poor stewardship, and
Whereas gambling encourages a poor work ethic, and
Whereas gambling intensifies such social problems as poverty, crime, and the break-up of
families, and
Whereas gambling endorsed by the government grants the state a function contrary to
Scripture, and
Whereas in regard to moral issues the Church should serve as the conscience of the state,
Therefore be it resolved that Calvary Presbytery reaffirms its previous resolution against
all forms of gambling, and
That Calvary Presbytery request the various sessions to communicate this resolution (i.e.
previous resolution) to every member, asking their members to vote against the lottery referendum
in November, and
That Calvary Presbytery through its Christian Education Committee (or such committee
as it deems appropriate) explore ways that we can join with other denominations, in defeating
the lottery referendum in November, and that Calvary Presbytery through its Stated Clerk
communicate to the media its opposition to the lottery.
P&R News ² September - October 200018
the call from Christ Covenant Presbyterian
Church, Matthews, North Carolina, to the Rev.
Tom Henry. Since he had been an associate
pastor, the presbytery had to approve by a three-
fourths vote, and the congregation by a four-
fifths vote. The eighty percent was more than
met, in that Christ Covenant issued the call by an
eighty-nine percent vote.
The Rev. Dr. Archie Parrish of the General
Assembly Mission to North America staff
presented the program, The Kingdom Campaign
for Prayer. Presbytery voted to sponsor The
Kingdom Campaign through the Christian
Education Committee on February 16-17, 2001,
as a weekend for a presbytery-wide prayer focus.
Presbytery approved changes in call for
several ministers. Presbytery approved the
request of the Rev. David Alexander, with the
concurrence of the congregation, that his pastoral
relationship with Second Street Presbyterian
Church, Albemarle, North Carolina, be dissolved
effective September 30, 2000, so that he may retire.
Presbytery appointed a commission to deal
with a complaint by Mr. Joel Boyles against the
Session of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Dr. Dan Bartel presented an
overture entitled, Covenantal Patriarchy. After
some discussion regarding its impact on military
chaplains, it was moved, seconded, and carried
to table the overture so that Dr. Bartel can consult
with the General Assembly Committee on Women
in Combat, Col. Dave Peterson of MNA
Chaplains, and Maj. Chris Faria, a chaplain who
is a member of the Presbytery.
A complaint was received from the Rev.
Mike Ericson and Ruling Elder Marshall Joiner.
After some discussion, the complainants
withdrew the complaint and offered a motion with
regard to the Rev. Tom Henrys participation in
an interfaith celebration. The court adopted the
motion, with which Mr. Henry was in agreement.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to
organize Faith Liberation Community Christian
Center Mission as a particular church.
The Rev. John Browne was dismissed to
North Texas Presbytery, in order to receive a call
to Metrocrest Church in Carrolton, Texas. The
mission work where he had been laboring in
Alamance County, North Carolina, was closed
by vote of the Presbytery.
Presbytery re-designated $18,000 from its
MNA budget to a Presbytery Project Timothy
Fund designed to help churches within the
Presbytery hire church planting apprentices and
interns that are prospective church planters.
Grants would be $10,000 per apprentice, and
$4,000 per intern. The Presbyterys Mission to
North America Committee would like to see this
project expand next year, funded, at least partially,
from the proceeds of the sale of the building of
the now-dissolved South Point Presbyterian
Church, Gastonia, North Carolina.
Christ Community Church, Cameron, North
Carolina, was closed as of July 31, 2000. Its
organizing pastor, the Rev. Bill Bivans, was allowed
to labor out of bounds with a tent-making call
from the Eastern Carolina MNA Committee to
organize a mission work in Brunswick County,
North Carolina. He was given the powers of
evangelist to organize this work. Funds for this
work will be paid through Central Carolina
Presbytery up to $1,000 per month and expenses
up to $500 per month contingent on Mr. Bivans
raising the money or through designated gifts.
The court gave permission to Christ
Covenant Church to start a daughter church in
Monroe, North Carolina.
A commission which had handled the
complaint of Mr. Ben Knox had reported its
findings. A constitutional inquiry was made with
regard to the report, viz., Did the commission
exceed its authority under BCO 15-2 as it was
only allowed to hear the complaintBen Knox
vs. Central Carolina Presbytery? The
constitutional question was referred to a study
committee, which reported that the commission
had indeed exceeded its constitutional
parameters by going beyond simply giving its
findings on the Knox Complaint. The items . . . of
its report concerning Further Pastoral
Considerations under the umbrella of BCO 13-9f
should not have been included as this
commission was only given authority to hear
and adjudicate the complaint presented to it.
Presbytery determined to vote down the entire
commission report and to hear the complaint on
the floor of Presbytery. This vote was taken after
the Chair ruled that that would be the only
legitimate way of dealing with the complaint. The
Moderator recognized Ruling Elder Bill Sexton
of the Back Creek Presbyterian Church Session,
who stated that the Session was already carrying
out the pastoral recommendations of the
commission. The Presbytery voted to accept
the first page of the commission report as the
finding of Presbytery and the judgment of the
case. That judgment is that the Presbytery did
not err in its actions through its original
commission in not directing Back Creek Session
to remove a ruling elder, who had been found
guilty of theft and lying, from the sacraments.
On a first reading, by unanimous vote, the
court approved changes in its Manual with
regard to the review of Sessional records. The
changes will require the examination of all
Sessional records at the spring stated meeting of
the Presbytery. Session which do not comply
with the mandate to submit their records shall,
within thirty days of that spring meeting, be
notified by the Stated Clerk. Within thirty days
of that, those Sessions will have to provide the
Sessional Records Committee, in writing, an
explanation as to why it is not guilty of the charge
of active or passive contumacy. . . . Failure to
provide the written response will result in charges
brought against the non-compliant Session at
the time of the Summer Stated meeting of the
Central Carolina Presbytery. . . . In the Summer
Stated meeting of Presbytery, if the non-compliant
Session is found guilty of contumacy, the
Presbytery shall take one of two actions toward
the non-compliant Session. The non-compliant
Session shall be admonished to remedy situation
and/or removed from the roll of Presbytery.
Mr. Phil Hargrove, a candidate, was
commended for his humility and submission as
he worked with us through his decision making
process on working at a PCUSA church. The
Presbytery strongly warned Mr. Hargrove to
guard his life, doctrine, and practice while working
in this position. It was moved and approved
that the Committee and the Christ Covenant
Session are to keep careful watch over Mr.
Hargrove, meeting with him regularly to assess
his life and ministry. Mr. Hargrove must rely on
the authority of Central Carolina Presbytery and
the Session of Christ Covenant for all things
spiritual as they may relate to his preaching,
teaching, and participation in any matters at
Carmel Presbyterian Church (BCO 8-7). In the
event of any conflict he must refrain from
participation. In making these recommendations,
Presbytery in no way gives implicit approval of
the PCUSA as a denomination.
Mr. Daniel J. Jarstfer, a student at Greenville
(S. C.) Presbyterian Theological Seminary, was
examined and licensed to preach. He has been
called as student supply at Bible Presbyterian
Church, Concord, North Carolina. A ruling elder,
Mr. Jarstfer has served as Moderator of Calvary
Presbytery, where he had previously been
licensed. The court sustained his exam as a whole,
but instructed the Chairman of the Candidates
Committee to admonish him to be patient with
those who may differ from him on some issues
and practices.
Mr. Jason Lindegren was taken under care
as a ministerial candidate. Candidate Giorgio Hiatt,
a recent graduate of Covenant Theological
Seminary, was approved for an internship at
Uptown Christ Covenant Church, Charlotte
Covenant
The 89th Stated Meeting of Covenant
Presbytery met on Tuesday, May 23, 2000,
at the First Presbyterian Church, Dyersburg,
Tennessee. The opening service of worship
featured a sermon by the Rev. Juian Russell,
from I Samuel 17:1-5, 26. Ruling Elder James
Alinder, the Moderator, called the meeting
to order and prayed the constituting prayer.
Presbytery approved the actions of the
Hot Springs Commission, the Church Care
Committee acting as a commission on 04/
25/00 to dissolve the pastoral relationship
between TE Charles Godwin and the Grace
Presbyterian Church, Starkville, Mississippi,
the Commission to ordain and install Mr.
Scott Fleming as the assistant pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church, Dyersburg,
Tennessee, on 02/20/2000, and the
Commission to ordain and install Mr.
Matthew Schilling as the pastor of the
Grenada Presbyterian Church on 02/20/2000.
Presbytery approved the Treasurers
report. The beginning balance on January
1st was $42,280.90; the balance on April
30th was $25,686.53.
The Rev. Randy Thompson presented
the George Soltau Commission report, and
reported that there are encouraging signs
that progress is being made in the work of
this commission. He encouraged the
commissioners to pray for continued
progress in resolving this matter.
The Rev. Wayne Herring presented the
report of the Mission to North America
Committee. He gave a general update of
the progress of church planting efforts in
Jonesboro, Russellville, and Conway,
Arkansas, and Somerville, Tennessee. The
Rev. Ricky Jones, a member of the Beginning
Again in Christ (BAIC) prison ministry
board of directors, presented a report from
the BAIC ministry. Mr. Jones reported that
a new Executive Director had been located
and called. Ruling Elder Bebo Elkin,
coordinator of Mississippi Reformed
University Ministries/Mississippi, reported
The Rev. Dr. Paul Bellino, Pastor of
Atlantas Church of All Nations, has a
unique way of
breaking down
barriers. For more
than a year, this
Breaking Down Barriers
pastor of a multi-
racial congregation
has been ministering
to members of the
Sons of Confederate
Veterans (SCV).
On October 8,
2000, Atlantas
Church of All
Nations celebrated
its annual church
picnic at Panola
Mountain State Park,
Decatur, Georgia,
with approximately 115 guests present of
which some 80% were black Americans.
Included among the speakers were SCV
Commander Timothy Ragland, and black
pastors Leyland Collier and Marvin
Williams. Commander Ragland and his
bride of three months were welcomed with
open arms, says Pastor Bellino. The
commander shared with all present that
the reason for the War for Southern
Independence was not slavery. He hold
Atlantas Church of All Nations has a picnic
at Panola Mountain State Park.
The goal of breaking down barriers is racial
harmonyin Jesus Christ.
SCV Commander Timothy Ragland
explains the history of the Confederate
Battle Flag.
Pastor Paul Bellino (right), former
federal civil rights employee, dons the
uniform of a Confederacy chaplain for an
appearance at a Sons of the Confederate
Veterans meeting.
the history of the flags of the
Confederacy including the present
Georgia state flag which contains
the battle flag of the Confederacy.
His words were well received and
he was invited to speak on the radio
and to appear on television with
Pastor Williams, who expressed a
mutual appreciation for the flag.
This gathering is another example
of the power of the gospel in
bringing people of diverse
backgrounds together.
Pastors Collier, Williams, and
Bellino are members of the Synod of the
City, an interdenominational, quasi-
ecclesiastical group seeking to inculcate
the truths of the
Reformation in
the city of
Atlanta and the
surrounding
areas. A new
book which tells
of the work of
the Synod, Tales
from the City:
Real Stories of
Urban
Christian
Ministry, has
just been
published.
Edited by Frank
J. Smith, the
book retails for $7.95, and is available from
the Synod of the City, 214 Inman Drive,
Decatur, Georgia 30030.
Atlantas Church of All Nations meets at
the Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship
(PEF) headquarters n Flat Shoals Parkway,
Decatur, Georgia.
P&R News ² September - October 2000
19
on developments in the campus ministry.
Presbytery approved the committee
recommendation to allow RUM/Mississippi
to engage in publication of materials for their
students, graduates, and others with the
understanding that current monies going
to campus ministry will not be used for this
venture.
The motion was made, seconded, and
passed (unanimous) to waive the
requirement found in section III.B.5 of the
Church Care Committee manual for the Rev.
Robbie Hinton to appear personally before
the committee before his current pastoral
relationship is dissolved. (The Church Care
Committee manual states that either the
committee or the presbytery can waive this
requirement.) Presbytery voted to dissolve
the pastoral relationship between Mr.
Hinton and Reformed University Ministries
as campus minister at the University of
Tennessee, Martin, Tennessee. Presbytery
approved the call of the North Jackson
(Tennessee) Mission to Mr. Hinton as
pastor with the borrowed session of ruling
elders from St. Andrews Presbyterian
Church (Ruling Elder Pat Weaver), River
Oaks Reformed Presbyterian Church (ruling
elder to be named later), and First
Presbyterian Church, Dyersburg,
Tennessee (Ruling Elder Raymond Hutson).
The total package of this call is $50,000 with
$35,000 to come from the North Jackson
Mission and $5000 already pledged by
Independent Presbyterian. The committee
recommendation was approved to
contribute $10,000.00 for one year to the
North Jackson (Tennessee) Mission from
the presbytery church planting fund.
The Rev. Julian Russell presented an
encouraging report on the ministry of the
New Beginnings Church, the Presbyterys
inner-city ministry in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mr. Russell asked the Presbytery to pray
concerning the purchase of a building for
the ministry to provide needed space which
the current building does not provide.
