Coalition Board Supports Williamson

The Western North Carolina Presbytery has chosen to withdraw its validation of the Ministry of Parker T. Williamson, chief executive officer of The Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor-in-chief of The Layman.

Semicolon;

The Western North Carolina Presbytery has chosen to enroll Parker as member-at-large with voice and vote.

This is bad grammar. It does not rise even to the level of compromise. Neither Parker nor anyone in support of the ministry of the Presbyterian Lay Committee wanted either half of the sentence.

Parker has declined the clemency of Caesar, choosing instead an opportunity to hear the charges of the critics plainly stated and in an environment in which an answer can be given.

Parker has appealed. The Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Mid-Atlantic will consider the matter. It is hoped by those who think an error in judgment has been witnessed that the Commission will consider not only the process but the wisdom of the decision. Both are flawed.

The Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Coalition believe the ministry of the Presbyterian Lay Committee to be valid - valid in every sense of the word, but especially so as defined in the Book of Order as a ministry in conformity with the constitutional standards of the Church and with the Scripture.The Coalition, indeed the whole church, still waits for the argument to be forwarded which names the actions and attitudes of the Lay Committee that do not conform. Merely stating so does not make it so.

In the meantime two developments trouble the church. One, the statement from the Office of the Stated Clerk that asking others to prayerfully study withholding and financial non-participation violates one's ordination vows may prompt similar actions in other Presbyteries. Two, The decision of Western North Carolina to invalidate a ministry, based, it seems, on nothing more than disagreement with the judgments of that ministry may now spread to other presbyteries.

The PCUSA is in a time of disagreement. (Do you ever remember otherwise?) Shall we now invalidate each other's ministry based on degree of agreement? Shall we now consider out of conformity that which exercises conscience in matters of stewardship? Shall we escalate the battle?

The Presbyterian Coalition hopes not. We hope the PJC of the Synod of Mid-Atlantic hears the arguments fairly and wholly and requires its presbyteries to do the same. We hope the PJC of the Synod of Mid-Atlantic answers with a period not a semicolon.