I am a communicant member of Central EPC in St. Louis, and as such I am concerned about how my Session sees how this issue will affect the local church as well as the EPC. Grave concerns have been expressed as to why it is taking so long for the EPC to decide whether or not it will become a Side B denomination.

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) faces a biblical crisis comparable to the crisis that brought about its departure from the Presbyterian Church in the USA (PCUSA) in 1981, because the founders concluded that the PCUSA had departed from biblical, orthodox Christianity. Now, 44 years later, the EPC faces a critical biblical and moral issue that is causing ripples of dissension in its local churches.

The significant matter relates to Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis and its pastor, Dr. Greg Johnson, who professes to be a celibate homosexual. Both Memorial and its pastor were previously members of the  Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and are now seeking to affiliate with the EPC. If they are received into the EPC it would result in the EPC adopting a Side B view on what being same-sex attraction means.

I am a communicant member of Central EPC in St. Louis, and as such I am concerned about how my Session sees how this issue will affect the local church as well as the EPC. Grave concerns have been expressed as to why it is taking so long for the EPC to decide whether or not it will become a Side B denomination.

The issues before the EPC are: 1) whether it can receive a pastor identifying as homosexual; and 2) whether a denomination can accept and/or condone a morally questionable identity that affects its Christian testimony. Memorial Presbyterian Church held the first Revoice Conference in 2018 and was supportive of other Revoice gatherings. These conferences raised concerns with local church members since it appeared that some church leaders were supportive of these conferences.

The EPC’s motto is worth noting:

• “In Essentials – Unity
• In Non-Essentials – Liberty
• In All Things – Charity

“Truth in Love”

Mottos related to biblical principles—as all three do, “Unity, Liberty, and Charity”—can be stretched beyond original intent.  As to “Liberty in Non-Essentials,” since when are sexually immoral propensities or predilections non-essentials?  Aren’t chastity, purity, and sexual morality essential to both faith and practice?  “Liberty” biblically does not allow for sin against God, which would include sexual immorality in word, thought, or deed.  Nor does it allow for comfort in sin. This represents a serious deviation from God’s intent.  To consider any form of biblically-stated sin as a non-essential is emotional, physical and psychological heresy.  “Truth in Love” is a timely need.

As to receiving homosexual pastors (what a Side B definition would allow), who claim to be same-sex attracted—and churches engaging in questionable activities, the EPC faces an EPC spiritual foe, i.e., “Evil Produces Confusion.”  God’s Word always refers to homosexual desires or deeds as evil regardless of euphemisms used to conceal its true sinfulness.  All sexual immorality is evil, which includes sexual desires and acts between two males or two females.  The Scripture calls them “abominable,” “degrading passions,” “contrary to nature,” “burned in their desire,” “shameful acts,” and “God giving them up to a depraved mind . . . to do those things that are not proper” (Leviticus 18: 22; Romans 1: 26-28). How can any pastor, elder, or church member hermeutically miss the Holy Spirit’s emphases spoken against this sin?

Believers claiming to be homosexual or same-sex attracted are not confessing with shame their immoral desires or propensities, as they should.  Rather they profess comfort, if not pride with such desires or propensities.  That is an anti-biblical message, which produces confusion for church members at all levels.

Will the homosexual or same-sex attracted actually remain celibate as claimed?  The Catholic Church’s experience with this issue within their priesthood is a strong warning other Christian bodies.  Priests take a vow of celibacy.  Yet one of the biggest scandals are the number of homosexual priests accused of molesting and grooming young boys.  My church experienced the same problem with a seminary youth director. A church volunteer in family ministries stated, “. . . many of our youth were permanently emotionally and even spiritually scarred, even if they were not physically abused. He groomed not only the kids, but the parents. The consequences of the sin of homosexuality are far-reaching as it destroys families and lives.”  My church dutifully and legally reported it.

This concern is probably furthest from our minds but it is important.  We can’t ignore those in spiritual danger in either actions or beliefs; whether it is Christian parents confronted with their children choosing to live together without being married or children coming out confessing to be homosexual.  Godly parents can love their children while disapproving of their sinful choices.  God-honoring relationships do not approve or enable sinful actions or desires. Heresy involves more than doctrine; both faith and practice are demonstrations of Christian character.

These considerations are as serious as for the EPC as that which it faced at its beginning. What it will decide will define the denomination as either biblically based or not. Should the EPC’s history of faithfulness to God’ divine revelation be so short, less than a half century?  EPC members do not want their church to give up its biblical heritage for a bowl of cultural pottage.

So why do I care and who am I to write these thoughts? I’m simply an older and lowly EPC member, a Christian writer, former missionary, who loves our triune God, to whom I’m debtor to grace, and appreciate his many mercies and blessings. I’m an alumnus of Columbia International University and privileged to have received a superb biblical and theological education.

There is not one iota of biblical evidence supporting the concept of receiving same-sex attracted men or women or churches that desire to receive them as ministers into the EPC. My prayer is that the EPC will not repeat the same historical and doctrinal errors as the denomination from which it left. May the EPC remain a faithful and holy Bride of Christ.

Helen Louise Herndon is a member of Central Presbyterian Church (EPC) in St. Louis, Missouri. She is freelance writer and served as a missionary to the Arab/Muslim world in France and North Africa.