We the undersigned, as ministers, elders, and members of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), present and publish this open letter in order to express our deep concern with regard to many comments and posts which were published on the “Genevan Commons” Facebook group and which were recently made public.
Our concerns include these:
- We are greatly concerned that members of our church, including Aimee Byrd and Rachel Miller, along with others, have been subjected to disparaging comments which are “corrupt,” “foolish talking,” and “coarse jesting” (Eph 4:29; 5:5). Such words are never acceptable, and certainly not from officers of the church.
- We are greatly concerned that officers of the church, who have sworn to be accountable to “their brethren in the Lord” (4th ministerial ordination vow), would attempt to hide behind a group that pledges itself to secrecy, as if “locker room talk” could somehow be exempted from the accountability of the church on the basis of an alleged right to privacy. Indeed, our Lord warns us that “whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luk 12:3).
- We are greatly concerned about the overtly misogynistic tone of the critiques leveled at women authors, whom many Geneva Commons members have not honored as fellow image bearers (Gen 1:27), as fellow heirs of the grace of life (1 Pet 3:7), and as members of Christ’s body who are endowed with many glorious and useful gifts for the building up of the church (Eph 4:7). Rather than thoughtful critique, we are dismayed to find officers of the church deriding and mocking others. Such behavior is completely unacceptable towards our sisters in Christ. It is the opposite of love.
- The ninth commandment forbids “undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others” (WLC 145); therefore, we cannot remain silent after the public revelation of such unedifying words.
Such sins are an outrage and are extremely grievous in the sight of God. They bring shame and reproach on the church of Jesus Christ, and they encourage a culture of disrespect and derision in the very body which is to be known for its love (John 13:35). Rather than honoring women the way that Christ has honored his precious bride, these men have encouraged each other (and indirectly, the rest of the church and the world now that these words are made public) to disparage women.
To be clear, we the undersigned do not believe all members of the Geneva Commons group to be engaged in these sins, nor are we endorsing the books which they have attacked.
Neither does this letter constitute formal charges against those who have committed these sins. Rather, we hope that this letter will encourage those who have committed these sins to repent publicly and to seek reconciliation promptly with those whom they have wronged. A fraternal appeal must precede any judicial charges, with honest hope and sincere prayer that it will be heeded. We therefore appeal to these brothers, by the mercies of Christ, by his blood shed both for them, for us, and for those whom they have maligned, to listen, heed, and repent.
While this letter was composed quickly and only distributed for review to a short list of pastors and elders, we imagine others might be interested in having their name added. Any interested Orthodox Presbyterian officers should leave their name and title in the comments section to be added.
Mark Jenkins
Pastor, Providence Church, Madison, WI
John S. Shaw
Pastor, Presbytery of Philadelphia, Elkins Park, PA
Jeremiah Montgomery
Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC), Vandalia, OH
Richard Ellis
Pastor, Faith OPC, Elmer, NJ
Calvin D. Keller
Pastor, Harvest Presbyterian Church, Winston-Salem, NC
John W. Mahaffy
Pastor, Trinity Presbyterian Church of the OPC, Newberg, OR
Robert Arendale
Teacher, Presbytery of the Southwest, Houston, TX
Todd Bordow
Pastor, Cornerstone OPC, Houston, TX
Matthew Patton
Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC), Vandalia, OH
Jonathan Shishko
Pastor, Grace OPC, Columbus, OH
Al Tricarico
Pastor, Presbytery of Philadelphia, Willow Grove, PA
Francis VanDelden
Pastor, New Hope OPC, Frederick, MD
Dave Myers
Elder, New Hope OPC, Frederick, MD
Karl Koops
Elder, New Hope OPC, Frederick, MD
Jonathan Cruse
Pastor, Community Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo, MI
Mike Shields
Elder, Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church (OPC), Mount Airy, NC
Danny Patterson
Pastor, Second Parish, OPC Portland, ME
Luke Fawcett
Deacon, Resurrection Presbyterian Church, Matthews, NC
David Welliver
Elder, Mission OPCSaint Paul, MN
Ken Golden
Pastor, Sovereign Grace OPCDavenport, IA
Steven R. Hake
Teaching Elder, New Hope Presbyterian Church, Frederick, Maryland
John Livingston
Elder, Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Glenside, PA
Jonathan Holst
Pastor Westminster OPC, Hamden, CT
Matthew Barker
Pastor, Grace Reformed Church (OPC)
Zach Siggins
Associate Pastor, Living Hope Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg, PA
David King
Minister, presbytery of the Midwest
John M. Wise
Elder, New Hope OPC, Frederick, MD
John D. Van Meerbeke
Senior Pastor, Living Hope Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg, PA (OPC)
Gabriel Nave
RE, Harvest OPC, San Marcos, CA
Logan Murray
Ruling elder, Living Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC), Brunswick, ME
Soo Bin Lee
Elder, New City Fellowship, Grand Rapids, MI
Cole Brumley
Elder, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Medford, OR
Darryl A. Bradford Jr.
