Writer isn’t surprised Kirkpatrick involved with WCC
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
The February 25 Layman article entitled “Jewish leaders condemn WCC for backing Israeli-divestment plan” also mentions the National Council of Churches (NCC) and states they are “bankrolled chiefly by the PCUSA and other mainline denominations,” and that the NCC “supports the divestment resolution.”
A couple of articles on FrontPageMagazine.com and Discoverthenetwork.org report the NCC is actually “the legacy of its fore-runner, the Communist front-group known as the Federal Council of Churches.” The articles report that the NCC “played a central role in subsidizing revolutionary Communist movements in the Third World,” and “supplied financial support for Soviet-sponsored incursions into Africa, aiding the terrorist rampages of Communist guerrillas in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique and Angola.”
Further from the articles: “At one time an unabashed apostle of the Communist cause, the NCC has today recast itself as a leading representative of the so-called religious left. Adhering to what it has described as ‘liberation theology’ – that is, Marxist ideology disguised as Christianity – the NCC lays claim to a membership of 36 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox Christian denominations, and some 50 million members in over 140,000 congregations”.
The Layman article states that PCUSA Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick is a member of the central committee and executive committee of the WCC. Why am I not one bit surprised?
Lea Price LaGrange, Ill.
There are limits to tolerance
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
This week, pastors of the 40 largest PCUSA churches have been invited to a meeting. What they discuss and what they decide, or do not decide, will go a long way in determining the future of this denomination.
Because the Westminster Fellowship cares very deeply for this denomination and would like nothing more than to see it restored to Reformed foundation with TULIP as its essential tenets and the Westminster Standards as its Confession of Faith, we sent the following letter to the invited pastors:
- Let us introduce you to our newest colleague in ministry: The Reverend Elisabeth “Eily” Marlow-a self-professing, practicing lesbian. According to Marlow herself, her “wife’s” name is Jamie Jazdzyk, a minister in the Lutheran church. Last Tuesday night, the Presbytery of Milwaukee voted 104-20 to approve Rev. Marlow’s ordination. Previously, Marlow has stirred controversy by her leadership a decade ago in the “Re-Imagining God” scandal that rocked the PCUSA. She next received national attention at the 1998 General Assembly, when she helped lead the effort to rescind the assembly’s earlier action to end denominational support for the National Network of Presbyterian College Women for their unabashed support of a pro-homosexual agenda. Then again, when Milwaukee Presbytery first took her under care, there was national attention directed at her. In the meantime, the Presbytery of Milwaukee enacted a resolution declaring they would defy the Constitution of the PCUSA and ordain whomever it wanted, without regard to any prohibition. Two nights ago they kept their promise, and the Presbytery of Milwaukee joined the ranks of a dozen or so other presbyteries that are actively making war upon our constitution.
- We are writing you today because as the senior pastor of one of our denomination’s largest congregations, you have been invited to attend a meeting at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California. You and your colleagues at that meeting have it within your power to reverse the downward spiral of our denomination. For this reason, we urge you to join with us in a visible, tangible sign of our outrage at this affront to God’s Holy Word, and call for all Christ-centered congregations to withhold per capita support of the General Assembly, and hopefully magnifying a hundred-fold the impact of your refusal to pay per capita. As you know, the Office of the General Assembly, that is funded by per capita, is required to uphold the Constitution, and it has steadfastly refused to do so.
- It was just announced that the Presbytery of Shenango is going to end all undesignated support of the PCUSA. If the largest congregations in our denomination do so as well, the crisis can end. Perhaps that is why John Huffman said in 2002 that “enough is enough” and that those who are defying the Constitution of the church should “be held accountable.” He said that he would ask his session to take action to cut off its per capita payments if by January 2003 there “is not compliance in spirit and in detail” and that he would ask his session to escrow the funds for one year, and then, in “January 2004, if churches are still not complying with the constitution, the funds would be redirected for mission.”
- Dr. Huffman was right to make that promise.
- Dr. Huffman was right in his general observation about the crisis in our denomination. A crisis that since his promise has done nothing but escalate.
- Dr. Huffman was right to call for accountability.
- But our leaders in Louisville are not the only ones who must be held accountable. So must each of us be held accountable. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17 (NIV).
- The time to act to avert this crisis has passed. The time to confront it is here. You can make a powerful impact. Withholding or redirecting per capita -particularly in conjunction with the other largest congregations in our denomination-is the single most powerful tool in your arsenal. We believe that God will hold each of us accountable if we now fail to act.
- In New York Presbytery, Jon Walton and Tom Tewell do not deny that they have ordained elders whom they believe to be practicing homosexuals, yet their presbytery protects them.
