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
Danny Patterson
Pastor, Second Parish, OPC Portland, ME
I’m thankful to read this. I hope repentance is forthcoming from those who wronged you and Rachel, Aimee.
Well said and well done.
Very encouraging open letter
Luke Fawcett
Deacon, Resurrection Presbyterian Church, Matthews, NC
For a few years, I was a fellow of Greystone and the Associate Director of the Lydia Center. I resigned my positions at Greystone in part because of the associations I saw forming. At that time and since then, I have communicated my concerns to the president and other members of Greystone about some of the men in Genevan Commons. Now that the nature of Genevan Commons has come further into the light, I call on the Board of Greystone to denounce publicly the hateful comments in Genevan Commons. I know that my former colleagues at Greystone, including the president, have done much to stand with and support women. I implore my former colleagues to reject publicly the behaviour of Genevan Commons’ members, which is the antithesis of Greystone’s ethos, the ideals they claim to hold.
I am also a former member of the OPC. I am so thankful to see the names of men I know on this letter. I hope other OPC officers will sign this letter.
We are very encouraged by this. Many others continue to denounce the despicable behavior. I pray it will continue to bring to light all the darkness.
Pastor Westminster OPC, Hamden, CT. I add my name to this. Any further comments that I could leave have already been directly passed on a regular author at G.C.
Rev. Doug Serven
City Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Matthew Barker, Pastor, Grace Reformed Church (OPC)
As pastor of Living Hope OPC in Allentown PA, I would like to add my name to this open letter – Pastor Tony Phelps.
As pastor of Living Hope OPC in Allentown, PA, I’d like to request that my name be added to this open letter.
Thank you,
Pastor Tony Phelps
Thank you to those officers who wrote this! I’d like to sign.
Zach Siggins
Associate Pastor, Living Hope Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg, PA
John Livingston, Elder, Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Glenside, PA
Steven R. Hake
Teacher, New Hope Presbyterian Church, Frederick, Maryland
Add me please. Matthew E. Cotta, Minister, Pasadena OPC.
So grateful for this letter, and deeply troubled by the words and deeds of men who necessitated it. Light exposes the darkness.
Everett A. Henes, Pastor, Hillsdale OPC, Hillsdale, Michigan
[to my previous comment please add my endorsement signature:
John D. Van Meerbeke
Senior Pastor
Living Hope Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg, PA (OPC)
Please add my signature.
Rev. Andrew Moody
San Antonio Reformed Church (OPC)
This is a start, but the situation with Geneva Commons is likely much more serious. Those in it who are sexually verbally assaulting other women from a secret group are living a secret life, a life of deceit, which shows no repentance, and perhaps no regeneration. Those who talk with such ease about sexual subjects are likely involved in much more of it in other places. Do their wives know of their involvement with this? If not, again, more secrecy and deceit. This deceitfulness is disqualification from office, even with repentance and reconciliation. All involved should resign their positions immediately.
Thankful for this letter as a former OPC member, and also a former Geneva Commons group member who was appalled at the rhetoric and attacks towards you and others. I think I was removed from the group for trying to defend you.
Please add my endorsement:
Robb Leatherwood
Ruling Elder, Calvin Presbyterian Church (OPC), Phoenix, AZ
Thank you brothers for the letter. I agree wholeheartedly with your concerns.
Chris Malamisuro
Pastor, Good Shepherd OPC (Cincinnati)
Bruce G. Buchanan
Pastor, ChainOLakes OPC, Central Lake, MI
Please add my endorsement:
Darryl A. Bradford Jr.
Elder, New City Fellowship (OPC), Grand Rapids, MI
This is an excellent response. In my formal capacity as Rev. Dr. D. Thomas Owsley (Retired), I would sign this letter too!
As an elder in the OPC, I whole heartedly endorse this letter
Cole Brumley
Elder
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Medford, OR
Thankful for this letter. Praying for repentance and reconciliation.
