P&R News ² March 1999 Recording the Presbyterian & Story of the Presbyterian Reformed News Church in America $4.75 per issue/$15.00 per year Volume 8 Number 1 Published by Presbyterian International News Service, Inc., Coeburn, Virginia January-March 2002 PCA Pastor Featured in USA Today Scotty Smiths Ministry Highlighted as Typical for Conservative Southern Suburbia A minister of the Presbyterian Church in toward him and his ministry. Along the way, he Pastor Smith, while confirming that he was a America (PCA) was featured in the February 19, believes that they experienced what he would call conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, 2002, edition of the national newspaper, USA Today. redemptive surprises. clarified that that should not be taken to mean that The two-part article highlighted the profound The article in the national newspaper states that he is a pacifist. I have never been a pacifist, he differences between the relatively conservative Scotty Smith wore jeans, socks and sandals as he said. Nashville suburb of Franklin, Tennessee, and the tried to reinterpretand make more palatablethe When asked what reaction there had been to rather liberal city of Montclair, New Jersey, apostle Pauls instructions in Ephesians 5:22-24 that his appearance in the national newspaper, he shared particularly on the issues of God, guns, and gays. women submit to their husbands. Some of you hate that friends were shocked that my mug was that Jill Lawrence, who covered the Franklin scene, these verses, Smith conceded. He argued that the big in the paper. He also stated that liberal elements wrote about the Rev. Scotty Smith, who is senior roles they defined amounted to mutual submission. of our community were concerned with the pastor at the 5,000-member Christ Community . They are so not about power. They are so not impression left by the article that only conservatives Church. In an interview with P&R News, Scotty about who has the final vote. and evangelicals were living in our community. Smith mused on the press coverage of him and his The article continued: For a few Sundays after He added: I so respect you and your publication ministry. Sept. 11, mirroring what happened across the country, taking the time to call me and to clarify my He noted that Mrs. Lawrence and her church attendance here surged, and terrorism was comments. photographer were anticipating that we would take the only subject from the pulpit. Smith, preaching Born in Burlington, North Carolina, Scotty Smith a club in our hand and beat our Southern women, Sept. 16 for the first time in a new 80,000-square is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and that they were surprised by the approach he foot church, assured his traumatized congregation Chapel Hill. He received his M.A.R. from took. Even so, the journalist did not catch the gist of that God existed and was good. Theres only one Westminster Theological Seminary in 1977. Pastor Smiths message on Ephesians 5:22-24, which kingdom thats going to stand, he told them. Ordained in the Southern Presbyterian Church, he was that radical submission to Christ entails a Brothers and sisters, youre part of an unshakable served under Dr. Cortez Cooper at First Presbyterian mutual submission in Christ. kingdom that will last forever. Church, Nashville, Tennessee, before joining him and According to Scotty Smith, The stress of that The reporter also wrote that Pastor Smith is a several hundred people who withdrew from First sermon was, What are those responsibilities Christ self-described 60s guy and a conscientious objector Church in 1981 to form a PCA congregation, Christ has given us in a marriage, rather than being about during the Vietnam War; and that he claims that Presbyterian Church. In 1986, Pastor Smith became power. An emphasis on domineering power is youll never hear gay-bashing from [his pulpit]. organizing pastor and then senior pastor at Christ more indicative of the Fall than of the proper However, like most in Franklin, taking [his] cue from Community Church. covenantal relationship of marriage. He averred: Scripture, [he views] homosexuality as a sin. He is the author of two books, Unveiled Hope Of course I believe theres an authority structure in Accompanying the article was a picture of Mr. (an illustrated book on the Apocalypse) and marriage. Smith in the pulpit. Even though he is a PCA minister Speechless. He is a sought-after speaker, and has Although Pastor Smith is grateful for the pastoring a PCA congregation, the article nowhere been featured on the campus of Covenant coverage in USA Today, he laments that the reporter identified their denominational affiliation. Theological Seminary in St. Louis. did not cover a significant aspect of religious life in Franklin, that of on-going racial reconciliation. He referred to the late Bill Lane, a professor at Western INSIDE THIS ISSUE Kentucky University who had been the first person PCA pastor featured