A memorial was read by the Rev. Ford
Williams for William Henry Rose, Jr., a direct
descendant of Scottish reformer John Knox.
Note was taken of the leading role he
played in the founding of the PCA, and the
fact that he is especially remembered for
displaying at the May 1973 Convocation of
Sessions at Atlanta, Georgia, his book All
the Good Reasons for Staying in a Liberal
Denomination, an oversized book with two
blank pages. Mr. Rose passed away on
February 11, 2000, at the age of 78.
The Rev. Randy Thompson read a
memorial resolution for Howard Spivey
Allen, who passed away on January 24,
2000, also at the age of 78.
Mr. Don Erwin of Russellville, Arkansas,
was examined and licensed to preach. He will be
filling the pulpit at the mission work in Russellville.
Dr. Lillie Doty, missionary to Lyon, France,
told those present of the opportunity which the
Mission to the World (MTW) church planting
team in France has to start a Christian school in
Lyon. Dr. Doty is approved by MTW to go as a
teacher in this school. France has given our
team three years to start the school, and one of
those years has already been spent. She stressed
the urgency of getting teachers, including herself,
to the field as soon as possible. She urged the
churches to pray for this work and support it
financially.
Also addressing the court was the Rev. Dr.
Roy Taylor, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.
He reported on several issues affecting the
General Assembly.
Presbytery approved the following letter, to
be sent to the Rev. and Mrs. David Hamilton:
Dear Marilyn and David, Covenant
Presbytery celebrates with and for you on your
Fiftieth Anniversary. David, you will always be
remembered for your heart and mind for
missions. When we think of David Hamilton, we
think missionary. But your lives together also
impacted us greatly. Your care for each other,
your laughter with each other, your faithfulness
to each other and your model as parents set a
high example and standard for ministers all over
Covenant Presbytery and the PCA. In honor of
your anniversary, Covenant Presbytery has
named June 17, 2000, as David and Marilyn
Hamilton Day.
The Lord is good,
Jim Alinder, Moderator of Covenant
Presbytery
Presbytery voted that its scholarship
monies for its students at Covenant
Seminary ($1,950.00) be divided equally
among Jeremy Huggins, John Dawson and
Dana Emborsky pending fall enrollment. Mr.
Chris Miller was approved for internship
(BCO 18-10), and his internship was made
retroactive to the beginning of his
candidacy sponsored by Covenant
Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville,
Arkansas. (He became a candidate in
Covenant Presbytery effective July 1, 1999,
when the General Assembly changed the
presbytery boundaries with Covenant
Presbyterys consent. That action made
Covenant Presbyterian Church,
Fayetteville, Arkansas, the church which
had sponsored his candidacy in Mid-
America Presbytery, a member of Covenant
Presbytery. Also, on July 1, 1999, Chris was
living within the territory then added to
Covenant Presbytery. He is now a student
at Reformed Theological Seminary in
Jackson, Mississippi.
The report from the Rev. Danny
Ketchum, who is ministering outside the
bounds of presbytery, was received and
found in order.
Presbytery approved the call from First
Presbyterian Church, Clarendon, Arkansas,
to the Rev. John DArezzo as stated supply;
and also approved the call from Oak Ridge
Presbyterian Church to the Rev. John
Rhodes as pastor.
Presbytery received as information TE
Scott Flemings written intent to file for
exemption from self-employment tax as per
Internal Revenue Code 1402(E) and spread
it upon the minutes.
The Rev. Mark Kreitzer was allowed to
minister outside the geographic bounds of
Covenant Presbytery as stated supply of
Bailey Presbyterian Church, Bailey,
Mississippi, pending approval by
Mississippi Valley Presbytery.
Presbytery approved the call from PCA
Mission to the World to the Rev. Charles
Godwin to serve as director of the MTW 2-
year IMPACT program; and he was allowed
to labor outside the geographic bounds of
Covenant Presbytery in this role.
Presbytery dissolved the pastoral
relationship between the Rev. Grover Gunn
and the Carrollton (Miss.) Presbyterian
Church, effective May 31, 2000; and
approved the call from Grace Presbyterian
Church, Jackson, Tennessee, to Mr. Gunn
pending his acceptance of the call. Mr.
Gunn indicated his acceptance of the call.
The call is effective June 1, 2000.
The Rev. Shane Sunn was dismissed to
Rocky Mountain Presbytery pending
reception. He has been called to be a church
planter in Greeley, Colorado.
The Rev. Toby Yelverton reported that
a letter had been received from the
Presbytery WIC Council seeking review of
a plan to have Presbytery WIC meetings at
different churches in the Presbytery. The
motion was made, seconded, and passed to
give the Christian Education Committee the
power of a commission with a quorum of
two Teaching Elders and two Ruling Elders
to review the proposal from the Presbytery
WIC Council in a timely manner. Mr.
Yelverton urged commissioners to make
sure that the presbytery newsletter, the
Covenant Herald, is distributed to church
members by the best means possible.
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The Rev. Alan Cochet, Chairman,
presented the report of the MTW
Committee. He reported that the MTW
committee will send to each church in
Covenant Presbytery a survey of their
foreign missions activities, missionaries
they support and missions interests in
hopes that the Presbytery committee can
better serve them in the future. He
encouraged churches to answer and return
these surveys.
The Rev. Ricky Jones presented a report
about the vision trip he went on last year
with MTW, and encouraged other pastors
in the presbytery to consider such a trip.
Mr. Cochet reported that the MTW
committee will request an additional $1000
be put in the MTW Committees budget, to
be used by one pastor per year who desires
to go on a vision trip with MTW. The
Chairman also reported that he had materials
concerning starting a missions program in
the local church or having a missions
emphasis in vacation Bible school. Any
who are interested may contact him for these
materials.
Great Lakes
May Stated Meeting
The Stated Spring Meeting of Great Lakes
Presbytery was held on May 12-13, 2000 at
Harvest Presbyterian Church in Medina, Ohio.
The Moderator, Ruling Elder Keith Stoeber, called
the meeting to order, gave the constituting prayer,
and read John 15:9-17. Mr. John Roberts
preached from that text. Presbytery then had a
season of prayer closed by the Moderator.
Visitors were introduced and privileges of
the floor extended to visiting elders.
The report of the commission that installed
Tom Stein, Jr. as Assistant Pastor at Christ
Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Indiana, was
approved. The executive action to approve the
Rev. Robert Clark to preach at the occasion of
Mr. Steins installation was approved. Other
executive action which was approved included
the transfer of the candidacy of Earl Corneut to
Ascension Presbytery; and approving the
Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church,
Muncie, Indiana, to examine elder candidates of
the Providence Presbyterian (Mission) Church.
The petition from the Providence mission work,
to become an organized congregation, was
approved.
The Stated Clerk reported that a complaint
had been lodged by David Sarafolean against
Great Lakes Presbytery for allowing the Rev. Tom
Stein to take exception to BCO 58-4. By a vote of
24-19, the Presbytery referred the matter to General
Assembly, and posed the following questions:
1. What issues or concerns should a presbytery
consider when it decides whether to allow an
exception to BCO 58-4 in the use of
communicants in good standing in any
evangelical church?
2. Do previous actions of the GA imply that
presbyteries should not allow an exception to
BCO 58-4 in the use of communicants in good
standing in any evangelical church?
3. If presbyteries may allow an exception to BCO
58-4 in the use of communicants in good
standing in any evangelical church, may the
Teaching Elder practice this exception? Give
reasons for your answer.
4. Since sessions have the authority over the
Sacrament, what should a session do if it will not
require teaching elders to use the full language
of BCO 58-4 when the Lords Supper is
administered under its supervision?
5. What should presbytery do if a Session takes
exception to BCO 58-4 in the use of
communicants in good standing in any
evangelical church, either in belief only or in
belief and practice?
6. If a particular teaching elder was granted an
exception to BCO 58-4 in the use of
communicants in good standing in any
evangelical church at the time of his ordination
or reception into his current presbytery (as
applicable), does he have permission to practice
it?
7. If a given teaching elder did not previously
P&R News ² September - October 200020
take exception to BCO 58-4 in the use of
communicants in good standing in any
evangelical church but now does, should he
make this known to his presbytery?
A complaint against the Session of South
Dayton Presbyterian Church was found in order,
and referred to a judicial commission.
Fraternal delegates to the Presbyteries of
the Orthodox Presbyterian Church were
approved: Phil Strong for May 2000, and Jan
Dykshoorn for October 2000 meeting.
The Rev. Tom Luchenbill was examined and
transferred from Iliana Presbytery.
Mr. John Roberts was examined for
licensure. His sermon was not approved, and he
is return to preach a sermon containing the
historical redemptive doctrines of Scripture. His
examinations in Christian experience and call to
the ministry, and English Bible were approved.
His examinations in theology and polity were
approved, with the provision that he be
reexamined for his ordination.
The Rev. Arthur Ames was examined and
transferred from Potomac Presbytery. He has
been called as an Associate Pastor for Grace
Presbyterian Church, Hudson, Ohio.
Candidate Michael Hoppe was examined
for licensure. He stated his exception to the
wording of BCO 48-4, and to the Larger Catechism
Question 109. He is to submit these exceptions
in writing. His exceptions were allowed. His
sermon was approved for licensure, but he will
preach again for his ordination examination. His
exams in Christian experience, call to ministry,
polity and English Bible were approved; his exam
in theology was approved with an amendment
stipulated that he spend time in study and report
to the committee, specifically addressing his
exceptions.
Mr. Mark Champaign, a member of Trinity
Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi, came
under care as a candidate.
The Rev. Bob Lynd was given permission
to labor within Great Lakes geographic bounds
while retaining membership in Potomac
Presbytery.
Presbytery extended the license to preach
of Candidate Bob Beatty for one year.
The Rev. Ken Brown was given permission
to continue to labor out of geographical bounds;
and the Rev. Paul Engle and the Rev. David Crum
were given permission to labor out of ecclesiastical
bounds.
The Rev. Michael Pahls requested action
from Presbytery regarding his divorce. On motion
the Presbytery recognized the divorce of Michael
Pahls to be lawful on the grounds of willful
desertion by his wife, Heather Pahls, such as can
no way be remedied by the Church (I Cor. 7:15,
WCF XXIV.6). Presbytery declares that he is
released from the covenant obligations of this
marriage and is free to remarry (WCF XXIV.5).
The Rev. Robert Berkey plans to retire in
November. Presbyterys Executive Committee
will dissolve his call to Tyrone Covenant and
approve his new call.
Presbytery approved the call to Mr.
Luchenbill to the Tri-County area in Michigan
with the stipulation that the proposed mission
church not have a Fenton identity. The motion
was made pending official transfer to Great Lakes
Presbytery and upon completion of fund-raising.
All of the money must be pledged in order for
him to go to the field. Prayer was offered before
the vote, which carried 27-21-2.
The Rev. Dan Perrin reported on a prayer
conference coming up in November at Dublin,
Ohio. The purpose is to help elders and deacons
focus on prayer for evangelism.
The Rev. Phil Futuron reported on the need
for military reserve chaplains. A report was heard
on the financial restraints of Mission to North
America. Four funds are being established for
capital giving, with seventeen separate
metropolitan funds. On motion the treasurer will
establish the funds to facilitate giving.
The RUF deficit of Great Lakes Presbytery
is being negotiated.
It was reported that Elizabethtown,
Kentucky, needs a church planter.
A ministry testimony by Jay Eastman,
MTW missionary to Germany, began the MTW
report. Pastor Subramaniam Burt Karoonpan
from the Presbyterian Church in Singapore
brought greetings and shared about the ministry
to Tamil-Indians. The court also heard of the
plans of the Rev. Walter Lorenz and the Rev.
Terry Eves (Christ Church, Grand Rapids) to travel
to Singapore this summer to assist Pastor
Karoonpan with training of local pastors. Ruling
Elder Fred Greco also shared about teaching
opportunities in the former Soviet Union states
for teaching and ruling elders through the
International Theological Education Ministries,
Inc. The Rev. Brian Kinney shared with
Presbytery regarding his mission trip to Germany,
and Westminster Presbyterian Churchs mission
trip to Jamaica (which includes members of Good
Shepherd Presbyterian Church).
Recipients of the 2000 MTW Impact Trip
Scholarships were announced: Mr. Kevin Buist
(Christ Church, Grand Rapids, Mich.), $100; Mr.
& Mrs. Bryan Gueltigs (Church of the Covenant,
Cincinnati, Ohio), $100; Mr. Ty Damon (Harvest
Presbyterian Church, Medina, Ohio), $50; and
Emily Rosenfeldt (Faith Presbyterian Church,
Cincinnati, OH), $50.
August Called Meeting
A Called Meeting of Great Lakes Presbytery
was held on August 23, 2000, at Westminster
Presbyterian Church, Muncie, Indiana. In the
absence of the current moderator, the most
previous Moderator of Great Lakes Presbytery,
The Rev. Mark Dalbey, called the meeting to order
with devotions and prayer. John Cordray, youth
director at Westminster, greeted presbytery and
shared devotional comments from the Word of
God.
