James R. Edwards
Rev. Dr. James R. Edwards, a professor at Whitworth University in Washington, has sent a letter to his presbytery stating that because he “must obey God rather than man,” he must demit his ordination as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
His reasoning: “The action of the 2014 General Assembly to permit same-sex marriages by ministers of the PCUSA and to redefine marriage as a covenantal relationship between ‘two people’ rather than between a man and a woman places the PCUSA in irreconcilable conflict with both Scripture and its confessional tradition. As a consequence of this action, I can no longer endorse or be governed by the polity of the PCUSA.”
Edwards sent his letter to the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest less than two weeks after the PCUSA’s 221st General Assembly approved both an Authoritative Interpretation of the constitution and an amendment of it which resulted in allowing PCUSA pastors to perform same-sex marriages in states where it is legal.
Edwards is the Bruner-Welch Chair, Bruner-Welch Professor of Theology at Whitworth. His areas of specialization and expertise are listed as the Old and New Testament; the Gospels and life of Jesus; Biblical Hebrew; Koine Greek; history of early Christianity; Reformation; German church struggle, communist East Germany; the Holocaust. He has written numerous books, commentaries and articles.
In his letter, Edwards wrote, “I know of no doctrine or practice in Christianity that better qualifies for Vincent of Lerins’s famous definition of orthodoxy – that which has been believed and practiced ‘everywhere, always, and by all’ – than the definition of marriage as one man and one woman before God.”
The General Assembly decision to allow pastors discretion to perform “‘any such marriage they believe the Holy Spirit calls them to perform’ separates the Holy Spirit from the word, to which the Spirit bears witness, and from the life of the believing community, through which the Spirit bears witness. This effectively relegates sexuality and marriage to the subjective judgment of each individual minister. This can—and surely will— be used to justify other unions equally contrary to the divine will,” he wrote.
Edwards continued that “In condoning same-sex marriage and redefining marriage the General Assembly of the PCUSA has heard another voice regarding gender and marriage than the univocal voice of Scripture and tradition, and in its decision to embrace that voice it has chosen to follow another lord than the one and only Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ. An ecclesial body that turns from its orthodox heritage and teaches its members to do the same can no longer command, nor does it deserve, allegiance from the faithful. What the Apostle Peter said to the Sanhedrin I must say to a denomination that has substituted an alien anthropology for a Biblical and Christian anthropology: ‘I must obey God rather than man’ (Acts 5:29).”
He concluded by saying that his letter was not “a renunciation of the presbytery or its members, whom I honor as faithful servants of Christ. Nor do I intend this letter to be a renunciation of my original ordination vows, which I have endeavored to uphold since my ordination on October 2, 1971. This letter is, rather, a renunciation of the decision of the 2014 General Assembly, and the status to which it would oblige me, which would necessarily require me to disavow the integrity of my original ordination vows. I therefore, regretfully, demit my ordination as a teaching elder in the PCUSA.”
Edwards serves on the Board of Reference for Theology Matters and has been a frequent teacher for Presbyterian Renewal events.
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Powerfully cogent words by Professor Edwards.
Very well stated Professor Edwards. Thank you.
The pastor and session of my (former) church are taking the position to “give it 6 months and if you still feel the same way you do today, then you may leave with my blessing.” Our pastor also goes on to state, ” I hope we can agree to disagree and continue to serve the Lord.”
I did not respond to the pastor or session. We just are not going back.
Told me where he stands. very upset about all of this. My family is now is the business of finding somewhere else to worship. Sad day for us.
Dr. Edwards is modelling for us a stand that is true and strong in the Word. He has not tucked his tail and gone slinking away. Rather, he is upholding his allegiance to Christ, as expressed in part in his original vows as an elder.
Relating this to eldership, generally, it appears, first, that each elder should make his or her position known–at the very least, to pastors and sessions. Then, as an elder holds true in Christ, the congregation has two chief options:
1) It can compromise itself in submission to the PCUSA (and the latest ideological “Jesus” of the bad shepherds), or
2) It can hold true to the Good Shepherd (and His true elders). Under this option, two obvious alternatives arise:
a) the congregation may take a stance of open dissension to the PCUSA’s waywardness (though, in all honesty, I don’t really see how this could be appropriate for long) OR
b) the congregation may separate itself from the PCUSA.
When the congregation’s choice (or lack thereof) is clear, each elder, standing true to Christ, should respond.
Harold,
I just re-read your comment, and my heart goes out to you and your family. Your pastor is trying to turn a crisis that calls for a decision into an extended time for all the elders to isolate themselves and ponder their “feelings.” Such a move tends to express the wish that the congregants will acquiesce to the atmosphere of increasing moral waywardness. This is a grave failure to shepherd the flock.
I have always admired Jim Edwards for his integrity and wisdom. This action and the rationale so eloquently stated in his letter simply deepens my admiration even further. I’m proud to be his brother in Christ.
Is there any indication Whitworth will end its relationship completely with PCUSA?