in USA Today 1 to ask contemporary Christian musician Michael Card to write songs. While at Western Kentucky, New political group forms in PCA 2 Dr. Lane preached at a black Baptist church. Scotty AC votes to investigate apparent violation of service mark 2 Smith explained that when Bill Lane retired to Theological debate goes high-tech 4 Franklin, Tennessee, he realized that Franklin has Complaints lodged regarding overtures 5 had a reputation of racial discrimination. As a result, Westminster Presbytery will stay 6 he started meeting with local black pastors on a Tazewell Church joins RPCUS 7 regular basis. His efforts resulted in the founding of The Empty Hands Fellowship, a weekly breakfast PCA Foundation comes under scrutiny 8 gathering of 60 or 70 whites and blacks and now Proposal calls for replacement of SJC 9 some Hispanics. Pastor Smith stated: The theme GPTS Spring Theology Conference 10 is, How is the gospel confronting our prejudice? How PCA minister takes group into closed country 14 can we be a reconciling force in this country? That Maryland church still grieving 15 was the direction that I tried to send Jill and her photographer. Covenant College womens basketball team enjoys best season ever 16 Jill Lawrence and the photojournalist had spent An open letter to a brother 17 one and a half weeks last spring in Franklin, and Church plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina 18 then came back for about a week in the summer. News from the Presbyteries 19 She interviewed him by telephone after the terrorist Tennessee pastor bears lonely witness against Sunday race 21 attacks on September 11th. In Scotty Smiths eyes, Mike Milton installed as pastor of First Church, Chattanooga 23 the USA Today employees were very respectful 2 P&R News ² January-March 2002 Denominational Administrators and Pastors Spearhead New Political Organization A couple of denominational Presbyterian Church, Lecanto, Florida (1481 to support and employ the gifts of women group is seen not only in its proposals to administrators along with pastors from members), Pinewood Presbyterian Church, for lay and staff ministries in accord with amend the Constitution, but also in the mostly large churches are the leaders of a Middleburg, Florida (1077 members), New Scripture; and Having a missional careful way in which it is attempting to new organization engaged in ecclesiastical Life Presbyterian Church, Glenside, (cooperative) and humble relationship with shepherd the accompanying overtures politics. Calling itself PCA Pastoral Pennsylvania (1041 members), Intown the wider church. None of these terms is through the presbyteries and to passage at Leadership (PCAPL), the new group has Community Church, Atlanta, Georgia (967 particularly defined. General Assembly. The PCAPL website helped orchestrate passage of overtures in members), Redeemer Presbyterian Church, The PCAPL organization, which has counsels potential recruits to coordinate numerous presbyteries that could New York, New York (745 members), characterized its approach as pastoral, has their efforts at the presbytery level, advises profoundly affect the shape and direction Covenant Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, positioned itself to advocate passage of two when overtures have to be received by of the Presbyterian Church in America Missouri (639 members), and Christ Church, amendments to the PCAs Book of Church General Assembly, and issues cautions, (PCA). Jacksonville, Florida (494 members). Order. The amendment to BCO 21-4 would such as: Please do not allow the wording Chief contact for PCAPL is Dr. Bryan Of the 17 men, at least four have specify good faith theological in the proposed change to 21-4 to be Chapell, President of Covenant Theological significant ties to Redeemer Presbyterian in subscription to the doctrinal standards of amended in such a way that the word Seminary, the national seminary of the PCA. New York City. Dr. Timothy Keller is the the denomination. The term good faith doctrine is eliminated from the opening Another member of the 17-man Steering Senior Pastor at Redeemer; the Rev. Terry subscription is being used in opposition sentence or its placement in the second Committee is Dr. Paul Kooistra, Coordinator Gyger, formerly Coordinator of the to an undefined system subscription paragraph. for the denominational Mission to the World denominational Mission to North America position and a strict subscription Further counsel is slated to be offered Committee. Committee, is Executive Pastor; the Rev. position. at the groups first open meeting, set for The other 15 men on the Steering Scott Sherman, presently Senior Pastor at The amendment to BCO 34-1 would April 10th at Intown Community Church in Committee serve as pastors in 14 churches. Intown Community Church, was on staff at change the number of presbyteries Atlanta. Among the items on the docket Included in that number are the Senior Redeemer; and the Rev.