It is the Gospel that gives the church its moral authority, and it is in the church’s faithful proclamation of that Gospel that it becomes a light to the nations.

A gang of Presbyterian peacemakers has kicked the “CAT.” The boot was actually a soft-toed alternative to another proposed option, that Caterpillar, Inc., be evicted from the house entirely.

So how did this denomination’s morality police arrive at their modified conclusion? They reasoned that if the church divested itself of Caterpillar, it would forfeit its seat at the bulldozer’s table. “We’d lose our voice,” intoned a preacher, eager to sermonize on the tractor maker’s sins. Better to denounce than divest.

Respect squandered
While parsing their paragraphs, commissioners at this assembly failed to ask if Caterpillar really cares what this General Assembly has to say. And why should it care?

This crowd that so vehemently denounces the earth mover has bulldozed more than half of its membership and plugged massive budget holes with diminishing reserves, while trivializing its worship of Almighty God, and embroiling itself in lawsuits against fleeing congregations.

Were any corporation to chart a comparable performance, its management would soon be filing for unemployment benefits.

Once upon a time, the Presbyterian Church (USA) commanded respect. The denomination was growing, drawing into the fold those eager to hear the Word of God, including persons of moment in their local communities and in the national body politic. Thriving on generous member support, it sent missionaries around the globe, established colleges, hospitals, orphanages, home mission churches and burgeoning congregations among a rapid influx of immigrants.