NR #1995-049: For Immediate Release
Westminster Presbytery Rules that Freemasons May Not Serve as Elders in
Presbyterian Church in America

by Frank Smith, Editor, PCA News
Distributed by United Reformed News Service

(May 25, 1995) PCA/N - At a May 12 called meeting, Westminster Presbytery of
the Presbyterian Church in America upheld a complaint from Elder Clarence
Witcher against the session of Edgemont Presbyterian Church in Bristol,
Tennessee. The church, which has a rotation system for officers, had approved
to stand for election an inactive elder who is a Freemason.

 The presbytery sustained two of the four points of the complaint. It first
annulled the approval of the man in question, and then adopted this
statement: "The Session's actions of communicating to the congregation
matters and positions which are out of accord with Scripture and the councils
of the General Assembly and Westminster Presbytery constitute a dereliction
of duty." Both of these presbytery actions were approved on voice vote by
large margins. No action was taken on items three and four, which allege "a
contempt of court on matters previously tried in the higher court of
Westminster Presbytery" and that "the Session's actions constitute a public
offense." Presbytery adopted a further motion, making explicit the fact that
"by sustaining the Complaint and annulling the Session's action,... [the man
in question] is no longer able to serve as an active member of the Session."

Editor's Note: PCA News is an independent source of news on the Presbyterian
Church in America operating under the auspices of Affirmation PCA, Somers,
NY.

Cross-References to Related Articles:
[No related articles on file]

Contact List:

Rev. Larry Ball, Stated Clerk, Westminster Presbytery
 5101 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport, TN 37664 * O: (615) 288-3664 * H: (615)
288-6664

Rev. William T. Osterhaus, Pastor, Edgemont Presbyterian Church
 1013 Edgemont Ave., Bristol, TN 37620 * O: (615) 652-2213 * H: (615)
323-4799

Dr. Frank Smith, Editor, PCA News
 Box 47, Somers, NY 10589-0047 * O: (914) 232-0546 * H: (914) 248-8776 *
E-Mail: AffirmPCA@aol.com



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