You can add my signature endorsement.
Soo Bin Lee
Elder
New City Fellowship
Grand Rapids, MI
Please add my endorsement signature:
Logan Murray
Ruling elder
Living Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Brunswick, ME
Brothers, Thank you for taking the time to write this and having the courage to post it. I wholeheartedly concur.
Gabriel Nave, RE, Harvest OPC, San Marcos, CA
John M. Wise
Elder, New Hope OPC
Frederick, MD
Wow this grieves me. Have these elders & pastors forgotten that the very LAST step in discipline is to publicly denounce the guilty party to the rest of the church? They have skipped a few steps! We are all sinners-we do not publicly excommunicate all sinners. We go to them and offer the mercy of Christ and the ministry of reconciliation. Skipping straight to the step of excommunication is one of the most unloving, worldly things that I’ve seen in my (admittedly short) time in the church.
Hi Natalie, I think a quick clarification is order. No one has been excommunicated. What has happened is Jesus has revealed sinful behavior in a very public way – just like he promises to do. Our response to the Lord’s work of this public exposure is now a public call for them to repent in real, tangible, obvious ways: with words and deeds. This is actually the mercy of Christ to them: He’s exposed their sins and he’s amplifying his call to them to turn from wickedness and live. It’s also the mercy of Christ to those they’ve been verbally abusing because it’s at least started the process of defending them.
How do open letters fit in with the Matthew 18 process?
Hi Natalie,
This letter condemns behaviour. It asks the Church to address bad behaviour.
There is nothing unbiblical about it.
Graham
Thank you Graham & Matthew, I very much appreciate your response.
We have recently joined the OPC and I have been a member of Genevan Commons for years. I have not seen ungodly behavior from any of the elders or ministers in there. I have seen Shane Anderson ask repeatedly for people to report any comments to him so that repentance can occur. I have seen people publicly reach out and ask for reconciliation & have received no response. I urge you to contact the pastors allegedly involved directly, for the sake of the church. Today I spent some time reading the OPC book of church order and am completely at a loss as to how it’s okay to publicly condemn people as guilty before a trial. I would love some direction as to where that is, so my mind can rest. Thank you.
Open sin calls for a public response.
This is not excommunication. It’s not similar to excommunication.
Andrew Myers
Associate Pastor, Trinity Church (OPC), Hatboro PA
Josh Vander Meulen
Ruling Elder, New City Fellowship OPC, Grand Rapids, MI
I concur. Please add my name – Pastor Joel D. Fick, Redemption OPC, Gainesville, FL.
Please add my signature to the letter
Ryan Cavanaugh
Pastor Mission Church (OPC) Merrillville, Indiana
Very thankful for this clear evidence of kind, decent and courageous men in the OPC.
I don’t know if my earlier signature was recorded. I would like to add my endorsement of the open letter as an OPC minister.
James Lim
Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church of Long Beach, CA
Please add my name to this letter.
Adam P. Vedra
Elder @ Harvest OPC, Wyoming, MI
Please add my name to this letter:
Brian Belh, Pastor, Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Rockford, IL (OPC)
Please add my name to this document. I am a ministerial member of the Presbytery of Northern California
Richard L. Guido, Ruling Elder, Providence Presbyterian Church (OPC), Huntsville, Alabama
Please add my endorsement signature:
Geoffrey L. Willour
Pastor, Lake Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Mentor, Ohio
So glad to read this And see the many names that have endorsed it.
Sad to learn of the circumstances necessitating this letter, but thankful to see it. Please add my endorsement.
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.
Please add my name. I support this letter.
Why is it so difficult to be specific with what was actually said and how it was not just debatable or misguided but sinful? The letter comes across as saying that some women had their feelings hurt. Maybe it was more serious than this, but how would we know, since apparently not a single one of all the men who wrote and signed this letter suggested to the others that specificity is required when rebuking sin?
