P&R News ² March 1999 Recording the Presbyterian & Story of the Presbyterian Reformed News Church in America $2.75 per issue/$15.00 per year Volume 6 Number 4 Published by Presbyterian International News Service, Inc., Lawrenceville, Georgia July - August 2000 MORTON H. SMITH ELECTED MODERATOR OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY Tampa, Florida (June 20, 2000)At the opening session deserves to be Moderator. However, of our first of the 28th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in generation, theres only one man whom weve not honored America (PCA), the Rev. Dr. Morton H. Smith was elected as Moderator. Its time to give this man an honor that he as Moderator. He was elected over the Rev. Dr. Joseph would never seek. Skip Ryan, 502-391. With a bit of irony, Dr. Smith, after his election, stated The 76 year old veteran churchman, who was the that although it was an honor to be Moderator, its [really] denominations first stated clerk, accepted the post with a hard unpaid job. The Moderator works harder than just sobering words for the commissioners. As he assumed the about anybody. podium and the gavel, Dr. Smith declared: We are a church One of his early duties was the selection of Assistant in trouble. He stated that, as far as he was aware, he was Parliamentarians. Dr. Smith stated that he was looking to the first TRthat is, truly Reformedin the history of others than those who have in the past been perennially the denomination to be elected Moderator. selected, since both of those men are on the Standing The Moderator went on to say that the PCA was in Judicial Commission. He was desirous of selecting men more serious jeopardy, because of the possibility of who were not involved intimately in judicial matters, or ecclesiastical division. Dr. Smith emphatically stated: I do members of the Committee on Constitutional Business, or not want to preside over an Assembly that splits. He involved in the matter of dividing Westminster Presbytery, mentioned that one presbytery is going to consider at its since those were all potentially controversial matters. The summer meeting its relationship with the Assembly; and Morton H. Smith at the podium new Moderator announced his choice of Sam Duncan, added that a few individuals will consider their continued Esq., a ruling elder from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who was relationship with the PCA depending on what decisions are Moderator of the 25th Assembly; and the Rev. David Coffin made at this Assembly. Presbytery for the tenor of the communion service, and thanks from Fairfax, Virginia. Mr. Coffin declined by stating, much He referred to the Apostle Pauls instructions to Timothy to the Rev. Joseph Novenson, who brought the sermon. to the bemusement of the court, I appreciate the honor, but regarding qualifications for elders and deacons. He was The Moderator encouraged the commissioners to re-read Im a player rather than a referee. The selection of a second the Scripture text before the reconvening of the Assembly in the morning. The resident of Brevard, North Carolina, also stated that for three months in his family worship, he had been praying for revival in the church. He expressed the desire that all of the many issues which would be confronted by the court would be decided by an appeal to the Bible. Dr. Smiths candid comments were received warmly and with applause from the commissioners, along with numerous audible Amens! Nominating Morton Smith was the Rev. Dr. Joseph Pipa, President of Greenville (S. C.) Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where the new Moderator is one of the founding faculty members and the Dean of Faculty. In making his nomination, President Pipa stated that Morton Smith, in his service as Stated Clerk, bent over Retiring moderator Tom Leopard (left) backwards to be fair. He urged that Dr. Smith The new moderator is escorted to the podium by Joseph Pipa. congratulates Morton Smith on his election. would preside over the sessions with his writing about behavior in the church visible. We need to characteristic humility. parliamentarian was accordingly postponed until the hold the behavior of the church visible in a much higher Referring to the first man nominated this morning. [The Reverend Frank Moser, Philadelphia regard than we do. evening, Dr. Pipa said that Skip Ryan surely Presbytery Stated Clerk, was appointed as the other Dr. Smith expressed thanks to Southwest Florida parliamentarian.Ed.] Inside This Issue Decisive Reversal on Full General Assembly Coverage, pages 1-13 John Wood Matter, page 3 Editorials and Letters, pages 14-15 Sudanese Rally in Atlanta, page 17 GA Stands vs. Is Westminster Presbytery Women Preaching, page 4 Still Divided?, page 18 Diversity Accepted Tom Henry Wins Unanimous Approval, page 18 Re Days of Creation, page 5 