Presbytery issues gag rule for Iowa church’s pastor
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, August 22, 2006
Continuing its retribution against the leaders of Riverside Presbyterian Church in Linn Grove, Iowa, the Presbytery of Prospect Hill has notified the Riverside pastor that he is to have no contact with members of the congregation.
Presbytery of Prospect Hill’s letter to Russ Westbrook“The consequences of violating this document,” the presbytery said in an August 17 letter to Russ Westbrook, Riverside’s pastor, “will be the immediate dissolution of the relationship between the Riverside Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Russell Westbrook and will immediately end any financial consideration.”
The presbytery placed Westbrook on administrative leave – “to protect loyal Presbyterians” – after the Riverside leaders asked to be released from the denomination so that they could become a congregation in the Presbyterian Church of America.
The letter informed Westbrook that he was placed on administrative leave effective August 21 and that he could not contact “any member … verbally, in writing, e-mail, or other electronic devices or by going to the church.”
Considering that his wife is one of the members, Westbrook said he wasn’t about to comply with the presbytery’s order. Furthermore, he said he contacted other members, including visiting and praying with a family whose son died of cancer and counseling a member whose life was in turmoil.
Westbrook also participated on Sunday in a tent revival sponsored by Riverside and other congregations. “We saw 15 people pray to receive the Lord Jesus,” he said proudly.
Letter from the church elders to the presbytery.Westbrook received the presbytery’s letter August 21. On the same day, he and the church’s elders signed a letter to the presbytery.
They expressed dismay that presbytery stated, during the presbytery meeting on August 14, that it was their intention “to never act upon our lawful request to be released as a congregation to join with a confessionally Reformed, evangelical denomination holding to the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy.”
Therefore, they added, “[W]e as a session no longer recognize the authority of the Presbytery of Prospect Hill over Riverside Church.”
The presbytery voted on August 14 to place Westbrook on immediate administrative leave and to convene an administrative commission that has control of the congregation. The presbytery is not empowered to strip Westbrook of his ordination. His ordination is with the Reformed Church in America, whose ministers are permitted to accept calls in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The exchange of letters between the presbytery and the Riverside leaders was a contrast of styles.
The presbytery’s letter was matter-of-fact and threatening. The letter back to the presbytery expressed concern that the presbytery had taken a hard-line approach.
“We are saddened by the Presbytery’s refusal to do its honorable duty in this matter,” the Riverside letter said. “We had hoped that the reputation of Presbyterianism would have been a thing to be treasured by you as a body, and that you would have acted in a noble and Christian spirit.”
The Riverside leaders had previously asked the presbytery to release “our congregation with all assets and property, in order that the will of the session and congregation may be honored and the Riverside Presbyterian Church be freed to join with a denomination of like Reformed faith. It is with sadness of heart that this action had to be taken; we have enjoyed fellowship with Prospect Hill Presbytery for many years, and we leave behind many dear to our hearts. The actions of the denomination however have so wounded our conscience that no further fellowship with it can be had in Christian conviction. It is our hope and prayer that the PCUSA repents of the actions of Birmingham and rejoins the fellowship of the Reformed and catholic family of Christian churches.”
In an interview with The Layman Online, Westbrook said Iowans – including one atheist whom he talked to – find the presbytery’s actions harsh and unreasonable. “You just don’t do this to a neighbor,” he said. “Within a 30-mile radius, this is a PCUSA dead zone.”
Westbrook and the session have invited members of the congregation to a “town hall” informational meeting on August 27. They will vote then on petitioning the Presbyterian Church of America for membership.