Elder, New City Fellowship (OPC), Grand Rapids, MI
Bruce G. Buchanan
Pastor, ChainOLakes OPC, Central Lake, MI
Chris Malamisuro
Pastor, Good Shepherd OPC (Cincinnati)
Robb Leatherwood
Ruling Elder, Calvin Presbyterian Church (OPC), Phoenix, AZ
Rev. Andrew Moody
San Antonio Reformed Church (OPC)
Bradney Lopez
Pastor, Iglesia Presbiteriana Sola Escritura OPC, Arroyo, Puerto Rico
Ryan Cavanaugh
Pastor Mission Church (OPC) Merrillville, Indiana
Joel D. Fick
Pastor, Redemption OPC, Gainesville, FL
Josh Vander Meulen
Ruling Elder, New City Fellowship OPC, Grand Rapids, MI
Andrew Myers
Associate Pastor, Trinity Church (OPC), Hatboro PA
Geoffrey L. Willour
Pastor, Lake Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Mentor, Ohio
Richard L. Guido
Ruling Elder, Providence Presbyterian Church (OPC), Huntsville, Alabama
Arthur J Fox
Pastor, Presbytery of Northern California
Brian Belh
Pastor, Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Rockford, IL (OPC)
Adam P. Vedra
Elder, Harvest OPC, Wyoming, MI
James Lim
Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church of Long Beach, CA
Josh McKamy
Pastor, Covenant OPC, Chambersburg PA
(mission work of Living Hope Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg, PA)
Gregory C. Miller
Elder, New City Fellowship, Grand Rapids, MI.
David Evert
Ruling Elder, Covenant OPC, LaGrange, GA
Chad Van Dixhoorn
Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary
Everett A. Henes
Pastor, Hillsdale OPC
Michael Borg
Pastor, Providence Presbyterian, Bradenton, FL (OPC)
C. Steven McDaniel, Jr.
Pastor, Providence OPC, Mantua, NJ
Matthew Stubbs
Ruling Elder, Providence Presbyterian Church (OPC), Huntsville, Alabama
Joshua A. Downs
Ruling Elder, Redemption OPC, Gainesville, FL
John Hartley
Pastor, Apple Valley OPC, Neenah, WI
Greg Hoadley
Pastor, Redeemer OPC, Airdrie, AB, Canada
Josh McKamy
Pastor, Covenant OPC, Chambersburg PA
(mission work of Living Hope Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg, PA)
Mark Sallade
Senior Pastor, Calvary OPC, Glenside, PA
Sam Logan
OPC Teaching Elder (Retired), Presbytery of New York and New England
Chuck Noren
Elder, Christ Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Marietta, GA
Sean Gregg
Ruling Elder, Trinity OPC, Hatboro, PA
William M. Hobbs
Retired minister, OPC
Ronald L. Beabout
Evangelist in the Presbytery of Central Pennsylvania of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Pastor of Grace and Truth OPC, Mifflintown, PA.
