On January 31, validation of the ministry of the Rev. Parker Williamson was revoked by his own presbytery, the Presbytery of Western North Carolina.

The situation, as we know, has been building for several months. The story about the recommendation of the presbytery's Committee on Ministry has been told by the Outlook, the Presbyterian News Service, PresbyWeb, and the Lay Committee's own web site. Witherspoon and other organizations that have been the target of Mr. Williamson's attacks in the Layman have not made any comments on the COM's recommendations, knowing that we would be depicted as part of a witch hunt by progressives in the church. In fact, a Baltimore group related to That All May Freely Serve took a public position in favor of continuing Mr. Williamson's validated ministry.

This has not been an organized attack directed by outside interests. It is an action by his own presbytery. We would note that we have often taken the position, in relation to questions about GLBT ordination and making judgments about the "essentials of the Reformed faith," that the members of the presbytery, those who actually know the person, are in the best position to decide about ordination, installation, and status in the presbytery.

As Marcia Casais pointed out some weeks ago, a revocation of Mr. Williamson's validated ministry "would not be the end of the world." He has not been removed from the ministry. On the contrary, he maintains his voting membership in his presbytery.

The question was whether his activities as CEO of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor in chief of its publications should be acknowledged as a validated ministry. Many people in the PC(USA) have been concerned about the half-truths and personal attacks that have become the trademark of the Presbyterian Layman. They have been even more dismayed at his characterization of a recent General Assembly as "an apostate Assembly" and his open advocacy of boycotting the budget of the General Assembly and withholding per capita assessments. He has asserted that other Presbyterians teach a "false gospel," claiming (like J. Gresham Machen) that we are "two faiths within one denomination."

Mr. Williamson's supporters have depicted him as a persecuted prophet. There are many in the church, however, who have characterized his strategy as one of "saving the church by destroying it." John Sniffen, in a recent editorial in the Presbyterian Outlook, suggested that Mr. Williamson has been carrying on a "ministry of fear."

The Book of Order holds each presbytery responsible for the actions of its members. It states the criteria by which ministries are to be validated (G-11.0402, G-11.0410, G-1.0411). And it declares that "the ministry shall be carried on in accountability for its character and conduct to the presbytery and to organizations, agencies, and institutions" (G-1.0403d).

Occasionally we have heard suggestions that Mr. Williamson's presbytery be called upon publicly to examine his activities in the light of these provisions. No call of that sort has been issued. Instead, the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, on its own initiative, has carried out its responsibilities under these provisions of the Book of Order. And it is an action, we should note, that was taken by a conservative presbytery, one that voted in favor of Amendment B (G-6.0106b) by a two-to-one majority.
 

by Doug King, Witherspoon editor and WebWeaver
[1-31-04, with minor corrections and additions on 2-1-04]

Early reports from today's l-o-n-g meeting of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina tell us that the recommendation of the presbytery's Committee on Ministry was basically accepted, with one important amendment. The committee had recommended that the ministry of the Rev. Parker Williamson as chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor in chief of its publications no longer be considered a validated ministry, and that he therefore be placed on suspended status as a member of the presbytery. After an hour or more of procedural skirmishes, followed by lunch, the Committee on Ministry presented its motion.

An amendment was then offered by the Rev. Pete Peery, pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Asheville. It would have affirmed the COM recommendation that Williamson's ministry not be validated, while softening the action by continuing him on the roll of presbytery as a member at large. Williamson and his defenders argued against the amendment, apparently wanting a clear action by the presbytery to reject him and his ministry. According to the Layman Online, Mr. Williamson himself denounced the amendment as an "oily compromise."

The presbytery approved the amendment, which was seen by some as separating the ministry of the Presbyterian Lay Committee from consideration of Mr. Williamson personally, and focusing on the ministry of the Presbyterian Lay Committee as being considered invalid.

With the amendment on the floor, the Committee on Ministry then gave a twenty-minute presentation of the reasons for its recommendation; the Lay Committee was then given twenty minutes to make its case against the recommended action, with two of the Lay Committee's leading attorneys arguing that the issue should be dealt with in the church's judicial system, and not by the Presbytery.

Some members of the Committee on Ministry spoke as evangelicals who share many of the views of the Lay Committee, but who said they cannot accept the ways that group is pursuing them. One speaker said that if someone wants to work for change within the Presbyterian Church, they must work within the rules of the system; if they choose to work outside those rules, they are apparently choosing to work outside the church itself.