I would like to add my name to the signatories.
James Lim
Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church of Long Beach (OPC)
Is there a link to these newly made public Genevan Commons posts and comments?
Glad to add my name to this letter
David Evert
Ruling Elder, Covenant OPC
LaGrange, GA
I am not sure if my comment went through before. I would like to put my name on this letter.
Everett A. Henes
Pastor, Hillsdale OPC
Please add my name to the list: Michael Borg pastor of Providence Presbyterian, Bradenton, FL (OPC)
Thank you.
To state the obvious…as a personal reminder.
i ought to pray that the Spirit uses this letter. Because, while I might be cynical, he is not.
And I ought to pray for the youngsters influenced by that blog.
And pray that the victims of harassment are healed and refreshed.
Graham
C. Steven McDaniel, Jr.
Pastor
Providence OPC
Mantua, NJ
Amen and hallelujah! This is the courageous response to what has occurred we all wanted to see. But the next step is real accountablity. If these men get away with it now without any real repercussions, it will teach others that it’s okay, that they’ll only receive a slap on their wrists. I hope those who need to be strong will find the strength in this time of need to stand up and defend the honor of their sisters. It’s time the church was purged of this evil.
Please add my endorsement to the letter.
Matthew Stubbs
Ruling Elder, Providence Presbyterian Church (OPC), Huntsville, Alabama
Thank you for this open letter. It puts into words my own convictions and concerns. I read some of the offending texts or tweets from the Geneva Commons that gave rise to this and other responses, and it is clear to me that many of these messages do disservice to the idea of a commons, reflect no respectful way of communicating about women, offer no model of how to speak about sisters in Christ, and bring dishonour to the heritage of Geneva.
Please add my name as a signatory to this letter.
Your servant in Christ
Chad Van Dixhoorn
Professor of Church History
Westminster Theological Seminary
Please add my name:
Joshua A. Downs, Ruling Elder, Redemption OPC, Gainesville, FL
Endorsed. John Hartley, Pastor, Apple Valley OPC, Neenah, WI
Please add my name:
Greg Hoadley
Pastor, Redeemer OPC, Airdrie, AB, Canada
Very relieved to see that there are faithful men that call our brothers to repentance. Continuing to pray that they will see their error and seek peace.
these types of demeaning comments, especially in secret (John 3:19-21), give permission to others that hear these and have a similar mentality, to denigrate women as well… sadly, these types of comments indicate a porn mentality toward women, and then using distortions of scripture to justify those perverted attitudes… I would suggest the next step is confiscating computers and other devices of these leaders and checking for porn history, etc if there is no public repentance from those who made these comments…
Left unchecked, the men to whom this letter is addressed will eventually wound their sheep. I know because I was once just like them and left carnage in my wake. May God teach them to be loving or, such as he did for me, remove from them their office.
Please add my name to this list: Sam Logan; OPC Teaching Elder (Retired), Presbytery of New York and New England
Please add my name as a signatory to this letter.
Mark Sallade, Senior Pastor, Calvary OPC, Glenside, PA
Please add my name as a signatory:
Mark Sallade
Senior Pastor, Calvary OPC, Glenside, PA
I wasn’t going to subject myself to reading into the background material for this letter. But, observing the growing number of men among the signatories who have my deep respect, I did do the “homework”. Based on what I’ve seen myself, I can now request that my name be added to this list of signatures.
David J. Gregg, ruling elder, Calvary OPC, Middletown, PA
Please add my name. Tim Herndon, Pastor, Providence Presbyterian (OPC), West Lebanon, NH
Well, now we know which pastors and churches are into feminism, a heresy that is destroying the church as we speak. I hope I’m around when this all gets worked through and those churches are just worshipping as the State tells them to. I’m glad Genevan Commons is making sure people know about the heretical stuff going on out there. These pastors here will have to answer to God someday for their backing of heresy.
