Here is what concerns me.  The Statement says that I am not allowed to hold a view that “posits superiority of race or ethnic identity born of immutable human characteristics.” Of course, I believe that all men and races are equal as being partakers of the image of God, that all men and races are to be treated equal under the law, and that all men and races are to be offered the gospel of Jesus Christ without distinction (Gal.3:28).

At the most recent 52^nd General Assembly (GA) of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) an overture was adopted that may, in my own mind, condemn me to Hell.  At minimum, it calls upon all members of the PCA and any other reformed denomination to shun me. According to the adopted overture, any person who would associate with me should be called to repentance.

Now, there has been no indictment against me, no due process, no trial, no final judgment, but merely a partial statement of about a dozen words that in essence puts me out of the Church because I hold a certain “political or theological view.”  This is excommunication, not by trial, but by the adoption of a Statement.

The Statement says that I am condemned by “commission or omission.”  In other words, if I speak about it publicly, then I am guilty.  Also, if I remain quiet about it, I am guilty.

Here is what concerns me.  The Statement says that I am not allowed to hold a view that “posits superiority of race or ethnic identity born of immutable human characteristics.” Of course, I believe that all men and races are equal as being partakers of the image of God, that all men and races are to be treated equal under the law, and that all men and races are to be offered the gospel of Jesus Christ without distinction (Gal.3:28).

I am guessing that this Statement was a reaction to groups like Stone Choir, growing Kinism, and also recent judicial cases in Presbyterian circles.

The Statement was adopted in haste at the last minute of the last session of the GA. The words are so generic and sloppy that I don’t think the commissioners of the GA had enough time to consider what they were doing.

The Statement uses the term “race” implying that races are still a reality in God’s world. With this I agree.  The term “race” is not just a social construct.

Here is my problem.  I believe that blacks are better athletes than whites.  Whenever I go to an NCAA basketball game with my grandsons, I will often point out to them that blacks have more natural talent to play the game than whites. I recognize their identity by the color of their skin, and I believe they have athletic superiority as a race and this is due to their “immutable human characteristics.”

Of course, there are outliers—some whites are better than blacks, but considering the blacks as a race or ethnic group, I believe they are, as a whole, just quicker and faster on the basketball court than whites.  Outliers don’t negate the general rule. There is a supremacy issue here among the races.  And yes, it is a theological issue. God made the black race in his wisdom. All issues are theological.

So, I pray that as I go to church on Sunday that I will be allowed into the building to worship God.  I guess I will have to wait and see.

Larry E. Ball is a retired minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is now a CPA. He lives in Kingsport, Tenn.