Spartanburg Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church has submitted a proposed ‘Memorial’ to Second Presbytery asking that Directors of the EC Foundation, all Elders in other APR Churches, be investigated for the use of funds raised for legal defense of those who sued the denomination.

The Presbytery meets on October 11 to decide whether or not to approve the Memorial and take the recommended action.

Text of the Proposed Memorial to Second Presbytery

Whereas, elders in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church have solemnly promised to submit in the spirit of love to the authority of the session and to the higher courts of the Church (Form of Government IX.D.3.6), and in all things to promote the unity, peace, purity, and prosperity of the church (Form of Government IX.D.3.7), and,

Whereas, Dr. John R. Hunt is an elder in the Young Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and Mr. William W. Lesesne, Mr. Lee W. Logan, and Dr. James W. Gettys are elders in the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and,

Whereas, Dr. John R. Hunt, Mr. William W. Lesesne, Mr. Lee W. Logan, and Dr. James W. Gettys are Directors of the EC Foundation, and,

Whereas, the EC Foundation was formed in the wake of the March 2010 Snow Synod” to support resistance to the efforts by the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as it sought to ensure missional fidelity at Erskine College and Erskine Theological Seminary as agencies of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and,

Whereas, one of the stated values of the EC Foundation is to support these [Erskine] institutions as they are involved in any civil litigation, and,

Whereas, the EC foundation raised substantial funds to support the lawsuit of Dr. Richard Taylor, Mr. David Chesnut, and Dr. Parker Young against the General Synod, and,

Whereas, the EC Foundation has impugned the honor and reputation of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church by alleging on its website that the General Synod acted illegally at its March 2010 meeting, and by speaking of the General Synod as an unreliable and capricious partner” in its dealings with Erskine, and,

Whereas, the EC Foundation on its website has expressed gratitude for the support of some alumni and friends of Erskine who object to the current direction of these institutions, who have suspended their financial support of Erskine, and who have instead chosen to make gifts to this foundation, and,

Whereas, such intentional diversion of funds from Erskine to the EC Foundation poses a hardship and threat to the wellbeing of Erskine, and creates further challenges for the Erskine administration as it seeks to faithfully implement the stated mission of the schools, and

Whereas, the EC Foundation on its website has expressed support for the recently terminated Dr. William Crenshaw, a man known for his opposition to Evangelical Christianity and to the mission of Erskine College as an Evangelical Christian liberal arts college,

Therefore, Second Presbytery hereby instructs the Sessions of the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Young Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church to investigate the activities of Mr. William W. Lesesne, Mr. Lee W. Logan, and Dr. James W. Gettys, and Dr. John R. Hunt respectively as Directors of the EC Foundation, to determine whether their activities as Directors of the EC Foundation have been in conflict with their role and responsibilities as elders in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and to ascertain whether ecclesiastical charges should be filed against these elders. Both Sessions shall report back to Second Presbytery with their findings and proposed courses of action at a called meeting of Second Presbytery to be held no later than November 30, 2011.