A letter to Jack Haberer the Editor of the Presbyterian Outlook

Dear Jack,

I have considered you a friend although we have perhaps too often sparred over issues in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). But now as I read your latest editorial, “… with those who weep,” I am reminded of a certain Anglican bishop, Thomas Cranmer; he was a man of God who brought a great deal of theological and reformation good to the Christian church during the English reformation. The Book of Common Prayer is but one of his many contributions. But he used his once steady and faithful pen to recant the important tenets of the reformation.

Under the assault of bloody Mary he at first denied his beliefs, but at his execution he repented and put that unfaithful hand, which held his mighty pen, into the flames, before it consumed his body.

You may disagree with brothers and sisters who look upon the affirmation of same gender marriage by the denomination as rejection of the authority of Scripture and denunciation of Christ’s Lordship, but you surely do not want to belittle their faith, struggle and work. But you have.

None of us in the renewal movement know where you got your small number six, when you wrote, “This year, the sum total of volunteers serving on the Renewal Network Team — representing Presbyterians for Renewal, The Fellowship of Presbyterians, Presbyterian Coalition, Presbyterian Elders in Prayer, Presbyterian Renewal Ministries International and other groups — was six.”  By the way, I was with the Presbyterian Coalition this year. Did you know that? Did you ask about numbers or workers. Dr. Martha Leatherman of Presbyterians Pro Life stated that they had 20 volunteers. And Marie Bowen, head of PPL backed her up with the words:

 And those 20 Presbyterians Pro-Life volunteers, most who came at their own expense to GA:

produced and handed out 5 issues of Daily Delivery,
gave a dozen testimonies in three different committees of the Assembly, staffed a booth in the exhibit hall and made 10 presentations there, provided a welcome reception and a hospitality suite for commissioners, met with commissioners every night to support and pray and assist them and held a service of witness to the resurrection remembering children who have died including the least ones--the unborn--the very little lives the GA refused to even reflect upon or pray for!

But that isn’t the biggest problem with your posting. You avoided lifting up those orthodox commissioners who struggled every day and into the night to stand up for the truth of the gospel. You didn’t know about the commissioner who wasn’t allowed to speak in committee after he stood up for the unborn. You didn’t know about the commissioner in another committee who said he felt like a puppet only being allowed to hear one side of a difficult and complex subject. As an evangelical whose pen has been and should be mighty you failed to cover the struggles of weeping brothers and sisters.

But there is something more. You wrote:

... let us acknowledge that the impetus behind most policy changes enacted at this GA — neighbor love and justice for all — is profoundly biblical. While one can contend that a specific action may have been misguided, the overall tenor was, “Do unto others what you would have done to you.” Instead of rejecting such actions — especially those dismissed as “party politics” — on closer study we may discover that they reflect a genuine effort to express the heart of Jesus.

Your words totally ignore two big problems. It was not neighbor love and justice that guided those who misused an authoritative interpretation to prevent presbyteries from voting on the most critical issue facing the PC (U.S.A.) at this time. Even some progressives, some with honesty and intelligence, have been deeply bothered by this action. This was not God’s will, but humanity’s conniving.  And you are implying that we should not reject the actions taken by this assembly although they were illegitimate and unbiblical.

Finally, your ending, where you use the biblical story of the Israelites in exile in Babylon, although not a bad example, combined with a religious cliché, “a remnant of the people found not just the serenity to accept what they could not change and the courage to change what they could but also the wisdom to know the difference,” seems trite.  

The Babylon Empire was not a part of the Jewish scripture text; nor were the Babylonians fellow believers. Believers were to live in the midst of a pagan society and pray for their well-being that they might themselves live in peace and flourish. And yes, we are to do the same.

But when the church is invaded by those who call sin a gift, Christians have a duty-to be prophetic and wise like serpents. While called to do no harm, (as doves) they are nonetheless called to stand against that which is damaging to the church and the believer. And here I am speaking of the church universal not the denomination.

I return to Cranmer. He is remembered for his writings, but he is also remembered because he denied his own beliefs in a compromise and then truly repented. Jack at least acknowledge that there is more to the story then you have written. Your orthodox brothers and sisters have labored long and hard in God’s vineyard. Beyond that I pray you acknowledge that denying the word of God about marriage is more than a trivial issue.