- In Western North Carolina Presbytery, Rob Martin was not disciplined for publicly denying the bodily resurrection of our Lord and Savior, despite the testimony of a dozen ministers and elders who personally witnessed his remarks.
- In Baltimore Presbytery, Don Stroud was not only protected as an openly defiant and gay minister, but also elected as a Commissioner to General Assembly as an act of the Presbytery’s defiance.
- In Redwoods Presbytery, Katie Morrison was ordained despite her unashamed proclamation that she was a practicing lesbian.
- In National Capital Presbytery, Eric Scott Winnette was allowed to continue his ministry even though on the floor of General Assembly, as a Commissioner, he proclaimed his homosexual practice. His senior pastor, Susan Andrews, was given a pass by the presbytery for her support of him, despite the language of G-6.0106(b) prohibiting his ordination.
- In the Greater Atlanta Presbytery, the Reverend Eric Swenson’s homosexuality was not only countenanced, but the Presbytery voted to allow him to change his name to “Erin” to support his desire to be known as a woman.
- In Hudson River Presbytery, Joe Gilmore and Susan De George have announced their churches will openly defy the Constitution and regularly participate in ordination of homosexual elders, and their presbytery looks on in approval.
- In Heartland Presbytery, J. Dicks McKell favors the ordination of practicing homosexuals, and his congregation last year elected an elder who is openly living in a homosexual relationship, yet his presbytery does nothing to stop this defiance.
- This list of defiance could go on and on. But some say we should be tolerant of those making war on our church and its constitution.
- “There are limits to tolerance. We excuse things and the truth is ultimately lost.” So said our late brother Frank Harrington in the last sermon he preached from the pulpit of Peachtree Presbyterian Church before his sudden death a few days later. “A wink here, a shrug there, a look the other way yonder and we find ourselves tolerating things and refusing to challenge behavior that is clearly wrong. …The reality is that today we are increasingly making excuses about our behavior. Increasingly we are tolerating private behavior that has serious public consequences…We can run from our moral responsibility, but we cannot hide from the consequences. We can detach ourselves and stand on the sidelines, but the challenge and the responsibility that we collectively have will not go away. We can wait for somebody, anybody to do something while refusing to engage the issues, but we are still collectively responsible.”
- Are you going to wait for somebody, anybody to do something?
- “We are all still collectively responsible.”
- Here is how Frank concluded his final sermon: “We have noted that tolerance has its limits. We have acknowledged that we live in a time of moral confusion. But note with me, thirdly, the heart of the matter: We need clear direction! …We need some clear directions and we should be getting it from the Church. I promise you that this church and this pastor in the future, as in the past, will attempt to be as clear as possible concerning morality, both public and private.”
- By withholding or redirecting per capita you can give our church the clear direction that Frank was referring to. You can lead where our church is so desperately lacking leadership. If you will, myriads of congregations throughout the denomination will follow you.
- The time is critical. The day is short. John Huffman’s own promise must be made good!
- The gospel has been entrusted to us. We are trustees of the Word, not tenured professors of religion. Until 1965, the membership in Presbyterian Churches in the US was growing. Every year since, it has been dying. The 216th General Assembly reported that the PCUSA had a net loss of 46,000 members in 2003.
- Let me ask you something. If a potential new member asks you if the PCUSA ordains self-affirming, practicing homosexuals as ministers and elders, will you deny it?
- At the 216th General Assembly John Buchanan’s Covenant Network made a major undertaking to change or eliminate the Authoritative Interpretation. They came within a handful of votes of victory. No one, not one single person we know on either side of the issue, thinks they will lose next time.
- That’s why we started the Westminster Fellowship. We refuse to give up on our church that we have so long served. We are thus funding litigation in California State Court seeking to invalidate the unconscionable property provisions of Chapter VIII of the Book of Order, and we will continue to do likewise throughout the country. We constitute the front lines in the battle for constitutional integrity. We call on you to join us.
- The time for action has come. We urge you in the strongest possible terms to lead our church on the per capita issue.
L. Rus Howard Peter’s Creek Presbyterian Church
Biblically-based members of task force are being outvoted and outmaneuvered
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
According to your article, the final task force report may allow for the ordination of gays, “as not being overly divisive.” Maybe it is time for CCM members to set up “independent” “shell” Christian education corporations whose board members would be the same folks as the members of the local session. These corporations could be set up for the local church members to transfer assets into, should the worst come. It would also be a great pressure point to use against Louisville.
By lessening the impact of the property issue, Louisville would lose their pressure point over the congregations and would be forced to listen and maybe even repent. At the same time, Louisville would be receiving less money. Maybe if we were a poor church our problems and divisions would be small and we could spend more time praying and worshipping our wonderful God and Savior.
