While Missouri Presbytery exercised its rightful discretion, doing so enabled TE Johnson to leave the PCA with his ordination intact and now his attempts to join the EPC threaten to split that communion.

Many months ago I received a phone call from a minister in the EPC. He asked me about Greg Johnson and Memorial Church in Saint Louis. He told me the formerly PCA congregation was exploring joining the EPC.

I was saddened to hear this. Johnson’s deviant views on sodomite lust brought about half a decade (ca. 2018-2022) of division within the PCA.

And now it seems there is a potential reprise in the EPC of the unholy trouble, division, and confusion Johnson wrought within the PCA. And indeed this has come to pass as veteran EPC Pastor Peter Larson noted in an article on the Presbyterian Plumbline.

How was Dr Greg Johnson able to leave the PCA with his ordination intact?

Were there not attempts in the PCA to call Johnson and Memorial PCA to repent of their views regarding sodomite lust and their Chapel? How could such clear error in teaching and practice persist without discipline and judicial process in the PCA?

Well, it’s complicated.

I. Leaving the PCA

In July of 2022, the Session of then Memorial Presbyterian Church (memorialpca.org) in Saint Louis wrote to their congregation about their “ongoing conflict” with the PCA. The letter alluded to people who had been “traumatized” and “wounded” by the “conflict” between Memorial PCA and the denomination. The Session went on to ponder how they might love their “enemies” and also to prevent themselves from being “abused.”

This letter laid the groundwork for the congregation of Memorial PCA and their Teaching Elders to withdraw from the PCA to independency on November 18, 2022.

Memorial PCA’s path to independency began when Presbyteries, Sessions, and individuals attempted to hold Memorial PCA accountable to our biblical and confessional standards.

II. Attempting Accountability

There was controversy as soon as news broke that Memorial PCA was hosting the first so-called “Revoice” Conference in 2018. Was a PCA congregation truly going to host an event that suggested sodomite lust might not be sinful? Were faculty from Covenant Seminary truly going to be speakers at the conference?

On Presbycast, the largest and most influential podcast in the PCA, Joshua Gielow of TruthXchange shared his experience and reflections on the conference as an attendee. And it was scandalous.

A. Initial Christian Character Investigation

In the summer of 2019, Missouri Presbytery began an investigation of TE Johnson regarding his Christian character related to his theological views in accordance with BCO 31-2.

The investigative committee of Missouri Presbytery issued its report on July 21, 2020. As Missouri Presbytery received the report, they not only acted to “exonerate” TE Johnson of the allegations against him, but Missouri Presbytery also commended TE Johnson for his commitment to God’s word and zeal for Christ:

We hereby commend TE Johnson for his commitment to the authority of God’s Word in his life and teaching for his faithful ministry to the flock of God at Memorial Presbyterian Church, and for his zeal to see unbelievers savingly encounter Jesus Christ’s love through the ministry of the Church, especially people in secular LGBT communities.

By the Summer of 2020, deep frustration was manifested across the PCA because Missouri Presbytery seemed unable or unwilling to discipline TE Johnson for what many PCA officers and members believed was clearly false teaching.

It should be noted, however, Missouri Presbytery did adopt several actions related to the Session of Memorial PCA to require greater oversight of the church’s arts outreach.

B. Standing Judicial Commission Cases

For years Missouri Presbytery devoted a massive amount of energy to judicial matters associated with TE Johnson. A reliable timeline is available here from the PCA General Assembly. For a more thorough review of this aspect, see the work of TE Scott Edburg on the Presbyterian Polity Blog.

Within Missouri Presbytery, TE Ryan Speck brought a pair of complaints against the actions of the Presbytery with regard to Memorial and TE Johnson asserting Missouri Presbytery erred both in the manner of conducting the investigation of TE Johnson’s character and by failing to institute process against TE Johnson on the basis of his views being out of accord with the Constitution and the teaching of Scripture.

TE Speck’s complaints alleged both procedural errors by the Presbytery as well as that TE Johnson held deviant theological views.

In a divided decision the Standing Judicial Commission (SJC) ultimately upheld the judgment of the Presbytery. In order to do so the SJC took the remarkable step of reopening the case and conducting its own investigation of TE Johnson’s views, since that of the Presbytery was not sufficient.

Six elders joined RE Steve Dowling in dissenting from the SJC’s judgement in favor of Missouri Presbytery pointing out,

The SJC overlooked the clear deficiencies of Presbytery’s investigation, which is proven by re-opening the record and admitting additional information that sought the “present” positions of TE Johnson, extending consideration of facts well beyond the events complained against.

Dowling and the dissenters also warned,

TE Johnson not only dishonors God in his prominent self-identification as a same-sex attracted man, the matter is made worse by his age, leadership position, and level of achievement.

While the SJC upheld the procedure and findings of Missouri Presbytery, it should not be overlooked that the next two Moderators of the PCA General Assembly were selected from among the men who joined RE Dowling in his dissent: RE John Bise (2022) and TE Fred Greco (2023). RE Dowling is the current Moderator of the General Assembly.

C. Constitutional Revisions

While Missouri Presbytery attempted to fulfill their constitutional duty to oversee TE Johnson and Memorial PCA, others in the PCA offered up amendments to the Book of Church Order to make it clear those who identify with their sodomite lust are disqualified from holding church office.

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