Tim Herndon
Pastor, Providence Presbyterian (OPC), West Lebanon, NH
David J. Gregg
Ruling elder, Calvary OPC, Middletown, PA
Peter Lee
Professor of Old Testament
Reformed Theological Seminary
Presbytery of Mid-Atlantic
Michael Haan
Elder (inactive)
Harvest OPC
Wyoming, MI
Aijalon Church
Associate Pastor, Covenant OPC, Sinking Spring, PA
John Muether
Ruling Elder, Reformation OPC, Oviedo, FL
Mark Graham
Ruling Elder (Covenant OPC, Grove City, PA)
Fellow, Greystone Theological Institute
Russell Hamilton
Senior Pastor, Pilgrim Church, Bangor, Maine
Dave Sarafolean
Pastor, Christ Covenant Church, Midland, Michigan
Kim Dang
Senior Pastor, Houston, TX
Lynne Hunter
Ruling Elder Harvest OPC, currently serving as a Deacon at Harvest OPC, Wyoming Michigan
Dean Ter Haar
Ruling Elder, Harvest OPC, Wyoming, MI
Brandon Wilkins
Pastor, Christ Covenant OPC, Crystal Lake, IL
Russell Hamilton
Presbytery of New York & New England
Pastor of Pilgrim OPC in Bangor, Maine
Mike Kearney
Pastor, Covenant OPC, Cedar Falls, IA
Shane Bennett
Pastor, Reformation OPC, Grand Rapids, MI
Dale Bekkering
Ruling Elder Harvest OPC in Grand Rapids MI
Bryan Dage
Pastor, Emmanuel OPC, Meaford, Ontario
Nathan Strom
Pastor, Bethel OPC, Oostburg, WI
Steven Johnson
Elder, Trinity Presbyterian Church – Medford, OR
Dave Werner
Ruling Elder, New City Fellowship OPC – Grand Rapids, MI
Josiah Stockwell
Ruling elder Pilgrim OPC, Bangor, ME
Andrew Barshinger
Pastor, Faith OPC, Elmer NJ
Michael Chism
Ruling elder, Bonita OPC, Bonita, CA
Darren Thole
Pastor Providence OPC, Madison/Huntsville, AL
Matthew Cotta
Minister, Pasadena OPC
Jeffrey C. Waddington
Pastor, Faith OPC Fawn Grove, PA
Jeffrey M. Scott
Pastor, Covenant Grace OPC, Roseburg, OR
Adam Wells
Pastor, Calvary OPC, Middletown, PA
Aimee Byrd 
Please add my name:
Mike Kearney
Pastor, Covenant OPC
Cedar Falls, IA
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Not since Mt. Carmel has there been such a clear divide between those who follow the baals of this age and those who follow Jehovah. Thank you for this letter.
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I agree that Aimee Byrd is someone about whom we need to be concerned.
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Bobby D – In my judgment, our concern regarding Mrs. Byrd, if it is to be truly biblical, must FIRST focus on insisting that she be treated fairly and graciously, something that , thus far, seems to have been sadly lacking in many of the responses to her and her writings.
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This is code for: “Since the boys have been mean to a girl, you can never challenge her again. Period. Or they can always deflect by mentioning the mean boys until the end of time.”
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Please add my name:
Bryan Dage
Pastor, Emmanuel OPC, Meaford, Ontario
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Please include my name as a signer to this letter.
Thank you for taking the lead on a response to these discussions. When would such talk EVER be allowed or appropriate in our households, churches, or session meetings?
Dave Werner
Ruling Elder, New City Fellowship OPC – Grand Rapids, MI
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First off, thanks to the OPC elders for speaking out. Second, do you know of any similar effort in the PCA? Ed Stetzer’s CT article mentioned only the OPC and the PCA (I see that Scott Clark mentions above that some URC men were also involved). I’m a woman in the PCA and have googled quite a bit without any luck.
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Hey Aimee, I hope it’s not too late to add myself to this:
Josiah Stockwell, Ruling elder Pilgrim OPC, Bangor, ME
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Well written. May we live this out in our churches. Andrew Barshinger, Pastor, Faith OPC, Elmer NJ
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I was hoping some PCA ministers might share an open letter as well, but I’ll add my name here until then. I really hate how you’ve been treated. It’s wrong and shameful. I know it grieves Christ. You’ve got more courage than I do to endure this kind of hateful speech. Joshua Burdette, Associate Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church PCA, Santa Barbara, CA
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Brothers who signed this, you have been hasty in judgment. The screenshot site is libelous and uncharitable. Please read my reply and consider removing your names. I welcome any of you to contact me directly. http://www.thedailygenevan.com/blog/2020/6/23/ReplyToOPCBrothers
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Mr. Spangler, speaking of libel and lack of charity, could you please comment on your recent sermon on Psalm 139 whre you call out signers of this letter and charge them with lying? You said they claim members of the Genevan Commons “hate women” but I’m not finding that anywhere in this open letter. Here is the sermon for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZawEvoQGqs
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Please explain point 3.
