Many PresbyPolity types are anticipating the first test case regarding ordination standards to arise under the new Authoritative Interpretation and the GA-approved report of the PUP Task Force. You may want to watch the doings in Mission Presbytery, where Classical Presbyterian reports that there is a controversy over the admission to candidacy for ordination of a woman living openly in a lesbian relationship in violation of 6.0106b. This was challenged and the case will now been set for a hearing on September 9 by the Synod of the Sun's PJC. CP says that this is not the test case that has been anticipated since the GA because the case involved admission to candidacy and not ordination itself and the challenge to it came before the adoption of the PUP report and so the presbytery is not declaring a "scruple" with respect to 6.0106b. Still, the outcome of this case could be prophetic.
In the What Are They Thinking Department, see Christianity Today's book review of a new publication from the Westminster John Knox press entitled: The Christian Faith and The Truth Behind 9/11 by David Ray Griffin which advocates the view that the Bush administration engaged in a conspiracy to orchestrate the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US in order to provide cover for their plan to invade Iraq. Really. I am not making this up.
One of the readers of this blog, and an elder in my church, sent me this link. If the book review accurately depicts the contents of this book then what in the world is WJK press doing publishing a political polemic? I would say the same thing if the book was a right-wing Zionist tirade. Both Will Spotts and Classical Presbyterian have already commented extensively on this--and Presbyweb (a subscription site--but you can register for one month for free to try it out!) linked to it today as well. I can't add much to their observations.
And they wonder in Louisville why sales of PCUSA curriculum is down? This controversy sure won't help the credibility of the denominational publishers.
One of the readers of this blog, and an elder in my church, sent me this link. If the book review accurately depicts the contents of this book then what in the world is WJK press doing publishing a political polemic? I would say the same thing if the book was a right-wing Zionist tirade. Both Will Spotts and Classical Presbyterian have already commented extensively on this--and Presbyweb (a subscription site--but you can register for one month for free to try it out!) linked to it today as well. I can't add much to their observations.
And they wonder in Louisville why sales of PCUSA curriculum is down? This controversy sure won't help the credibility of the denominational publishers.
A few more details from Mission Presbytery:
ReplyDeleteThe orthodox Presbyterians in Mission Presbytery were wondering how someone who was openly in violation of our standards for ordination could then take the oath of candidacy, where she swore that she would abide by our constitution? Also, we wonder why someone who cannot be ordained--by their own self-admitted conduct--could be put forward as a Candidate for ordained ministry? It did not seem fair to the person in question or the presbytery. We are also very upset with our COPM for making her go through with a process that she was ineligible to complete.
File that in the "What Were They Thinking?" folder!
Wow. John Knox would be rolling in his grave, huh?
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