tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780601671146050692011-08-02T23:19:59.005-04:00A blog by PC USA members, for PC USA members, and particularly about PC USA issues written from a confessional, conservative, evangelical perspective.Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-78623035645023461842009-08-29T12:02:00.003-04:002009-08-29T12:08:15.894-04:00

Note: The footnotes from the adopted document have been rendered as endnotes in this HTML copy of the document. It is otherwise the same as the PDF document on the Beaver Butler Site (the link for that document is on the right-side rail of the main blog page). --- Albert StuartAs Amended and Adopted by Beaver-Butler Presbytery July 28, 2009 Open Theological Declaration to the PC(USA)

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-60521915785479927732009-08-03T12:58:00.002-04:002009-08-03T13:00:59.453-04:00

Declaration as Amended & Passed now available at Beaver-Butler WebsiteHey everybody, the final copy of the document has finally been posted!http://www.beaverbutler.org/FormsReportsPolicies/Policies/Theo.%20Declaration%20Final.pdf

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-56005319374875700882009-07-30T08:55:00.003-04:002009-07-30T09:37:36.422-04:00

Beaver-Butler Presbytery passesTheological Declaration concerning218th General AssemblyOkay, now for the "official" announcement.Sorry to all that this took so long. Pat just moved to a new call in Wenatchee, Wasington, I'm technically on vacation & Toby's been busy, too. Obviously word has gotten out into blog-land that the Declaration passed. Toby and I both put up mentions of it on our

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-29179944309769831532008-11-19T09:08:00.002-05:002008-11-19T09:45:40.767-05:00

What Happened Last NightBeaver-Butler Presbytery voted down the Open Theological Declaration at its November 17th meeting in Aliquippa, Beaver County, PA and referred it to a special task force empowered to look at the issues the Declaration confronts.Incoming presbytery moderator, the Rev. Connie Dunn was charged by the body last night with appointing members to this new task force and with

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-32023816592892409442008-11-17T19:08:00.002-05:002008-11-17T19:10:18.236-05:00

http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2754This is a link to the Book Jesus Christ: Savior & Lord This link is maintained by IVP, the publisher and is a mandatory link to our posted excerpt.Grace & Peace,+Rusty & Pat

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-69730716031601363702008-11-17T19:03:00.004-05:002008-11-17T19:06:45.723-05:00

Taken from Jesus Christ: Savior and Lord by Donald G. Bloesch. Copyright (c) 1997 by Donald G. Bloesch. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove IL 60515-1426. www.ivpress.comRelevant Excerpt fromJesus Christ: Savior and Lordby Donald G. Bloesch© 1997; IVP; Downers Grove, ILLCC #: BT202.B49ISBN: 0-8308-1414-0From Chapter 10: “The Finality of Christ” —

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-26514547799247722712008-11-12T22:53:00.003-05:002008-11-12T23:01:17.304-05:00

Here is a brief update on recent developments on the cusp of our Presbytery vote.We have eleven Sessions from Beaver Butler Presbytery who have endorsed the Declaration.We have ten minister members of Beaver-Butler Presbytery who have endorsed the Declaration.We have had several meetings with various evangelical groups within the Presbytery and are confident that the Declaration will pass on the

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-25324116734048044542008-10-21T10:44:00.002-04:002008-10-21T10:48:00.650-04:00

We are encouraging anyone interested to come by Park United Presbyterian Church in Zelienople on October 30th at 7:00 PM for an open discussion of the declaration and strategies related to it. Anyone who is in the area, whether in this Presbytery or not, is welcome to attend and participate in the discussion. We look forward to seeing you there!In ChristPat and RustyAddress:115 East Grandview

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-32236021523153948052008-10-16T22:52:00.002-04:002008-10-16T22:56:20.515-04:00

Is this the right time for Status Confessionis?An analysis of concerns and the practical outworkings of Advisory Opinion #22During the past few weeks Rusty and I have been receiving and fielding a number of comments and concerns via e-mail and face to face conversations, mostly with members of Beaver-Butler Presbytery but also with voices around the broader PC USA denomination. We have received

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-24277969175922867162008-10-01T12:58:00.002-04:002008-10-01T13:01:09.055-04:00

Our friend Sam from a neighboring Presbytery raised some very helpful questions that we believe would benefit everyone in this discussion. 1. This is an awfully risky tactic. Is it too risky and bordering on irresponsible?The "tactic" may be somewhat risky, as you observe. But, then life in the Gospel is inherently risky. Now, the reason we feel the risk is so fully justified is because of the

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-65024482811034038192008-10-01T12:52:00.002-04:002008-10-01T12:56:10.418-04:00

