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TechnoratiTwo 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. Continue »
