Official Denominational Magazine Reports Westminster Presbytery Still ‘Divided’

Presbyterian & Reformed News, Volume 6 Number 4, July–August 2000

Official Denominational Magazine Reports Westminster Presbytery Still ‘Divided’
Controversy Erupts over Reception of R.C. Sproul, Jr.: Now He’s In, Now He Isn’t

PCANEWS.COM, the new denominational web-based magazine for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), has reported that Westminster Presbytery is “still ‘divided.’” The story, which has no by-line, was dated July 17, 2000, and dispatched from Elizabethton, Tennessee. The article says: “At its first stated meeting following the 28th General Assembly’s decision not to divide it, Westminster Presbytery, meeting on July 15 at the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elizabethton, Tenn., adjourned abruptly at 4:30 PM without completing its approved agenda, most likely indicating the continuation of internal division.”

The story goes on to report on the examination of R.C. Sproul, Jr., son of the famed PCA theologian and seminary professor. “Just before the Presbytery went into executive session to discuss Sproul’s exam and request for reception into the PCA, he was asked his view on Christian Education and the home. His response evoked quite a bit of debate on the floor of the Presbytery. He indicated that if one of the ruling elders in his church allowed his children to attend a government sponsored school, he would see that as a sin and a chargeable offense. He did indicate that while he had never charged anyone with such an offense, he would consider doing so.”

In an exclusive interview with Presbyterian & Reformed News, Mr. Sproul gave a slightly different version of his views. He stated that he was asked if he believed a ruling elder who sends his children to a government school was “outside the faith,” to which he responded, “No, but I believe that anyone who does so would be in sin and I would confront him on it.” He stated that he had indicated that he would not pursue excommunication on the matter unless the General Assembly or Presbytery judged that to be a gross and heinous sin. He also indicated that, if the matter were brought to a vote in the Presbytery, he would vote that such a practice was such a sin.

PCANEWS.COM’s story continues: “At some point while the Presbytery was still in executive session (Editor’s note: executive session is when a body discusses issues behind closed doors, the content of the discussion is not divulged outside of that meeting, and only actions taken, if any, are reported to the “open’ session), a motion was made to adjourn the Presbytery meeting. The motion passed even though a number of committee reports remained on the agenda, as well the consideration of two complaints.”

Not reported in the denominational magazine’s news story, but later reported via the Rev. Pat Parham’s letter to the editor, is the fact that the court approved Mr. Sproul for transfer from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church by a vote of 27-5. Immediately after that vote was taken, an unusual and obscure parliamentary move was undertaken: a presbyter moved that the matter be reconsidered and entered on the record. This little-used motion was designed under parliamentary procedure to prevent a matter from being reconsidered at a meeting where a temporary majority could undo a previously passed motion. The motion to reconsider and enter on the record, which must automatically be granted, mandates that the matter not be taken up until the next session of the assembly. Under Roberts Rules, the motion also stops the original action from taking effect.

Accordingly, the action in receiving R.C. Sproul, Jr., was rendered null and void — at least until the motion to reconsider can be taken up. Presumably, that will occur at the next stated meeting of Westminster Presbytery on October 14th, or before then at a special meeting called for that purpose.

Mr. Sproul has been pastoring St. Peter Presbyterian Church in Bristol, Tennessee. The congregation reflects a highly-liturgical approach to worship not usually encountered in Presbyterian circles. The church recently voted to leave the ARP, purportedly because of the action of Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery in dismissing the York (Ala.) Presbyterian Church from the denomination. The York church has become embroiled in a civil suit brought by an elder who had had disciplinary proceedings brought against him. St. Peter Church, concerned about that action and possible ramifications, decided to be unaffiliated for the time being.

Besides his views on government schools and a commitment to liturgical worship, Mr. Sproul was also questioned closely with respect to his view on paedocommunion. He indicated that, although he believes that all covenant children should partake of the Lord’s Supper, he is willing to abide by the denominational position that only those who make profession of faith should participate in communion. He also takes exception to the Standards’ view on the Sabbath, as he believes that some forms of non-strenuous recreation may be permissible.