There were 25 Teaching Elders, 11 Ruling
Elders, 3 licentiates, 1 candidate and 7 visitors in
attendance.
Presbytery approved the action of a
commission, to deny the complaint against the
Session of South Dayton Presbyterian Church.
The Session of Tyrone Covenant
Presbyterian Church had timely filed a complaint
against the action of Presbytery in its Stated
Spring meeting approving the call of TE Tom
Luchenbill to plant a church in the Fenton,
Michigan, area. Having reserved the right to
withdraw the complaint should the concerns of
the Session be addressed, the Rev. Jim Mascow,
Moderator of the Tyrone Session, informed
Presbytery that an agreement had been worked
out between TE Luchenbill and the Session.
Prayer was offered and a copy of the agreement
attached to the Minutes of this meeting.
The Rev. Steven Simmons, a member of
Tennessee Valley Presbytery, was examined for
reception into Great Lakes Presbytery. Mr.
Simmons acknowledged his negligence in that
he had not contacted Great Lakes Presbytery
prior to his moving onto the field and accepting
a call to serve Immanuel Fellowship Church
(Independent) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This
irregularity was duly noted.
His exams in Christian experience, theology,
and sacraments were approved. It was
determined to discuss his call to an independent
church as a part of the approval of his church
government exam. The motion to approve his
examination on church government was
amended by adding but that he not be e
nrolled as a member of Great Lakes Presbytery
and his call not be approved until he provides a
written rationale as to his serving in an
independent church so that Presbytery may fully
concur with and find the circumstances agreeable
per BCO 13-2. The amendment was adopted
16-10, and the amended motion was adopted.
Presbytery was informed that a minister in
the United Church of Christ (UCC) would not be
presented for reception into Great Lakes
Presbytery from the UCC at this meeting.
James River
The Ninety-ninth session of James River
Presbytery met at Eastminster Presbyterian
Church, Norfolk, Virginia, on July 8, 2000. The
Moderator, Ruling Elder Dale White, opened the
worship service. The Rev. Bill Harrell preached
on the danger of turning away from the simplicity
of Christ.
The court approved the report of the
Commission to ordain and install Mr. Rusty
Mosley as Assistant Pastor of Calvary
Presbyterian Church, Norfolk.
The Treasurers report indicated that there
was a balance of $44,753.98 on January 1, 2000,
and a balance of $33,271.02 on June 30, 2000.
Miss Jill deVeer, a career missionary for
Mission to the World to Odessa, Ukraine, gave a
report.
Memorials were presented for Ruling Elder
James W. Siane, who served on the Session of
the Eastminster Church, and for the Rev. Richard
L. Brinkley, who had been Pastor of Rivers Edge
Presbyterian Church, Hopewell, Virginia, prior to
his retirement.
Mr. James Watson was examined and
approved for licensure. The Presbytery also
voted to approve his serving as student supply
at the Centralia Presbyterian Church, Chester,
Virginia. Also licensed to preach was Mr. Jerry
Gill.
Presbytery examined and approved for
ordination Mr. John Lindsay. He has been called
as Pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Fred Sloan indicated to Presbytery his
desire to transfer his ordination to the PCA. He
is presently pastoring a small congregation in
Montpelier, Virginia. The Mission of Presbytery
and the Candidates and Credentials Committees
were directed to meet with Mr. Sloan to discuss
the possibilities of transferring his credentials to
the PCA and of receiving the congregation he
serves as a mission church.
Mr. Dennis Bullock was received under care
as a candidate, and an internship plan for him
was approved. The candidacy of Mr. Ewan
Kennedy was transferred from Nashville
Presbytery.
Presbytery approved an internship plan for
Mr. Sindler. Internship reports were received from
Messrs. John Lindsay, Jerry Gill, William Wade,
and Chris Copeland.
The license to preach for Mr. Stuart
Ferguson of All Saints Reformed Presbyterian
Church, Richmond, Virginia, was renewed without
further examination.
Upon recommendation of the Candidates
and Credentials Committee, it was moved,
seconded, and carried not to conduct an
examination unless written examinations are
received at least two weeks prior to a committee
meeting.
It was reported that the Ministerial and
Church Relations Committee is reorganizing its
fifteen men into three subcommittees:
Shepherdingto develop ways to create good
pastoral care for pastors and churches,
particularly ministers without call; Prevention
to develop strategies to keep churches and
pastors healthy and to encourage ministering to
one another; Troubleshootingto determine
how to position the Committee to respond when
there is trouble.
No member of the Mission to the World
Committee was present to give the report. No
member of the Mission of Presbytery Committee
was present to give its report; furthermore, the
committee was unable to muster a quorum to
hold a meeting, and did not submit a report.
Presbytery voted to insert the following
statistics into the minutes: There are 25 churches
and one mission church in the Presbytery and
only 10 represented here today. There are no
excused absences from 13 churches. There are
52 teaching elders on the roll and only 13 teaching
elders are registered for this meeting. 20 teaching
elders did not request an excused absence.
The Rev. Robert Hobson was nominated
as moderator in nomination.
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P&R News ² September - October 2000
21
Metropolitan
New York
The seventeenth stated meeting of
Metropolitan New York Presbytery was held on
March 12, 2000, at North Shore Community
Church, Oyster Bay, New York. The group met
for corporate worship and communion at 9:00
AM, with a sermon preached by the Rev. Clyde
Godwin, a member of Nashville Presbytery.
In the absence of the Moderator (Dr. Tim
Keller), the Rev. Craig Higgins was elected as
Acting Moderator. There were 14 teaching elder
and 7 ruling elder commissioners present.
Presbytery voted to dissolve the pastoral
relationship between the Rev. Richard Gray and
the Knowlton Presbyterian Church, Columbia,
New Jersey.
In executive session, the Presbytery heard
the report of the Judicial Commission on the
Complaint against the Session of Princeton (N.
J.) Presbyterian Church. It was stated that these
minutes of the court, together with the report of
the Commission, are available only to qualified
members of this court and the higher court.
Mr. Godwin was examined and transferred
in order to become Pastor of The Village Church,
New York, New York. He took exception to the
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 23
[sic], paragraph 8, and the Catechisms, with
regard to the Sabbath: I believe the Scripture
teaches that the believer has freedom of
conscience how to use the Lords Day before
and after gathering with Gods people for worship
(Romans 14:1-15:13, I Corinthians 8-10). The
danger of trying to over apply, over legislate has
done great harm to the church. I strongly believe
Christians should be allowed to recreate on the
Sabbath. He also took exception to BCO 43: I
believe the complaint process is a direct violation
of the principles in Matthew 18:15-20. If a person
does have a complaint, he should be required to
go personally to the body or individual he
disagrees with. If he is dissatisfied, he should
take someone with him. Only after exhausting all
personal discussions, could he file a written
complaint. Chapter 43 has done great harm to
the peace and purity of the church.
The Rev. Osni Ferreira, who formerly was a
member of Northeast Presbytery, was examined
and transferred from the Presbyterian Church of
Brazil, to become director of the Urban Church
Development Center at Redeemer Presbyterian
Church, New York, New York. He took exception
to the Westminster Confession of Faith, XXI.8:
I believe the Sabbath is to be set as a day of rest
from our regular work, wherein we should honor
God. Matthew 12:1-14 describes that Jesus did
not mean the Sabbath to be a burden but rather
to be liberating. This in no way exempts us from
rest from our labors, however rest may have some
different forms as to what one might perceive as
recreation.
The internship for Mr. Ross Durham was
approved. Mr. David Bisgrove was taken under
care as a candidate for the ministry.
The Rev. Harrison Skeele, who was
ordained in an independent church and has
served there to the English-speaking
congregation of a largely Chinese church in New
Jersey for eight years, was examined. He is
starting a new church, with the blessing of his
present congregation, and he desires that this
new work ultimately be a PCA congregation. Mr.
Skeele was received from independency, and his
call from the Crossroads Community Church was
approved. He was instructed to meet with the
Rev. Ray Cannata and thee presbytery Missions
Team regarding the ultimate location of the new
church, since it intends to begin in an adjacent
town to Grace Community Church, where Mr.
Cannata pastors.
Mid-America
August Called Meeting
Mid-America Presbytery met for a special
meeting on Tuesday, August 1, 2000, at the
conference board room of Dura-Kold
Corporation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In the
absence of the Moderator, Ruling Elder Neil
Thielen, the meeting was called to order and
opened with prayer by the Rev. David O Dowd,
the eldest Teaching Elder present, at 10:08 AM.
A quorum was established with three teaching
elders and three ruling elders. Mr. O Dowd was
chosen by common consent as Moderator pro-
tem.
Presbytery voted to dissolve the pastoral
relationship between the Rev. Joseph Staub and
First Reformed Presbyterian Church, Minco,
Oklahoma; and Mr. Staub was transferred to
Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest, at a date to
be mutually agreed upon by the Session of the
Minco church and Mr. Staub.
October Stated Meeting
The 39th Stated Meeting of Mid-America
Presbytery was held at Christ Presbyterian
Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Rev. John Owen
Butler preached from Hosea 6:3-4. Host pastor
David O Dowd administered the Lords Supper.
A quorum was present, with eight ruling
elders and six teaching elders in attendance. The
Rev. David ODowd, Moderator-Elect, was
elected Moderator. Ruling Elder Doug Seewald
was elected as Moderator-elect.
The Session of Christ Presbyterian Church,
Tulsa, had sent in an overture, asking that the
Presbytery be merged with North Texas
Presbytery. Since this would in effect be an
amendment to the By-Laws, it was ruled that this
was a first reading of the provision which would,
in essence, dissolve Mid-America Presbytery.
The Presbytery approved the amendment on a
first reading. At 2:40 PM, the Presbytery moved
to lengthy informal discussion as to whether to
proceed to suspend the By-Laws and move to
second reading and adoption of the overture
(By-Laws, Article XI). At 4:08 PM, Presbytery
moved out of informal discussion. By common
consent, the overture was continued to be
considered as a first reading of an amendment to
the By-Laws.
The Clerk brought to the attention of the
Presbytery his intention no longer to serve as
Clerk or Presbytery Treasurer, come the spring
2001 meeting of the Presbytery. The Rev. E. Lad
Heisten, III, was designated as Clerk-Elect.
A presentation on Reformed Theological
Seminary-Orlando was brought to the court by
Mr. Matt Lacey, Vice-President of Development.
The report was received as information.
It was reported to the Presbytery by the
Stated Clerk that Ruling Elder/Licentiate Bill
Mitchells license to preach within the bounds
of this Presbytery and his candidacy for the
Gospel Ministry expires with this meeting. The
Stated Clerk indicated that no communication
had received from Mr. Mitchell indicating his
request that the license be renewed. The
Presbytery notes that it had previously notified
him of the impending expiration of his candidacy
and licentiate status at this meeting. The
Moderator directed that the fact of Mr. Mitchells
license to preach and candidacy within this
Presbytery has expired to be recorded by the
Stated Clerk, and that the matter be communicated
to RE Mitchell per BCO 19-6.
The name of Candidate Kyle Dixon from
the roll of candidates for the Gospel Ministry,
contingent upon receipt of notice of his reception
by the Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church in the United States.
Reports were heard by the Presbytery on E.
Lad Heisten, III, and Geoff Andress, both of
whom are without call. A report on the activities
by TE Jim Tracy, laboring out of bounds as a
teacher at St. Augustine Academy, Tulsa, who
gave a report on ministries at the school, and of
a possible outreach and preaching opportunities
at the Thunderbird Youth Academy, Pryor,
Oklahoma.
Presbytery appointed Ruling Elder Ron
Dunton, the Rev. E. Lad Heisten, III, and the Rev.
David ODowd as a committee of Presbytery to
discuss with North Texas Presbytery a possible
merger between our Presbyteries and issues
arising in such a merger, if it were effected. By
common consent, the invitation to send a
representative to the GA-MNA Chairmans
Meeting in Atlanta on 6-7 November 2000, was
received as information. It was decided, by
common consent, to appoint Ruling Elder Lyle
Fogle as a contact man between the churches
and members of Presbytery for the interchange
of ideas with regards to church planting in
Oklahoma. Also, it was decided by common
consent to devote a sizable portion of the next
meeting of the Committee of the Whole to the
discussion of these ideas.
Mr. Fogle reported on the MTW Minute
Men for Missions program, and encouraged the
churches to support the program. It was received
as information.
A 20-minute discussion on a proposed Pro-
Life Ministry of Mid-America Presbytery,
docketed for this meeting by the Committee of
the Whole, was taken up. It was moved and
seconded that the functions of a Pro-Life
Committee be added to the responsibilities of
the Committee of the Whole, to address the
recommendations of the Sixth General Assembly
Report on the Sanctity of Human Life among the
Presbyterys constituent particular churches. The
Presbytery voted to table the matter until the
40th Stated Meeting.
A docketed 20-minutes discussion of
Conflict Management Materials previously
distributed to the Presbytery was then taken up.