One speaker noted that the Lay Committee had declared that the 2001 General Assembly was "apostate," and more recently has charged through its "Declaration Conscience" that no part of the denomination's budget is worthy of support. He then asked why, if this group thinks the denomination is so completely on the wrong track, they still want to be a part of it.

One participant observed that the COM succeeded in focusing the debate on the legitimacy of the Lay Committee's work, rather than letting it shift to a debate on the personal ministry of Parker Williamson - which is the way he and his defenders have been trying to "spin" it.

Following the presentations and a long debate, the amendment was passed "pretty convincingly," thus becoming the main motion.

Williamson's supporters offered a substitute motion which would have rejected the COM recommendation completely. That motion failed.

After further debate, a secret ballot was taken. The result was 150 votes for the COM motion as amended, to 106 against.

After the result was announced, Mr. Williamson went to the podium and proclaimed his intention to file a complaint about "irregularities" in the process. Saying that one third of those present must support his complaint, he invited his supporters forward. About a third of the group went forward. As one person put it, they "marched up and then left."

It was noted that the Committee on Ministry, in its presentation and in the debates, made clear that "per capita" (and Williamson's urging churches not to support it) was not the only issue. The style of his work through the Layman was clearly a part of the problem as well.

One observer expressed his sense that Mr. Williamson and the Lay Committee came to the meeting expecting to lose, and determined to make the process into a matter of martyrdom. It appeared that the general tone of the debate, and the amendment to keep Williamson on the roll of presbytery, might help to soften that appeal to sympathy for a "martyr."

Do you have thoughts or comments to share?
Just send a note!

Leslie Scanlon of Outlook has a brief report from the scene.

by John Filiatreau, Presbyterian News Service

ASHEVILLE, NC -- February 2, 2004 -- The Presbytery of Western North Carolina voted Saturday to withdraw its validation of the ministry of the Rev. Parker Williamson, CEO of the Presbyterian Lay Committee (PLC) and editor in chief of its publication, The Presbyterian Layman.

During a contentious Jan. 31 meeting, the presbyters approved a "hate the sin but love the sinner" compromise, invalidating Williamson's PLC ministry but allowing him to remain an active at-large member of the presbytery and to keep his rights of voice and vote during its meetings.

Williamson's work for the PLC had been classified as "other validated ministry." The presbytery's Committee on Ministry had recommended that he be declared an "inactive" member, which eventually could have led to the loss of his ordination.

The vote to withdraw the validation of the ministry was 150-106.

[1-26-04]

As the date approaches for the Presbytery of Western North Carolina to vote on not continuing to validate the ministry of the Rev. Parker T. Williamson with the Presbyterian Lay Committee, here are a few updates.

Click here for a little background for this situation.

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An act of charity toward a bitter critic:

TAMFS Baltimore offers support for the continued validation of the ministry of the Rev. Parker T. Williamson with the Presbyterian Lay Committee
[1-14-04, posted here 1-26-04]

Click here for the Board's letter to the Presbytery of Western North Carolina

News Release from That All May Freely Serve: Baltimore
 

Baltimore, January 14, 2004

The Board of Directors of That All May Freely Serve: Baltimore released a letter today in support of the continued validation of the ministry of the Rev. Parker T. Williamson with the Presbyterian Lay Committee. The Presbytery of Western North Carolina is scheduled to vote on not continuing the validation of Rev. Williamson's ministry at its January 31st meeting.

The Board supports the validation of the Rev. Williamson's ministry because it believes that the present disagreements in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) must be resolved in the area of ideas and not in direct conflicts and attacks on individuals.

The Board strongly believes that the PCUSA is a church in which all should be able to freely serve; and believes that that right needs to include Rev. Williamson, even though he might advocate excluding others from ministry because of their theological beliefs or sexual orientation.

That All May Freely Serve: Baltimore speaks from direct experience. The Rev. Donald E. Stroud's ministry is validated by the Presbytery of Baltimore. His validation was virtually unanimously approved, even though the position he advocates is strongly opposed by some in the Presbytery. Both those who agree and disagree with the positions Rev. Stroud advocates were able to agree that the disagreements should not fall on his back as an individual.

