Hello All,
Just wanted to draw your attention to the Presbyterian Coalition's comments on the recent GA-PJC decision:
"Despite their limitations, the commission's decisions produced some help for the church. The PJC signaled in Naegeli et al v. Presbytery of San Francisco that its previous decision in Bush v Presbytery of Pittsburgh still stands, by quoting from that decision: "It would be an obstruction of constitutional governance to permit examining bodies to ignore or waive a specific standard that has been adopted by the whole church, such as the 'fidelity and chastity' portion of G-6.0106b, or any other similarly specific provision."
Similarly, though allowing the restoration of a person to ordained office in Bierschwale et al v. Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, the commission said, "Having been restored to the exercise of the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament, [Paul] Capetz is fully accountable under all standards and requirements for ministers of Word and Sacrament to abide by the Constitution of the PC(USA), including G-6.0106b."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Nov. 10th meeting
Hello All,
We will meet from 2-3:30 at Christ Presbyterian (Thank you!) in room L-200. The agenda for the meeting is prayer, bible study (lectionary reading from I Samuel 1, Hebrews 10 and Mark 13) then fellowship and "check-in" and close with prayer. If I am ambitious I might some kind of snackage for us to share. Hope to see you there!
Amy
We will meet from 2-3:30 at Christ Presbyterian (Thank you!) in room L-200. The agenda for the meeting is prayer, bible study (lectionary reading from I Samuel 1, Hebrews 10 and Mark 13) then fellowship and "check-in" and close with prayer. If I am ambitious I might some kind of snackage for us to share. Hope to see you there!
Amy
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Presbyterian Coalition Comments on GA-PJC Rulings
Terry Schlossberg of the Presbyterian Coalition writes:
GA-PJC reasserts requirement to comply with
"fidelity and chastity"
November 6, 2009
On Tuesday, Nov. 3 the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GA-PJC) made public its decisions in cases from the presbyteries of San Francisco and Twin Cities Area. Both cases relate to presbytery actions dealing with persons who, on the record, declared unwillingness to comply with the express requirement of "fidelity and chastity" in G-6.0106b of the Book of Order. These recent decisions by the GA-PJC are characterized by narrow procedural rulings rather than rulings on the substance in the cases before them.
Despite their limitations, the commission's decisions produced some help for the church. The PJC signaled in Naegeli et al v. Presbytery of San Francisco that its previous decision in Bush v Presbytery of Pittsburgh still stands, by quoting from that decision: "It would be an obstruction of constitutional governance to permit examining bodies to ignore or waive a specific standard that has been adopted by the whole church, such as the 'fidelity and chastity' portion of G-6.0106b, or any other similarly specific provision."
Similarly, though allowing the restoration of a person to ordained office in Bierschwale et al v. Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, the commission said, "Having been restored to the exercise of the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament, [Paul] Capetz is fully accountable under all standards and requirements for ministers of Word and Sacrament to abide by the Constitution of the PC(USA), including G-6.0106b."
The PJC does emphasize that actual obedience is not optional and that it cannot be waived. However, the new decisions fail to grapple with the implications of the fifth ordination question: "Will you be governed by our church's polity, and will you abide by its discipline..?" (W-4.003e). How can a candidate give affirmative answer to this question while refusing to declare intent to comply with a constitutional requirement now and in the future?
By ruling on narrow procedural questions, while failing to rule decisively and clearly on the substantive issue--unwillingness to comply with G-6.0106b--the court avoided the substance of the issues before it.
These rulings have done harm to the church by leaving a serious conflict unresolved, by inviting more court cases, and by exacerbating a breakdown of faith and trust in the church. The extent of the harm and whether the harm is reversible is not clear.
The Presbyterian Coalition's Discipline Team is deliberating the meaning and implications of the recent decisions and will be issuing a more complete analysis in the next few days.
For further information, contact Terry Schlossberg at 703-680-4571 or terry@presbycoalition.org.
GA-PJC reasserts requirement to comply with
"fidelity and chastity"
November 6, 2009
On Tuesday, Nov. 3 the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GA-PJC) made public its decisions in cases from the presbyteries of San Francisco and Twin Cities Area. Both cases relate to presbytery actions dealing with persons who, on the record, declared unwillingness to comply with the express requirement of "fidelity and chastity" in G-6.0106b of the Book of Order. These recent decisions by the GA-PJC are characterized by narrow procedural rulings rather than rulings on the substance in the cases before them.