Hi! I of course don’t know you. Just want to suggest that if you believe the signatures of this letter to be feminists and heretics, you may be in the wrong denomination, as a vast number of the pastors of the church, including leading lights from various committees and the like, have signed. If you think heresy is that rampant, you’re probably in the wrong church.
Lance,
I noticed you have hidden your name. The other men writing in response have had the moral courage to not only make a comment, but to sign their full name and church affiliation.
I noticed you did not do the same.
Liz Ledger
OPC member
Grace OPC
Vienna, VA
I also desire to add my signature to the Letter.
I am an Evangelist in the Presbytery of Central Pennsylvania of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and am Pastor of Grace and Truth OPC, Mifflintown, PA.
Thanks to those who drafted this right-minded note. The lack of civility in the public square of late is unhappily among us. The meanness of some of the remarks as coming from professing followers of the Savior is so very disturbing, I have just this morning been made aware of this material. May our Lord forgive us all when such things are found by His searching eye and may His merciful hand draw us back in remorse to Himself. Please add my name to this letter.
William M. Hobbs, retired minister, OPC
Weak response by the leadership. It should be investigated and church sanctions brought forward.
I wish you all the best and am deeply grieved.
This is not a weak response. It is a first response. A call to repentance is always an appropriate first response.
Please add my name
Sean Gregg,
Ruling Elder, Trinity OPC, Hatboro, PA
I want to add my signature to the OPC Open Letter.
Chuck Noren
Elder, Christ Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Marietta, GA
Please add my name to the open letter:
John Muether
Ruling Elder, Reformation OPC, Oviedo, FL
Aijalon Church
Associate Pastor, Covenant OPC, Sinking Spring, PA
Greetings,
Please kindly consider adding my name to (and endorsement of) “An Open Letter from Concerned Ministers and Elders in the OPC.”
In Christ,
Michael Haan
Elder (inactive)
Harvest OPC
Wyoming, MI
Thank you for putting this response. It articulated some of my reactions to the visceral words shared by men in our church. There is no justification for such language. It would be better to hear direct challenges to exegesis and theology than name-calling. Please put my name down as a signatory.
Peter Lee
Professor of Old Testament
Reformed Theological Seminary
Presbytery of Mid-Atlantic
You may disagree with our opinion that this online content was inappropriate but accusing all those of us who hold that view of heresy is unwarranted. It’s changing the subject to fit your narrative, which seems to be that any criticism of Genevan Commons content reflects a doctrinal downgrade. In fact, how we speak of our brothers and sisters in Christ is crucially important, because they are image bearers of Christ. Avoiding labeling those with whom we differ will go a long way to bringing peace. I don’t know you personally and I’m certainly not judging your motives or the sincerity of your beliefs, just asking you to avoid the broad brush stroke with which you apply the charge of heresy.
Please add my name to the Open Letter
Mark Graham, Ruling Elder (Covenant OPC, Grove City) and Fellow (Greystone Theological Institute)
Please add my name-
Aijalon Church
Associate Pastor, Covenant OPC, Sinking Spring, PA
Please add my name to the letter
Lynne Hunter
Ruling Elder Harvest OPC
currently serving as a Deacon at Harvest OPC
Please add my name to this letter.
Kim Dang
Senior Pastor, Houston, TX
Dave Sarafolean, Pastor
Christ Covenant Church
Midland, Michigan
Please add my name to this list of signatures.
Many thanks!
Russell Hamilton
Senior Pastor, Pilgrim Church, Bangor, Maine.
Please add my name to the Open Letter
Dean Ter Haar, Ruling Elder (Harvest OPC, Wyoming, MI)
Please add my name – Dale Bekkering, Ruling Elder Harvest OPC in Grand Rapids MI
I’m a little late in coming to this, but I had to due my research.
