Broken Vows

  One unfortunate consequence of the divided character of American presbyterianism is presbyteries so geographically large as to make cooperation and mutual support practically impossible.  I am a member of the Presbytery of the Dakotas, which includes Colorado, Utah, Wyoming (if the OPC had any congregations there), North and South Dakota, and the little slice of Iowa which contains G.I. Williamson.  Obviously, there is very little our congregation can do, besides prayer, to help a congregation in South Dakota, no matter how dire its particular straits.  I cannot help but conclude that this geographical dispersion not only weakens the Church as a whole, it cancels out the connectionalism which should be a hallmark of presbyterianism.

  On the other hand, this geographical dispersion has allowed me to get to know the aforementioned Mr. Williamson over the years, which has proved a great blessing to me.  A longtime pillar of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he is now more retired than he has been for some years, but still far from inactive.  He continues to be a great blessing to the Church, as is evidenced by his essay "Broken Vows" in the most recent edition of the online OPC journal Ordained Servant (http://www.opc.org/os9.html?article_id=93).  In his typically straightforward manner, he lays out the ethical implications of the way in which too many ministers in Presbyterian circles have conducted themselves during recent doctrinal controversies.  I pray our ordained officers will read and take to heart our father's admonition.