Recently I had an exchange of FB messages with a PCA Teaching Elder concerning the story we published a few days ago on The Aquila Report entitled ‘Ad Interim Study Committee on Insider Movements Overwhelmingly Approved’

While not willing to have his entire message reprinted, he did state this purpose for writing:

The one thing that I would like expressed somewhere before this is over is that MTW has been dealing with this issue for years and has maintained firmly and consistently that the words of Scripture ought always to be accurately translated and that includes the Names and descriptions of the Persons of the Trinity

In checking all the stories we have published on this topic, I could find no reference to anyone saying – either during committee/assembly debate, or in commentary – that denied the truth of that statement.

The other item he wanted understood was this:

“I simply thought it might be helpful to you to hear a different perspective.”

 Well, that’s easy enough to do, and – in all sincerity – that is precisely what this magazine and just about all journalistic endeavors are/should be trying to do. But when one examines that ‘different perspective’ with what happened at the General Assembly, the rationale for forming the committee becomes quite clear.

The writer’s perspective concerning as to why the PCA did not need to set up this study committee in the first place was that

“MTW staff were already and continue to be an excellent resource to provide guidance to our churches. The permanent committee had already approved a concise and strongly worded statement that spoke to this issue clearly and adequately.”

Here is an extract from last year’s story about the work of the Committee of Commissioners on this issue leading up to the appointment of the Study Committee:

Dr. Kooistra was invited to explain CMTW’s recommendation of removal of the study committee from the overture. The coordinator stated that such a committee was unnecessary given the fact that MTW was already equipped to assist churches deal with insider movement issues. Further questions determined that materials available through MTW were very minimal and included much material that was written by insider movement advocates.

 After considering the two questions, the CoC moved to executive session to vote separately on each question. The group voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the part of the overture addressing insider Bible translation. Moving to the second question, the committee voted overwhelmingly to approve a study committee.

 Here is an extract from last year’s story about the vote on the floor: 

After a period of debate during which the Coordinator of MTW spoke against the study (as he had to the meeting of the Committee of commissioners) repeating that he didn’t think it was necessary and adding that he didn’t believe it would have influence on the Insider Movement… 

It appears that there were, in fact, two different perspectives, and the PCA chose to act on one and not the other. 

The other issue raised by the writer concerned the money spent on setting up the study committee.  He opined:    

Now we are spending tens of thousands of dollars to produce scores of pages of a report that will in all likelihood affirm what is already MTW policy.

 And,

It is simply my hope at this point that when the final report is adopted, as I’m sure it will be, that the General Assembly will be gracious and thoughtful enough to commend the outstanding staff of its global missions agency for having accurately assessed and appropriately addressed the Insider Movement long before we diverted precious resources that could have been used for actual ministry to another study committee.

As to the spending of money donated by members of the denomination to various ministries as well as various study committees, it is impossible to determine precise motives why one person gives money to one ministry or another.  All we can really say is that donors who supported this study committee believed that this was, indeed, appropriate stewardship of money they chose to donate to the work of God’s Kingdom.