20 October 2010

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] PCA Stated Clerk and Administrative Committee in Full Court Press to Influence Positive Presbytery Votes on Proposed Constitutional Changes Regarding Administrative Committee Funding

[2] ARP First Presbytery Moderator’s Committee Recommends Charges against ARP Ruling Elder Plaintiff in Erskine Suit against ARP General Synod

[3] PCUSA Synod of Lakes and Prairies Permanent Judicial Commission Approves John Knox Presbytery Ordination Approval for Active Homosexual Minister

[4] Reformed Church in Hungary Representatives Meet with Church of Scotland Climate Change Office in Edinburgh, Scotland, Week of 4 October 2010

[5] Church of Scotland Places Greyfriars John Knox Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, Up for Sale, for Conversion to Residences, Offices, or Other Purposes

[6] Presbyterian Church in Canada Collecting Donations for Hungarian Reformed Church Aid to Red Mud Disaster in Hungary

[7] Federal Grand Jury Investigating Church Bible Study Group Attended by Killer of Abortionist George Tiller

[8] International John Calvin Website Launched by World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches

[9] Meeting Jesus at the Feast: Israel's Festivals and the Gospel by John Sittema Published by the Reformed Fellowship

[10] 2010 Young and Reformed Worldview Conference Scheduled 22-23 October 2010 at Corinth Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan

[11] Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy Protection

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[1] PCA Stated Clerk and Administrative Committee in Full Court Press to Influence Positive Presbytery Votes on Proposed Constitutional Changes Regarding Administrative Committee Funding

With the 16 October 2010 unanimous vote of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)’s Illiana Presbytery and the unanimous with one abstention 19 October 2010 vote of the PCA’s South Florida Presbytery to reject proposed changes to the Book of Church Order (BCO) sections 14.1 and 14.2 regarding a new funding plan for the PCA Administrative Committee (AC), the aggregate PCA presbyterial vote to date is twelve presbyteries rejecting the proposed BCO changes and five presbyteries approving the changes.

The negative momentum to-date of PCA presbytery voting on the proposed BCO 14.1 and 14.2 changes has drawn the concern of PCA Stated Clerk Roy Taylor and the PCA AC, and a full court press is now underway by both administrative parties in an effort to reverse the momentum.

PCA Stated Clerk Roy Taylor on 14 October 2010 sent an email to PCA presbytery clerks with links to PCA AC funding plan information, a copy of Mr. Taylor’s rebuttal to Dr. Dominic Aquila’s concerns, and with an offer to have an AC representative attend presbytery meetings. Mr. Taylor is scheduled to attend the 26 October 2010 stated meeting of the Central Carolina Presbytery, and is reported to be attending other upcoming PCA presbytery meetings.

Mr. John W. Robinson, a member of the PCA AC, on 15 October 2010 sent an email to PCA presbytery clerks describing opposition to the proposed amendments as a “grievous reality” and characterizing those in opposition to the amendments as employing “fears and misinformation [that] are leading to confusion as men discuss and begin to vote on the AC Funding Plan BCO Amendments.” Mr. Robinson further urges presbyteries to postpone their votes on the amendments, as “some [unwise] parties are urging a quick vote on the basis that all of this is too confusing,” and references Proverbs 2:1-15 and James 1:19 as supporting Scripture.


+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org

+ Illiana Presbytery, pastor@newharmonycolumbia.com

+ South Florida Presbytery, 950 University Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, 305-323-7495, Contact Page

+ Central Carolina Presbytery, 520 Willow Brook Drive, Matthews, North Carolina, 28105, 704-519-7076, clerk@cccpa.net


[2] ARP First Presbytery Moderator’s Committee Recommends Charges against ARP Ruling Elder Plaintiff in Erskine Suit against ARP General Synod

A 14 October 2010 article in The Aquila Report (TAR) titled “First Presbytery (ARP) Report of Moderator’s Committee to Investigate Possible Charges against Ruling Elder Parker Young” consists of what TAR believes to be the charges and accompanying information from the 12 October 2010 report of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) First Presbytery’s Moderator’s Committee regarding Pinecrest ARP Church of Flat Rock, North Carolina, Ruling Elder Dr. Parker Young’s role as a plaintiff in the March 2009 lawsuit by Erskine College against the ARP General Synod.

