These charges are an appendix to a story concerning a complaint against Second Presbytery for their alleged failure to take appropriate action on the charges during the June 8 meeting of the Presbytery.

To read the story of the Presbytery meeting in June, go here: http://bit.ly/cqzxEr
To read the story of the Presbytery meeting in February dealing with the complaint, go here: bit.ly/gMsbQM

1. Whereas, the Reverend James Hering is a minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; and,

2. Whereas, the Reverend James Hering is under the oversight and authority of Second Presbytery as a member of the Presbytery; and,

3. Whereas, the Reverend James Hering did solemnly taken it upon himself to willingly and publicly swear the vows of ordination in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and,

4. Whereas, on March 12, 2010, in contumacious violation of 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, the Reverend James Hering did join with PCUSA Ministers Drs. Richard Burnett and Michael Bush and Mr. David Chestnut in bringing legal action in a secular court of law against the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; and.

5. Whereas, in so doing, the Reverend James Hering did purposefully raise his hand against and break covenant with his brothers in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Synod and with his own Second Presbytery and, in so doing, did break the peace and unity of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; therefore,

6. Be it resolved, that the following proper ecclesiastical court charges are brought against the Reverend James Hering.

I. Accusation of Public Sin

We, the undersigned members of the Session of the Unity Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Piedmont, SC, of the Second Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church do herewith charge the Reverend Mr. James Hering, a member of Second Presbytery, with the following:

1. A refusal to submit to the decision of the March2-3, 2010 meeting of the ARP General Synod in violation of the fifth commandment and the fourth vow of ordination of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

2. A failure to promote the unity, peace, purity, and prosperity of the church in violation of the fourth vow of ordination of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

3. Filing public civil suit against his brothers as Christ in the denomination, being a clear violation of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, which explicitly forbids believers taking fellow believers before civil court.

We reference at least these several points of authority: Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11; Westminster Confession of Faith XXII; Westminster Larger Catechism Questions 111-114; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Westminster Larger Catechism Questions 123-133; Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 54:20; Westminster Larger Catechism Questions 143-145

Specification 1: That the said Reverend Mr. James Hering, an ordained minister in the Second Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church has taken it upon himself solemnly, willingly and publicly to affirm the vows of ordination of the associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (See Form of Government X.D.2.g), as follows;

Do you promise to submit in the spirit of love to the authority of the Presbytery in subordination to the General Synod, and to
promote the unity, peace, purity, and prosperity of the Church?

Specification 2: That on or about March 12, 2010, the Reverend Mr. James Hering did join with others (listed above) to bring legal action/lawsuit against the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church contrary to the Word of God and the standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, founded thereupon.

(See 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, Form of Government X.D.2.g.5)

II. Private Communication:

The pastor and session have spoken with Rev. Hering on more than one occasion to urge his repentance in this matter. Throughout Rev. Hering has remained unrepentant of his actions.

III. Conclusion:

Therefore, we, the undersigned, hereby request Second Presbytery to undertake judicial process against the Reverend James Hering for refusing to submit to the General Synod, disrupting the unity, peace, purity and prosperity of the church, and violating 1 Corinthians 6 by filing public civil suit against his brothers in Christ. We call for his public confession of sin and repentance in this matter.

Date: June 2, 2010
Rev. Mark Wright, Moderator of Session
Mr. Brian Holzberger, Ruling Elder, Clerk of Session
Mr. Earl Riddle, Ruling Elder

[Editor’s note: One or more original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid; those links have been removed.]