Despite their limitations, the commission's decisions produced some help for the church. The PJC signaled in Naegeli et al v. Presbytery of San Francisco that its previous decision in Bush v Presbytery of Pittsburgh still stands, by quoting from that decision: "It would be an obstruction of constitutional governance to permit examining bodies to ignore or waive a specific standard that has been adopted by the whole church, such as the 'fidelity and chastity' portion of G-6.0106b, or any other similarly specific provision."
Similarly, though allowing the restoration of a person to ordained office in Bierschwale et al v. Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, the commission said, "Having been restored to the exercise of the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament, [Paul] Capetz is fully accountable under all standards and requirements for ministers of Word and Sacrament to abide by the Constitution of the PC(USA), including G-6.0106b."
The PJC does emphasize that actual obedience is not optional and that it cannot be waived. However, the new decisions fail to grapple with the implications of the fifth ordination question: "Will you be governed by our church's polity, and will you abide by its discipline..?" (W-4.003e). How can a candidate give affirmative answer to this question while refusing to declare intent to comply with a constitutional requirement now and in the future?
By ruling on narrow procedural questions, while failing to rule decisively and clearly on the substantive issue--unwillingness to comply with G-6.0106b--the court avoided the substance of the issues before it.
These rulings have done harm to the church by leaving a serious conflict unresolved, by inviting more court cases, and by exacerbating a breakdown of faith and trust in the church. The extent of the harm and whether the harm is reversible is not clear.
The Presbyterian Coalition's Discipline Team is deliberating the meaning and implications of the recent decisions and will be issuing a more complete analysis in the next few days.
For further information, contact Terry Schlossberg at 703-680-4571 or terry@presbycoalition.org.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Meeting September 8th
From Pastor David:
We are blessed to have John Crosby and the folks with Christ Church in Edina to host us for this meeting. I hope you can join other Ministers and Elders for this meeting for Worship, Sharing, Fellowship, Updates, and Discussion:
Tuesday, September 8, Lunch at 12:30 P.M. (Pizza--please "chip in" for payment as you are able, or
feel free to bring your own bag lunch.
Room 204, Christ Church, Edina
We are blessed to have John Crosby and the folks with Christ Church in Edina to host us for this meeting. I hope you can join other Ministers and Elders for this meeting for Worship, Sharing, Fellowship, Updates, and Discussion:
Tuesday, September 8, Lunch at 12:30 P.M. (Pizza--please "chip in" for payment as you are able, or
feel free to bring your own bag lunch.
Room 204, Christ Church, Edina
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Presbyterians for Renewal
There will be a Presbyterian for Renewal meeting at Hope Presbyterian on Tuesday, September 22nd from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hope to see you all there.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Update: Time and Place
Hello All,
The evangelical pastors' meeting has been rescheduled today from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. We will meet in the church library.
The evangelical pastors' meeting has been rescheduled today from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. We will meet in the church library.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Meeting, July 14th
Hi again!
I hope you can gather with other sisters and brothers in Christ from our evangelical community in the Twin Cities Area on:
Tuesday, July 14
1:00 P.M.
Sanctuary of
Presbyterian Church of the Master
Coon Rapids (just north of Minneapolis)
We will join in a time of sharing in
small groups for getting to know one another
better, for encouragement in prayer.
We will have updates on 2 or 3 items
We will worship the Lord together
We will, if needed, have a smaller task force
or two form if needed for strategy on various
issues in Presbytery.
In Christ's Peace & Hope,
David Bierschwale
I hope you can gather with other sisters and brothers in Christ from our evangelical community in the Twin Cities Area on:
Tuesday, July 14
1:00 P.M.
Sanctuary of
Presbyterian Church of the Master
Coon Rapids (just north of Minneapolis)
We will join in a time of sharing in
small groups for getting to know one another
better, for encouragement in prayer.
We will have updates on 2 or 3 items
We will worship the Lord together
We will, if needed, have a smaller task force
or two form if needed for strategy on various
issues in Presbytery.
In Christ's Peace & Hope,
David Bierschwale
Friday, May 1, 2009
Voting on Amendment B
Non nobis, Domine, Domine, non nobis, Domine
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to your Name give glory
Let's give thanks to God that once again the truth has been proclaimed.