The charges made against Dr. Young by the Moderator’s Committee are, 1) Disregard of God’s Word, and 2) the breaking of [Dr. Young’s] ordination vows.

Excerpts from the report include:

“Although the lawsuit has been dismissed, Dr. Young has refused to acknowledge his sins or repent of them. He continues a willful obdurate refusal to submit not only to Christ and His authority, (1 Corinthians 6:1-8), but also to the authority of the General Synod and First Presbytery in this matter. Dr. Young told the Chairman “He had no regrets about his actions because he felt it was an emergency situation and he would do it again.” He said, “He did what he had to do and stands before God with a clear conscience.” He said that he “believes Erskine would have lost its accreditation had he not brought the lawsuit.” He said his action “has made it easier for others to take similar legal action on other future matters within the denomination should the need arise.” He said “he resigned as elder because he was not willing to be a part of any investigation.” He said “he has taught law for thirty-five years and he stands by his testimony that he made in civil court. He said “men had come into the ARP denomination who were intolerant and something had to be done to stop them and the law suit accomplished that.” Dr. Young said “he believes the majority of the [ARP] Church agrees with what he did and most are appalled that [First] Presbytery would try and discipline him.” He said “he had to break the law in order to bring about good for Erskine.”

“In summary, Dr. Young sinned against God and His Church by disregarding the Word of God found in 1st Corinthians 6:1-8. He sinned against God and His Church by breaking his ordination vows connected to the Authority of the Word of God, and he did those things not only as an elder but also as a member of the Pinecrest ARP. Church.”

“The Moderator’s Committee upon completion of its investigation recommends First Presbytery to:

“1. That the Presbytery direct the Moderator to appoint a Commission to begin the trial procedure on the above named charges against Dr. Parker Young as prescribed in the Book of Discipline Chapter V, Section 5 ( c ) and that the report of this committee be used as the “charges for presentation against Dr. Parker Young by First Presbytery as stated under Chapter V Section 5 ( c ).

“2. That the preliminary report and this full report be approved.

“3. That this Moderators Committee be excused from further duties on this issue.”

A 13 October 2010 article by Don K. Clements in The Aquila Report titled “First Presbytery (ARP) rejects report recommending charges against an Erskine College Board Ruling Elder” reports that the ARP First Presbytery voted to reject the recommendations of the Moderator’s Committee, and instead remand the matter to the session of Pinecrest ARP Church for consideration and possible action.


+ The Aquila Report, c/o Metokos Press, 211 Main Street, Suite 108, Narrows, Virginia 24124, 540-726-8223, operations@theaquilareport.com

+ Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1 Cleveland Street Suite 110, Greenville, South Carolina, 29601, 864-232-8297, Fax: 864-271-3729

+ ARP First Presbytery, c/o Rev. Robert C. Wilson, D.Min., 4784 Styers Ferry Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104, 336-624-9529

+ Erskine College, 2 Washington Street, Due West, South Carolina 29639, 864-379-2131, 864-379-2167, norman@erskine.edu



[3] PCUSA Synod of Lakes and Prairies Permanent Judicial Commission Approves John Knox Presbytery Ordination Approval for Active Homosexual Minister

A 12 October 2010 article in The Layman Online titled “Synod Backs Presbytery in Anderson Ordination” reports that the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Synod of Lakes and Prairies Permanent Judicial Commission on 8 October 2010 affirmed the action by John Knox Presbytery to approve the ordination of active homosexual candidate Scott Anderson, who previously declared a scruple of the PCUSA’s fidelity-chastity requirement, claiming that his nineteen-year partnership with another man is not a violation of Scripture, the PCUSA Book of Confessions, or the standards set forth in the PCUSA Book of Order.

