A Call to Prayer & Lament shows no evidence of following Christ’s commands regarding offenses in Matthew 18, and it appears to be a means of prosecution by public appeal. In other words, this letter was not written in good-faith.

To the leadership of pcaprayerandlament.com,

I remind you, unsubstantiated accusations violate the Ninth Commandment by harming truth and neighborly reputation, constituting sins like slander, false witness, or prejudicial speech. Our standards call for charitable esteem, defense of innocence, and evidence-based testimony instead.

As an elder in Christ’s church, I will not tolerate unsubstantiated claims, even when couched in the language of “lament.” I will not lament untruth. I will not respond favorably to baseless accusations which have no ground in reality.

If the signers want change, they must go through the church courts. This letter shows no evidence of following Christ’s commands regarding offenses in Matthew 18, and it appears to be a means of prosecution by public appeal. In other words, this letter was not written in good-faith.

Here is what I am praying for. I pray that everyone involved in crafting and signing this letter would either:

1. Provide proof of their claims (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1).
2. Charitably express their discontent without implying wrongdoing.
3. Remove their name from the list.

TE Charles Stover
Redeeming Grace Presbyterian
Owensville, Missouri

Below is the list of accusations made by the “Initial Signatories” of pcaprayerandlament.com.

“We have seen a deepening culture of suspicion, gracelessness, self-righteousness, and relational dysfunction within the denomination.”
Accusation: Blames the PCA for cultivating negative relational dynamics that erode community.

“Too often, faithful leaders in good standing are subjected to unchecked slander and baseless innuendo on social media, which has begun to function as an unofficial court of the church.”
Accusation: Accuses the denomination (or its members) of allowing or failing to prevent slander and unfair judgment via social media.

“Many of us have experienced or witnessed racial microaggressions, unnecessary theological gatekeeping, and a pervasive mistrust that corrodes gospel ministry and healthy community.”
Accusation: Directly points to racial insensitivity and exclusionary practices within the PCA, implying harm to ministry and relationships.

Read More