Thursday, February 02, 2006
R.C. Sproul, Jr., Defrocked
The Pearcey Report has just revealed that R.C. Sproul Jr. (son of well known pastor and theologian R.C. Sproul), along with the other elders of Saint Peter Presbyterian Church, have been defrocked by the Westminster Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly. According to the report, "Among the reasons for the disciplinary action are charges of spiritual abuse of members and attendees of St. Peter Presbyterian Church, as well as financial irregularities that include the 'identity theft' of another church’s Federal Tax I.D. number." The Declaratory Judgment is available here.
What is the response of the Saint Peter Presbyterian Church's elders? The Highlands Study Center web site states:
As many of you have read, Dr. Sproul Jr., along with the entire session of Saint Peter Presbyterian Church, has heard from the moderator of the Westminster Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Assembly, that they have been deposed from their offices as elders in the church. This action was taken without a trial, indeed without even a conversation. We disagree with the action taken, and are considering our options as to how to respond. What we will not do is take shots against our accusers over the internet, and would encourage you not to do the same. Please be patient, and please pray for the peace and purity of the church.
We should all take these words to heart and pray for this entire situation.
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7 Comments:
We certainly need to be in prayer for the church and the men involved and their families. But, I wonder what recourse, if any, the church's elders have in Presbyterian polity? Any thoughts?
I am by no means an expert in Presbyterian ecclesiology, but I assume these elders could appeal the decision of the Westminster Presbytery to the General Assembly itself. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
The action taken by the presbytery was done base on the admission of the session of St. Peter. According to the BCO a trial was not neccessary on the items listed. A future trial will be held on other charges not listed. Please pray for all involved and that these men will repent.
On the same site where you posted a link to the RPCGA's judgment letter I found some interesting comments in response to Sproul's statement on his web site at Inferences and Innuendos
1. It was said at another website I read this morning that 'Stanley Howard' is a fictitious name, and is someone running around the Internet creating links to questionable sites pertaining to Sproul. You might want to check into that.
2. St. Peter's claim that there "wasn't a trial, not even a conversation", is false. In the tgime that has passed since they posted that falsehood, they've (the session) has confessed guilt to the denomination which defrocked them. Sproul Jr. already knew the group's stand on paedocommunion when he joined.
This is the sort of dishonesty that might explain why some of the former members of St. Peter's are over-eager to post absolutely everything that comes out about this sad scenario. I think they very much mistrust that church's leadership, and as a result the complaintants want everything (rightly or wrongly) out in public view.
Jack said "It was said at another website I read this morning that 'Stanley Howard' is a fictitious name, and is someone running around the Internet creating links to questionable sites pertaining to Sproul. You might want to check into that."
A guy by the name of "Jack" has the nerve to say I'm the one using a fictitious name? You've got to be kidding! And you say I'm creating links to "questionable sites"? If that's so then you'll also have to blame news columnists like Richard Pearcey of the Pearcey Report for creating links to "questionable sites" since it was from him that I got my information.
Before you make any more slams like that "Jack" you'd better check your facts a little more carefully.
John, If it's okay I'd like to post some links to several articles relevant to all these goings on that might be helpful to your readers:
RC Sproul Jr Defrocked
RC Sproul Jr Defrocking Documents
The Austin Family Shunned
RC Sproul Jr Tax Fraud
RC Sproul Jr and the Paedo-Communion "Controversy"
Clearing RC Sproul Jr's Name
RC Sproul Jr Speaks On Honor
Can RC Sproul Jr Be Restored?
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