Presbyterians endorse renewal leaders statement on PUP report
The Layman Online, October 17, 2005
Presbyterians from across the nation are endorsing a statement made by renewal leaders in the Presbyterian Church (USA) that criticizes the final report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity.
That statement was written by leaders of nine renewal groups, two pastors and two seminary professors and posted on the Web site of the Presbyterian Coalition. With little fanfare, the number of endorsements has swelled rapidly with signatures from other Presbyterians.
The renewal leaders reached this conclusion about the task force report: “Taken as a whole, it constitutes a blend of truth and error that, if adopted, will undermine the church’s purity and exacerbate the denomination’s disunity. Indeed, it will promote schism by permitting the disregard of clear standards of Scripture and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).”
The renewal groups whose representatives were the initial signatories are:
- The Institute on Religion and Democracy
- The New Wineskins Initiative
- Presbyterian Action for Faith and Freedom
- The Presbyterian Coalition
- Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry
- The Presbyterian Forum
- The Presbyterian Lay Committee
- Presbyterians Pro-Life
- Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International
Presbyterians For Renewal’s executive director attended the meeting of the renewal leaders when they drew up the statement, but did not sign it.
The Presbyterian Coalition says it welcomes additional endorsements. It invite Presbyterians to send their names, affiliation and contact information via e-mail to info@presbycoalition.org.
The Presbyterian Coalition says the following had added their endorsement to the document as of today:
Paul Leggett, Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Montclair, New Jersey
The Rev. John H. Roark, Pastor, Buford Presbyterian Church, Buford, GA
Rev. Jim Henkel, Pastor, North Benton Presbyterian Church, North Benton, OH
Richard Klein
Elder Jennifer Kirkbride, First Presbyterian Church, Wellsburg, WV
Rev. Malcolm M. King III, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, La Follette, TN
Rev. Neal Humphrey, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. John C. Zimmerman, Presbytery of Alaska, Honorably Retired
Orient and Charles Roudane’, Asheville, NC
Rev. Bruce Becker, pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Olney, Philadelphia, PA
Dr. John Buckingham; Elder, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Trussville, Al
Rev William F, Albert, recently retired pastor of Concord Presbyterian Church, Sumter, SC.
Richard Conway, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Morganton, NC
Rev. Rick Gillespie-Mobley Co Pastor Glenville New Life Community Church PCUSA, Cleveland, OH
Rev. Toby Gillespie-Mobley Co Pastor Glenville New Life Community Church PCUSA, Cleveland, OH
Andy & Judy Carrick, evangelistic PC(USA) missionaries to Japan
Rev. William R. Pawson, Westminster Community Presbyterian Church, Canton, OH
The Rev. Ray D.E. McCalla, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Wayne, Nebraska
Terry J. Tyler, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Nappanee, IN
Rev Al Sandalow, First Presbyterian Church, Ellensburg, WA
Rev. John Erthein, Elderton Presbyterian Church, Elderton, PA
H. Matthew Ferguson, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL
The Session of First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL
Noel K. Anderson, Executive Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Bakersfield, CA
Larry Rued, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bradenton, FL
Robert Dooling, Moderator, the Presbyterian Forum
Rev. Dr. Kevin McDonald, Associate Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Omaha, NE
Rev. Dr. C. Gregory Darden, Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church, Germantown, TN.
Rev. Spencer Lawrence, Church of the Cross Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Hoffman Estates, IL
Rev Dr Alan Trafford, First Presbyterian, Lake Jackson, TX
Marc Karasek, Elder, Norcross Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dave Moody, Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Sparta, IL
Marshall A. Worden, Elder, Northminster Presbyterian Church, Tucson, Arizona
Christopher C. Carlson, Senior Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church, Minnetonka, MN
Rev. Christopher J. Williams, First Presbyterian Church, Branson, Missouri
Rev. Kriss Bottino, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Kennewick WA
Elder Rob Bullock, Clerk of Session, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Florida
Elder Greg Ulrick, Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian, Solvang, CA
Renee Guth, Northminster PC, Tucson, AZ
Rev. David C. Mauldin, Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Mobile, AL
Elders Scott R. and Janet S. Emry, Hilton Presbyterian Church, Newport News, VA
Nick Krantz, Pastor, Foster Presbyterian Church, Tukwila, WA
Rev. Steven L. Seng, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Wellsburg, WV
Rev. John S. Sheldon, First Presbyterian Church, Ocean City, New Jersey
Jeff McDonald, Member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Omaha, NE
Rev. Thomas E. Smith, Pastor, Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes, Angola, IN
Olivia Albert, elder, Westminster by the Sea, Daytona Beach Shores, FL
Rev. John Crosby, Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina, MN
Jim and Betty Casale, members Community Presbyterian Church, Danville, CA
Robert R. von Oeyen, Jr., Pastor, Bethany, Staunton VA
Becky Lucci, Elder, Covenant Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX
Rev. O. William Hansen, Pastor Emeritus, Church of the Valley, Apple Valley, California
Jim & Judy Ritchie, Covenant Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX
Robert A. Edmunds, Pastor, First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City, VA
James Loman, Elder John Calvin Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX
Rev. Benjamin E. Sheldon, Pastor Emeritus Bethany Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Havertown, Penna and Parish Associate, Forks of the Brandywine Presbyterian Church, Glenmoore, Penna
W.M. “Bill” Hart, Elder/Deacon, First Presbyterian Church of Sun City, AZ
Nancy Lee Cochran, former moderator, Pittsburgh Presbytery; elder, Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, Allison Park, PA
Nancy Scott Cross elder, First, San Antonio TX
Rev. Toby L. Brown, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Cuero, Texas
John Allan Watson, HR, Pastor Emeritus, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Columbus, OH, Member, Presbytery of Scioto Valley
Rev. Jim Wilken, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Marion NC
Rev. William J. Martin, Pastor, Northeast Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg, Florida
Peggy Perry, Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, Kirkland, WA
John Huffman, Pastor, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, CA
Mr. Daniel L. Gruber, Director of Children’s Ministries, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Omaha, Nebraska
Clarke Reed, Treasurer, Presbyterian Forum, Greenville, MS
Chris Enoch, Associate Pastor, Magnolia Presbyterian Church, Riverside, CA