Ministers Defend Biblical Orthodoxy against PC(USA) Actions

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080919/ministers-defend-biblical-orthodoxy-against-pc-usa-actions.htm

[The Christian Post] 19 Sep 2008--Two ministers have drafted an open theological declaration to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with the intention of confronting the denomination for its "deviation from orthodox Christian faith."

The Rev. Albert Rhodes Stuart of Highland Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock, Pa., and Patrick McElroy of Park United Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pa., are taking action to discern what they believe to be "multiple errors" coming from the denomination's 218th General Assembly, a biennial meeting that took place in June.

"These errors must be labeled and opposed lest we be guilty of failing to raise alarm or of leading 'the least of His little ones astray,'" the declaration reads. "We cry out with fervent voices that the flock is under attack and we, individually and collectively, must return to the shepherd immediately."

After consultation with several other leaders within the Beaver-Butler Presbytery, the two ministers recently released the final copy of the declaration, laying out errors from the General Assembly that they want the presbytery to recognize. They did it out of love, they say, and not out of anger or malice.

One of the errors they claim the General Assembly – the highest governing body in the PC(USA) – committed was to approve a $2 million legal defense fund for the denomination to be used for property cases in civil courts.

The Assembly also erred when it failed to allow debate on an authoritative interpretation concerning the denomination's ordination standards, the declaration states.