Dr. Gilchrist Announces His Retirement
Dr. Paul Gilchrist, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in America, announced that he will
retire from that office at the end of the 1998 Assembly. Included
in the article is a profile of Dr. Gilchrist.
Padgett Resigns as Coordinator of Reformed University Ministries
Marvin Padgett, who served as Coordinator of the
Presbyterian Church in America's campus outreach (Reformed University
Ministries), resigned effective the end of November 1997. His
almost two years as RUM Coordinator have not been smooth ones,
as he has been at the center of controversy regarding the way
he was appointed and his competence in the job. He also found
himself caught up in the battle over proposed re-structuring of
RUM which might have led to more centralization of power in Atlanta.
Included is an interview with Mr. Padgett.
Commission Rules in Mississippi Valley Charismatic Case
A special judicial commission of the General Assembly
unanimously sustained in part a complaint brought against Mississippi
Valley Presbytery. The complaint had been filed against the approval
for ordination of a man who claimed a special prayer language
and proclaimed himself to be in favor of non-canonical prophecy.
Stated Clerk Attends Meeting with Disney Representative
Dr. Paul Gilchrist, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), met on July 23, 1997
with a representative of the Disney Corporation. The meeting had
been set up by King for America, and featured representatives
of many evangelical groups. According to Dr. Gilchrist, "The
consensus of the organizations attending was a general support
for the Southern Baptist position"-namely, that of a boycott
of Disney. In 1996, the PCA General Assembly declined to encourage
a consideration of a boycott of Disney products. According to
Gilchrist's Interim Press Officer, Bob Fiol, the Stated Clerk
was attending that meeting in Washington, DC, "as Paul Gilchrist"
and that he "was not representing the denomination."
Stated Clerk's Actions Questioned by North Carolina Church and Presbytery
Eastern Carolina Presbytery voted August 23, 1997
to take action with regard to General Assembly Stated Clerk Dr.
Paul Gilchrist for alleged failure to perform his duty in relation
to a congregation. The Presbytery voted for its Moderator to send
a letter to each member of the denominational Administrative Committee
to seek an explanation for Dr. Gilchrist's actions as reflected
in various pieces of correspondence. The court also directed the
aggrieved Session "to lay charges against TE Paul Gilchrist
before [his presbytery] according to BCO 32-9 if their conscience
so demands."
"Playing Keepaway"-Have you heard about
the latest game on the ecclesiastical playground? It's called
"Keepaway", and the object is to see how many official
church documents bureaucrats can keep from the peasants who request
them.
"A Question of Jurisdiction"-The courts
of the church must be open to all, or justice and righteousness
will not flow freely.
Our readers write-including with regard to Covenant
Presbytery's approval of a man who rejects six day creation.
News from the Presbyteries
Ascension, Central Carolina,
Covenant, Eastern Canada,
Eastern Carolina, Fellowship,
James River, Mid-America,
New Jersey, Northeast,
Pacific Northwest, Palmetto,
Potomac, Southern Florida,
Western Carolina, and Westminster
all report in.
Some of the banter heard on the floor of one of our
presbyteries.
A minister shares his thoughts on the death of his
son.