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to your Name give glory
Let's give thanks to God that once again the truth has been proclaimed.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Meeting May 12 at Stadium Village
Pastor David B. writes,
Now that we are back to the more typical Tuesday
Presbytery meeting schedule, our Evangelical
Fellowship Group will meet:
on May 12 at 1:30 P.M.
Stadium Village Church
501 Oak St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(Huron Street Exit off I-94)
Kathleen adds the following:
We have 5-6 parking spots, in the drive way between house and church (park tightly) & they can park in empty spots in our lot off Oak St.
We can meet in the church Commons lower level, enter the front door.
Hope to see you there as we gather to worship the Lord and to encourage one another!
Now that we are back to the more typical Tuesday
Presbytery meeting schedule, our Evangelical
Fellowship Group will meet:
on May 12 at 1:30 P.M.
Stadium Village Church
501 Oak St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(Huron Street Exit off I-94)
Kathleen adds the following:
We have 5-6 parking spots, in the drive way between house and church (park tightly) & they can park in empty spots in our lot off Oak St.
We can meet in the church Commons lower level, enter the front door.
Hope to see you there as we gather to worship the Lord and to encourage one another!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Theology Matters
If you do not already receive the magazine Theology Matters be sure to check it out online at
http://www.theologymatters.com/
The magazine is scholarly and well-written, giving both encouragement and food for thought. The link will preserved under "Theological Resources" at right.
http://www.theologymatters.com/
The magazine is scholarly and well-written, giving both encouragement and food for thought. The link will preserved under "Theological Resources" at right.
Poem for Good Friday
A Home for The Desolate: A Poem Based on John 19:26-27
“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘ Behold your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”
A home for the desolate,
God gives today
On his cross
Opening a new way
A way of love and truth and joy
John became Mary’s own dear boy.
So may we in our churches dear
Be brothers to one another in all good cheer,
Loving, cherishing, forgiving too
Because Jesus died for me and you
That we might be one through thick and thin
He suffered and died that we TOGETHER might win
Abundant life and brotherly love
These are the gifts that come from above.
“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘ Behold your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”
A home for the desolate,
God gives today
On his cross
Opening a new way
A way of love and truth and joy
John became Mary’s own dear boy.
So may we in our churches dear
Be brothers to one another in all good cheer,
Loving, cherishing, forgiving too
Because Jesus died for me and you
That we might be one through thick and thin
He suffered and died that we TOGETHER might win
Abundant life and brotherly love
These are the gifts that come from above.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Reminder from David B.
We are blessed to have Paul Detterman, Executive Director of Presbyterians for Renewal, come to the Twin Cities on Tuesday, March 17 at Hope Church, Richfield for a gathering from 7:00 P.M. to
9:00 P.M.
9:00 P.M.
Thoughts on Our Recent Meeting
The Wrath of God and Our Present Controversies
In Judges 2:14 we read that because the Israelites turned to other gods, “the anger of the Lord was kindled...he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them; and he sold them into the power of their enemies round about so t hat they could no longer withstand their enemies.” But then, just a verse later, we read that in response to the suffering of Israel, God in his pity “raised up judges who saved them out of the power of those who plundered them” (vs. 16). It is interesting here that instead of withdrawing the Philistines and the other enemies of Israel, to whom God himself had handed them over, he raises up both judges and kings to stand against and defeat the enemies of Israel.
This is what is happening in the encounter between David and Goliath, the story of the young shepherd boy who defeats the giant Goliath and rouses the discouraged army of Israel so that with a great shout they rise up to pursue their oppressors and drive them from the land.
And this is the background to Romans 1, a chapter that in recent days invites much controversy.
In Romans 1:18-2:3, we learn that all society is thankless, we do not count our many blessings, and so, as he did with the Israelites, God hands us over to our enemies, not enemies of flesh and blood like the Philistines, but enemies that are ethereal but even more powerful. “We fight not against flesh and blood but the powers and principalities." Paul lists those enemies in his “vice catalogue” that begins in verse 1:24: “therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts...women exchanged natural relations for unnatural and men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another.” But of course this catalogue of vices does not end there but goes to encompass envy and murder, strife and deceit, malignity and gossiping, slander and hating God, to name a few.