It was moved and seconded to receive these
materials as information. It was moved and
seconded to table discussion on the matter until
the 40th Stated Meeting. After discussion, the
movers and seconders of the motions to receive
as information and to lay on the table withdrew
their motions. It was decided by common consent
to take up the matter at the next meeting of the
Committee of the Whole.
Presbytery voted to continue procedures
of conducting the Presbyterys committee work
as a Committee of the Whole.
Mississippi Valley
The Presbytery of Mississippi Valley met at
Twin Lakes Conference Center, Florence,
Mississippi, October 17, 2000. The Rev. Dean
Rydbeck opened the meeting with prayer at 9
AM. The Stated Clerk established that there
was a quorum present. TE Ligon Duncan was
elected Moderator and he again opened in prayer.
The adoption of the docket was approved,
visitors were introduced, and the welcome from
the host was given by Mark Magee.
During the Stated Clerks report three
amendments to the BCO were passed. These
were amendments that were sent down to the
Presbyteries for advice and consent. The first
involved adding a clause to 12.5d explaining in
more detail the role of women in the church. The
second involved changing 32-19 to prohibit
anyone from paying for professional
representation in church court cases. The third
involved changing 14-1, 12 to include RUM as a
permanent committee. Following the Treasurers
report and several short reports from a few
committees, Rev. Bob Schwanebeck led us in
worship preaching from Romans 12:14-21.
The completion of the internships of two
men were approved: Jon Anderson and James
Furey.
The following men were approved as
candidates: Allen Smith at RTS Jackson, Joey
Wright (transfer from Calvary Presbytery) at RTS
Jackson, Jason Edwards at RTS Jackson, David
Storment at RTS Jackson, and David Simmons at
Auburn University RUF.
The following men were approved as
interns: Joey Wright at Mississippi College RUF
and Brad Chaney at Alta Woods.
Mr. Neil Stewart was examined and
approved for licensure after preaching a sermon
on Psalm 34. Rev. Paul Nasekos was examined
and approved as a transferring minister
(headmaster of Presbyterian Day School in
Kosciusko, MS). Rev. Mark Kreitzer was
examined and approved as a transferring minister
(pastor of Bailey Church) with the exception that
he cannot teach his views on the regulative
principle of worship.
A resolution from the Credentials Committee
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P&R News ² September - October 200022
concerning the Creation days was presented and
approved in light of the PCA Advisory Committee
on Creations report. This resolution sought:
(1) to address and honor the theological
concerns of the majority in the presbytery who
strongly hold to a traditional calendar day view
of the creation days; (2) to give direction to our
Credentials Committee in how it should inform
and prepare men for their presbytery
examinations; (3) to avert the necessity of an
extended floor debate every time this issue comes
us during the examination process; and (4) to,
simultaneously, foster peace in the presbytery
and to promote its purity by dealing with the
substance of the original resolution of June 16,
1998 in a biblical, confessional and pastoral
manner; (5) to force no ones conscience beyond
our common resolutions.
Guidelines for ministerial call salary packages
within Mississippi Valley Presbytery were
adopted and approved. This is an effort to draft
minimum expected salary package contents that
particular churches should offer when calling a
minister to their church.
The Standing Rules Committee presented
the second reading of a proposal to change
Presbytery Standing Rules, Article IIA (Stated
Meetings of Presbytery), to increase the number
of meetings from three to four. These four
meetings would convene at 9:00 a.m. on the first
Tuesday in February, May, August, and
November. This change will take effect in 2001.
After setting the arrangements for the next
Presbytery meeting to be held at Trinity
Presbyterian Church on February 6, 2001, the
meeting was closed with prayer.
Guy Richard, Correspondent
Northern California
(OPC)
The Presbytery of Northern California of
the Orthodox Presbyterian Church met for a
stated meeting on March 17-18, 2000, at First
Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Sunnyvale,
California. The Rev. Calvin R. Malcor was
installed as Moderator, Mr. Koelewyn as
Assistant Clerk, and Mr. Fullavolve as Treasurer.
Mr. Kenneth A. Kitts was thanked for his twenty
years of service as Treasurer.
Among items of correspondence was a
letter from Mr. Andy Preston, dated October 28,
1999, asking forgiveness from the Presbytery for
not voting his conscience in a vote to sustain a
theological examination.
Mr. Daniel Clifford was removed from the
roll of candidates in that he has been taken under
care by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. The name
of Mr. Chris Brown was also removed from the
list of candidates, per the request of First OPC,
San Francisco; and in light of his serious
objections to the subordinate standards.
The Rev. H. Wilson Albright was examined
and received from the Presbytery of Southern
California.
The Rev. Bob Needham was appointed to
represent the Presbytery at the 67th General
Assembly to defend the Presbyterys denial of
Mr. Bradley J. Kelleys complaint.
The Rev. David Brown of Northern
California Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church
in America (PCA) brought fraternal greetings.
The Moderator offered prayer for the PCA.
Mr. David Bush preached a trial sermon
from Matthew 6:21-34, as part of his licensure
examination. Presbytery approved the sermon
and the licensure exam as a whole, but Mr.
Needham asked that his negative vote be
recorded on both motions.
Mr. Mark E. Richline, a licentiate of New
Jersey Presbytery (OPC), was examined and
approved for ordination as an evangelist laboring
in the Hughson area.
Presbytery authorized its Visitation
Committee to visit the Battle Mountain, Nevada,
church at least once by the next stated meeting
of Presbytery, and to report back with
recommendations regarding the church.
The Presbytery reconvened on May 5, 2000,
in Sovereign Grace Community Church [OPC],
Hughson, California.
The court concurred with the request of the
South San Francisco Session, in granting the
Rev. H. Wilson Albright the right to voting
membership in the congregation.
The court also granted the request of the
Sonora Session to grant an unpaid leave of
absence for that churchs pastor, until the Fall
Stated Meeting of Presbytery, or until such time
as the marriage relationship is restored, whichever
occurs first. The Presbytery also augmented the
Sonora Session by the addition of one teaching
elder and one ruling elder, with this augmentation
to continue until the pastors marriage relationship
is restored, or until the Fall Stated Meeting.
Presbytery adopted the first
recommendation of its Special Committee on
Creation, as follows: That the Presbytery of
Northern California recognize that the only
creation view consistent and compatible with
the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter
IV, Section 1 and parallel Larger and Shorter
Catechism questions and answers is that of six
days of ordinary length, thereby making other
views incompatible with the Standards. Messrs.
Neilands, Lewis, and Boerman recorded their
negative votes.
A proposed overture to the General
Assembly was presented. The overture stated,
Of the three views of the length of the creation
days of Genesis 1:1-2:3 currently held by our
ministers and elders, days of essentially ordinary
length (the twenty-four hour view), the day-age
view and the framework view, does the General
Assembly regard all of them as permissible
interpretations of the Scriptures and of the
Standards of our Church? The court voted
down the overture.
The Presbytery approved the second
recommendation of the Special Committee on
Creation, as follows: That insofar as our
secondary standards, the Westminster
Confession of Faith and Catechisms plainly teach
creation in the space of six days (read: days of
essentially ordinary length), its acceptance is
required by the second ordination vow in our
Form of Government. Messrs. Neilands, Lewis,
and Boerman asked that their negative votes be
recorded.
The Special Committees third
recommendation was as follows: That if a
candidate holds to a view of creation days other
than six days of essentially ordinary length, he
shall declare his views, take exception to the
Westminster Standards, and be required to refrain
from advocating his view. The Presbytery added
the words as confessional at the end, and then
adopted the amended recommendation.
The Special Committees fourth
recommendation was that the Presbytery adopt
its report. A substitute motion, that the
Presbytery commend the committee for its
work, was moved and became the main motion,
which was then adopted.
The fifth recommendation, that the report
be spread on the minutes, was also adopted [see
box].
The Presbytery also adopted the Special
Committees sixth recommendation, which
amended the Bylaws by adding a new section
regarding the recording of exceptions to the
Standards. The new provision specifies that the
court may record in its minutes what it believes
to be a significant disagreement with the
Westminster Standards by a candidate for
licensure or ordination. Further, If a minister or
licentiate who has had such an exception recorded
against him shall transfer to another presbytery
or denomination, the letter of transfer shall
indicate the exception taken by quoting the
minute that recorded the same. Messrs. Lewis,
Neilands, and Boerman asked that their negative
votes be recorded on the motion.
Just prior to adjournment, the Presbytery
proceeded to ordain, install, and enroll the Rev.
Mark E. Richline as evangelist and ministerial
members of Presbytery.
New River
The 79th stated meeting of New River
Presbytery was held at the Winifrede (W. Va.)
Presbyterian Church on July 14-15, 2000. The
Rev. Michael J. Cara, Moderator, called the
meeting to order and presided. Host pastor Tim
Deal conducted the worship service, at which
the Rev. Michael Hall preached from I Corinthians
2:1-5 and 4:1-5. An offering was taken up to
offset the cost of flowers sent to the funeral of
Mrs. Currence.
The Rev. Robert Jones, a minister in the
Evangelical Free Church and a licentiate of the
Excerpts from the report of the Special
Committee on Creation of the Presbytery of
Northern California (OPC).
The Westminster Divines immediately put forth their hermeneutical approach to Scripture,
which they rightly argued is Scriptures own method for interpretation. Two significant principles
emerge: the principle of good and necessary consequence and the principle of the analogy
of faith. The sum of those two principles interpret Scripture in a literal, truthful, clear, and
consistent (not allowing for contradictions) manner.
Both were the working principles from which they produces this confessional document!
By virtue of these methodological principles, and because of the requirement of their task they
wrote so as to be clear and precise, holding forth the integrity of the doctrines of Scripture.
This Biblical approach countered the prevailing methods of the day, methods informed and
used by Romanists and sectarians; methods which allowed for divergent and often times
heretical views.
It cannot be properly argued that the Westminster Divines desired ambiguity in matters
which were clear to them. Neither can it be argued that they wrote in such a way as to support
a wide range of possible meanings. Such an argument contradicts the very nature of their
hermeneutical approach. They articulated our doctrines from the clear and plain meaning of
Scripture.
This being their premise, they adopted John Calvins phrase in the space of six days, not
to be ambiguous, nor to leave room for varying interpretations, but precisely because the phrase
fit the task for being literal, truthful, clear, and consistent. Calvins view about the six days of
creation is plain. His writings reveal he strongly rejected both the instantaneous view of
creation and the allegorical method of interpretation for Genesis. It is clear the Westminster
Divines intended the same.
In addition we learn from the internal evidence of the Westminster Standards that whenever
the term day or days is used, and is given a numerical modifier, it is referring to a measured
period of time to signify a day or days of ordinary length. This is true of not only a normal day
in ones life, the day of Christs resurrection, the literal days of Christs post-resurrection ministry
upon the earth, work days preceding the Sabbath, the day of the Sabbath or Lords Day, but also
to the days of creation. Further, the definition of the length of creation (in six days) and the length
of each of the six days is clear from the Westminster Standards. It must be honestly accepted
that the days in our creation phrase have the same linguistic, definable value as the term has
in those references to the Sabbath.
Historically, the Assembly discussed the issue within the context of the debate between
the two predominant theological camps (literal six days versus the allegorical and instantaneous
view), and within the immediate context of the debate over Gods divine decrees. The
preponderance of the evidence reveals that the majority of the commissioners (if not all) were
committed to a literal view of the six creation days. At the same time there is no evidence to
suggest that the Assembly consented to any other view when they wrote the Westminster
document. Relatively little time was invested in discussing the articles on creation. The
proceedings on this point are recorded without debate.
This is interesting given the fact that they took a vow to maintain nothing in point of
doctrine, but what was believed to be most agreeable to the Word of God. It is additionally
instructive when one considers that the Divines secured what they believed to be the plain
interpretation of the Scriptures through deliberate, exercised discussions and debates. On
those matters of differing views considerable debate took place. But there was NO debate
regarding days of creation. In the statements on creation there was a rare and remarkable
unanimity and consensus.
The original intent of the Framers of the Westminster Standards (the Westminster
Confession, the Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism) should be preserved, unless an
action has been taken by the General Assembly to change its meaning or to reinterpret it. If
those who adopted it officially changed the text, or officially allowed that its meaning may be
open to a diversity of opinions, then those things must stand, since they have been agreed
upon by the Church. But if there was no such change or official interpretation, then the meaning
must be that of the original framers.
It is true that the Westminster Standards are the standard and not the additional writings of
the Westminster Divines by which we judge theology of men coming into our denomination.
But that which was in the minds of the members of the Assembly, as evidenced by their writings,
will have a definite bearing upon what is meant by what they wrote in the Standards.
It has also been argued that the Westminster Standards should be interpreted by the
writings of those who adopted them at the formation of our denomination. But is this the true
and proper way to understand them?
Not necessarily. As mentioned above, if there were official actions documented by the
members of the denomination, in which the Standards were changed, or in which certain ideas
were accepted as valid explications, they the answer would be yes. But if there are no such
documented official changes or interpretations, then the answer is no. Unless there is a direct
action by the adopting body to change the Standards, or to reinterpret it, its meaning must, by
default, be determined by those who penned them.