Please Add my name to the list:
Shane Bennett
Pastor, Reformation OPC, Grand Rapids, MI
Please add my name –
Mike Kearney
Pastor, Covenant OPC, Cedar Falls, IA
Dear Aimee,
So disturbed by the words used against you. Please add my name and signature to this letter. Thank you for your efforts to push us to think and debate an important area of living the Christ-filled life.
Russell Hamilton
Presbytery of New York & New England
Pastor of Pilgrim OPC in Bangor, Maine
I would like to add my name.
Brandon Wilkins
Pastor, Christ Covenant OPC, Crystal Lake, IL
To all the men who have signed this letter, please consider reading the attacked books.
While, as the letter indicates, our signatures don’t reflect agreement or disagreement with the content of the books, I couldn’t agree more with your recommendation: I’ve read Aimee’s three most recent books, and all three are excellent. There are many things worth thoughtfully engaging with, even if you don’t agree with every conclusion. I recommend them often.
Melissa, I’m just now reading through the 118 comments, and so glad to see you are one of the women engaged with thinking about this. Certainly the content of Aimee’s writing matters. However these brothers are responding to the ‘ad hominem’attacks against the author, not the content of her writing. It would seem that we as women in Christ ought to expect this kind of nationwide deep expression of concern and request for apologies when a woman is being treated in this manner. We are not reading ‘slips of the tongue’ over and over again in that thread. It is a pattern of degrading speech. I have been a member of a Reformed fb group of thousands of women fir several years. The moderators are godly women who work hard to ensure that our collective conversation remains charitable towards all; including men with whom we might deeply disagree. Sarcasm may be in order as a literary device at times, but not directed at a person to demean them; rather within the context of discussing the ideas. This is a deep obligation to honor the image of God within another person. We are living in an age where illiberal people want to silence people with whom they disagree. This cancel culture is not pleasing to God. He has equipped us greatly with His truth and so we can civilly have deep discussions with those whom we do not see eye to eye, without fear. I am hoping many OPC, PCA and other Reformed women engage with this issue.
Please add my name:
Mike Kearney
Pastor, Covenant OPC
Cedar Falls, IA
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.
I agree that Aimee Byrd is someone about whom we need to be concerned.
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.
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.”
Please add my name:
Bryan Dage
Pastor, Emmanuel OPC, Meaford, Ontario
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
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.
Hey Aimee, I hope it’s not too late to add myself to this:
Josiah Stockwell, Ruling elder Pilgrim OPC, Bangor, ME
Well written. May we live this out in our churches. Andrew Barshinger, Pastor, Faith OPC, Elmer NJ
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
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
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
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.
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
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?
No, but I wouldn’t call the creator of the screenshot website a tale-bearer.
I agree. “Tale-bearer” is sooooo KJV. The ESV uses the word “whisperer”.
Please add me to the signers of this open letter.
Jeffrey C. Waddington
Pastor, Faith OPC Fawn Grove, PA
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.
Please add my name:
Jeffrey M. Scott, Pastor, Covenant Grace OPC, Roseburg, OR
If this is still a live document please add my name as well. I’m recently ordained pastor at Calvary OPC in Middletown PA
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
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.
Dear Brother,
I agree. I would never have signed the open letter. I find the open letter to be quite troubling. Would John Calvin, John Knox, Alexander Henderson, George Gillespie, Samuel Rutherford, Andrew Melville, or the Apostle Paul have ever signed it?? I can assure you that none of these faithful ministers of God would have ever considered condoning Byrd’s ministry or signing the open letter. From the open letter and from her website, it is pretty clear that MS. Byrd has usurped authority. I tremble and fear that the OPC and PCA may be starting to slide down the slippery slope of feminism. I hope that will never happen. Beware and take note of the apostate PCUSA, ECO, and the EPC. What a travesty they have become! I see no biblical basis for MS. Byrd’s alleged “ministry.” Yes, I am years late to this. Nonetheless, it grieves me.
For Christ’s Crown and Covenant,
Fred