Harold,
Our Pastor has told us nothing. He was a voting delegate. Just said “good to be home”. Session meeting was called for the end of July. I have a feeling he will stand with your pastor. We too will be leaving. Sad day… Sad times.
I admire his integrity, I expect the Board of Trustees’ of our more conservitive higer education schools to make some moves, I know one PCUSA school has a relationship with the EPC, but I can’t remember the name of the school.
Thank you Professor Edwards for taking a stand!
My heart is broken at this decision. I am seeking The Lord as to whether to leave my small country church altogether and hang my elder cap up, or stay and recommend it leaving PCUSA. PCUSA has been losing members at an alarming rate prior to this vote. A year from now, PCUSA will be in tatters and all because of a few in high places that are not followers of Christ, but of their own evil agenda.
I pray those remaining in high places, that are listening to the Holy Spirit, will speak up and denounce this evil decision.
Please read Jude.
In the church when we compromise orthodoxy for the sake of cultural relevance, Satan wins, we lose, and God is robbed of the Holiness His name so demands.
Dr. James R. Edwards stand, is no different than little shepard boy named David was. Both know their God!
Or the three Hebrew children thrown into a firey furnace that came out; unbound, unharmed and not even the smell of smoke on them!
Or Daniel, who was thrown into the lion’s den and used the big cats like we use electric blankets.
When one has had an encounter with the Creator and builds his foundation on that ROCK! all other ground is sinking sand.
“Oh foolish Galatians, who hath BEWITCHED you?”
Jim (if you read these comments), don’t expect you to remember me but we met years ago in Berlin. Thought you might appreciate a little vignette from today: A son of charter members visited from out of town and gave me a bunch of mementos from his late parent’s files, including bulletins, articles and other assorted materials from our church’s founding years in the mid-40s. One item was a pamphlet entitled “Why A Presbyterian Church?” which was part of the appeal “package” given by the denomination when our fledgling congregation was trying to decide whether to go Presbyterian or Congregational. The following is from page 12 of the booklet, subtitled “Presbyterianism Has a Creed.” “Some denominations have none; but Presbyterian elders, ruling or teaching, accept at ordination the Westminster Confession of Faith as ‘the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures.’ Those who sacrifice for the Presbyterian Church today can do so in confidence that it will not be captured tomorrow by people with an entirely different purpose.”
Just another little confirmation that the present organization, which has most obviously been “captured by people with an entirely different purpose,” is not that same denomination we joined..
On the issue of same-sex marriage, let me take note of a statement by N.T. Wright on a television interview: “When anybody, pressure groups, governments, civilizations, individuals, suddenly change the meaning of key words, you really should watch carefully.”
Dr. Edwards is certainly eloquent in his message and I defend his right to disagree with the PCUSA and take the extreme stance of demitting his ordination in the PCUSA. However, I believe the decision by the General Assembly of the PCUSA was the right decision. It was bold and faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ just like our Lord and Savior was bold and faithful. I also hope that he strives to be inclusive at Whitworth University and allow students to make their own decisions rather than insisting that his beliefs are gospel.
If the PCUSA would stop calling themselves “Presbyterian,” and join the Unitarian-Universalists or some similar group, I’d have little to say about them. But, they distort the historic meaning of “Presbyterian” as a church committed to the authority of scriptures and succinct confessional summaries of important biblical truth. There are a good number of faithful, confessional, biblical Presbyterian denominations in North America, retaining the biblical distinctives of the Calvinistic wing of the Protestant Reformation.
Yes, Tim, the GA was faithful to the Christ who said “Not one jot or tittle shall pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. ” – including the unconditional Mosaic denunciation of homosexual acts?!
You must have your little joke, mustn’t you?
As an elder of our church for many years and a member of Session for six, I have watched with increasing pain and sadness at the ongoing destruction of our denomination. Worse yet, I have watched our pastor and many of our Session bury their heads in the sand, hoping for …..?….. to miraculously save us. Our Presbytery has lost more than half of its churches and the line waiting to leave has not ended. Our church services dwindle in attendance and giving continues to drop.
Dr. Edwards stand is a breath of fresh air. Maybe now our pastor will get the sand out of his ears and listen to his congregation.
“John Calvin”, I was dead serious with my thoughts. I even used my real name, unlike you.
Dr. Edwards has said it well regarding Obeying God rather than men something the Apostates refuse to understand obey their god, satan, and the apostates along with the devil and his angles will be cast out to the lake of fire, Rev. 20 and 21.
“Yes, Tim, the GA was faithful to the Christ who said “Not one jot or tittle shall pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. ” – including the unconditional Mosaic denunciation of homosexual acts?!
You must have your little joke, mustn’t you?
I did not write the above, and what I did write about homosexual acts is an abomination.
I think the challenge is to always balance law and gospel. The Good News is that Jesus came to fulfill the law giving us the instructions to love God and love our neighbor. I believe a confessional church like the PCUSA can do this and not only survive, but thrive.