This understanding of Romans 1, helps me as a minister to answer some the questions that have been asked of me, especially as the debate grew heated around Proposition 8 in California.
Many have asked over the years if I thought men and women are “born that way” as ”lesbians or homosexuals.” The answer is is, yes of course that is possible. On the other there are also a large number of people, some known to me personally, who chose sometime in early adulthood to reject the opposite sex. But whether people have a genetic predisposition to it or whether they chose to go a certain way makes no difference to the apostle Paul. God hands over ALL society even the littlest child in the womb to sins that range from passion for those of their own sex to a predisposition for deceit. Just as the littlest one in Israel was oppressed by the cruel and continual raids on Israel by the Philistines so from the littlest to the oldest we are all harassed and harried by the vices that attack us constantly.
And here I must emphasize that it is ALL society, including you and me, that have been thankless. ALL of us have been handed over to the vices that the Apostle Paul lists in Romans 1. Chief among them to be sure, is the unnatural relations between men and men, women and women. These unnatural relations stand like a Goliath above all the others but we must remember an entire army of giants is behind him! Perhaps we love and admire the opposite sex, we are not perhaps DIRECTLY oppressed by this “Goliath” of a vice, but we necessarily fall prey to one of the other giants on the list. If we are not envious, we are faithless; if we are not disobedient to parents, we are heartless; if we are not liars we are gossips. Not one of us can avoid the cruelties of the enemy that lies within and without.
But is this bad news? No! and no again I say!
When God in his anger against our thanklessness betrays us into the hands our enemies, in his pity he raises up a savior to stand against these enemies and give us the victory! God has raised up such a savior and his name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
He is our victory over all our enemies, including the Goliath of unnatural relations that we meet everywhere and know so intimately. But it is not just Goliath who is felled, but his many brethren. I can testify personally, I was, and am and would be in the power of many of the vices listed EXCEPT for Jesus. Except for Jesus I am bossy and mean to name just a few of my sins (some of which I believe I was born with), but that “except” makes all the difference in the world.
Many among my friends and extended family have told me that they believe there to be “nothing wrong” with so-called “gay marriage.” They say, “why not live and let live? No one is harmed.” I completely understand their point of view because I was once of the same opinion. But the Lord Jesus knows better. The Bible is as the theologian N.T. Wright points out “a love story.” How true that is, not just between Adam and Eve, but also between the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 and “Lady Zion” of Isaiah 54, between Jesus and his bride the church. There is no other book that cares so much about men and women liking and loving one another. In fact, the gospel itself is inseparable from the romance between God and Zion. We cannot proclaim the cross without proclaiming the love a man (God, the suffering servant) for a woman (Zion, the church).
Sometimes our troubles seem and indeed are, overwhelming. Our enemies, Paul’s entire catalogue of vice, poison our lives. But we are no different from the army of Israel standing utterly cowed before Goliath and their powerful enemies... and then comes someone entirely unexpected, a young shepherd going down to the stream to pick out five smooth stones for his slingshot. And suddenly when no expects it the giant falls flat, dead. And we rise up with a shout of victory, driving the cruel armies of the Philistines away. If it was such with Shepherd David, how much more is it with the Shepherd Jesus? The Israelites chased the enemy to their own gates, but with the Lord Jesus, even the “gates of hell shall not prevail.”
In Judges 2:14 we read that because the Israelites turned to other gods, “the anger of the Lord was kindled...he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them; and he sold them into the power of their enemies round about so t hat they could no longer withstand their enemies.” But then, just a verse later, we read that in response to the suffering of Israel, God in his pity “raised up judges who saved them out of the power of those who plundered them” (vs. 16). It is interesting here that instead of withdrawing the Philistines and the other enemies of Israel, to whom God himself had handed them over, he raises up both judges and kings to stand against and defeat the enemies of Israel.
This is what is happening in the encounter between David and Goliath, the story of the young shepherd boy who defeats the giant Goliath and rouses the discouraged army of Israel so that with a great shout they rise up to pursue their oppressors and drive them from the land.
And this is the background to Romans 1, a chapter that in recent days invites much controversy.
