wfn.org | Feisty new moderator says "church is determined

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6576 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

to stay together"
10-June-2001
GA01020

Feisty new moderator says "church is determined 
to stay together"

Jack Rogers challenges Confessing Church Movement, critics of staff

by Jerry Van Marter

LOUISVILLE, June 9 – Displaying the same blunt-spoken style that won
over commissioners during the election process, new General Assembly
moderator Jack Rogers told a post-election press conference that he agrees
with evangelicals on "nearly every issue except the ordination of gays and
lesbians" – which he supports – and said he can bridge the gaps
between warring factions in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) because he has
lots of friends in both camps.

	Rogers, who was all but branded a traitor by some conservative elements in
the denomination when he came out in favor of the ordination of gay and
lesbian Presbyterians several years ago, said he hasn't "changed the way I
read the Bible or my theological points of view."

	Instead, Rogers said, "What's changed is how I've applied scripture to the
issues facing the church." Rogers said the church previously has changed its
position on issues such as slavery and the ordination of women "as a result
of more careful reading of scripture and openness to the Holy Spirit," and
said he believes the church will eventually do the same with gay and lesbian
ordination.

	Rogers, who called for the PC(USA) to end its "Presbyterian civil war,"
said he can effectively moderate a deeply-conflicted church "because I count
many friends on both sides of this divide."

	But he pulled no punches in criticizing those he said "are a threat to the
peace, unity and purity of the church," singling out in particular the
fledgling Confessing Church Movement and those who "are using very loose
language about national staff and church leaders that is disrespectful."

	Rogers told commissioners the Confessing Church Movement – which
currently numbers about 250 churches that have subscribed to a three-part
statement including Jesus as the only way to salvation, the infallibility of
the Bible and marriage as the only appropriate means of sexual conduct
– "doesn't represent evangelicals and some evangelicals are even
embarrassed by it."

	Rogers, responding to a press conference question from a Confessing Church
Movement supporter, said, "I reject the implication that you can just pick
out a few scriptures and say, 'This is it, there's no other way to look at
it.'"

	Rogers, who has taught seminary courses on the confessions and written one
of the definitive books on them, said, "We have been misusing the
confessions of the church." They are meant as education, not legislation, he
said, and to use them to micromanage behaviors "from the top down is to
disregard our Presbyterian heritage and form of government."

	Asked about salvation in Christ, Rogers told commissioners, "I teach and I
believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth, died and was
resurrected for our salvation – this I believe. But I also believe
that our knowledge is limited and that God knows far more than we can ever
know."

	Strongly endorsing a "theological commission" to explore a number of issues
in depth, Rogers said he "hopes this General Assembly and our church will be
attentive to the Holy Spirit. I believe this General Assembly is determined
that we’re going to stay together, that divisive elements will not
prevail."

_______________________________________________
pcusaNews mailing list
pcusaNews@pcusa.org

To unsubscribe, go to this web address:
http://pcusa01.pcusa.org/mailman/listinfo/pcusanews