We are greatly concerned about the overtly misogynistic tone of the critiques leveled at women authors, whom many Geneva Commons members have not honored as fellow image bearers (Gen 1:27), as fellow heirs of the grace of life (1 Pet 3:7), and as members of Christ’s body who are endowed with many glorious and useful gifts for the building up of the church (Eph 4:7). Rather than thoughtful critique, we are dismayed to find officers of the church deriding and mocking others. Such behavior is completely unacceptable towards our sisters in Christ. It is the opposite of love.
What does “overtly misogynistic tone” and “opposite of love” mean? The opposite of love is…..? Misogynistic means hatred of women. I have no real idea what this Mr Spangler said, but statement 3 does speak for itself. Some kind of hatred is being clearly mentioned. I am not defending Mr Spangle. But you might want to reread point 3.
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I would like to have my name added to the list as a signer of this open letter from concerned ministers and elders in the OPC: Darren Thole, pastor Providence OPC, Madison/Huntsville, AL
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New to this as of today, so if this is well-known from the literature, forgive me.
Quick question: is the original tale-bearer known publicly? i.e. the supplier of the screen-shots?
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No, but I wouldn’t call the creator of the screenshot website a tale-bearer.
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I agree. “Tale-bearer” is sooooo KJV. The ESV uses the word “whisperer”.
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Please add me to the signers of this open letter.
Jeffrey C. Waddington
Pastor, Faith OPC Fawn Grove, PA
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I wish there was a way to personally thank all the men who signed this letter. I just ran into this post months after it was published but the pain from my own experience still feels fresh. I can’t imagine what hell it must feel like for you. May the Lord pour out His presence and strength on you every day, He is a true Father, an unrelenting Defender, and a constant Comforter to the weary faithful.
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Please add my name:
Jeffrey M. Scott, Pastor, Covenant Grace OPC, Roseburg, OR
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If this is still a live document please add my name as well. I’m recently ordained pastor at Calvary OPC in Middletown PA
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I regret signing this open letter, for the reasons I outline below. If possible, I respectfully request for my name to be removed.
I signed originally because I was grieved by some of the coarse language and hateful rhetoric as used by several ordained officers of Christ’s church in the Genevan Commons FB group. I agreed (and still do) with the concerns laid out in this open letter. In particular, I abhorred some of the slanderous language used in several online articles by one specific minister against Aimee Byrd and Rachel Miller, along with his indiscriminate attack on alleged “feminism” in the churches of NAPARC. His words damaged the good names of members in good standing in the OPC and disturbed the peace, purity, and unity of Christ’s church, in apparent violation of the Ninth Commandment and his ordination vows.
I also believe this individual erred by not addressing his concerns about the public doctrine of Aimee Byrd to her and, if necessary, to her session, by way of humble engagement. If any legitimate concerns remained about her orthodoxy, these would be better addressed in the courts of Christ’s church rather than online.
It is in that light and upon further reflection that I believe I was mistaken to sign this open letter. I am persuaded that it would have been fitting for any particular offenses against the good name of Ms. Byrd by an OPC officer to be addressed via complaint arising from her session. These matters could then be conveyed to the appropriate courts of jurisdiction according to the procedures outlined in our Book of Church Order.
Ms. Byrd would have had every right to defend her good name publicly in the meantime, while bringing her complaint through the courts of the church. Yes, this would have been a more cumbersome way to proceed – but that’s the biblical wisdom of our system of church government. Church courts should not be reactionary – and offenders should be dealt with pastorally throughout the extended process, in an effort to secure genuine repentance and maintain the honor of Christ’s name. In short, if we are convinced Presbyterians, it would have been more fitting for all of us to engage one another as such.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Tony Phelps
Living Hope OPC, Allentown PA
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I do not know how your group does things as far as your church government is concerned. With all of the pastors in you denomination signing this open letter, where in the “Book of Church Order” whatever that is mention open letters such as this. I do not see open letters such as this in scripture anywhere, but Presbyterians have a history of having rules that I do not claim to understand. Please do not take this as a statement on my part, but I have not found open letters as being historically a biblically backed thing to do.
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