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| Moderator backs away from criticism of
Confessing Church Movement supporters
Rogers says some backers are affirming confessions
and promoting unity
by Jerry Van Marter, PNS
LOUISVILLE -- June 13, 2001 -- General Assembly
Moderator Jack Rogers backed away somewhat from his harsh criticism
of the Confessing Church Movement today, telling some 325 people at
the Presbyterians for Renewal (PFR) breakfast that conversations with
supporters of the movement have convinced him that he had misunderstood
some of them.
"I spent all day (Tuesday) with conservative
evangelical leaders in the church," Rogers told the Presbyterian
News Service (PNS), "and I heard a lot of hard stuff. We prayed
together and they assured me they are willing to work with me."
The Confessing Church Movement, which has enlisted
more than 300 churches, promotes three "affirmations": Jesus
Christ as the sole means of salvation, the infallibility of the Bible,
and marriage as the only appropriate context for sexual relations. Its
primary promoter is The Presbyterian Layman.
In his remarks at the breakfast, Rogers termed his
statement "a clarification, a correction and an apology." He
told PNS he felt he owed PFR "a public apology to those I've hurt
inadvertently. If the purpose of supporters of the Confessing Church
Movement is to affirm the confessions of the church and to promote the
unity of the church, then I'm all for them." He said he believes
PFR's intent is "not to substitute a narrow confession for the
church's rich confessional documents, but rather to connect themselves
with that very heritage." Rogers told the PFR breakfast gathering
"it was not my intention to criticize people wanting to help the
church move forward."
Rogers told PNS, however, that "some behind the
Confessing Church Movement are sowing discord and disunity." He
declined to name those whom he believes are doing that.
Rogers also said that he intended to use the creeds
and confessions of the church "liturgically in worship at this
Assembly." He made good on that promise, leading the first plenary
session in a recitation of the Apostles' Creed. "I want to engage
the Assembly in utilizing the confessions as an act of affirmation and
worship," he told PNS.
As he called the Assembly to the Apostles' Creed
recital, Rogers told commissioners he wanted to be known as "the
confessing moderator."
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PVJ's
Facebook page
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You can post your own news and views,
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
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and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
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John Harris’ Summit to
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
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