ARPTalk Update

There are two new pieces posted over at ARPTalk. In the first, Rev. Chuck Wilson asks if Erskine Seminary has adopted the motto of Claremont School of Theology ("an ecumenical and inter-religious institution") due to the no-longer-exclusively-Christian faith of students entering Erskine. Rev. Wilson asks:

Is ETS now an amazing, technicolor, stereophonic, and multifaith theological experience on the wide-screen of theological education?...It is no secret that ETS has been and is matriculating Jewish, Mormon, and Muslim clerics in the DMin program. Why is this being done?

Why, in deed? The an$wer to thi$ que$tion can be found at ARPTalk.

In the second article, Rev. Wilson asks, what does Calvin have to say about 1 Corinthians 6? Rev. Wilson examines Calvin's comments on the passage, looking for some sort of justification for those who are in the ARP and who have sued the ARP to get their way with Erskine. The great theologian of Geneva gives no comfort to these usurpers, as the article points out.

Head on over to ARPTalk to read these two articles.

Presbyterian Paganism in the ARP?

Rev. Chuck Wilson has posted a new article over at ARPTalk asking why the Erskine lawsuit has not yet been dropped? If you remember, a compromise agreement was reached near the conclusion of Synod in June which basically said, the ARP will back away from trying to restructure the Board of Erskine, if the lawsuit against the denomination is dropped. The Synod approved this compromise. It's been a month and a half, and the lawsuit has not been dropped. What is preventing Taylor, Young and Chesnut (the three men who brought the suit) from dropping it right now?

Go read Rev. Wilson's article The Commission Was Right! The Erskine Lawsuit is Still Active! to hear his opinion on the subject.

Charges Filed Against Dr. Hering of Erskine

The Aquila Report is reporting that charges have been filed against Dr. Hering by the session of his church (Unity ARP in Piedmont, NC). The charges are that Dr. Hering, who was party to the lawsuit against the ARP, failed "to promote the unity, peace, purity and prosperity of the church" (the irony of the session of Unity ARP filing this charges is not lost on me).

I am glad to see this happening. Not because I am happy to see discord in the body of Christ, but because this is the appropriate action to take against all those who are in the ARP and who are participants in this lawsuit. I do pray that Dr. Hering repents, and I encourage you to pray the same. I also pray that the ARP has the fortitude to see this issue through to the end. We are still at the beginning stages of what could be a very long fight for Erskine.

ARP Appeals Erskine Injuction

Attorneys for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church have filed an appeal to the preliminary injunction issued in the Erskine case. Read The Aquila Report's article here:

ARP Synod files strongly worded appeal to set aside the Preliminary Injunction in the Erskine College case.

Judge Extends Restraining Order in Erskine Case

Seems like the rumor has been confirmed:

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/apr/06/judge-extends-restraining-order-erskine-case/

Edited to add: The Aquila Report has also picked up the story now. Read their article here.

Erskine Ruling?

There are rumors going around that the judge has issued a ruling in the temporary restraining order case against the ARP. I have not seen primary sources on this yet, but Pastor Tim Phillips is reporting it, and I trust him. I still want to know details, though. (Google News search turns up nothing, at this time.)

This is disheartening, but we should keep a few things in mind:

1. This is just the latest move in this legal battle. It is not the end.
2. Even if the judge had ruled in favor of the ARP, it would not have been the end of the issue, since the anti-ARP faction has made it clear that no matter what the outcome was in this restraining order case, they were going to push forward (see the "Alumni for Erskine" Facebook group for such statements).
3. We ought to continue praying, as this is far from over.

I will let you know if and when I can find any details about all this. One thing is certain, this year's Synod is sure to be interesting.

ARPTalk, E-mail 3

Rev. Chuck Wilson has published the latest ARPTalk E-mail. You can read it here. In it, he raises some interesting questions regarding the court proceedings from this week, as well as the motivations of those former Erskine Board members who are suing the ARP. Take for example the seemingly contradictory testimonies of Drs. Young and Taylor. Dr. Young affirmed that Erskine was a Christian college. But, says, Rev. Wilson:

In contrast, Dr. Taylor stated that the Erskine Board/College is NOT a “Christian institution.” If that is the case, that news is going to be a surprise to the General Synod of the ARP Church. The Editor seems to remember that Erskine trustees are asked to give assent to a document concerning adherence to evangelical Christina faith.

The disagreement of Drs. Taylor and Young on this matter was interesting to hear. Neither man seems to understand the stated mission of Erskine.

Rev. Wilson goes on to write:

The attorneys for Drs. Taylor and Young and Mr. Chesnut contended that “irreparable harm” had been done to them and the other trustees who were removed from the Board by the action of General Synod. The nature of this “irreparable harm” then became clear from the testimony of Drs. Taylor and Young: THEIR FEELINGS WERE HURT because they were not chosen to serve on the Interim Board. Is this nothing more than a nuisance lawsuit by two angry ARP elders against the very Church to which they have vowed submission!

Head on over to ARPTalk to read the whole thing.

