Francis Beckwith might have swum the Tiber, but I just crossed the Mississippi! Today I began the ordination process with the Philadelphia Presbytery...
... of the PC(USA). I think that makes me an "Inquirer," step one of about 564,324,107.
Friday, May 04, 2007
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7 comments:
Good luck! I have a friend who's going through the same process with the PCA church and...lets just say I'm impressed.
I hope the presbytery there is Christian. So many are simply pagan.
May the Lord allow you not to have to compromise your faith. When I lived in Philly I recall a number of evangelical PCUSA churches there.
Anon,
I think I was in much greater danger of compromising my faith when I was a candidate in the PCA. But that would be a long story, I suppose.
Suffice to say that compromise goes both ways, as I saw clearly from my front row vantage point in 10 years as a candidate in the PCA. (Yes, guys will lie about their positions so that they don't get crap during their Presbytery exams; and yes, there is a lot of encouragement from more pragmatic-minded people to pursue this sort of tactic.)
Daniel,
As time goes on you and I have less and less in common theologically, but I do want you to know that I sincerely applaud your integrity in making the move to the PCUSA as well as your comments about the "don't ask, don't tell" methodology of taking PCA Presbytery exams.
If more men would simply move to denominations that do not constrain their ability to do speculative theology to their hearts content, then many of the quarrels currently going on would disappear very quickly. After all, very few PCA men seek to be involved in the doctrinal controversies of non-NAPARC churches or comment at length on the theologizing of the PCUSA, UMC, TEC, RCC, etc. When a controversial book is published by P&R a brouhaha is inevitable, but when WJK brings one out, few in the NAPARC churches are even aware.
I would sincerely hope that if my personal theology begins to diverge from that of the standards that I would have the personal integrity to do what you have done.
- Andy Webb
Andy,
The standards are not the Bible and "specualtive theology" only indicates you personal bias. In otherwords, you indicate by making such a statement that your theology and that held by those who hold to Westminster only think they have it "right" and therefore everyne else is simply specualting. Well, frankly, I think if you TR types are the only right ones hell is going to be filled with lots and lots of people and heaven will be a very lonely place.
The Standards may not be the Bible, but they are part of the Constitution of the PCA. As such they are our authoritative interpretation of the Bible, an interpretation to which men may freely subscribe if they are able.
Theology that diverges from the Standards may or may not be right, but to the degree that it diverges it ceases to be constitutional.
The proper process for a denomination, with a constitution that includes doctrinal standards, is to go through the church courts and persuade your brothers that the Standards need to be amended. If you could persuade the church, then the amendment would be made. If not, leave those with whom you disagree alone and go find a group that is willing to let you have your beliefs.
It is churlish, to say the least, to accuse men who believe that the constitution of the PCA is binding on those who voluntarily subscribe to it, of thinking they alone will be in Heaven.
The PCA is not the only or exclusively 'True' Church of Christ on the earth. It is a denomination, that is, it is a voluntary gathering of like-minded ministers, elders, deacons and other members, who have come together to uphold those things in which they believe.
Why do men, who no longer believe those things, feel compelled to remain and subvert the denomination's constitution and the will of the majority who are not persuaded to change it?
Why not go and align yourself voluntarily with people with whom you do agree? Isn't that the honest thing to do?
Sincerely,
Jim O'Brien
Pastor
Reedy River Presbyterian Church
Conestee, SC
Of course, Jim, elements of your argument could be turned back on you: if that's how you understand "subscription," then perhaps you should leave the PCA and join a denomination that agrees with you? The PCA has always allowed Presbyteries to hear, receive, and accept exceptions to the doctrinal standards--and has even, historically, allowed men to teach their exceptions unless otherwise stipulated.
The "change the constitution or leave the church" idea is not that of the denomination in which you serve. So should you leave because of your disagreement about how to be constitutional? The argument is equally strong, if not stronger.
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