It should be noted that there is nothing in the official actions of our General Assembly to
inform or require us to interpret our secondary standards in any other way than according to its
original intent and meaning with regard to the days of creation. Therefore the Standards are to
be understood according to their original intent and meaning. Otherwise no one can say with
any definitiveness what the Standards mean at any point!
The fact that the founders, or subsequent leaders, in this denomination may have understood
something different by the phrase in the space of six days, does not change the meaning of
the phrase. Therefore, its intent must still be that of the original framers of the Westminster
Standards.
P&R News ² September - October 2000
23
Presbytery, was granted the privilege of the floor.
Mr. Bill Withers of the Pliny (W. Va.)
Presbyterian Church was elected as the
Moderator-in-Nomination, to assume the duties
of Moderator at the November meeting.
On Saturday morning, a sermon was given
by Candidate Rick Morgan. A ruling elder at the
former Wheeling, West Virginia, church, he was
later examined for licensure, as the Trinity Church,
New Martinsville, West Virginia, has expressed
a desire in calling him as Stated Supply.
The candidate announced four exceptions
to the confessional standards: 1. He takes
exception to WCF 4-1 as to the necessity of
understanding the days of Creation to be six
literal 24-hours days. He affirmed creation from
nothing, the historicity of Adam, and rejected
macroevolution. 2 He takes exception to WCF
21-7, 8 and WLC 116-121 in not recognizing the
necessity of observing one day in seven as a
Sabbath day. 3. He takes exception to WCF 27-
4 in regards to the limiting the administering of
the sacraments to ministers only. 4. He takes
exception to WCF 7-2 concerning the term
Covenant of Works as applying to the
circumstances of Adams fall. It was moved and
seconded that scruple #1 not be considered an
exception. The motion failed. It was moved and
seconded to adopt the following statement: New
River Presbytery goes on record to state that the
words in WCF 4-1 in the space of six days were
intended by the authors to mean six 24-hour solar
days, and therefore all and any other view is an
exception to the Confession (which may or may
not be acceptable to the Presbytery), and therefore
New River Presbytery a) grants an exception to
Candidate RE [Ruling Elder] Morgan in this area,
and b) instructs all current members and
licentiates of the Presbytery who do not hold to
a 6/24 view to inform the Presbytery by the next
Stated Meeting. It was objected that the motion
was out of order. The chair ruled that the motion
was in order. Upon challenge, the chair was
sustained, 11-9. It was moved and seconded to
divide the question; that motion failed. A
substitute was moved and seconded: That New
River Presbytery recognize Mr. Morgans scruple
#1 concerning WCF 4-1 as an exception which
the Presbytery will allow. The substitute became
the main motion, 14-6; and then carried as the
main motion, 15-5.
The Presbytery voted to allow scruples #2
and #3. Regarding scruple #4, the court voted
that this be treated as a semantic difference and
not as an exception. Presbytery also voted to
require the candidate to study further on the issue
of the Covenants. During the period of
questioning regarding Biblical doctrine, the
candidate expressed the view that Christians are
not necessarily bound by the moral law of the
Old Testament, contrary to WCF 19-5, but rather
that the moral law is to be best understood as
given in the New Testament. It was moved and
seconded that this be treated as a semantic
difference and not as an exception, and to require
the candidate to study further on the issue of the
law. This motion failed; Mr. Hall and the Rev.
Gordon Woolard asked that their affirmative
votes be recorded. It was moved, seconded,
and carried that the exam be suspended and that
the candidate study further on the issue of the
Old Testament moral law and return for the
remainder of the examination as soon as possible.
Presbytery extended the license of Ruling
Elder Terry Roush.
Under the Stated Clerks report, the
Presbytery voted to request Central Georgia
Presbytery to commence formal procedure to deal
with the Rev. Donald McKelvey for his failure
to abide by the Book of Church Order in coming
into the bounds of [New River Presbytery] to
conduct ministry without our approval.
As a first reading, two changes were
adopted to the Standing Rules of Presbytery. A
new section is being added: The docket shall
contain an entry for Friday night for a period of
Testimony of the Churches and Season of
Prayer. A sentence is to be added to another
section: Upon receipt, each newly received
Teaching Elder shall be required to read his
Ministerial Obligation aloud before the
Presbytery.
Presbytery approved the reports of the
commissions to install the Rev. John Ledden and
the Rev. Brad Chittenden.
The Clerk, the Rev. Don Clements, reported
that the sale of the property in Wheeling, West
Virginia, had not been closed because of the
inability of the closing attorneys to communicate
with the principal representing the purchasers.
The Treasurer was instructed to pay an attorneys
bill of $466.62. The Presbytery voted that Mr.
Hall replace Mr. Clements as Chairman of the
Commission to Sell the Wheeling Property with
instructions to seek to determine the possibilities
of closing this sale.
Mr. Clements reported that the Commission
to Oversee the Membership Rolls of the former
Friendship Church, Princeton [West Virginia], and
the Commission to Oversee the Membership
Rolls of the former Valley Reformed Church,
Cloverdale [Virginia], had been completed and
all members transferred or dropped from the rolls.
Both of these commissions were dismissed.
Reports were given on the current mission
works in Fairmont and Parkersburg, West Virginia.
The Princeton, West Virginia, work was
terminated, and funds were released for other
works. The next major effort for a mission work is
slated for the Teays Valley area of Putnam County,
West Virginia.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to go
into executive session, allowing only voting elders
plus licentiate Jones and the members of the
former Trinity Session to stay. An amendment
which would have allowed Mrs. Cara to stay,
was defeated.
The Rev. Don Post, convener of the
Commission to Act as a Temporary Session
(CATS) for Trinity Church, reported on the
congregational meeting held on July 9, 2000,
which accepted Mr. Caras resignation and set a
severance package. Presbytery approved the
action of the congregation and dissolved the
pastoral relationship. It was moved and
seconded to approve the severance package of
$2700 plus medical insurance through March
2001. A substitute motion was adopted, which
instructed CATS to ask the congregation, in
addition to the currently-agreed package, to revisit
the issue.
Presbytery voted that Presbytery counsel
former Session members, Ruling Elders Pierce,
Powell, Jones and Ferguson, to meet together
with Mr. Cara to seek reconciliation, using a
mediator provided by the Shepherding
Committee. Mr. Cara was also directed to meet
with them. It was moved and seconded that
Presbytery direct CATS to train and encourage
men to be elders, and closely to examine any
man nominated for office in the future. An
amendment was moved and seconded, viz., to
add and not to pursue seeking a new Pastor
until a new Session is in place and there is a
sense of unity of purpose and vision for the
Church (Phil 2:1-11). This amendment failed;
and then the main motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that Mr. Cara
be directed to get Biblical counsel in order
successfully to work through a series of issues
listed by the Shepherding Committee and that
he not be released to another call until a good
report is received by Presbytery. It was moved,
seconded, and carried to change direct to
exhort and change not be released to to not
pursue. It was moved, seconded, and carried
to amend the motion by adding the following
sentence: Presbytery will pay the cost of this
counselling up to $2500 and provide a living
allowance of $100 per month during the period
of counselling for up to six months. The
amended motion carried.
Presbytery voted to spread the minutes of
the executive session on the minutes of this
meeting, with the exception of the list of subjects
of counselling.
Presbytery voted, 17-1, to suspend the
Standing Rules to commence the 80th Stated
Meeting at 3:00 PM on Friday, November 10,
due to the heavy docket.
Northeast
Northeast Presbytery met for its spring
stated meeting on May 20, 2000, at the Exeter (N.
H.) Presbyterian Church. Ruling Elder Clint
Donnelly opened the meeting with prayer and
presided.
The Rev. Bob Tanzie of the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church brought fraternal greetings.
The Rev. Mike Hall of the denominational
Insurance, Annuities, and Relief gave a report.
In anticipation of the division into three
presbyteries, Northeast Presbytery voted to
divide the remaining funds in the general fund at
the time of dissolution into three equal amounts
to be disbursed to the three presbyteries. The
Northern New England Presbytery was
appointed as the custodian of all Northeast
Presbytery documents for one year, after which
they will be sent to the PCA Historical Center.
The Rev. Mel Sensinig of the Southern New
England Committee reported on a youth retreat
for their region. It was also reported that new
areas are being targeted for church planting.
Mr. Roger Broberg notified the Presbytery
that he has been called as pastor of a
Congregational (CCCC) church. The Presbytery
removed him from the list of ministerial
candidates. Also removed from the list of
candidates was Mr. Scott Lawry.
It was reported that the church in Groton,
Connecticut, has now been organized. The
Presbytery dissolved the relationship of
evangelist between the church and the Rev. Dr.
David Prescott.
Mr. John Hardie, a member of Christ
Presbyterian Church, New Haven, was taken
under care as a candidate.
Presbytery approved the minutes of the
commission to install Rick Downs as Associate
Pastor of Christ the King Presbyterian Church,
Cambridge, Massachusetts. Presbytery also
approved the work of the commission to install
the Rev. Santo Garafalo as Pastor of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church, Duanesburg, New York.
The Rev. Doug Warren was examined and
received from South Texas Presbytery, pending
release, to be an evangelist in Portland, Maine,
with a view toward organizing a church. He stated
an exception with regard to the Sabbath.
Observance of the Lords Day should be
determined with an understanding that it is more
than the shadow of the Old Testament Sabbath
and not simply its equivalent. Christ is the
fulfillment of it as the Lord of the Sabbath. As a
result we should follow Pauls instruction and
allow for a liberty of conscience in its practice by
individuals and heads of families, in conjunction
with the guidance of the lower and higher courts
of the church. His exception is to Confession
of Faith, XXI.7, in that he believes that the
terminology that the Sabbath was changed
into the first day of the week, should properly
be was expanded into.
It was reported that Licentiate Glen
Hoshauer had received a call from Christ
Presbyterian Church, Nashua, New Hampshire,
to be its Pastor. The Northern New England
Committee approved most portions of the
ordination exam. However, by a vote of 3-5-3,
the Committee recommended not to approve his
theology exam, and by a vote of 4-6-1 not to
send him to the floor for oral examination. The
candidate was instructed by the Committee to
write a paper to explain the hermeneutic that
allows him to say one of the ten commandments
is no longer in force. Presbytery received this
information, and voted to renew his license to
preach, upon recommendation of the Committee.
Presbytery dissolved the assistant pastoral
relationship between the Rev. Walter Bjorck and
the Session of Grace Presbyterian Church,
Laconia, New Hampshire.
Mr. Phillip Henry was ordained as a minister
of the Gospel and installed as pastor of Hanna
City Presbyterian Church, Hanna City, Illinois
(Northern Illinois Presbytery), on September 17,
2000. Mr. Frank Riley, a ruling elder at First
Presbyterian Church (PCA) of Pottstown,
Peoria, Illinois, presided over the service. Mr.
Henrys father, Mr. Robert E. Henry of Boulder,
Colorado, and step-father, Mr. Jim Giancola of
Evansville, Indiana, read Scripture. The Rev.
Timothy B. Bayly, a PCA minister who pastors
Church of the Good Shepherd, an independent
congregation in Bloomington, Indiana, preached
from II Timothy 1:1-15. Then, questions were
posed to Mr. Henry and to the congregation,
followed by prayer and the laying on of hands
by all elders present. Finally, two charges were
given: the first, from the Rev. Dr. Peter Jones, a
professor at Westminster Theological Seminary
in California to Mr. Henry; and the second, from
the Rev. Mark Henninger, Pastor of First
Presbyterian Church, Pottstown, to the
congregation. The service concluded with a
hymn, Crown Him with Many Crowns.
New Pastor for Hanna City
The new ordinand (left) seen here with
the Rev. Mark Henninger
The laying on of hands
P&R News ² September - October 200024
Presbytery voted to send the matter of the
overture from North Florida Presbytery regarding
Presbyterian & Reformed News to the New York
State Committee.
The court asked Covenant Theological
Seminary that Northeasts scholarship funds be
allocated to Mr. Tim Petrie.
New terms of call were approved for several
ministers in New York State.
The Presbytery requested the Clerk to
instruct all ministers and licentiates laboring out
of bounds to give a written or oral report regarding
their labors.
Presbytery constituted the New York State
Committee as a commission in order to examine
Mr. Bob Dalberth for licensure, and to examine,
receive, and install the Rev. Steve Constable as
Pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church,
Binghamton, New York.
Northern Illinois
The seventy-first stated meeting of the
Presbytery of Northern Illinois met at Westminster
Presbyterian Church, Elgin, Illinois, on July 25,
2000. The staff of the host church led the opening
worship and administered the Lords Supper.
Host pastor preached the sermon.
In the absence of the Moderator and Vice-
Moderator, the Stated Clerk appointed the Rev.
Mike Marcey as Acting Moderator. Visitors were
granted privileges of the floor.