A More Complete Story of Yesterday's Court Proceedings

Here is a more detailed account of what went on at yesterday's court date for the ARP and Erskine:

Complete Story: Erskine College TRO hearing continued for up to 10 days

HT: The Aquila Report

Erskine Court Decision within 10 Days

Looks like we will have to wait no more than 10 more days to hear the judge's ruling in the case of the temporary restraining order by the Erskine Alumni Association against the ARP. Per this report, it seems there was new evidence presented by both sides today and both sides agreed that more time was needed to respond. So, we are waiting for the judge's ruling, which will be in a maximum of 10 days. Continue praying!

HT: The Aquila Report

Latest Issue of ARPTalk is out

Included in this issue is:

(27.1) LETTERS AND THINGS

(27.1.1) Resolution of Commendation of the Investigatory Commission on Erskine College and Seminary Passed by Northeast Presbytery (ARP)

(27.1.2) Letter from Andy Putnam – The Editor wishes to thank the Rev. Andy Putnam for his clarifications.

(27.1.3) A Love Letter Straight from Bill Crenshaw’s Heart – The Editor has heard of Dr. Crenshaw’s love notes, and now he is the recipient of one of them.

(27.2) A FEW THOUGHTS CAPTURED FROM FACEBOOK – These leave the Editor nearly speechless.

(27.3) A JUSTIFICATION FOR LAWSUITS: Paul and the Issue of Litigation in 1 Corinthians 6, by James Hering, PhD – This article in Erskine Action is nothing more than self-serving tripe in a pitiful attempt to cover disloyalty to the ARP Church. Does Dr. Hering make legitimate points? Of course! However, the main point of his writing must not be missed. The promulgation of such nonsense by Dr. Michael Bush, the blog-master on the Erskine Theological Seminary website, makes it abundantly clear that drastic and far-reaching changes at Erskine Seminary are necessary.

(27.4) AN OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF SYNOD BY DOUG PETERSEN: Reflections on the Special Commission on Erskine College and the March 2-3, 2010 Called Meeting of General Synod, by Rev. Doug Petersen – Incredible!

(27.5) A CONCLUDING PRAYER

Get it here.

Erskine and ARP News Roundup, Part 2

As the week winds down, I feel it necessary to highlight the week's news regarding Erskine and the ARP.

Rev. Wilson at ARPTalk, posted another e-mail on Monday: ARPTalk(E-Mail-2)

The details of the suit against the ARP have been posted on the Aquila Report: Erskine College, Plaintiff, vs. General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian General Synod, Inc., Defendant

That same day, the Erskine Alumni Association joined the suit, as reported here: Erskine Alumni Association joins lawsuit against ARP Synod

The Greenwood, SC newspaper reported on some of the details of the Called Meeting of the ARP Synod, that had heretofore not been made public: Synod meeting began Erskine power struggle

Rev. Fred Greco, Senior Pastor of Christ Church PCA in Katy, TX published an opinion piece in The Aquila Report based on 1 Corinthians 6: What is at Risk in the Erskine Lawsuit?

In what seems to be a direct reply to Rev. Greco, Dr. Hering, a professor at Erskine Seminary, wrote a paper on 1 Cor. 6: Dr. Hering examines litigation in 1 Corinthians 6

On Tuesday, the Erskine Board voted to drop the suit: Erskine Board affirms need to find answers, but votes to drop lawsuit

But, then the Alumni Association voted to go forward with the suit: Christian College Trustee Withdraws Suit Against Founding Denomination

A couple of Erskine Alumni expressed their disgust with this action of the Alumni Association. One response is here: An Open Letter to Mr. J. David Chestnut, President of the Erskine College Alumni Association, Regarding Erskine College-v-ARP Synod

And another, though much, much more brief, is here: Letter to Alumni Association

On Wednesday, Dr. Richard Burnett, professor of Systematic Theology at Erskine Seminary wrote an opinion piece defending Erskine: Has Erskine 'gone secular'? (my own thoughts on this piece, as well as comments from others, can be found here and here.)

Also, on Wednesday, Ken Wingate, Ruling Elder in the ARP and member of the Moderator's Commission which investigated Erskine, was the guest on the "Knowing the Truth" radio program. You can listen to the audio here: Knowing the Truth, Audio (the program was entitled "Restoring Erskine").

The Heidelblog mentioned the radio program, and got some comments on it:
The Latest on the ARP/Erskine Saga-Wed 1PM (Eastern) Live On Air

Christianity Today published a piece on the ARP/Erskine issue (although, to be honest, it didn't include much new information): Fight Between Erskine College and Its Denomination Will Head to Court

Finally, in what seems an appropriate end to the week's news regarding this issue, the Moderator of the ARP, Dr. John de Witt has expressed his shock at the way events have unfolded: Moderator of ARP Synod breaks silence; expresses shock at pending lawsuit

Erskine Alumni Association Joins Suit against ARP

The latest update on the Erskine lawsuit against the ARP:

The Index-Journal: Erskine Alumni Association joins lawsuit against ARP Synod