This is a difficult issue but one that I’m glad we struggle with as individuals and as a church. I never want to be too comfortable in my orthodoxy, worried that to do so may make me pharisaical at best.
Perhaps one day we may all come together, even on this issue, just as the “northern” stream of the Presbyterian Church and the “southern” stream of the Presbyterian Church overcame the divisions brought about by slavery and united into one body of Christ.
Best to you.
Tim,
You said, ” I believe the decision by the General Assembly of the PCUSA was the right decision.”
To agree with the GA on their view of marriage is to disobey The Holy Bible and Christ; nothing bold about disobeying The Holy Bible and Christ.
I am at about the same spot as Dr. Edwards. I am a ruling Elder and have served on Session 12 of the past 14 years. I have been thinking that I must somehow disavow my connection to the denomination, I think both as an elder and as a member. I do not respect the authority of the GA so I find myself in a place where I am in conflict with my ordination and membership vows. I just have given up on them. This comes about not through my action, but as a result of the actions of the GA. I am really not sure where this leaves me and do not know where to turn to find answers. My pastor is a young man and I don’t really want to put him on the spot.
I gave up on them too and left, even though I spent a lifetime there. It was not difficult to find a conservative church that still believes in the Bible.
We just had the after meeting at our Presbytery to explain the GA voting.
The commissioners were asked to explain their votes, but the Executive said they didn’t
have to share how they voted, they voted their conscience and the corporate voting at GA was the Presbyterian way to discern God’s will. This implied that the out come of this GA showed God’s will.
It was apparent that they voted for the AI and amendment to change the definition of marriage,
which was opposed to the majority vote of this Presbytery.
I realize now that the real way for Presbyterians to discern God’s will is at the Presbytery
level first where the Pastors and Elders come together to vote what their sessions have discerned
as God’s will. The corporate discerning (not small group nor individual) is done where
God’s will is displayed by the majority vote.
It is apparent that a small group has orchestrated their will in place of the discerned
corporate discernment for doing God’s will of the whole Presbytery. They made sure their interpretation would be represented at the GA over the discerned will of God by the voting at the presbytery.
I know that this has been the case the last three GAs that I have been active where the discerned Will of God was tampered with by a small group.
This is serious business, opposing God, because they are in disobedience to God’s Will for the church.
That is why now the GA is working against God’s will and we are in crisis mode.
How sad to see the turmoil in congregations, seminaries, and peoples lives because a group at the Presbytery level felt they could impose their will in place of God’s will.
“My pastor is a young man and I don’t really want to put him on the spot.”
Don’t worry about your pastor, God will take care of him, the person you need to worry about is You, and your convictions because in the end or the end of the day, an account will be given to Christ.
Obviously Tim you have a negative view of the authority of Scriputure preferring the word of man over that of God. As for inclusiveness, you may find yourself on that broad road that leaves to the lake of fire. Wake up before you smell the smoke of hell fire.
One must use utmost caution when “explaining” God’s Will. A large local church (not Presbyterian) decided to build a new much bigger church. The majority of the membership agreed. Only a very small number attempted to point out that this might not be the will of God. They were shouted down and were told that it was the will of God to build the new church. They built the church and it went bankrupt within three years. Obviously they did not consider that maybe God had other plans. Lesson is that we must eliminate personal preferences and with an open heart and mind, listen. It appears that the GA has committed the same error and refuses to acknowledge the possibility that what they have done is against God’s Will. Opting for something they would like rather than what scripture actually says.
Or to coin a phrase, “When all else fails, read the instructions”.
“This effectively relegates sexuality and marriage to the subjective judgment of each individual minister. This can—and surely will— be used to justify other unions equally contrary to the divine will,’ he wrote.”
PCUSA i’m pretty sure has always approved of marriages between divorced Christians, who were originally joined in a valid Christian marriage. this is also highly unorthodox, i.e not Bible based. in the Roman Catholic Church most of these couples are considered to be living in a perpetual state of mortal sin, they are not permitted to participate fully in the Mass. strange how so many here are talking about Biblical truths as if the current PCUSA policies deviate from the path the denomination has been on for as long as i can remember. the only difference is the slide has accelerated it’s trajectory, from gentle downslope to exponential vertical drop.
You need to talk with your pastor and fellow elders about the church going through the process of withdrawing from the PCUSA. If they are unwilling, you know that it is your duty to forsake the denomination that has forsaken God.
Tom: As a fellow evangelical PCUSA pastor, I would say you must discern whether God is leading you to stay within the PCUSA and bear witness, or to leave for the reasons mentioned. For me, the gravest concern at the recent GA was the decision to “be guided by” rather than to OBEY Scripture, which goes beyond just the area of biblical sexuality. If you are led to stay and bear witness, and view the PCUSA a mission field, then you may be able to stay in good conscience. If not, you cannot.
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There was a huge split and many people left over women’s ordination over 60 years ago. People will look back 60 years from now and see how preposterous it is to deny someone’s call because of ignorance. I respect him following his own conviction, as we all strongly have them.