When 50 members of the feuding Londonderry (New Hampshire) Presbyterian Church turned up looking for their Sunday service last weekend, they instead found all the locks had been changed, said Dr. John Mokkosian, a pastor who held service under a tree on the front lawn for the "continuing congregation," the group that wants to stay affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Last month, citing "theological, doctrinal and organizational difference," a group of about 200 members voted to separate from the Presbyterian Church USA, opting instead to associate with the New Wineskins, a more conservative interpretation of the same denomination. They were the ones who changed the locks, according an attorney representing New Wineskins.

For the full article in the Manchester Union Leader, along with a few comments from readers >>

Thanks to Suzanne Sandblom, of Manchester, New Hampshire, for calling our attention to this. In her note she wrote:

I can't really understand what it is all about but many of the Londonderry (NH) Presbyterians were locked out of their church this weekend by the New Wineskins – people that have been going for 30-40 years – this is not Christian and they want to take over- how awful is that!

The other side ...

The Presbyterian Layman has reported on the efforts of the group seeking separation to bring suit against the Presbytery of Northern New England, to gain possession of the church property. Their report states that the congregational meeting, held on September 30, voted by 208 to 86 (out of a total membership of 446) for immediate disaffiliation from the PC(USA), and to join the New Wineskins Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

TURNING OVER IN THEIR GRAVES

A quick look at our Presbyterian "culture wars"    [6-23-07]

The Rev. John Shuck, whose always-interesting blog we’ve mentioned before, has just written a super-condensed survey of the state of the Presbyterian Church (USA), putting our current struggles in clear perspective.

John is pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, TN.

Here is a little introduction to church politics in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The so-called "Culture Wars" blaze through various church denominations. I thought I would take this time to introduce you to one of the movements in the Presbyterian Church. It has its cousins in other denominations such as the Methodist and Episcopal churches. On one hand, it is about internal denominational politics. But on the other hand, it is a larger part of a move toward theocracy in the United States.

In 2001, the PCUSA General Assembly sent to its presbyteries (173 or so regional governing bodies) an overture that would not allow clergy to perform holy union services for same-sex couples. It did not pass. A year previous, a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Dirk Ficca, presented a speech at a Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference entitled, Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a Diverse World.

In response to that, the Confessing Church Movement was formed. About 1,000 or so congregations of the 11,000 or so PCUSA congregations signed on to this movement. The Confessing Church Movement (CCM) declared that the denomination was apostate and needed to reform to "biblical" principles. Here they are in a nutshell:

1. That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation.
2. That holy Scripture is the Triune God's revealed Word, the Church's only infallible rule of faith and life.
3. That God's people are called to holiness in all aspects of life. This includes honoring the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, the only relationship within which sexual activity is appropriate.

Let's look at them one by one:

1. That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation.

(Meaning: All other religions are false. All followers of other faiths and all Christians who are open to other faiths as legitimate means to the Sacred are headed for Hell).

2. That holy Scripture is the Triune God's revealed Word, the Church's only infallible rule of faith and life.

(Meaning: All texts in the 66 books in the Protestant canon are the "Word of God" and all on a par with one another. Forget historical criticism of texts. Regardless of what the texts say, they are infallible. This means of course that the most horrific texts are often used as standards for all others).

3. That God's people are called to holiness in all aspects of life. This includes honoring the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, the only relationship within which sexual activity is appropriate.

(Meaning: No homos in the pulpit. All sexual activity in heterosexual marriage=good. All sexual expression outside of heterosexual marriage=bad, regardless of the quality of the relationships).

There you have it. Three dogmas:

1) Our religion is right and the only.

2) The Bible is the infallible Word of God (which to them gives divine and absolute authority for positions #1 and #3).

LOUISVILLE – June 14, 2007 – In an effort to address material from the New Wineskins Association of Churches (NWAC) that "mischaracterizes" the convictions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), top officials with the denomination have sent a letter and resource material out to middle governing body leadership.

General Assembly Council Executive Director Linda Valentine and stated clerk the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick jointly penned a letter to executive presbyters and stated clerks, available at www.pcusa.org/mgbconnect, in an effort to deal with information presented by NWAC in its document, "A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven: Report of the Strategy Team of the New Wineskins Association of Churches."

The New Wineskins’ document, posted on the association’s Web site, raises questions about the faith and mission of the PC(USA). NWAC is a conservative movement in the PC(USA) that seeks partnerships with Presbyterian churches that hold similar views of biblical standards.

