Anti-A pastor also criticizes Layman
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, November 5, 2001
PASADENA, Calif. – One of the most warmly applauded speakers at the meeting of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians was a young California minister who disagrees with the Network on its quest to get the Presbyterian Church (USA) to ordain homosexuals.
Michael Bruner, the son of a prominent Presbyterian educator and writer, won his attaboys by saying that not all evangelicals agree with the Presbyterian Lay Committee, which has been in the forefront of the debate over ordination standards.
During a question-and-answer session following Moderator Jack B. Rogers’ address, Bruner stepped to the microphone to tell the Covenant Network audience that he was impressed by the spirit and commitment of the people at the conference.
Saying that he was attending the conference as a Presbyterian who identifies with the Presbyterian Coalition, Bruner added, “Not everyone on the Coalition side supports The Layman. Not everyone in the Coalition is supportive of the Confessing Church Movement.”
During a straw vote at the Coalition’s Gathering VI in Orlando in October – which attracted about 1,400 Presbyterians – near unanimous support for the Confessing Church Movement was registered.
“A number of us who care deeply about Scripture, the church and the truth also care deeply about gays and lesbians in the church. Not all of us are close-minded, bigoted people,” Bruner said.
Some people in the audience viewed Bruner’s comments as an endorsement of Rogers’ blistering attack against the Presbyterian Lay Committee and the Confessing Church Movement within the denomination.
But in an interview with The Layman, Bruner said his disagreement with the Presbyterian Lay Committee was a matter of tone, not theology. He said The Layman was too strident, and cited as evidence an editorial in July that declared the 2001 General Assembly apostate. He said he did not necessarily disagree with that editorial, but thought it represented a “strident spirit.”
Also, Bruner said he was completely committed to defeating Amendment 01A, a point he did not make during his comments to the Covenant Network. He said he was attending the Covenant Network as preparation for efforts to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment.
Bruner, who is not currently a member of a church staff, said he believes evangelicals can best woo the middle of the church by sounding more inclusive.
He did not say whether his reference to “close-minded, bigoted people” might be considered strident.
After Bruner’s comments, Rogers said, “I am grateful for that testimony.”