Posted on 06/05/2019 7:21:11 AM PDT by Gamecock
Introduction
A controversy recently arose regarding a Martin Luther King Day event that was scheduled to take place at the facility of South City Church (SCC) on Sunday evening, January 20, 2019. One of the speakers at this event identified as transgendered and according to published material, was planning to “celebrate the lives and humanity” of the transgendered.
One of the primary organizers of the event was an independent not-for-profit group called Faith for Justice, which is directed by Michelle Higgins, who is a staff member of South City. Her father, TE Mike Higgins, who is both the Senior Pastor of South City Church and Dean of Students at Covenant Theological Seminary, served as a member of the board of directors of 23 Faith for Justice.
When word of this event circulated around the internet many PCA ruling and teaching elders (and their associated blogs and websites), along with some notable national evangelical commentators on religion, decried the event and accused the South City Session, the Missouri Presbytery, and by extension, Covenant Seminary, of failing to exercise proper oversight and control according to our biblical and confessional standards. Some of these accusations went viral and sparked controversy among the laity in many of our churches.
When the South City Session became aware of the planned appearance of the transgendered advocate (just a few days prior to the event), they rescinded the invitation for their building to host the event and issued a statement of explanation. As a result, the event moved to another church’s building and went on as planned.
At the January 2019 stated meeting of the Missouri Presbytery a committee was established to “inquire” of the South City Session regarding this controversy….
Recommendations
That the Session of South City Church be commended for their zeal to make Christ’s compassion and His redeeming work of reconciliation known in St. Louis City (where, we believe, God has strategically placed SCC); for their expeditious initial statement in response to the controversy; for their gracious response to some of the slanderous attacks they endured online; for their efforts to shepherd their congregation through this matter; and, for the positive steps they have undertaken in revising their building use policy.
That the Session of South City Church take the following actions and report back to the Ad Com of the Missouri Presbytery on their progress by the July 2019 Stated Meeting.
That they directly engage Ms. Higgins concerning her theological views in relation to homosexuality and transgender issues and, if necessary, take corrective steps.
That they make clear to their congregation their position on transgenderism and that “maleness and femaleness are not social constructs but are rather a fundamental part of who God created us to be.”
That they address deficiencies in their oversight of staff by developing a basic personnel manual that articulates the Sessions’ expectations regarding both ordained and non-ordained staff, especially in relation to associations, commitments, and activities that take place outside the direct oversight of the SCC Session.
That the Session of SCC formalize their building use policy and publish appropriate disclaimers concerning building use by outside groups in accordance with the spirit of Appendix F in the Book of Church Order.
GRPL Ping.
The Presbyterian Church and trannies plus the whole lot of people who refuse to look between their legs and accept their sex fries my azz. I grew up going to Sunday School every week at a Presbyterian Church in Plattsburgh, NY in the early 1950’s as I could walk there. My grandmother used to walk with me. Too many churches have accepted lezzies and fags. I refuse to go to any church that refuses to obey God’s word.
This is PCA, not PCUSA
I would like, also, to see an inquiry into Greg Johnson’s announcement of his homosexuality and him being a TE. If he is not practicing his sin, then I see no conflict. However, if he sees no sin in that action, I see a very large conflict and I expect the church to act.
I agree, Paul made it plain that people living in adultery could not be members of the church.
Yes, he did. These LGBT types want everything. Their evil ways are not just in Leviticus. The New Testament also has many places that Jesus told His disciples about man with man and woman with woman. I want no part of any church that does not teach/preach the Bible word for work. I think a study Bible beats many churches now.
The Presbyterian Church and trannies plus the whole lot of people who refuse to look between their legs and accept their sex fries my azz. I grew up going to Sunday School every week at a Presbyterian Church in Plattsburgh, NY in the early 1950’s as I could walk there.
PCA is not PCUSA. A lot of water under that bridge, since the early '50s.
I find it difficult to believe that TE Mike Higgins, who is the senior pastor AND serves on the board of directors of Faith for Justice did not understand what was happening. I wonder WHY the senior pastor and the Dean of Students at Covenant Theological Seminary would even be involved in an organization supporting transgenders? This group, run by his daughter, is also actively involved in Black Lives Matter. Personnally I think the Session should have gave him a choice of being senior pastor/dean or serving Faith for Justice.
This isn’t the first scandal linked to Michelle Higgins. The best spin you could put on it for Dean Higgins that that he appears to put nepotism over the Gospel.
Missouri Presbytery is a mess, between Black Lives Matter, Revoice, and now this.
While it isn’t going anywhere, an overture was sent to the General Assembly from Northwest Georgia Presbytery to cut Covenant Seminary loose from the denomination.
I’m sorry, is Covenant wrapped up in all of this?
Well, Covenant continues to employ their affirmative action Dean Higgins through all of the controversies.
The President of Covenant Seminary has put out a series of youtube videos where he basically says ‘nothing is our fault, we’ve been slandered, and we’re the victims here’ while not denouncing the ReVoicers or those trying to put women on the boards of the denominational agencies.
Here are some links:
Response to ReVoice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVvghdAgE9s (very belated response)
Response to Reclaim MLK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II1K2Kvm_7Y
Response to Overture 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuSg1By8Q0A
They accept LGBT Kiddie.
You are not up to date as both accept LGBT.
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