The court empowered the Stated Clerk to
appoint a temporary judicial committee, in accord
with the Presbyterys standing rules, consisting
of two teaching elders and two ruling elders from
two different churches to investigate the
complaints against the Session of First
Presbyterian Church of Pottstown (Peoria,
Illinois) by Ruling Elder Scott Price. This special
committee is to recommend action for the
Presbytery at its next Stated Meeting. An
amendment to have the committee report at a
called meeting of the Presbytery in August was
defeated, 11-18.
The Session of First Church of Pottstown
referred a judicial case to Presbytery requesting
that Presbytery conduct a trial and render a
decision regarding charges brought against Mr.
Price by the Session. The Session made the
reference based on the delicate and difficult
nature of the charges and because the accused
does not believe that he could receive an objective
judgment from the Session. Presbyterys Stated
Clerk moved that the request of the Pottstown
Session be denied, and that the Session be
instructed to conduct the trial. However, the
Presbytery approved a substitute motion, to
empower the Stated Clerk to appoint a judicial
commission to try the case. After becoming the
main motion, the substitute carried, 20-7.
The Chairman of the Mission to North
America Committee, Mike Marcey, gave a
committee report. Include in the report was a
rough draft of a working vision statement for
the committee. Hector Mardy and his family were
introduced, and Hector reported on his
preparations to minister to Haitians in Chicago.
The Rev. Ted Powers, MNAs Midwest Region
Chairman, reported on the work of See Sun Yu in
the Windy City.
The Rev. Ben Johnson, Mission to the
World Committee Chairman, reported. Mr. Glenn
Beckwith reported on church planting work in
Thailand. Satoshi and Cally Kawachi reported
on their anticipated work in Senegal.
Presbytery examined and took under care
four candidates for the ministry: Rod Knechtel,
H. Pierce Yates, Glenn Beckwith, and Dan
Adamson. In the cases of Mr. Beckwith and Mr.
Yates, their examinations were sustained with a
waiver of the requirement that the candidate be a
member of the sponsoring church for at least six
months.
Mr. William Kaufman was examined for
licensure. Presbytery approved most areas of
the examination, but did not pass the sermon he
preached, nor the English Bible portion.
Members of Presbytery encouraged him to
continue to prepare for licensure. It is anticipated
that he will soon submit to a re-examination.
Because he is a ruling elder in the PCA, the
Presbytery approved him as a ruling elder supply
for the Pine Street Presbyterian Church,
Hammond, Indiana, for not more than one year.
Mr. David Chapman was examined and
approved for ordination. He took exception to
Confession of Faith, Chapter XXI:8, in that he
believes that the concept of rest found in the
New Testament and in the Old Testament
encompasses more than the limits prescribed in
the Confession of Faith. Mr. Chapman was called
by Covenant Theological Seminary to be an
adjunct professor with a package of $39,500 per
year plus benefits.
Mr. Julius Kim was also examined and
approved for ordination. Westminster
Theological Seminary in California called him to
be Dean of Students and Assistant Professor of
Practical Theology with a package of $42,714 per
year plus benefits.
The Rev. Al Lutz, Chairman of the Christian
Education Committee, moved that his Committee
be allowed to present a theological forum of
approximately thirty minutes as part of its regular
report to [Presbytery] on a regular basis, having
the topic approved by the Presbytery at the
meeting prior to the forum. The first forum will
be on the Report Of The Creation Study
Committee given at the 2000 General Assembly,
and is scheduled for the next stated meeting.
The Rev. Dr. Brian Abshire was transferred
to Pacific Northwest Presbytery.
The Rev. Bob Allums reported on the work
of the Temporary Judicial Committee which
investigated a list of complaints that Mr. Ed
Stadick posed regarding disciplinary action and
an official ruling given him by the Session of
Christ Presbyterian Church. The seven key
points that constitute the final report of the
Temporary Judicial Committee are: The
committee presents the responses by the session
and Mr. Stadick as attachments to this report.
The committee believes the session of Christ
Presbyterian Church in Downers Grove has acted
ethically and compassionately in handling a very
difficult matter. The committee believes Mr.
Stadick, though frustrated with the many stressful
events in his life and marriage, will benefit from
further counseling and a shifting of his efforts
toward saving his marriage by focusing his
energy on winning back the affections of his
wife. The committee believes it has done all it
can do to help the parties in this difficult situation.
The committee commits to prayerful hope that
Mr. and Mrs. Stadick will save their marriage by
Gods grace. The committee commits to prayerful
encouragement of the session of Christ
Presbyterian Church as it seeks to shepherd
difficult cases such as this. The committee
respectfully submits this report and recommends
that the committee be dissolved as it has done
its best over the past several months to listen,
read, research and counsel in the matter at hand
per the standing rules of the Presbytery of
Northern Illinois.
The Temporary Judicial Committee was
dissolved with thanks of presbytery.
Tennessee Valley
Spring Stated Meeting
Covenant Presbyterian Church,
Chattanooga, hosted the April 15, 2000, stated
meeting of Tennessee Valley Presbytery. The
Moderator, the Rev. Carter Johnson, called the
meeting to order and presided.
The Rev. Dennis Griffith presented an
overture from the Session of Chattanooga Valley
Presbyterian Church, asking the Presbytery to
adopt an overture similar to that which North
Florida Presbytery had adopted with regard to
Presbyterian & Reformed News. The overture
was withdrawn. The court instructed the
Moderator to appoint a committee to express the
Presbyterys concerns regarding recent articles
in the newspaper. The committee is to report to
the summer stated meeting its unanimous
recommendations. Mr. Bob Shapiro, Editor-in-
Chief of P&R News, was allowed to speak to the
Presbytery for five minutes.
The Rev. J. Render Caines, Stated Clerk,
preached from I Timothy 5:1-2. The time of
worship ended with a season of prayer.
The Rev. John Robertson, Business
Administrator in the General Assembly Stated
Clerks office, presented to the Presbytery the
request of the home office that the Presbytery
host the Assembly in 2003. The Presbytery
agreed in principle with the request. The
Moderator was instructed to appoint a committee
to bring to the summer stated meeting a firm
proposal. [Editors note: The 28th Assembly
(2000) accepted the invitation of Central
Carolina Presbytery, to host the 31st Assembly
(2003) in either Winston-Salem or Charlotte.
Ed.]
Dick and Susan Montague, MTW
missionaries to Peru, reported to the court of
their intention to return to the field to rework a
translation of Scripture they had completed
several years ago. They plan to be on the field
for five or six years. They will also be writing the
dialogue for the Jesus film.
The Stated Clerk reported on the financial
need of the Presbytery.
The Rev. Bob Borger presented the
overture from First Presbyterian Church, Ft.
Oglethorpe, Georgia, with regard to the practice
of infant dedications at First Presbyterian Church,
Chattanooga. The Rev. Lea Clower, an Associate
Pastor at First Church, Chattanooga, presented
that Sessions response. The court voted, 29-34,
to deny the overture from Ft. Oglethorpe. Mr.
Borger, joined by the Rev. Dr. King Counts, lodged
a protest regarding this matter [see box].
Ruling Elder Mark Wilson reported on his
recent trip to Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
The Presbytery authorized its MNA
Committee to appoint a sub-committee to draw
up policies and procedures. The Presbytery also
established a New Horizons Fund.
The Rev. Eric Popp was divested without
censure, per his request. No assignment to a
congregation was made.
Presbytery voted to establish a minimum
salary package of $45,000/year for its pastors.
The Rev. John Boles was transferred to
Evangel Presbytery, to become Pastor of First
Presbyterian Church, Madison, Alabama.
The Minister and His Work Committee had
acted to dissolve the pastoral relationship
between the Rev. Bob Haymes and Highlands
Presbyterian Church, La Fayette, Georgia.
Presbytery approved the call of its MNA
Committee to Mr. Haymes to become church
planter in Morristown, Tennessee.
Mr. Anthony Reid, a member of Evergreen
Presbyterian Church, Sevierville, Tennessee, was
taken under care as a ministerial candidate.
The Rev. Dr. Dan MacDougall, a member of
the Presbytery of Miramichi of the Presbyterian
Church of Canada, was examined for transfer. Dr.
MacDougall has been a professor of Biblical
Studies at Covenant College for several years.
Presbytery approved the transfer.
Candidate Travis Hutchinson was
examined for ordination as Pastor of Highland
Presbyterian in La Fayette, Georgia. He had been
previously licensed. Because his graduation from
seminary is not to be until the summer, he was
examined under the extraordinary clause.
Presbytery approved the exam.
Candidate Phil Gagliardi was examined for
ordination as Assistant Pastor at First
Presbyterian of Chattanooga. Presbytery
approved the exam, and voted to ordain him
under the extraordinary clause, noting his age,
experience, and the number of seminary classes
already completed.
Summer Stated Meeting
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P&R News ² September - October 2000
25
Westminster Presbyterys Position on
Women in the Military
Because of our awareness of Gods distinction between the sexes and the expression of that
distinction in the general equity of his declarations about mustering the men to fight, it must be
concluded that the uniform evidence of the Bible is, by good and necessary consequence, to
exempt women from being drafted into the military and from military combat and to charge men
with the responsibility of combat. The Old Testament and New Testament passages dealing with
various aspects of Gods revealed will on the subject of personnel in combat provide a sufficient
basis for the professional protection of Westminster Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in
America Chaplains (when required, in connection with their military duties, to indicate their
denominations position on this matter), as well as for the guidance of Westminster Presbytery of
the Presbyterian Church in America Pastors, Elders, Chaplains, and other communicant members
considering, or seeking to enter into, one of the military services of the United States. Such service
to our nation has always and continues to be an honorable calling.
1. That Westminster Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America is formally on record
as opposed to the drafting of women into military service, in time of war or peace, under any and
all circumstances, for the reason that such governmental actions would be contrary to the Word
of God.
2. That Westminster Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America is formally on record
as opposed to the inclusion of women in military combat roles, and that such inclusion is contrary
to the Word of God.
3. That no Westminster Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America Chaplain who is
endorsed for military service by his Presbytery through the instrumentality of the Presbyterian
and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains shall be required to advocate, support, or agree
with any philosophy and effort to include women in military combat roles, nor can he be required
by any superior line or staff officer to teach or advocate such a philosophy and effort, nor shall he
be forbidden to provide the biblical counsel contained in the report.
The adoption of the Ad Interim Report was communicated to all the churches of the Presbytery,
with copies of the report sent to each Session to be kept on file and made available to members
of churches that request it.
The summer stated meeting of Tennessee
Valley Presbytery met at Highland Presbyterian
Church, La Fayette, Georgia, on July 11, 2000.
Ruling Elder Mark Wilson was elected Moderator
pro tem.
The court approved the report of its
commission to organize Trinity Presbyterian
Church, Cleveland, Tennessee, to install Tom
Gibson as its pastor, and to ordain and install its
ruling elders.
The Rev. Eric Mullinax was transferred from
Southwest Florida Presbytery to become
Associate Pastor at Covenant Presbyterian
Church, Chattanooga. The Rev. Glenn Jakes was
transferred from Southeast Alabama Presbytery
to become Pastor of First Presbyterian Church,
Crossville, Tennessee.
The Rev. Dana Stoddard reported on the
Lamb Fund and other scholarships available for
seminary students.
The court voted to refer back to committee
for perfection of language, the matter of teaching
elders on the roll without call. With regard to the
Rev. Mike Vitullo, the procedure of BCO 34-10
for removal from the roll was to be brought to the
floor for consideration.
Mr. Doyle Allen was taken under care as a
ministerial candidate. Mr. Jerry Harwood was
licensed to preach.
Reports were heard from the Rev. Daniel
Waterman on his work as a U. S. Army chaplain;
from the Rev. Jed Johnston regarding the work
of Reformed University Fellowship at the
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; from
the Rev. Bob Haymes on the church plaint in
Morristown, Tennessee; from the Rev. Joe
Novenson regarding efforts by Lookout
Mountain (Tenn.) Presbyterian Church to plant
a new church on Lookout Mountain; from the
Rev. Tom Gibson on the efforts to plant a
Presbyterian ministry on the campus of Lee
University; and from Mr. Stoddard regarding the
work of Harvest USA Ministries. The Presbytery
voted to endorse Harvest USA Ministries.
The Presbytery approved a letter and
instructed the Stated Clerk to mail it to Mr. Bob
Shapiro, Editor-in-Chief of Presbyterian &
Reformed News.
An ad hoc committee, chaired by the Rev.
Dr. A. Kenneth Austin, reported with regard to
communications received from Mr. Ray Miles.
The court voted to communicate to Mr. Miles
that the actions of the Presbytery regarding the
judicial proceedings against him and all official
communications concerning that proceeding
were proper and according to the Standards of
the PCA. The court also voted to inform Mr.
Miles that his charges against the members of
the Judicial Commission are unwarranted. The
Stated Clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Miles
that any further communications concerning this
situation should be sent to him by the Oversight
Committee appointed by the Presbytery on
February 3, 2000.
Westminster
Spring Stated Meeting
The spring stated meeting of Westminster
Presbytery was held at Seven Springs
Presbyterian Church, Glade Spring, Virginia, on
April 8, 2000. The retiring Moderator, the Rev.