Anderson characterizes the PCUSA’s fidelity-chastity requirement as a “grievous misapplication of Biblical teaching in the case of gay and lesbian believers who are in faithful, covenanted, lifelong partnerships.”


+ Presbyterian Lay Committee, Post Office Box 2210, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645, 828-758-8716, Fax: 828-758-0920, laymanletters@layman.org

+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005

+ Synod of Lakes and Prairies, 2115 Cliff Drive, Eagan, Minnesota 55122, 651-357-1140, Fax: 800-328-1880, office@lakesandprairies.org

+ John Knox Presbytery, 1289 West Seminary Street, Richland Center, Wisconsin 53581, 608-647-8828, Fax: 608-647-3386, jkp@jknox.org


[4] Reformed Church in Hungary Representatives Meet with Church of Scotland Climate Change Office in Edinburgh, Scotland, Week of 4 October 2010

Representatives from the Reformed Church in Hungary met at the Church of Scotland (COS) offices in Edinburgh, Scotland, the week of 4 October 2010 with members of the COS Climate Change Project to discuss possible cooperative measures and to hear about the extent of church involvement in grassroots environmental issues in Hungary.


+ Eco-Congregation Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-240-2274, scotland@ecocongregation.org

+ Reformed Church in Hungary, MRE Zsinata1146 Budapest, Abonyi u. 21., Hungary, 30-3361-666, info@reformatus.hu

+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722


[5] Church of Scotland Places Greyfriars John Knox Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, Up for Sale, for Conversion to Residences, Offices, or Other Purposes

A 14 October 2010 article by Rebecca Buchan in the Press and Journal titled “Old Churches for Sale May Change Skyline” reports that the Church of Scotland (COS) has put up for sale a portfolio of buildings including the Greyfriars John Knox Church is Aberdeen, Scotland, which is being touted for potential conversion to residences, offices, or other uses, for a listed price of UK£1.27 million.

The COS earlier announced that up to one-half of the Kirk’s 3000 buildings may have to be sold.


+ Press and Journal , Lang Stracht, Mastrick, Aberdeen AB15 6DF, Scotland, 01224-343311, pj.newsdesk@ajl.co.uk

+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722


[6] Presbyterian Church in Canada Collecting Donations for Hungarian Reformed Church Aid to Red Mud Disaster in Hungary

The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Presbyterian World Service and Development relief agency is accepting donations to support the response of Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, the development arm of the Reformed Church in Hungary, to the “Red Mud” disaster in Hungary.

Directions for making donations are available:

http://www.presbyterian.ca/pcconnect/daily/5484


+ The Presbyterian Church in Canada , 50 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7, 416-441-1111, Fax: 416-441-2825, skendall@presbyterian.ca

+ Hungarian Reformed Church Aid Public Benefit Foundation, 1146 Budapest, Hungária krt. 200., 36-1-460-0747

+ Reformed Church in Hungary, MRE Zsinata1146 Budapest, Abonyi u. 21., Hungary, 30-3361-666, info@reformatus.hu


[7] Federal Grand Jury Investigating Church Bible Study Group Attended by Killer of Abortionist George Tiller

An 11 October 2010 article by Kathleen Gilbert of LifeSiteNews.com titled “Grand Jury Grills Tiller Murderer's Bible Study Group” reports that a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, has called to testify six members of the church Bible study group attended by Scott Roeder, the killer of abortionist George Tiller. Roeder currently is serving a life sentence for the first degree murder of abortionist George Tiller.

Tim Parks, a Bible study group member and former roommate of Scott Roeder's, described his grand jury questioning:

“Based on the questions they asked, they are looking into whether others were involved. It appeared to me that they are trying to find or fabricate a conspiracy.”