The Biblically based members of the task force are being outvoted and outmaneuvered. God bless those Biblically-based members of the task force who gave their all, and fought the good fight. The Lord bless them mightily.
If the left prevails on this report, this could be quite detrimental for the overwhelming majority of us in the PCUSA whose life and faith are Biblically based. This is an important time to pray.
John Almquist
PCUSA is on the wrong tract in accepting homosexual lifestyle
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is definitely on the wrong tract with its embracing homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle and especially in its ordination of a known homosexual.
I will be leaving the Presbyterian church if this movement continues in this direction.
Bill W Smith Glenwood Presbyterian Community Church, Deland, Fla.
PCUSA is leading people into sin, instead of helping them leave their sin behind
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
Open letter to the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s General Assembly
Mathew tells us, as believers, we are to hold each other accountable so that we might not stray from the truth. This is as true for individuals as it is organizations. “… teach them to obey everything I have commanded …” (Matt 28:20) Thus my reason for writing:
As a life long Presbyterian, I have noticed that through the past several years you (via the General Assembly) have moved further and further from the teachings of Jesus Christ and closer to the teachings of the world. I’ve watched as you’ve begun to embrace homosexuality, abortion (including partial-birth abortion) and many new age philosophies. I need to remind you that you are treading in very dangerous waters. In Luke 17:1-2 it reminds us all:
“Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person [or organization] through whom they come. It would be better for him [or them] to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourself.”
I believe you all are leading people into sin, instead of lovingly helping them leave their sin behind and repent. I am praying for you all, that you too, may stop your sinful teachings, turn back and again follow the one and only true God, Jesus Christ.
Until such time as I see your repentance, I have no choice but to instruct my church to no longer allow any of my tithes to support the presbytery. I believe it is moving toward becoming a non-Christian organization. I am called to be a good steward of the money God has given me. I can not support those things you all follow that are contrary to God.
I say all of this in the Love of Christ. I will pray and I challenge you all to do the same; that Jesus Christ may lead you out of this darkness and back into the light of his holy name.
Gary Hall
Has the name of the task force changed to reflect new attitude?
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
I was at a gathering of ministers yesterday and one asked, “When did the task force’s name change?” I thought it started out to seek the Peace, Purity and Unity ( PPU) of church, now it is Peace Unity and Purity (PUP). When did it change?. And does it reflect an attitude that unity trumps purity?”
It is a provocative question. The gathering couldn’t answer. Can you?
Harriss Ricks Richmond, Va.
Does WCC think God would divest from his people?
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
Isn’t this great? What a legacy for the PCUSA to have so influenced the already apostate WCC to follow their lead. “Let the blind lead the blind, they all go together into destruction”
In spite of such abundance of bread here in the West, it seems that the famine for God’s true Word increases among those who call themselves “covenant people” following after Jesus Christ himself … there is ever increasing darkness descending all around us in this part of the world. Does the Council of World Churches really believe God himself would have us divest of interest in the very people who have been called by his name from the time he established Jerusalem as the City of David and Israel after the name he gave to Issac’s own son?
The obvious dullness of hearing, lack of vision on the part of so many “ordained” clergy who continue to exalt their own human opinion as truth superior to the Word of God himself is what Jesus, while walking as a common man among common men, warned his disciples to “beware of” in way of the “leaven of the Pharisees” … this is the greatest danger for any who follow them back into such pernicious ways.
The Apostle Peter gave sound warnings to let any who called the early church, using terms of severest warning to any who would lead little ones astray after themselves into a way other than that which has been given from the beginning as truth to prevent us from faltering, stumbling round in darkness or returning to the same dark places converted souls have been delivered out of by his Grace.
He admonished all who had an ear to hear and the wisdom to discern between what is true and what is false that only as we refuse to be removed from our safe position in Christ our Lord can we hope to be kept from falling into the same snares, pits and traps as those who are blindly following any other voice but his own while passing through this present world.
It may be in truth the World Council of Churches is truer in the confession of what they believe as a crossless, Christless imitation of the true bride of Christ than what the PCUSA leaders who are betraying the very Lord who bought us continues in confession and profession to claim as their identity. As the devil is unmasked he will also usually overplay his hand for any who might yet have a doubt as to who is behind the scenes pulling the strings of those who dance happily along as part of the show.
As we have been reminded throughout the ages “the church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord” we can trust that the very cornerstone on which those who are faithful continue to build to the end will be found in him who is sure. The author and the finisher of our faith, as we keep our eyes fixed on him by the same amazing grace that saved us we will find strength to stand, walk and to endure up until the end of the age, the end of all time as will be known as human “history” will be swallowed up in victory as finally the “mystery of Heaven” is revealed through the same Jesus Christ who has called us his own.