Accompanying the letter from Valentine and Kirkpatrick also is the document "The Church’s One Foundation is Jesus Christ Her Lord," developed by the PC(USA)’s Office of Theology and Worship.

The full text of the letter, dated June 12, 2007:

Dear Executive Presbyters and Stated Clerks:

We are grateful for the leadership you provide to your governing body and to the whole church. We are also grateful for the ways we in the General Assembly Council and the Office of the General Assembly are able to work with you in the ministry and mission of the church. One way we can be of service to you is by providing resources that may be helpful, especially as you deal with congregations in conflict.

The New Wineskins Association of Churches has circulated material that mischaracterizes central convictions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s faith and life. This material appears on the NWAC web site, as well as in direct communication with some congregations. A number of presbytery executives and stated clerks have asked us to outline the church’s position on these matters.

We attach a document, "The Church’s One Foundation is Jesus Christ Her Lord," prepared by the Office of Theology and Worship, that sets forth the church’s convictions. This document, which will also be posted on the PCUSA web site, beginning with www.pcusa.org/mgbconnect, is in two parts: a one-page summary and an expanded commentary.

We recognize that most of our congregations are not focused on New Wineskins or the statements being made about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We are simply making this resource available for those who seek to interpret accurately the positions of our church. Please feel free to distribute it as you deem helpful.

We encourage your comments, feedback, and questions – especially your thoughts about how we can be helpful to you and the whole church as we seek to reach out to those who believe that the church is moving in troubling directions. Please send your comments to taw@ctr.pcusa.org.

We are grateful for so many Presbyterian leaders who are working hard and faithfully in this time of confusion and conflict. You are in our prayers.

In Christ,

Linda Valentine, Executive Director, General Assembly Council

Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk

Two or three notes from your WebWeaver:

The New Wineskins document to which this letter refers can be found on the New Wineskins website >>

You might want to look at some of our own earlier reports and comments on the New Wineskins Association >>

January 29, 2007

Dear Pastors,

Those of us at the General Assembly have been thinking of and praying for you regularly, always grateful to God for your faithful ministry.

Included in this envelope is a letter we are asking you to read to your congregation. The letter informs them of the possible intention of a few of our churches in Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to leave the denomination. While we do not believe this will be especially large in number, it saddens us, nonetheless, and we want to respond accordingly.

We especially want you as a church leader to be informed in advance of this, so as to be able to respond to questions.

It is our firm belief that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is better when we faithfully commit ourselves to be in mission together. We hope that you, too, share that vision and will communicate that to your congregation. Most of all, we want to encourage you as a leader to stand strong in encouraging the people in your ministry not only to stay with us, but to bring and welcome others to be a part of the ministry that God has entrusted to us.

Finally, know that we appreciate all you are doing and we thank God for the ways in which your vital work is helping the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) carry out the mission and work of Jesus Christ. We invite you to be in touch with us if you have questions, suggestions, or concerns about this or any topic at any time. Our email address is together@ctr.pcusa.org.

". . . be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work is not in vain." (1 Cor. 15:58)

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifton Kirkpatrick                                            Linda Bryant Valentine

Stated Clerk of the General Assembly               Executive Director, General Assembly Council

January 29, 2007

Dear Presbyterian sisters and brothers in Christ,

We are writing to you in advance of news you may read in the coming days. We have heard that a few Presbyterian congregations may soon announce their intention to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

We are deeply saddened by this news for several reasons. First, any church’s departure is difficult and painful for the congregations involved and the wider church. Fractures within the body of Christ diminish our witness of God’s grace and mercy to the world—unfortunate in these already divisive times. And, the PC(USA) will miss the gifts and perspectives of these brothers and sisters in Christ.

Among the reasons of those wishing to leave are perceptions of particular actions of the 217th General Assembly last summer. These perceptions include concerns that our ordination standards have changed and that the PC(USA) no longer believes in the Trinity. Neither of these is true.

It is our deep conviction that we are better together than we are apart:

· We are better followers of Jesus when we stick together, mutually encouraging one another in the work of discipleship.

Our confidence in the strength of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its people is unwavering. More than 11,000 PC(USA) congregations are, day in and day out, engaged in remarkable ministries that include proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, breaking the bread and sharing the cup, challenging injustice, and exhibiting the kingdom of God to the world. As the apostle Paul wrote, "I am confident … that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).

In over three hundred years of American Presbyterian history, we have never agreed 100 percent on any issue of the day. But, in the end, we are better together in Christ’s unity.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.