“It is a firm conviction with us that we do not seek redress by going to law, a conviction based squarely in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:1-8),” he said in an e-mail.

Editor’s Note: Following are extracts from a story in the Greenwood Index Journal posted late on Thursday, March 16th. For the full story, use link following these extracts.

Moderator of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church’s General Synod, the Reverend Dr. John Richard deWitt, said he and his fellow delegates are struck with grief, shock and dismay over the progress of a lawsuit against them.

DeWitt said it is the tradition of the Presbyterian church to make decisions at various levels, and if those decisions are deemed to require further examination, “we do that in an orderly way, under the provisions of our Book of Government.”

“It is a firm conviction with us that we do not seek redress by going to law, a conviction based squarely in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:1-8),” he said in an e-mail. “Most of us find it difficult to understand why the church, which is the proprietor of Erskine College and Seminary, should not be able to put in place trustees who represent the mind and heart of the sponsoring body.”

“None of us could have been completely certain that no legal action was being contemplated, but – because of the apparent harmony and willing submission to the decisions taken by the synod – we did not expect such a challenge,” deWitt said.

The synod has secured a lawyer, and deWitt said the best way to proceed in regard to the legal action is still being determined.