Karen Kolbinsky
How much money goes to pro-abortion group?
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
Could I get information about past and present dollar amounts that go towards supporting Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice? Thanks in advance.
John Guthrie
PCUSA, WCC can see no evil in Palestinian society
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
I am flabbergasted that WCC’s international affairs expert Peter Weiderud could tell the press that the WCC is “unaware” of any intimidation of Palestinian Christians by the Palestinian Authority. It reminds me of PCUSA Marthame Sanders statement that in dealing with the Middle East “balanced is absolutely not the right approach.” Like the PCUSA, the WCC can see no evil in Palestinian society, and is willing to see only evil in the Israeli government. Those willing to see the Middle East without the anti-Israel blinkers worn by so many PCUSA leaders will be interested in this well-documented report detailing land confiscation, arrests of converts to Christianity, anti-Cristian riots and desecration of churches by the Palestinian Authority.
Diana Appelbaum
Was George Orwell talking about PCUSA?
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
I agree with Pastor Henkel [letter to the editor, posted February 24, 2005] that “the decisions and direction of General Assembly, synod, and even the presbytery have no bearing whatsoever on the conduct of congregational life.”
I believe that the reason that they have no bearing on congregational life and will not lead to a mass outflow from PCUSA is that most of the members and many of the elders are not even aware of what the presbyteries and the General Assembly is doing.
I know that this is the case in First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak.
This is because none of these actions are reported to the session or the members and when these actions are reported, they are so sanitized and parsed that it is difficult to understand what they are. It is the same approach as Presbyterian Today takes when they report only favorable things and spin anything that might cause concern.
At FPCRO, the interim pastor that recently left would throw out any copies of The Layman that were available.
This control of the message and the media would be called propaganda and censorship in most organizations.
I think that I just found the only type of church discipline that the liberal wing approves of – controlling the message, to control the people. Was George Orwell talking about PCUSA?
Doug Hepner
Are Presbyterians heading toward a merger?
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
My name is Kevin Colvard. I am an ordained Cumberland Presbyterian minister in Birmingham, Ala.. I am a member of Grace Presbytery. Presently our presbytery is one of the three presbyteries (CP, CPCA, PCUSA) hosting the concurrent G.A. meetings in 2006. I am “hearing” that from the PCUSA perspective, that this is a concrete step towards organic merger.
My question is this: Is there any specific, concrete, documentable source for this concern? Is this merely speculation and conjecture? Are you aware of any related discussion about this issue? Could you suggest a reliable source of information? I am a delegate to our G.A. this summer and the author of a memorial from our presbytery concerning the concurrent G.A.’s and I would appreciate all the “real” information I can get.
The office of the General Assembly of the PCUSA says it is involved in “bilateral and multilateral dialogues with other churches [including both Cumberland denominations] and traditions in order to remove barriers of misunderstanding and establish common affirmations.” The editors Kevin Colvard
Do politeness and tolerance and inclusiveness trump morality?
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
I never did understand – and still don’t – how come the GLBT crowd decided to take over the denomination instead of simply starting a new one of their own. Plus, I can’t understand why the decent non-GLBT people in the pews put up with the GLBT takeover. How was it possible to pull the wool over their eyes?
Since when do politeness and tolerance and inclusiveness trump morality? Just wondering.
Alan Cole McLean, Va.
Do opposite of what WCC says
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
The World Council of Churches Nobody Goes to Anymore has no moral standing. Nobody looks at what they say and then worries that diverging from it might be an instance of sin. In fact, if you don’t have time to do research on an issue, see what the WCCNGtA says and do the opposite. You won’t always be right, but that is the way to bet.
Richard A. Aubrey, Jr.
Congregations should realize the impact of national issues on their identity
Posted Monday, February 28, 2005
Jim Henkel’s letter [letter to the editor posted February 24, 2005] points out the apathy in the local PCUSA congregations to national and international issues that PCUSA, ACSWP and General Assembly seem to be preoccupied with, predicting “there will be no mass exodus from the PCUSA … because these issues make … no difference at all.” Mr. Henkel is convinced that such apathy will never change. Regarding the focus of local congregations, I think Jim Henkel is right on target about how local churches view local issues and their congregations as their top priority.
However, the question is not whether local congregations will remain apathetic to PCUSA national stands on such issues, but whether local congregations should wake up and realize the impact of such national issues on their very identity as Presbyterians.