In Romans 1:18-2:3, we learn that all society is thankless, we do not count our many blessings, and so, as he did with the Israelites, God hands us over to our enemies, not enemies of flesh and blood like the Philistines, but enemies that are ethereal but even more powerful. “We fight not against flesh and blood but the powers and principalities." Paul lists those enemies in his “vice catalogue” that begins in verse 1:24: “therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts...women exchanged natural relations for unnatural and men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another.” But of course this catalogue of vices does not end there but goes to encompass envy and murder, strife and deceit, malignity and gossiping, slander and hating God, to name a few.
This understanding of Romans 1, helps me as a minister to answer some the questions that have been asked of me, especially as the debate grew heated around Proposition 8 in California.
Many have asked over the years if I thought men and women are “born that way” as ”lesbians or homosexuals.” The answer is is, yes of course that is possible. On the other there are also a large number of people, some known to me personally, who chose sometime in early adulthood to reject the opposite sex. But whether people have a genetic predisposition to it or whether they chose to go a certain way makes no difference to the apostle Paul. God hands over ALL society even the littlest child in the womb to sins that range from passion for those of their own sex to a predisposition for deceit. Just as the littlest one in Israel was oppressed by the cruel and continual raids on Israel by the Philistines so from the littlest to the oldest we are all harassed and harried by the vices that attack us constantly.
And here I must emphasize that it is ALL society, including you and me, that have been thankless. ALL of us have been handed over to the vices that the Apostle Paul lists in Romans 1. Chief among them to be sure, is the unnatural relations between men and men, women and women. These unnatural relations stand like a Goliath above all the others but we must remember an entire army of giants is behind him! Perhaps we love and admire the opposite sex, we are not perhaps DIRECTLY oppressed by this “Goliath” of a vice, but we necessarily fall prey to one of the other giants on the list. If we are not envious, we are faithless; if we are not disobedient to parents, we are heartless; if we are not liars we are gossips. Not one of us can avoid the cruelties of the enemy that lies within and without.
But is this bad news? No! and no again I say!
When God in his anger against our thanklessness betrays us into the hands our enemies, in his pity he raises up a savior to stand against these enemies and give us the victory! God has raised up such a savior and his name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
He is our victory over all our enemies, including the Goliath of unnatural relations that we meet everywhere and know so intimately. But it is not just Goliath who is felled, but his many brethren. I can testify personally, I was, and am and would be in the power of many of the vices listed EXCEPT for Jesus. Except for Jesus I am bossy and mean to name just a few of my sins (some of which I believe I was born with), but that “except” makes all the difference in the world.
Many among my friends and extended family have told me that they believe there to be “nothing wrong” with so-called “gay marriage.” They say, “why not live and let live? No one is harmed.” I completely understand their point of view because I was once of the same opinion. But the Lord Jesus knows better. The Bible is as the theologian N.T. Wright points out “a love story.” How true that is, not just between Adam and Eve, but also between the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 and “Lady Zion” of Isaiah 54, between Jesus and his bride the church. There is no other book that cares so much about men and women liking and loving one another. In fact, the gospel itself is inseparable from the romance between God and Zion. We cannot proclaim the cross without proclaiming the love a man (God, the suffering servant) for a woman (Zion, the church).
Sometimes our troubles seem and indeed are, overwhelming. Our enemies, Paul’s entire catalogue of vice, poison our lives. But we are no different from the army of Israel standing utterly cowed before Goliath and their powerful enemies... and then comes someone entirely unexpected, a young shepherd going down to the stream to pick out five smooth stones for his slingshot. And suddenly when no expects it the giant falls flat, dead. And we rise up with a shout of victory, driving the cruel armies of the Philistines away. If it was such with Shepherd David, how much more is it with the Shepherd Jesus? The Israelites chased the enemy to their own gates, but with the Lord Jesus, even the “gates of hell shall not prevail.”
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Note of Encouragement
Hi again Sisters and Brothers in Christ--
Ephesians 3:20-21 is GREAT encouragement from our Lord in days like these. May we trust that, even if the vote Saturday goes as expected, the Lord will use our words and actions to speak the Truth of the Gospel in Love--seeds will be planted; lives will be transformed through Jesus Christ (and, as the 60s folk song put it--"let it begin with me!)!
I realize it is not easy to ask elders to attend presbytery on a saturday.
We will have 2 of 3 of our assigned number from the redress of imbalance. I am still hopeful that the 3rd elder might be able to tweak his schedule to make it at least for the morning (looks like the big votes will take place then).
