More details on Joining and Leaving Saint Peter Presbyterian Church - The Diigo Meta page

• 19 May 08
  

  Wisely
  • What is already commonly known is that at least one of the reasons the Kershaws transferred out of St. Peter Presbyterian Church is because of the manner in which the Session "disciplined" the John Austin family. If the Austins could be censured and threatened with excommunication, and the entire family (including children) shunned over a minor doctrinal difference of opinion, even though there was no biblical justification, and even though the RPCGA BCO could never authorize such "discipline," I knew that it was only a matter of time before I too would be subjected to the St. Peter Session's "discipline." For the spiritual health and well-being of my family we had no choice but to get out, and get out as fast as possible.
  • I'm pleased to say that we were immediately welcomed into another Reformed Presbyterian church in the area, and that the pastor has been very pastoral toward me and my family. Other former St. Peter members are also members there. That church isn't likely to be a permanent home for us. However, even though it may be just temporary, we're grateful to our new pastor and our new friends, for their Christian compassion. Their kindness has helped us immeasurably in getting through this difficult time.
  • The ecclesiastical tyrannies perpetrated against the John Austin family are just the tip of the iceburg behind why we had to leave St. Peter Presbyterian Church. Though not widely known, that pattern of abuse has actually been taking place for a number of years. Several other former St. Peter members have recently written the Presbytery giving detailed personal accounts of their traumatic experiences under the heavy hand of the St. Peter Session. Their accounts closely parallel the abuses suffered by the Austins. In at least two separate written testimonials the magnitude of the St. Peter Session's ecclesiastical tyranny is even far more problematic, particularly in terms of potential legal consequences, than it was in the Austin case.
  • R.C. Sproul Jr is a controversial man. That never troubled me because I too am known as being a bit controversial. However, I believe that it's possible to be controversial and yet not make a habit of offending people.
  • In an effort to assist the Austins, former St. Peter Presbyterian Church member Rick Saenz posted "the Austin letters" on his Cumberland Books web site. However, Mr. Saenz posted no links to that specific page. The only people who were informed of that page, and the only people who would have known how to find it, were St. Peter members, and it was, therefore, from one of those St. Peter members that the source of a "leak" originated.
  • Now that "the Austin letters" have been leaked to the public there has been a great deal of internet chatter about it.
  • Several St. Peter members have argued that it is inappropriate for anyone to be publicly discussing the problems of their church, whether it be discussion by their own members, or former members, and particularly outsiders. Perhaps so.
  • The principle to be employed, as it applies to Elders, is a biblical one: Private sins should be confronted and dealt with privately, and if the sin is genuinely repented of, the matter must remain private. Public sins should be confronted and dealt with on the same scale as the knowledge and effect of the sin has spread.
  • "Dr. Sproul is not just some small town local pastor. He is an author, a man with a huge following, someone who is endorsed by others, such as Doug Phillips at Vision Forum, who has literally millions of people who hang on his every word. Dr. Sproul is a keynote speaker at homeschooling conferences where there are families who hear him speak and who pattern their lives and those of their children after him. As I admonished him last spring when I addressed his views of women bloggers, he is in the same situation as Peter Parker (Spider Man), with much power comes much responsibility. There are quite a few people who, like Sallie and David, have considered or are considering a move to Bristol. The Austins had listened to the Basement Tapes and made a 3000 mile move with their family only to end up disillusioned and shunned. Shouldn’t others who are also desiring to make a move there be warned?"

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