Commentary
Kirk’s ultimate commitment is to Jesus Christ
By Peggy A. Alexander, Member of the Kirk of the Hills, Tulsa, Okla. , September 17, 2008
After waiting for two years the Kirk finally got a ruling Tuesday afternoon – the PCUSA and EOP have won the first round. At first I was stunned even though I knew this could happen. The Kirk has held title in its name to all three parcels of property which comprise the present facility, paid all maintenance and insurance costs, and continuously occupied the building – things that one would think would guarantee ownership to the Kirk.
Imagine if your homeowners association or a social club to which you belonged passed a by-law saying they owned all property, houses and contents, as well as bank accounts of their members in trust for the members. Furthermore, members could not take these things with them if they left the organization. Welcome to the world of the PCUSA trust clause. You the congregation hold the title to the property, you the congregation pay all the expenses and upkeep, we the PCUSA keep all the assets should you dare to leave!
“Then he (Jesus) called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 24-37 NIV) Following Jesus is sometimes hard. He was thrown out of the synagogue and clashed with the institutional “church” of the day. The religious leaders were the ones who plotted His arrest and crucifixion. Throughout Christian history those who take a stand often do so at great cost – Martin Luther, John Calvin, the Wesleys, and many others suffered because they stood up for their faith.
Yes, we at the Kirk knew we were taking a chance when we took our stand; but our ultimate commitment is to Jesus Christ, our Savior and the Lord of our lives and not to any other. We feel we were and are right in the actions we took in disaffiliating with a denomination that has drifted away from the authority of Scripture. No more re-imagining conferences, questioning of the need for the crucifixion of Christ, doubting the bodily virgin birth and bodily resurrection of Jesus!
Pray for the congregation as we decide whether to appeal our case, post a bond, rent the property, negotiate to buy the property, or simply walk away. Pray for the many, many groups in the community who use the Kirk as a meeting place for their organizations and Bible studies throughout the week. The building is open from early morning to late evening 7 days a week.
The sanctuary of the Kirk was filled last Wednesday evening at a meeting where we heard from our pastors, discussed our options and asked questions of one of our attorneys. The room was filled with an atmosphere of unity in Christ, hope for the future as the Holy Spirit continues to lead us, and praise for God who is sovereign over His world. The meeting began with applause and a standing ovation for the leadership of our pastors. As we lifted our voices in the old hymn “Standing on the Promises of God” we all felt that no matter what happened, God was with us and would continue to be with us.
The church is not a building, but the people of God. Our goods, our kindred, our mortal lives here on earth are temporal. The grass withers, the flowers fade and fall, but the word of God is eternal. The Kirk has a calling from Jesus to go out into the world with the gospel, to bring people to faith, to grow them up in that faith, and to send them out to serve and proclaim that faith – to minister, to mature, to make a difference for Jesus in this world.
The Kirks’ mission and calling, the Kirk’s cause for Jesus Christ, is more important than the PCUSA trust clause! The congregation of the Kirk will continue to lift high the banner of Jesus Christ no matter where we meet. The people of Jesus Christ are the church, not the building.