Two ministers have drafted an open theological declaration to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with the intention of confronting the denomination for its "deviation from orthodox Christian faith."
The Rev. Albert Rhodes Stuart of Highland Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock, Pa., and Patrick McElroy of Park United Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pa., are taking action to discern what they believe to be "multiple errors" coming from the denomination's 218th General Assembly, a biennial meeting that took place in June.
"These errors must be labeled and opposed lest we be guilty of failing to raise alarm or of leading 'the least of His little ones astray,'" the declaration reads. "We cry out with fervent voices that the flock is under attack and we, individually and collectively, must return to the shepherd immediately."
After consultation with several other leaders within the Beaver-Butler Presbytery, the two ministers recently released the final copy of the declaration, laying out errors from the General Assembly that they want the presbytery to recognize. They did it out of love, they say, and not out of anger or malice.
One of the errors they claim the General Assembly – the highest governing body in the PC(USA) – committed was to approve a $2 million legal defense fund for the denomination to be used for property cases in civil courts.
The Assembly also erred when it failed to allow debate on an authoritative interpretation concerning the denomination's ordination standards, the declaration states.
In June, the General Assembly adopted an authoritative interpretation of the PC(USA) constitution – which currently bans ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians – that would allow gay and lesbian candidates for ordination to conscientiously object the fidelity and chastity standard.
The overture was attached to a proposal that called for a revision of the wording of the fidelity and chastity requirement – a proposal that was debated. But the two ministers in their declaration claim those were two important issues that should have been separated for individual consideration.
The ministers also found fault with the Assembly's actions regarding relations with Jews and Muslims and the Trinity. These specific actions were considered "serious errors ... with regard to faith and order of the Christian life because of either faulty scriptural interpretation or skewed or missing exegesis," according to the declaration.
The Assembly had approved a resolution that encouraged Presbyterians to converse with, celebrate holidays with, and even worship together with Jews and Muslims for the promotion of understanding, respect and goodwill.
In opposition, the ministers state: "We worship the thrice-holy, Triune God. Neither Muslims nor Jews can participate in worshiping the Triune God because for them to do so is, by their own lights, a blasphemy for them. So, too, is it blasphemous for us to deny the Divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit in any worship context. This suggestion is based on a gross error in basic biblical doctrine, a profound misrepresentation of the Trinity. Therefore we cannot worship together and should not be encouraged to do so."
Regarding the Trinity, the declaration spoke against the General Assembly’s approval of an overture that commended a study of the Trinity for PC(USA) congregations.
Controversy was first stirred in 2006, when the 217th General Assembly "received" a study paper entitled "The Trinity: God’s Love Overflowing." The paper suggested additional designations to the Trinity other than "Father, Son and the Holy Spirit," including, "Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child and Life-giving Womb," "Rock, Cornerstone and Temple," and "Sun, Light and Burning Ray." Continue >>
RSS
thanks igh. These poor sad people have no idea what they do.
"THE GREAT AMERICAN GOD-OUT encourages all people--people of faith and those who are godless--to join in acknowledgment and celebration of 'a day without god' on November 15th, 2007. "
THE GREAT AMERICAN GOD-OUT established by Dr. Lydia Hartunian and her rational students, 2007.
ok, I ran a search and this is what i found.
Here is the links:
http://www.thegreatamericangodout.com/5.html
http://www.godout.org/
tamna,
LOL! You made me chuckle.
DP,
She said "MRFF.org". I tried that, with www infront and without. It comes up with a placeholder for a non-existant domain. The mmrf.org you said to use goes to some Minnesota research facility. I doubt they are the same thing.
"the website is non-existant."
Are you talking about mmrf.org? Don't put the www in the front and it comes up just fine.
This is nothing more than the Presbyterian version of spitting in the wind.
the website is non-existant. Kinda like morals based on nothing.
It is great to see people fighting to remain consistent with their beliefs. As something to think about--one might also want to think about establishing morality without theology and the work that MRFF.org is doing. The GREAT AMERICAN GOD-OUT! is in San Fransisco this year and people of faith are encouraged to participate to help ALL Americans facilitate the dialogue about the proper role of religion in American public life.
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Lydia Hartunian
I didn't even realize their were two good Pastors left within this denomination. Being a former Reformed Minister I applaud these two ministers. Good for them.
It won't do much for PCUSA, but it is good they took a stand.
Another day....another division. Come Lord Jesus, come.
(Ministers Defend Biblical Orthodoxy)
AMEN!!!
May God bless these two and their congregations and may the PC(USA) repent of its apostacy. The 'supplemental' terms for the Trinity sound pagan - like stuff I heard or said when I was a witch. Its certain that neither the Jews nor the Muslims think the three groups worship the same God, and neither do most conservative Christians.
1 Jn 5:10-12
10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.