Steve Baker, called this ninety-ninth stated
meeting to order. The Rev. Jack Bowling preached
on marriage and divorce. Host pastor Tom
Sullivan administered the Lords Supper. Ruling
Elder Nat Kelley was elected the new Moderator
by acclamation.
A protest, objecting to the manner in which
the Session of Trinity Presbyterian Church,
Tazewell, Virginia, had been referred to in the
Presbytery minutes last summer, had been spread
on the minutes of the January stated meeting.
At this meeting, the Presbytery adopted the
following response to the protest, proposed by
Steve Meyerhoff and Ben Konopa: While
Westminster, after lengthy consideration and
discussion of the Protest, did vote to receive it, it
must be acknowledged that several members of
Presbytery who were concerned in the matter
objected strenuously to many of the statements
that are included in the Protest, and that the vote
to receive this Protest was by no means
unanimous. Presbytery is not necessarily in
accord with what has been alleged in the Protest
and in response would want it to be understood
that these matters are still very much in dispute.
Nevertheless, a majority of those present and
voting deemed it best to allow this matter to rest
here.
Mr. Baker, Chairman of the Christian
Education Committee, presented a report. The
Rev. Pat Parham reported on the proposed
Presbytery Camp and on the PresWIC Retreat
and ministries. The Chairman issued a call for
lists of videos owned by Presbytery churches
and available for loan. He also requested news
of youth ministry outings and conferences.
Presbytery acquiesced in the request of
Dickenson First Presbyterian Chuch, Haysi,
Virginia, to assume original jurisdiction in the
Robin Belcher matter.
Presbytery adopted an overture from the
Session of Midway Presbyterian Church,
Jonesboro, Tennessee, asking that the General
Assembly not adopt the proposed response to
the protest with regard to the choir from
Covenant College singing in the Roman Catholic
mass.
Presbytery received a protest from Mr. Dan
Witcher, a ruling elder at Westminster
Presbyterian Church, Kingsport, Tennessee [see
box].
An overture from the Westminster-
Kingsport Session was adopted as amended.
The overture basically adopts the report of the
General Assembly Ad Interim Committee on
Women in Combat to the 27th General Assembly
(1999) as the position of the Presbytery [see box].
Presbytery denied an overture from the
Meadow Creek Presbyterian Church, Greeneville,
Tennessee. Meadow Creek asked that the
Overtures and Judicial Business (O&JB)
Committee be discharged from any matters
dealing with Mr. Mike Byers and the Meadow
Creek Session. This request was made because
of alleged bias and prejudice on the part of
two members of the O&JB Committee, the Rev.
Henry Johnson and the Rev. Carel Van Der
Merwe. Instead, the court approved the O&JB
recommendation, that the O&JB Committee is
charged in the Presbytery Manual with the
responsibility to establish the suitability of
overtures and judicial business items before
Presbytery and that it is improper to raise
questions regarding the attitude of the hearts of
court members.
The Presbytery found two complaints and
two appeals by Mr. Byers in order, and scheduled
them to be heard at a called meeting on May 1st.
The Stated Clerk was instructed to write a letter
to the Meadow Creek Session, informing them
that the Shepherding Committee is available for
counsel in the matter of these complaints and
appeals. The Clerk was also instructed to
distribute the entire record of the case to
Presbytery, at the expense of the Examinations
Committee.
Presbytery heard reports on the Reformed
University Fellowship ministry at East Tennessee
State University, and from the Mission to North
America Committee Treasurer, the Rev. Jeff
Fulford. Current MNA assets are $12,430.83.
Presbytery adopted a Proposed Statement
of Intent, with a view toward the division of
Presbytery on September 1, 2000. The agreement
stipulated that Northeast Tennessee
Presbytery or any such name would not be
adopted by the brethren forming the new group.
The assets would be divided on a percentage
basis, after ascertaining how many churches
would be in each of the two presbyteries. Either
presbytery would be allowed to plant churches
within the bounds of the other presbytery, but
not within the bounds of the other presbytery
within a two mile radius of an existing church.
[The General Assembly declined to divide the
Presbytery: see July-August edition.Ed.]
The Shepherding Committee reported that
the Asbury Presbyterian Church, Johnson City,
Tennessee, was dissolved as of March 8, 2000.
The Asbury Session had given letters of good
standing to all members of the church, which
they could take to the church of their choice.
Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church of
Greeneville, Tennessee, hosted a weekend
conference, October 20-22, 2000, on The Biblical
View of Civil Government. Special speaker was
the Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Morecraft, III, Pastor of
Chalcedon Presbyterian Church, Cumming,
Georgia. On Friday evening, Dr. Morecraft spoke
on A Christian Republic: Biblical Foundations
for a Christian View of Politics, based on
Romans 13:1-7. On Saturday night, he lectured
on The Source of Law. At ten o clock on
Sunday morning, he gave a message entitled,
Strategy for Invasion and Conquest: Biblical
Principles for Christian Political Action In the
New Millennium. His morning sermon was
Jesus Christ, The Bible, and Politics.
Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church was
a church plant of Westminster Presbytery. The
organizing pastor was the Rev. Carel van der
Merwe. A native South African, he continues
to serve the congregation.
On June 10, 2000, the church celebrated its
new building with a dedication service.
Church Hosts Weekend Conference on
Biblical View of Civil Government
Rev. Dr. Joe Morecraft
Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church, Greeneville, Tennessee
P&R News ² September - October 200026
CHEROKEE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5549 Hwy. 92E/Woodstock
S.S., 9:35 AM; Worship, 8:00/10:45 AM
(770)928-2051
LOUISIANA
AUBURN AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
224 Auburn Avenue/Monroe
S.S., 9:15 AM
Worship, 10:30 AM/6:00 PM
(318)323-3061
BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2040 East McNeese Street/Lake Charles
S.S., 9:30AM; Worship, 8:15AM/10:45PM
(318) 478-5672
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
146 E. Cherry Street/Opelousas
S.S., 9:30 AM; Worship, 10:45 AM
(318)948-9339
MARYLAND
CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Elkton High School/Elkton
S.S., 11:15 AM; Worship, 9:15 AM
(410)398-3192
SUPPORTERS
ALABAMA
EBENEZER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2478 Hobbs Island Road/Huntsville
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
Bible Study, Wednesday, 7:00 PM
Fellowship Supper, 2nd Wednesday, 6:30 PM
(205)883-7298
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1400 Evangel Drive/Huntsville
S.S., 11:10 AM; Worship, 9:30 AM/6:00 PM
(205)830-5754
TALUCAH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2374 Talucah Road/Valhermoso Springs
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 10:45 AM
(205)778-8288
ARIZONA
DESERT SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
1555 W. Overton Road/Tucson
S.S., 9:20 AM; Worship, 10:30 AM
(520)742-8990
CALIFORNIA
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Meeting at Costa Mesa 7th Day Adventist
Church, 271 Avocado St./Costa Mesa
S.S., 11:30AM; Worship, 9:30AM
(714) 526-3153
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
940 East Valley Parkway, Suite G/Escondido
S.S., 11:00 AM; Worship, 9:00 AM/5:00 PM
(760)480-4373
NEW LIFE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
500 Manhattan Beach Blvd./
Manhattan Beach
S.S., 9:30 AM/Worship, 10:30 AM
(310)372-8455
CONNECTICUT
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF COVENTRY
55 Trowbridge Road/Coventry
S.S., 10:45 AM; Worship, 9:30 AM/6:30 PM
(860)742-7222
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF
MANCHESTER
43 Spruce Street/Manchester
S.S., 9:15 AM; Worship, 10:30 AM
(860)643-0906
FLORIDA
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1875 N. W. Britt Road/Stuart
S.S., 9:30AM;
Worship, 11:00AM/6:00PM
(561) 692-1995
SHARON ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
17680 NW 78 Avenue/Hialeah
S.S. 11:20; Worship 10:00 AM/5:00 PM
(305) 821-5761
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
44 Southview Avenue/Valparaiso
S.S., 9:15 AM/Worship, 10:30 AM
Third Sunday Service and Supper, 6:00 PM
(850) 678-0060
GEORGIA
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
One Harker Road/Ft. Oglethorpe
S.S 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(706)866-2521
SOUTH LIBERTY PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Sharon Barnett Road/Sharon
S.S., 10:00 AM;
Worship, 11:00 AM (1st/5th Sun.)
(706)456-2377
Dan Witchers Protest
Whereas Westminster Presbytery established a Committee of Resolution of Conflict to study the
perceived theological differences within Westminster Presbytery and for the peace and purity of the
church of Jesus Christ seek biblical grounds whereby these theological differences of conflict can
be resolved (II Timothy 2:24,25; Amos 3:3).
Whereas the Committee of Resolution of Conflict reported to Westminster Presbytery on the 9th
day or October, 1999 that . . . the members of the committee had met together on several occasions;
. . . found that the open discussions have deepened our relationship with one another; . . . determined
that there were theological differences including purpose of church courts, length of days of
creation, free-masonry, the biblical legitimacy of non-revelatory gifts after the closing of the canon,
the best use of means to keep the Christian Sabbath holy, use of public schools, the philosophy of
church growth, the meaning of subscription to our Standard . . . .
Whereas the Committee of Resolution of Conflict further stated that it considered arbitrary judgement
to be sin (Matthew 7:1,2) and among other things recommended that Westminster Presbytery meet
to deal with the issue of submission to the Standards.
Whereas on the 8th day of January, 2000 absent biblical warrant or study or constitutional authority
Westminster Presbytery adopted a minority report from the Committee of Resolution of Conflict that
declared that Westminster Presbytery foresees only acrimony, rancor, and sharp division as its
future; determined that the brothers in Christ could no longer work together as a court of the church;
and requested that the General Assembly divide and separate Westminster Presbytery from itself.
Whereas Scripture provides that it alone is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for
instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16).
Therefore, the undersigned declares his protest in that it is his opinion that:
-All matters of doctrine including any and all apparent division can be resolved and healing
among brothers in Christ realized through study, understanding, and application of Holy Scripture
(WCF I:10).
-Westminster Presbytery has erred in its unwillingness to corporately study the Holy Scriptures
as pertinent to the issues and allow the Scripture to be the only rule of faith and practice concerning
these particular issues and all other issues.
-Westminster Presbytery by declaring itself to be divided and separated has abandoned its
commission to its Lord, to its brethern in Christ, and to the flock it is called to serve.
By voting in this manner, the court has abdicated its responsibility to rule justly. . . . what doth the
Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah
6:8).
Westminster Theological Seminary in California
is seeking a Vice Presidentof Development and
Administration. Applicants should exemplify
strongChristian character, love for Christian
education, familiarity with Reformed
theology, excellent people skills, and a willingness
to travel. Minimum oftwo years experience
recommended. Send resumes to: V.P. Search
Committee,Westminster Theological Seminary in
California, 1725 Bear Valley Parkway,
Escondido, CA 92027.
Hudson Valley (NY): Interested in transforming
the Cultural Corridor of the Northeast? New
Paltz, Kingston, Woodstock, Rhinebeck, other
vital areas need The True News. PCA core group
meets weekly in Kingston. More networking and
fellowship groups needed. Pray for the Hudson
Valley! For brochure and info, contact Ted
Ojarovsky, 845/657-6075 or Covenant-
[email protected] (P.O. Box 239, West
Shokan, NY 12494).
Classified Advertisements
(Continued from page 7)
told (rather than asked) God to bless the
congregation and said she was opening a
gate. This idea that God must respond to
those who invoke him according to the right
formula is a basic teaching of the popular
word+faith movement. That doctrine may
be common among certain TV evangelists,
but it does not belong in a Presbyterian
church.
(c) At the end of the service, she
used an Israeli prayer shawl as a mystical
tool to try and invoke Gods blessing and
breath upon those who came forward.
First she said it was a symbol, then she
claimed it was an actual blessing from Israel.
It cant both, and its superstitious to seek a
special channel to God through a piece of
fabric made in Israel when we already have
the one, perfect mediator, Jesus Christ. [I
Tim. 2:5]
The complaint urged that the Session
should have corrected the error publicly
as soon as it was revealed rather than permit
the flock to roam unprotected in the
dangerous place they were led astray. The
document continues:
(1) For the previously mentioned
biblical reasons, women should not be
invited to teach men in church. Had that
principle been followed, the false teaching
could never have occurred. Some may
object that the Bibles provision for
exclusively masculine teaching no longer
applies. Thats the position of Willow Creek,
for example. But KCPC isnt Willow Creek.
KCPC is part of the PCA. And the PCA Book
of Church Order requires elders to take an
oath before God that they receive and
adopt the churchs doctrinal standards
and promote the purity of the church.
[BCO 24-5] That oath is violated when the
session permits shamanistic prayers and
The property, which has been listed with a realtor,
is listed for $200,000 plus commission. The Asbury
records have been deposited with the PCA
Historical Center in St. Louis.
