PC(USA) “has not turned its back on … Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior."

January 12, 2012

Presbyterian News Service

Jerry L. Van Marter

and Leslie Scanlon, Presbyterian Outlook
LOUISVILLE

One week before a group of dissident churches meets to create a new denomination, eight Presbyterians, including Ruling Elder Cynthia Bolbach and Teaching Elder Landon Whitsitt, the moderator and vice-moderator of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), have issued a letter and video expressing their hope in the future of the denomination.
 
The Fellowship of Presbyterians is to convene a “Covenanting Conference” in Orlando Jan. 18. The group has announced its intention to create “a new Reformed body” – essentially, a new denomination – to which some congregations currently in the PC(USA) plan to move.
 
The writers ― five teaching elders and three ruling elders ― met in Chicago Jan. 2-3. In the letter posted on a new blog, acknowledge that the PC(USA) is “feeling the birthpangs of a new church as it is being reformed by the Holy Spirit.”
 
But they contend that the PC(USA) “has not turned its back on proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior."
 
They also encourage those whose congregations are considering pulling back from the PC(USA) to “insist that your leaders re-expose you to the voices of fellow Presbyterians who are resolute in their intentions to stay.”
 
The full text of the letter and a link to the video.