The conversation below was undertaken as commentary to the Declaration but we considered it important enough to give it is own post. Have a nice read!Anonymous said...Some questions about the "Open Declaration" have been rolling around in my mind for a while and I woke up with it on my mind, so I decided it was time to ask them. I presume this will be a typical majority rules vote. But this seems

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-17939507935806997612008-09-26T14:59:00.003-04:002008-09-26T15:06:33.878-04:00

I found a wonderful article that explains this the term status confessiones really well on the World Alliance of Reformed Churches website. Perhaps this will help in understanding the goal and redress we seek.http://www.warc.ch/where/22gc/study/13.htmlThe article is short and to the point yet it gives the historical background of the term, its present use, and its range of application today.In

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-47716501026175881902008-09-24T16:22:00.002-04:002008-09-24T16:29:32.355-04:00

We thought it would be helpful to the discussion to share with you some of the questions and concerns we received last evening to summarize the discussion from the meeting. Happy reading!Why is this not in the form of an overture?We grant that the normal form of communication between Governing Bodies is an overture. However, the 218th General Assembly pushed our entire communion into uncharted

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-7244077228479476432008-09-23T22:11:00.002-04:002008-09-23T22:16:01.865-04:00

Brothers & Sisters,Beaver-Butler Presbytery approved this declaration on first reading tis evening in a unanimous voice vote. Now the fun will commence as we prepare for the mark-ups and debate that will come between now and November. Nonetheless, God is faithful!Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father,

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-14238221803879813312008-09-23T10:44:00.003-04:002008-09-23T10:53:36.847-04:00

Friends and interested readers,Tonight Beaver-Butler Presbytery will give a first reading to the Declaration. The floor will be open to questions of the authors and the merits of the Declaration can be discussed. Should the presbytery decide to do so in its meeting tonight, the Declaration can go on to a second reading at the next meeting and then be adopted or rejected.Either way, the

Toby L. Brownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-59879579963286117992008-09-16T15:01:00.002-04:002008-09-16T15:13:26.138-04:00

Some answers to some common questions we have received about the declarationHow did we develop this declaration?The idea for it was born out of several conversations between Rusty and me. We then floated the idea at a gathering of evangelical Pastors from Beaver Butler Presbytery, our Executive Presbyter and an Elder in our Presbytery who happens to serve on COM. Rusty and I developed a draft

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-81208309021575555492008-09-11T10:06:00.003-04:002008-09-11T10:17:47.065-04:00

DIMINISHING DISTINCTIVES:A STUDY OF THE INGESTION OF THEUNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICABY THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BYTHE REV. ALBERT RHODES STUART PASTOR, HIGHLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SLIPPERY ROCK, PENNSYLVANIA PRESBYTERY OF BEAVER-BUTLER INTRODUCTION & THESIS: WHO WERE THE United Presbyterians of North America (UPCNA)?

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-82218903802952358892008-09-11T09:55:00.002-04:002008-09-11T09:58:52.047-04:00

GOD THE FATHER OR SHE THE FELLOW-TRAVELLER:A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF ORTHODOX & PROCESS VIEWSOF GOD THE CREATOR BYTHE REV. ALBERT RHODES STUART PASTOR, ROCK STREAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ROCK STREAM, NEW YORK PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA NOTE: This paper was originally written in 1994 in the wake of the WCC-sponsored "Re-imagining God Conference". Subsequently, I updated and

PrRustyStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493814499441469884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-58029789015850145482008-09-10T10:28:00.000-04:002008-09-11T16:37:13.351-04:00

The authors of this Declaration are the Reverends Albert Rhodes Stuart of Highland Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and Patrick McElroy of Park United Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, both members in good standing of Beaver-Butler Presbytery. This document is under consideration by Beaver Butler Presbytery at their September 23rd meeting per the recommendation

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-18232012727931038682008-09-10T10:21:00.000-04:002008-09-10T10:28:11.998-04:00

An open Theological Declaration to the PC (USA) Explicating Major Errors of the 218th General Assembly as a Church Council and the means of Their Redress Introductory RemarksThe Universal Church of Jesus Christ has long affirmed its role as the declaratory and magisterial Prophet in the world. This is universally acknowledged and accepted by all segments of the Body. After much prayer and

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478060167114605069.post-15728846285279204812008-09-10T10:16:00.000-04:002008-09-10T10:19:46.299-04:00

Hi folks! This site is for all those who are concerned with retaining confessional standing within the Presbyterian Church USA. We are particularly interested in generating comments and encouraging participation in "An Open Theological Declaration" under consideration by Beaver Butler Presbytery. We are looking forward to your feedback.

Pat McElroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771821006571086163noreply@blogger.com0