Presbytery commended the Rev. Larry Ball
for his faithfulness, devotion and proficiency in
maintaining the financial records of Presbytery in
such a rigorous manner.
A memorial for the Rev. J. Edsel Farthing,
who passed away in January at the age of 84, was
spread on the record. Mr. Farthing had come out
of retirement in 1974 to join Westminster
Presbytery and become the organizing pastor of
Abingdon (Va.) Presbyterian Church.
By a vote of 23-6-0, the Presbytery voted to
suspend the Standing Rules, in order to meet on
July 15th (rather than July 8th) for the summer
stated meeting.
May Called Meeting
Abingdon (Va.) Presbyterian Church hosted
a called meeting of Westminster Presbytery on
May 1, 2000. The Rev. Richard Searle was examined
and transferred from Evangel Presbytery, to
become Assistant Pastor at Westminster
Presbyterian Church, Johnson City, Tennessee.
His exception regarding Sabbath observance was
noted. However, a motion to add Confession of
Faith 1:1 and 21:3 to these exceptions failed, with
the Rev. Jim Reedy, the Rev. Brent Bradley, and
Ruling Elder Neil Smith recording their affirmative
votes. A motion instructing Mr. Searle not to
teach his exceptions on the Confession noted
above also failed, with Mr. Bradley and Mr. Smith
recording their affirmative votes on the lost
motion.
Presbytery voted to sustain two of the five
items in the first complaint issued by Mr. Mike
Byers against the Session of Meadow Creek
Presbyterian Church, Greeneville, Tennessee. The
result was that Presbytery declared that Mr. Byers
was a member in good standing of the Meadow
Creek Church at the time of his request to transfer.
In light of that, and in light of Presbyterys directive
that his membership be transferred to Grace
Reformed Church, Greeneville, as a member in
good standing, Presbytery declared the other
complaint and the two appeals from Mr. Byers to
be moot. The court also encouraged the Session
of Grace Reformed Church to perform its duty in
the oversight of Mr. Byers.
At 11:30 PM, after a five and a hour meeting,
the Presbytery adjourned.
word+faith rituals to be mixed into a
Reformed service.
Therefore, KCPC elders who agree with
the PCA should keep the oath of office and
henceforth direct women gifted in teaching
to teach other women exclusively and
institute a formal policy to prevent more
non-biblical worship practices in the future.
Those elders who dont agree with the
Reformed faith should stop supporting
teaching or practices contrary to the church
constitution or, failing that, resign
honorably from the session. Anything else
is to invite Gods displeasure both on the
church leadership and on the flock of which
they are the covenant representatives.
(2) KCPCs public offense [BCO 29-
2] in inviting and endorsing a false teacher
suggests that the many members of the
congregation who have been led astray
need restoration. Ideally, this could be done
individually. Practically, its nearly
impossible. Prudence suggests, then, that
the session publicly apologize for its lapse
in screening speakers [BCO 53-6] and
explain and correct the womans errors at
another 2:30 Lords Day worship service as
soon as possible.
Signing the first complaint were ten
members of the church, including a paid
pianist and a licentiate. One of the
complainants was Mr. David Linton, who
comes from a long line of Southern
Presbyterian and PCA missionaries to
Korea.
A member of Korean Capital Presbytery,
Korean Central Presbyterian Church was
organized in 1973. At the end of 1999, it had
2,040 communicant members and 1,200 non-
communicants. With a total membership of
3,240, it is the largest Korean church in the
PCA. Average Sunday morning attendance
was listed at 1,783.
P&R News ² September - October 2000
27
CHRIST REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Diplomat Building, 13992 Baltimore
Avenue, Suite 300/Laurel
S.S., 9:30AM; Worship 10:30AM/6:00PM
(301) 498-3700
MINNESOTA
GOOD SHEPHERD PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
15321 Wayzata Blvd./ Minnetonka
S.S., 11:15 AM; Worship, 9:30 AM
Sunday Evening Bible Study, 6:00 PM
(952) 835-6358
MISSISSIPPI
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
East Beach Blvd. at 24th Ave./Gulfport
S.S., 9:30 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
Wed., Family Dinner (6:00)/Bible Study (6:30)
(228)863-2664
ST. PAUL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5125 Robinson Road/Jackson
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 10:55 AM/6:00 PM
(601)372-7497
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
625 N. Church Ave./Louisville
Worship 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM
2nd Sunday, Fellowship Meal, 12:15 PM,
Evening Studies at 1:00 PM.
Wed Supper 6:00 PM; Prayer Mtg, 6:30 PM
(601)773-5282
PEARL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2933 Old Brandon Road/Pearl
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(601)939-1064
TCHULA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
109 E. Main Street/Tchula
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/5:00 PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 7:30 PM
(601)924-7334
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1926 Grand Avenue at 20th/Yazoo City
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/5:00 PM
Wednesday, 7:30 PM
(601)746-8852
NEW JERSEY
LOCKTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
197 Locktown-Flemington Road/Flemington
S.S., 10:30 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
(908)996-7707
MOUNT CARMEL CHURCH
350 Franklin Blvd./Somerset
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(732)846-8777
NEW YORK
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Route 7/Duanesburg
S.S., 9:30 AM; Worship, 10:30 AM/7:30 PM
(518)895-2448
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
209 Union Street/Schenectady
SS, 9:30AM; Worship, 8:15/11:00AM/6:00PM
(518)374-4546
AFFIRMATION PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Routes 100 and 139/Somers
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
(914)232-0546
NORTH CAROLINA
DILLINGHAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
16 Stoney Fork Road/Barnardsville
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
(828)626-3668
COUNTRYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
127 Ponderosa Road/Cameron
S.S., 9:30 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
(919)499-2362
WHITESIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Highway 74/Cashiers
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
Wednesday, 7:00 PM Prayer Meeting
(828)743-2122
WHITE OAK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
699 Polly Watson Road/Fremont
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
(919)284-4196
HAZELWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
117 E. Main Street/Hazelwood
S.S., 9:30 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:15 PM
Wednesday, 7:00 PM
(828)456-3912
SHEARER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
684 Presbyterian Road/Mooresville
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/5:00 PM
Wednesday, 7:00 PM
(704)892-8866
NEW COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
10301 Old Creedmoor Road/Raleigh
S.S., 11:00AM; Worship, 9:30AM/6:00PM
(919) 844-0551
TRINITY REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
3701 South College Road/Wilmington
Worship 10:30 AM
(910)395-1252
NOVA SCOTIA
BEDFORD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
49 Nelsons Landing Blvd./Bedford
S.S., 11:30 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/7:00 PM
(902)864-1587
OHIO
FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2540 S. Main Street/Akron
S.S., 9:30 AM
Worship, 10:45 AM/6:00 PM
Wednesday, 7:00 PM
(330)644-9654
CHRIST COVENANT REFORMED (PCA)
14787 Palmer Road SW/Reynoldsburg
Psalter Service, 9:30 AM/Worship, 10:45 AM
Thurs. Bible Study, 7 PM
(740)964-0889
OKLAHOMA
BEAL HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
614 SW Park/Lawton
Worship, 10:45 AM and 6:00 PM
(580)355-4702
PENNSYLVANIA
NEW LIFE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP
2795 Patterson Drive/Aliquippa
S.S., 9:30AM; Worship, 11:00AM
(724) 378-4389
LEHIGH VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
31 S. 13th Street/Allentown
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship. 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(610)797-8320
FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
2953 Saltsman Road/Erie
S.S., 9:45 AM/Worship, 11:00 AM
(814)899-3037
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
515 West County Line Road/Hatboro
S.S., 9:45 AM (Sum., 9:00); Worship, 11:00
AM (Sum., 10:00)
(215)675-9688
ROCKY SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
123 Rocky Springs Road/Harrisville
S.S., 10:00 AM
Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(724)735-2743
SOUTH HILLS REFORMED
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
110 Hays Road/Upper St. Clair/Pittsburgh
S.S., 9:15 AM; Worship, 10:30 AM;
Wednesday, 7:30 PM
(412)941-3480
HILLCREST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Route 19, three miles south of Leesburg/
Volant
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship 10:55 AM/6:30 PM
(724)533-4315
SOUTH CAROLINA
REEDY RIVER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
46 Main Street/Connestee
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00AM/6:30PM
(864) 277-5455
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1955 Riverside Drive/Conway
S.S., 9:30 AM/Worship, 10:45 AM
(843)347-5550
FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1800 Third Loop Road/Florence
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(843)665-9235
BEECH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1403 Beech Street/Gaffney
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(864)489-2014
CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
9201 Old White Horse Road/Greenville
S.S. 10:00 AM; Worship 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 PM
(864)294-0895
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
105 River Street/Greenville
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
Wednesday, 5:45 PM
(864)232-7621
FELLOWSHIP PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1105 Old Spartanburg Road/Greer
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
Wednesday, 6:30 PM
(864)877-3267
TENNESSEE
MIDWAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
4011 Old Jonesborough Road/Jonesborough
S.S., 10:00 AM; Worship 11:00 AM/7:00 PM
(423) 753-941
BRIDWELL HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
108 Bridwell Heights Drive/Kingsport
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(423)288-3664
FELLOWSHIP PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Highway 25/70/Newport
S.S., 9:30 AM/Worship, 11:00 AM/7:00 PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 6:00 PM
(423) 623-8652
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
900 Watauga Street/Kingsport
S.S., 10:00 AM
Worship, 11:00 AM/7:00 PM
(423)247-7341
TEXAS
COLLEYVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
715 Cheek Sparger Road/Colleyville
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM/6:00 PM
(817)498-2626
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2701 N. 7th Street/Harlingen
S.S., 9:30 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
Midweek service, 7:00 PM Wednesday
(956)425-3136
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
SDA Church, 1209 S. John Redditt Rd./
Lufkin
S.S., 9:30 AM; Worship, 10:45 AM/5:30 PM
(409)637-6043
CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1620 E. Common Street/New Braunfels
S.S., 9:30 AM; Worship, 10:45 AM
(830)629-0405
PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
3510 Austin Parkway/Sugar Land
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM and 6:00
PM (except 1st Sun.)
(281)980-2522
VIRGINIA
COEBURN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
220 Second Street SW/Coeburn
S.S., 9:45AM; Worship, 11:00AM/6:30PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 7:00PM
(540)395-2866
NEW HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Fairfax Fire Station #3 (Williams Memorial
Hall),
4081 University Blvd./Fairfax
S.S., 11:15 AM
Worship, 9:30 AM/5:30 PM
(703)385-9056
CALVARY REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
403 Whealton Road/Hampton
S.S. 10:00am; Worship: 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM
Evening Gathering: 6:00 PM
(757)826-5942
WEST END PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1600 Atlantic Street/Hopewell
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 10:50 AM/6:00 PM
Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 7:00 PM
(804)458-6765
KNOX REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Bennetts Chapel, 8520 Lee Davis Road/
Mechanicsville
Fellowship, 9:00 AM; S.S., 9:30 AM;
Worship, 10:45 AM
Sunday Evening, 6:00 PM
(804)559-0264
IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
4700 Colley Avenue/Norfolk
Worship, 10:30AM/6:30PM
Wed. Christian Education Classes, 7:00PM
Sat. Prayer Meeting, 7:00PM
(757) 440-1100
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
108 Hill Street/Tazewell
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00/7:00 PM
(540)988-9541
WASHINGTON
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
2700 Andresen Road/Vancouver
Worship, 10:00 AM
Sunday Bible Study, 6:30 PM
(360)254-1726
WEST VIRGINIA
PROVIDENCE REFORMED
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5865 Davis Creek Road/Barboursville
S.S. 11:30; Worship 10:00 AM/6:00 PM
(304)736-0487
PILGRIM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
601 Albert Street/Martinsburg
S.S., 9:45 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
(304) 263-5362
WISCONSIN
Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church
136 West Union Avenue/Cedar Grove
S.S., 10:30 AM; Worship 9:00 AM/7:00 PM
(920)668-6463
REFORMATION PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Lake Country SDA Church, 142 Lake St./
Pewaukee
Bible Study, 10:00 AM; Worship, 11:00 AM
Wednesday Prayer Service, 7:00 PM
(414)781-2171
LAKESIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Seventh Day Adventist Church, 21380 W.
Cleveland Ave./New Berlin
S.S., 10:45 AM: Worship, 9:30 AM
(262)968-6769
RON HAYNES
Disaster Response and Mercy Ministries
Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship
1003 Hollyleaf Court
Ballwin, Missouri 63021
(314)227-2612
GRIEVING WITH HOPE
The Rev. James Alexander
PO Box 7100
Florence, SC 29502-7100
(843)664-9759
Web: pages.prodigy.net/grievingwithhope
Email: grievingwithhope@prodigy.net
We are pleased to
have congregations and
organizations join us as
cosponsors of this venture. If
you would like to become a
sponsor, just let us know:
PINS Financial Office, c/o
Mr. Robert Shapiro, 6470
Bentley Trail, Cumming, GA
30040. Checks should be
made out to Presbyterian
International News Service.
Indicates a non-PCA church.
P&R News ² September - October 200028
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