Obituary: James Montgomery Boice, page 19 GA Declines to Divide News From the Presbyteries, pages 19-22 Westminster Presbytery, page 7 Sponsors, pages 22-23 Commissioners use their yellow cards to vote. 2 P&R News ² July - August 2000 PCA Attracts Media Attention More so than in recent years, the General apologist and historian stated that his Session in Knoxville. Since then, charges have been must ask three questions: What does it say, Assembly meeting of the Presbyterian has become convinced that the denomination made and dismissed and made again over the what does it mean and what is God telling us Church in America (PCA) attracted a is unreformable. There seems to be no matter. They are likely to be debated at this to do? significant amount of media attention. Much concern to interact on the biblical issues by weeks General Assembly. We must understand, first of all, that of it focused on the controversial practice of those who oppose the more traditional, every book of the Bible was written in a women preaching in a prominent PCA pulpit. reformed positions. We have been working unique cultural setting at a specific time, The medias interest comes with the to bring about reform for 23 years and things a specific place in the language and background of the Southern Baptist have only gotten worse. Presenting a thought form of that time and place, and Convention having re-affirmed the week prior contrasting view in the same issue was the it was written to address specific issues to the PCA Assembly that women should not Rev. Kennedy Smartt, Moderator of the 26th in that culture, Wood said. be pastors. The big question for the secular General Assembly in 1998. In response to the Sundays Scriptural lesson citing media was whether the largest evangelical question, Do you see a split coming?, Dr. the Apostle Pauls writings on church Presbyterian denomination in the country Smartt said: We may well lose congregations roles was part of a larger review given pastored by men with theonomic views. throughout the summer, but its timing Maybe 25 to 30 churches. You have to was not lost on members. believe exactly as they do or you are Referred to in the article are Dr. Roy wrong. Taylor, Stated Clerk of the PCA, and Dr. The May 8, 2000, issue of Christian Dominic Aquila, Editor of the Renewal continued the same theme by denominational PCANEWS.COM. Miss means of Dr. Elliotts interview with the Hunter wrote: if only the theologically Rev. Frank Barker, the founder and until trained can preach, is it considered recently the Senior Pastor of Briarwood preaching if an unordained man or Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, woman stands before a church body and Alabama. Dr. Barker admitted that when speaks? Dr. Taylor was quoted as he and others formed the PCA, we were saying that the crux of the issue is so opposed to liberalism, that we did what is a definition of preaching? He not see the differences among added: Historically, in the church ourselves. Yes. The tensions have preaching has been defined as the grown. I agree that a minority wants exposition and the application of the word the denomination to be narrowly of God by a minister called of God and Reformed. Theythe Reformed ordained by the church. factionlook for issues to push their Dr. Aquila, who also is an officer of view of strict subscription. How will the Standing Judicial Commission (SJC) these tensions be resolved?, Dr. Elliott The Tampa Convention Center which ruled the John Wood matter out queried. I dont know. Maybe they housed the Assembly. of order, commented that some believe wont be resolved, Dr. Barker that the action taken by Tennessee Valley responded. Does that mean a split is I dont know what the General Presbytery in the Wood matter was not the inevitable? That may be. But I dont Assembly is going to do, and it remains to be kind of action that needs to be done. The know if it is inevitable. seen what PCA is going to do, he said. My article says: Plus, our internal position of John Van Dyk, Editor of Christian argument is that it is not for the denomination women and preaching, at times volatile and Renewal, was at the press table for most to say. Its for the local church to say. sensitive, is part of the reason that this was of this years Assembly. Salem Radio Network, with 780 stations driven also, Aquila said. Michelle Bearden, Religion Reporter in every state and Puerto Rico, highlighted The article concluded with more quotes for the Tampa Tribune, wrote an article the womens controversy during the week of by Dr. Aquila. The argument of Cedar for the local daily which focused on the General Assembly. Another network which Springs board of elders was that she wasnt The Marriott Hotel under stormy skies conservative nature of the is carried by mostly Christian stations, USA preaching, Aquila said.