Many of you may have read how it seems that folks are "staying away in droves" in various other presbyteries as they vote yet again on the Ordination standards. In some cases, there have been ties. In several cases, some presbyteries switched from their prior votes which supported our Biblical standards. I was saddened to read this was the case in my former presbytery--Western North Carolina.
One of our elders expressed a willingness to send e-mails to elder-commissioners from evangelical congregations as a little extra encouragement.
Please pass the word to some other elders and ministers whom you may know about the importance of attendance:
---those serving on Council
---those serving in Immigrant Fellowships which have been officially
approved by presbytery (Kenyan, Laotian?)
Please pass the word to Ministers & CLPs:
---those serving in Validated Ministries
---those who are Retired
---those who are At-Large members
---CLPs (approved for voice & vote in presbytery on a case-by-case
basis; according to Book of Order)
---any other categories which I may have left out! :-)
PS--Here at PCOM in Coon Rapids, we accepted the invitation
from Presbytery office to host the Presbytery meeting here
on Tuesday, July 14.
In Christ's Peace & Hope,
David Bierschwale
Ephesians 3:20-21 is GREAT encouragement from our Lord in days like these. May we trust that, even if the vote Saturday goes as expected, the Lord will use our words and actions to speak the Truth of the Gospel in Love--seeds will be planted; lives will be transformed through Jesus Christ (and, as the 60s folk song put it--"let it begin with me!)!
I realize it is not easy to ask elders to attend presbytery on a saturday.
We will have 2 of 3 of our assigned number from the redress of imbalance. I am still hopeful that the 3rd elder might be able to tweak his schedule to make it at least for the morning (looks like the big votes will take place then).
Many of you may have read how it seems that folks are "staying away in droves" in various other presbyteries as they vote yet again on the Ordination standards. In some cases, there have been ties. In several cases, some presbyteries switched from their prior votes which supported our Biblical standards. I was saddened to read this was the case in my former presbytery--Western North Carolina.
One of our elders expressed a willingness to send e-mails to elder-commissioners from evangelical congregations as a little extra encouragement.
Please pass the word to some other elders and ministers whom you may know about the importance of attendance:
---those serving on Council
---those serving in Immigrant Fellowships which have been officially
approved by presbytery (Kenyan, Laotian?)
Please pass the word to Ministers & CLPs:
---those serving in Validated Ministries
---those who are Retired
---those who are At-Large members
---CLPs (approved for voice & vote in presbytery on a case-by-case
basis; according to Book of Order)
---any other categories which I may have left out! :-)
PS--Here at PCOM in Coon Rapids, we accepted the invitation
from Presbytery office to host the Presbytery meeting here
on Tuesday, July 14.
In Christ's Peace & Hope,
David Bierschwale
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Update
Pastor David B. writes to tell us that an update and analysis on the remedial case against the presbytery can be found at layman.org
Monday, February 23, 2009
Verse for Us Today
Put on The Whole Armor of God
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers... (for more, click on link)
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers... (for more, click on link)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Note from Pastor David B.
We are blessed to have Paul Detterman, Executive Director of Presbyterians for Renewal, come to the Twin Cities on Tuesday, March 17 at Hope Church, Richfield for a gathering from 7:00 P.M. to
9:00 P.M..
9:00 P.M..
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Essay
Check out the essay under the link "Theological Resources" sent to us by Sue Cyre of Theology Matters
Monday, February 16, 2009
Meeting at Warrendale Presbyterian
Pastor David writes:
I hope you can join in our occasional evangelical leaders' gathering on Thursday, February 19 at Warrendale Presbyterian Church,
1040 Como Ave, St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: 651-489-6054
12:00 Noon - 2:00 P.M.
Please plan to bring a bag lunch/fast food as we will begin with meal/fellowship time around the tables.
I hope you can join in our occasional evangelical leaders' gathering on Thursday, February 19 at Warrendale Presbyterian Church,
1040 Como Ave, St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: 651-489-6054
12:00 Noon - 2:00 P.M.
Please plan to bring a bag lunch/fast food as we will begin with meal/fellowship time around the tables.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Reminder
There will be a meeting on February 7th at the Presbyterian Homes in Bloomington to talk about the proposed amendment to the the constitution that would replace G-6.016b. The meeting begins at 9:30.
