A Sad Summer For Denominational Assemblies

From where I sit, it appears to be a tough summer for denominational assemblies.

That certainly was not the case for me with regard to our own General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  It was inspiring, missional and theologically solid as I have posted earlier.  You can get the detail by clicking here.

My experience there seems to stand in stark contrast with what I read elsewhere regarding other denominations – particularly the Presbyterian ones.  For those who are new to this, be aware that there are about eight separate and distinct denominations in the US that consider themselves Presbyterian – so there is no single, all-inclusive group that can be called “the Presbyterian Church” in the US.  While I am always glad to inform and comment on matters in my own denomination, I typically avoid throwing stones at other groups.  Even when I might have disagreements, I can be fine with “live and let live” for those groups that I am not connected with.  For this instance though, it seems that there is something worth noticing by looking at the big picture across several denominations.  Or just scroll down to the "So What's The Point?" section if you want to skip to my conclusions.

First, a quick overview:

Presbyterian Church (USA)

This is the largest of the Presbyterian denominations, typically referred to as “the mainline church,” and will be meeting from 6/30 to 7/7 in Pittsburg, PA this summer.  At their last meeting in 2010, they began the process that opened ordination to active, non-celibate homosexuals.  As a result, what had been significant turmoil and a bleeding of membership turned into a hemorrhage.  In the interest of disclosure, most of the churches that have left this denomination are moving – or attempting to move – to the EPC where I serve.

This summer, the PC(USA) appears to be poised to, among many things, affirm same-sex marriage and adopt a disinvestment stance with regard to Israel similar to what they did years ago with apartheid South Africa.  Israel and apartheid?  One can assume that the PC(USA) will continue it’s established history of in-fighting, decline and running hard after the left-wing political agenda of our culture.

Update - July 7 - It's only fair to add that this Assembly defeated the move of divestment from Israel as well as refused to change their statements that marriage is between "one man and one woman."  The marriage issue will be studied for another two years and reconsidered at their next General Assembly, so the issue of gay marriage will continue to be front and center for them during this time.

The Layman Online is an advocacy group focused on the PC(USA).  Click Here to follow matters on their website.

And here's another - with focus on their decision regarding marriage - from World Magazine.  Click Here to read the article.

Needless to say, I’m thankful I departed this group 25 years ago

The Presbyterian Church of America - PCA

This is the second largest Presbyterian body in the US, and one that I am generally more inclined towards theologically.  Not that they would have me though.  You'll have to scroll all the way to the bottom if you want that story!

Their assembly this summer was held from June 19-22 in Louisville, KY.  Among the things they wrangled over were:

1) The decision to begin the process of amending their Book of Order to make sure that no one in the PCA is allowed to practice communion by intinction – that is dipping the bread into the wine.  Read about it by clicking here.  

2) The conclusion of a six-year tug of war over their Northern California Presbytery minutes regarding a church that had women involved in mercy ministries.  It’s too arcane to repeat, but you can get the details by clicking here. 

Really?!?  I just got back from a week-long mission in the inner city of New Orleans and can guarantee that dipping the communion bread into the communion cup is not what is threatening the future of civilization or the church in the US.

Click Here to read an overview from the Gospel Coalition Blog. Author Jason Helopoulos is a PCA pastor who was there, so you get a more sympathetic, first-hand view.

The Southern Baptist Convention

The Southern Baptists are not by any means a Presbyterian denomination.  But at their annual meeting, held in New Orleans, LA from June 19-20 there was confusion and controversy that would rival the Presbyterians!

First – and quite seriously – three “hallelujahs” for the election of Rev. Fred Luter as their first ever African-American president.  He is a good and godly man and for this denomination that was birthed in support of slavery to elect him shows that their 1995 resolution of corporate repentance for the sin of racism through their history was authentic and sincere.

That great move was to some extent overshadowed by the controversy around “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation.  Meant to push back on the growing number of Southern Baptist pastors who are becoming Calvinist in their theology, it was signed by six former presidents of the SBC and two presidents of SBC seminaries.  It also contained a statement on human will and salvation that has been considered heretical since the fifth century!  As odd as it may seem both Calvinists and Armenians (pardon the technical references) both agree that the statement in question represents the Pelagian heresy refuted by Augustine.  Even more amazing, none of the signers have stepped back from this, even when the heresy was pointed out.

So the Southern Baptist Convention and seminary presidents agree that the traditional Southern Baptist understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation is contrary to the teaching of all other streams of Christianity across 16 centuries?!?!?

 I recommend you dig a bit deeper into this, and would refer you to three posts:

The FAQs: Southern Baptists, Calvinism, and God’s Plan of Salvation

Southern Baptists and Salvation: It’s Time To Talk

As Baptists Prepare to Meet, Calvinism Debate Shifts to Heresy Accusation

So What’s The Point?

First, I have no ax to grind with these brothers and sister, only warnings for myself.  I think that at the deepest level each of these situations are the reflection of heart issues that reside in me.  Like the PC(USA) I can be prone to reinvent God and His truth after my own desires.  It is the sin in my own heart that can lead me to be self-righteous and nit-picky.  And sometimes the pride in my own heart leads me to talk just to talk.  No pride possible in whatever observations I may make.  Only warnings about what may be lurking beneath the surface of my own life.   And a call to pray for fellow Christians.

Secondly, there is a serious need in the United States for deep, biblical spiritual formation of believers.  Not just head knowledge about Christian doctrine, but a life of faithful response and reliance on God’s grace that is biblically grounded and theologically firm.  Spiritual Formation - the shaping of all of our human faculties to know, trust and act on God’s grace – is the crying need of God’s people in this moment.

The End of the Story

Early in the 21^st century, I served for several years on the staff of a great PCA church outside of Asheville, NC and tried to transfer my ordination from EPC to PCA while on staff there.  Though they would not recognize the ordination of a guy with degrees from two evangelical seminaries, 20+ years of pastoral service and author of a John Calvin biography (that’s me!), they did agree to an interview to consider my adequacy for their ordination.  Consider until they discovered I had a Rembrandt print (it was a gift from my daughter) on the wall of my office, which they considered a violation of the second commandment.  It went downhill from there and I was relieved when they rejected me.  I couldn’t make this stuff up!