The purpose of having a national organization is to “define” what it means to be a member of the organization. While local issues may be priorities, the “definition” of what the organizations’ mission is also determines how the world will view the groups’ local activities as well. The reason why people belong to a specific religious denomination is that religious denomination “means something;” it represents a set of beliefs and standards that the church accepts and incorporates in their beliefs.
I seriously doubt that most Presbyterians would view that their denomination “stands for” turning its back on Israel, while it is under attack by terrorists, as clearly shown in Friday’s terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. If the PCUSA decided it wanted to play a role in the Middle East, and was concerned about Israel, why has it not issued statements condemning such terrorist attacks? I have seen none.
I think it is our duty as Christians not to abandon the Jewish people and Israel. Apathy and silence are not the answer to the PCUSA attacks on Israel, and the layman must not remain silent on the issue of Israel and let PCUSA anti-Israel activists define the “position” of the church. History has shown that local apathy regarding the national leadership of an organization ultimately leads to such organizations being sidetracked from their primary goals and mission.
For example, I am also a contributing member of the YMCA, so it was quite a shock to discover last week the national body of its sister group, YWCA, agreed not to condemn a YWCA world group that compared Israel’s actions to “Hitler … exterminating the Jews.” This is not why I have contributed as a member of these groups. Instead of promoting inclusiveness, now the YWCA is in effect attacking Israel and the Jewish people, who are literally fighting for their lives against terrorists. Is this the image the YMCA/YWCA wants to convey – comparing Israel and Jews to Hitler? Should Christian organizations mock the Holocaust with attacks on Israel’s attempt to keep its people safe? (A PCUSA Peacemaker-sponsored speaker did the same thing at Wooster College in October 2003.)
When people see “Presbyterians” in the future, will “Presbyterians” be known as the leaders of anti-Israel efforts across Protestant Christian churches? It is ironic that the same national PCUSA leadership that claims to want to build inclusiveness has no problem with turning its back on the Jewish people and the Holy Land of Israel. This is how “Presbyterians” of any sort – PCUSA, EPC, RPCNA, etc. – are going to be remembered in the future; the assumption of non-PCUSA Presbyterians that the Jewish community will understand the variations of Presbyterianism is completely unfounded. In minds of most of the Jewish people, a Presbyterian is a Presbyterian. Realize that now, and don’t be smug that it is the PCUSA having problems, not another branch of the Presbyterian church. If all Presbyterians don’t shake this apathy and remember there is an identity as an organization larger than that of personal individuals, then Presbyterians will be remembered as “the Christians who hate Israel.” That does no good for Middle East peace, for any Presbyterian, and for the work of Jesus Christ.
Apathy and silence on the PCUSA-Israel divestement issue may be the common reaction at local Presbyterian churches, but that is certainly not the answer. The Presbyterian congregants can do better than that.
Jeffrey Imm Olney, Md.
Same letter, same issue, different date
Posted Thursday, February 24, 2005
As I have noted before in this ‘publication’ …
It certainly is easier to write my concerns when I may simply repeat a previous submittal. The original was submitted and published on or about May 18, 2004.
The concern expressed in the following is “over.” Ms. Marlow is now approved to be ordained as a minister of Word and Sacrament in the desperately drifting Presbyterian Church (USA).
Is there fallout on the way?
- Please note, the May 17, 2004, article “‘Practicing, non-repentant homosexual’ certified as candidate for PCUSA ministry” is not the first. I’m not sure Milwaukee’s action doing the same thing in September, 2003, was the first either, but in a letter to the editor dated October 3, 2003, a writer noted:
- “If Ms. Marlow still proclaims her sexual preference as lesbian at the time of her ordination vote, the motion will not, I predict, receive unanimous approval. [It was not, but 104 to 20 is not indicative of a strong Biblical conviction in the Milwaukee Presbytery] But, I also ‘understand’ that if she states she is celibate at that time, we who would won’t have a chance to discuss the advisability of disapproval. And, once again, the Book of Order will trump the Bible.”
- This is precisely the situation the Episcopal church found itself in years ago with Gene Robinson. Perhaps standing for the truth now will avoid the situation in which the Episcopal congregants have now found themselves.
- Will we? Doubt it. Will God deal with it. No doubt at all. Someday soon, we may hear, “incoming,” and receive deserved peripheral damage from our great God and Savior’s righteous anger and judgment.
- There are things to be done. And God will do them when he has judged his people are no longer truly dedicated to defending his Holy Name regardless of the cost! Are God’s true children in his church ready to see his Holy wrath? Have God’s people ever been? His Word doesn’t show they have, but it does show his people can learn – at least the hard way!
Greg Leaman Sheboygan County Wisc.