Letter from "Theology Matters" Oct. 8, 2008
"Members of our Board of Directors were greatly distressed by several of the actions taken by the 218th General Assembly and in the coming months we will be speaking out clearly against the false doctrines and blatant mistakes being promoted in the PC(USA) by some of its leaders. However, we will not leave the denomination, nor will we encourage others to leave. After much prayer and consideration we are firmly convinced that leaving the PC(USA) sends the wrong message and leaves far too many of God's precious children without a defense and without proper leadership. We are committed to remaining within the PC(USA) and working from within for the much needed reform. We trust God's power to bring new life to his church and seek to have the same love for the lost that took Christ to cross.
God has not abandoned his church. Today is a time to remember God's promises to his church and increase our resolve. The apostle Peter encouraged the church in Asia Minor, which was struggling against false teachers, by reminding them that their situation was not unusual. There were false teachers in the OT and there will be in our churches. Peter wrote, 'There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They wil secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them...' (2 Pet. 2:1-2)
Commenting on those verses, Calvin explains that God has a purpose in allowing the strife to continue. He writes,
'He (Peter) encourages and strengthens those to whom he writes with the argument that God has always disciplined His Church with this kind of trial so that their hearts may not be disturbed by its novelty. He says that the condiiton of the Church under the Gospel wil lbe no different from what it was under the Law; false prophets upset the old Church, and we much expect the same. It was necessary to say this specifically because there were many who though that the state of the church under the reign of Christ would be peaceful...Let us, therefore, remember that the Spirit of God has declared once for all that the Church will never be free from this internal trouble, and let this image be kept in mind that the trail of faith is common both to us and to our fathers, because it has the same purpose, namely to make clear by this means whether we truly love God as is written in Deuteronomy 13:3'
Calvin recognizes how tempting it is for us to want to withdraw from the struggle. He continues his commentary.
'the idea is apt to insinuate itself that if the Lord wants to keep his people unspotted, why does He not gather them all together into some corner of the earth where they can encourage each other in holiness? ....When God appropriates to Himself the responsibility for helping and protecting His own, so that they do not fail in the struggle, we take heart to fight the harder.'
The struggles in the church are not new and they should not weary or discourage us. God has not left us without his aid. The struggles today are over the pwoer of Christ to redeem and transform a life to live in joyful obedience to God's Word and thus glorify God. The issues we face over sexuality and marriage, over the nature of the Trinity and sin go to the very heart of the Gospel and therefore the person of Christ. We cannot grow weary of the struggle."
God has not abandoned his church. Today is a time to remember God's promises to his church and increase our resolve. The apostle Peter encouraged the church in Asia Minor, which was struggling against false teachers, by reminding them that their situation was not unusual. There were false teachers in the OT and there will be in our churches. Peter wrote, 'There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They wil secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them...' (2 Pet. 2:1-2)
Commenting on those verses, Calvin explains that God has a purpose in allowing the strife to continue. He writes,
'He (Peter) encourages and strengthens those to whom he writes with the argument that God has always disciplined His Church with this kind of trial so that their hearts may not be disturbed by its novelty. He says that the condiiton of the Church under the Gospel wil lbe no different from what it was under the Law; false prophets upset the old Church, and we much expect the same. It was necessary to say this specifically because there were many who though that the state of the church under the reign of Christ would be peaceful...Let us, therefore, remember that the Spirit of God has declared once for all that the Church will never be free from this internal trouble, and let this image be kept in mind that the trail of faith is common both to us and to our fathers, because it has the same purpose, namely to make clear by this means whether we truly love God as is written in Deuteronomy 13:3'
Calvin recognizes how tempting it is for us to want to withdraw from the struggle. He continues his commentary.
'the idea is apt to insinuate itself that if the Lord wants to keep his people unspotted, why does He not gather them all together into some corner of the earth where they can encourage each other in holiness? ....When God appropriates to Himself the responsibility for helping and protecting His own, so that they do not fail in the struggle, we take heart to fight the harder.'
The struggles in the church are not new and they should not weary or discourage us. God has not left us without his aid. The struggles today are over the pwoer of Christ to redeem and transform a life to live in joyful obedience to God's Word and thus glorify God. The issues we face over sexuality and marriage, over the nature of the Trinity and sin go to the very heart of the Gospel and therefore the person of Christ. We cannot grow weary of the struggle."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)