+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, Post Office Box 25382, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220, 866-787-9947, lsn@lifesitenews.com


[8] International John Calvin Website Launched by World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches

The World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches have launched a new international website devoted to resources about John Calvin:

www.john-calvin.org.

The new website of the World Communion of Reformed Churches is:

www.wcrc.ch/


+ World Communion of Reformed Churches, 150 route de Ferney, Post Office Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, 41-22-791-6240, Fax: 41-22-791-6505, info@reformedchurches.org

+ Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Sulgenauweg 26, Bern 23, Switzerland, 41-31-370-25-25, Fax: 41-31-370-25-80, info@calvin09.org


[9] Meeting Jesus at the Feast: Israel's Festivals and the Gospel by John Sittema Published by the Reformed Fellowship

Meeting Jesus at the Feast: Israel's Festivals and the Gospel by John Sittema has been published by the Reformed Fellowship, and illustrates how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament feasts.

Dr. John R. Sittema is Senior Pastor of Christ Church (Presbyterian Church in America) in Jacksonville, Florida, and is Adjunct Professor of Ministerial Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana.


+ Reformed Fellowship, Inc., 3363 Hickory Ridge Court Southwest, Wyoming, Michigan 49418, 616-532-8510, office@reformedfellowship.net

+ Mid-America Reformed Seminary, 229 Seminary Drive, Dyer, Indiana 46311, 219-864-2400, Fax: 219-864-2410, cvenema@midamerica.edu

+ Presbyterian Church in America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, 678-825-1000, Fax: 678-825-1001, ac@pcanet.org


[10] 2010 Young and Reformed Worldview Conference Scheduled 22-23 October 2010 at Corinth Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan

The 2010 Young and Reformed Worldview Conference is scheduled for 22-23 October 2010 at the Corinth Reformed Church (Reformed Church in America) in Byron Center, Michigan.

Conference speakers include Kevin DeYoung, Mike Wittmer, And David Murray.

Detailed conference information is available:

http://www.corinthreformed.org/content.cfm?id=2158


+ Corinth Reformed Church, 129 100th Street Southeast, Byron Center, Michigan 49315, 616-877-4652, Contact Page

+ Reformed Church in America , 4500 60th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, 800-968-6065, questions@rca.org


[11] Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy Protection

An 18 October 2010 article by Michael Ireland of ASSIST News Service titled “Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy Protection” reports that the Crystal Cathedral, the mega-church founded by the Rev. Robert H. Schuller in 1956 in a drive-in theater, has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Mr. Ireland cites a January 2010 Los Angeles Times report saying that church revenues began falling off after the Rev Robert A. Schuller, son of the church’s founding pastor, left the Crystal Cathedral ministry in 2008 after having disagreements with the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, who had earlier made the Rev. Robert A. Schuller senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral after the senior Schuller’s retirement.

Current Crystal Cathedral leader Sheila Schuller Coleman, daughter of the Rev. Robert H. Schuller and sister of the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, said the bankruptcy declaration "is just one more chapter in the book that He is continuing to write -- and we know that God's plans are good -- we have no doubt His chapter will be good!"

Article “[7] Rev. Robert A. Schuller Removed as Senior Pastor of Crystal Cathedral by Rev. Robert H. Schuller” in the 29 October 2008 issue of Presbyterians Week cited a Crystal Cathedral church member who said that she preferred the younger Schuller’s Scripture-laden sermons, and quoted the senior Schuller’s 27 October 2010 sermon given two days after removing the Rev. Robert A. Schuller from the pulpit:

“I was called to start a mission, not a church…You don’t try to preach…what is sin and what isn’t sin. A mission is a place where you ask nonbelievers to come and find faith and hope and feel love.”


+ Assist USA , Post Office Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, 949-380-1558, danjuma1@aol.com

+ Los Angeles Times, 202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California 90012, 213-237-5000, Fax: 213-237-7679, Contact Page

+ Reformed Church in America, 4500 60th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, 800-968-6065, questions@rca.org