The Board does not presume to say that the issues between Rev. Williamson, the Presbyterian Lay Committee, and the Presbytery of Western North Carolina are not real and require addressing. However, it does suggest that there must be
a better approach that allows them to be considered and resolved without personal harm.

That All May Freely Serve: Baltimore remains committed to and works prayerfully towards a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in which all may freely serve: whether gay or straight, conservative or liberal, Donald Stroud or Parker Williamson.

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Letter to the Presbytery of Western North Carolina

The Presbytery of Western North Carolina
c/o Rev. J. William Taber III, Stated Clerk
114 Silver Creek Road
Morgantown, NC 28655

January 14, 2004

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

I write on behalf of the Board of Directors of That All May Freely Serve: Baltimore, in response to the recommendation being presented to the Presbytery of Western North Carolina at its January meeting that the validation of the ministry of the Rev. Parker T. Williamson with the Presbyterian Lay Committee not be continued. We strongly support the continued validation of Rev. Williamson''s ministry with the Presbyterian Lay Committee. We ask that this support be communicated to the Presbytery of Western North Carolina by whatever means is appropriate in your presbytery.

We support the validation of Rev. Williamson's ministry because we believe that the present disagreements in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) must be resolved in the arena of ideas and not in direct conflicts and attacks on individuals. We strongly believe that the PCUSA is a church in which all should be able to freely serve; and we believe that that right needs to include Rev. Williamson, even though he might advocate excluding others from ministry because of their theological beliefs or sexual orientation.

We speak from direct experience. The Rev. Donald E. Stroud's ministry with That All May Freely Serve: Baltimore is validated by the Presbytery of Baltimore. His validation was virtually unanimously approved, even though the position he advocates is strongly opposed by some in the Presbytery. Both those who agree and disagree with the positions Rev. Stroud advocates were able to agree that the disagreements should not fall on his back as an individual. The Presbytery of Baltimore is a diverse presbytery, with a range of views on the issue of called service by those who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgender. However different some of those views are from those of That All May Freely Serve: Baltimore, the Presbytery of Baltimore recognized that the validation of Rev. Stroud's ministry was not the mechanism by which to work out those differences.

Similarly, we do not think that the validation of Rev. Williamson's ministry with the Presbyterian Lay Committee is the appropriate vehicle for the Presbytery of Western North Carolina to work out its differences with Rev. Williamson or its differences with the Presbyterian Lay Committee.

Neither Rev. Williamson, nor Rev. Stroud, could participate in the pension or medical plan of the Board of Pensions unless their ministry is validated. There is no way that the withdrawal of Rev. Williamson's validation can be construed as other than a personal attack on him: one that can have very serious personal consequences.

We do not presume to say that the issues you seek to resolve with Rev. Williamson and the Presbyterian Lay Committee are not real and require addressing. However, we do suggest that there must be a better approach that allows them to be considered and resolved without personal harm.

We remain committed to and prayerfully work towards a Presbyterian Church

(U.S.A.) in which all may freely serve: whether gay or straight, conservative or liberal, Donald Stroud or Parker Williamson.

Sincerely,

Robert Jackson, Moderator
For the Board of Directors

cc. Rev. Parker T. Williamson

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The Layman Online reported on this statement from a group of whom Williamson has been sharply critical

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Presbyterian Outlook published a helpful survey of the unfolding situation, dated January 23, 2004, under the headline, "Williamson ready to defend his ministry before Western North Carolina Presbytery."

We hope to have a report on the presbytery action as soon as possible after it is decided.

Presbyterian News Service reports on the COM vote in the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, recommending that the Presbytery not validate the ministry of the Rev. Parker T. Williamson as chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor in chief of its publications.

This vote would not, as suggested by earlier reports in The Layman Online, strip Williamson of his ordination. It would place him on inactive status, and if his validation were not renewed in three years, would revoke his ordination.

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Task force of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina recommends that Parker Williamson, Layman editor-in-chief, be placed on inactive status   [12-5-03]

The Layman Online reports that a task force of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina has recommended that Parker T. Williamson, chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor-in-chief of its publications, be denied validation as an active member of the presbytery. If the presbytery's Committee on the Ministry and the full presbytery concur with the task force's report, Williamson would be demoted to inactive status and no longer be granted voice or vote at presbytery meetings.