At the 87th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the Siouxlands (PS) on September 24, 2009, the Presbytery rejected an investigative committee recommendation to find a strong presumption of guilt that a member was teaching contrary to the Standards in the area of baptism. The Presbytery further concluded that he was not teaching Federal Vision theology contrary to the Standards.

The investigation originated at the 83rd meeting of PS in April of 2008 from a request for an investigation of TE Greg Lawrence, the pastor of Christ Church PCA in Mankato, MN. The request for a BCO 31-2 investigation was made by TE Wes White, Pastor of New Covenant PCA in Spearfish, S.D. and TE Brian Carpenter, Pastor of Foothills PCA in Sturgis, S.D. TEs White and Carpenter asserted that there was reason to think that TE Lawrence was teaching Federal Vision theology contrary to the Standards. PS denied the request claiming that there was insufficient evidence to begin an investigation.

TE White complained to the 84th Meeting of PS. The complaint was denied, and TE White complained to the General Assembly.

TE White’s complaint was sustained by a panel of the SJC and the Siouxlands Presbytery was directed to conduct an investigation. An investigative committee was constituted in accordance with BCO 31-2 at the 86th meeting of the Siouxlands Presbytery.

The committee conducted its work of over the summer of 2009 and reported to Presbytery with a recommendation passed by a 4-2 margin that PS find a strong presumption of guilt that TE Lawrence was teaching contrary to the Standards.

Advocates of the committee recommendation were concerned about TE Lawrence’s statements that we are united to Christ and get new life in the water rite of baptism. They also argued that his teaching that in baptism even the non-elect in some sense receive new life, forgiveness of sins, adoption, and union with Christ was contrary to the Standards affirmation that such benefits only accrue to the elect. They believed that he was creating “a parallel soteriological system,” citing the General Assembly’s Federal Vision Report.

TE Joshua Moon, Pastor of Good Shepherd PCA in Minnetonka, Minn., a dissenting member of the committee, then arose and moved as a substitute motion that the work of the committee’s report and recommendations not be adopted. His motion passed 24-13.

TE Moon subsequently arose and moved that the PS “finds no strong presumption of guilt in [TE Lawrence’s] preaching/teaching views with respect to any doctrines associated with the so-called Federal Vision that are contrary to the doctrinal standards of the PCA.”

TE Moon gave a lengthy argumentation that stated that TE Lawrence’s views were within the bounds of Scripture and basically in line with the views of Reformed theologians such as John Calvin, John Owen, Zacharias Ursinus, and Charles Hodge. He stated that TE Lawrence’s way of speaking about baptism was simply seeking to be faithful to Scripture passages like Romans 6:3-4. He argued:

In attributing to all the baptized some form of union, adoption, new life, and forgiveness, TE Lawrence is speaking the language of our tradition and of our Scriptures. By refusing to attribute absolute and final union, adoption, new life, and forgiveness, TE Lawrence is directly in line with our standards.

He argued that an exclusion of such views was “a narrow reading of the Confession” and would have “terrifying consequences” for our denomination. His motion carried by a somewhat smaller margin of 20-17-1.

While the PS has made its decision, several members of PS were still not satisfied with the result. A complaint against the action of PS in this matter has already been registered with the Stated Clerk. Others have stated that they may also register a complaint. PS continues to debate the Federal Vision theology.

The Presbytery of the Siouxlands is a Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America that includes 17 Churches in North and South Dakota and Minnesota. It holds Stated Meetings in January, April, and September.
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The Rev. Brian Carpenter is pastor of Foothills Presbyterian Church in Sturgis, S.D.