“This Report is made because a majority of the members of Westminster Presbytery and many members of her churches are aggrieved by the public reports about the Christian character of Teaching Elder Greg Johnson, and we have a desire to pursue the peace, unity, and purity of the Presbyterian Church in America, for the sake of the honor and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the King and Head thereof.”

Westminster Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) voted on August 10, 2019 to request the Missouri Presbytery to investigate the public reports that Teaching Elder (TE) Greg Johnson identifies himself as a homosexual, and yet continues to serve as a teaching elder in the PCA.

The Presbytery stated:

The 47th PCA General Assembly [2019] affirmed that the self-conception of an individual as a homosexual or transgender is inconsistent with God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption.  TE Greg Johnson has publicly announced before the watching world a personal self-conception as a homosexual, and this is inconsistent with the adopted view of the Presbyterian Church in America.  The orientation of a Christian is defined by being in Christ and not by his temptations and sins, nor is his identity defined by those temptations and sins against which he struggles.

In producing its Report to Missouri Presbytery, Westminster provided this reason:

This Report is made because a majority of the members of Westminster Presbytery and many members of her churches are aggrieved by the public reports about the Christian character of Teaching Elder Greg Johnson, and we have a desire to pursue the peace, unity, and purity of the Presbyterian Church in America, for the sake of the honor and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the King and Head thereof.

Presbytery noted further that, “The self-conception of a Christian being defined as a homosexual is no different than the self-conception of a Christian being defined as a pedophile, a racist, or as a drunkard, covetous, or swindler (1 Cor. 6:10). We believe there is enough evidence to question the legitimate status of Teaching Elder Greg Johnson as a teaching elder in the PCA.”

Westminster Presbytery referenced the fact that the only court of the church that has jurisdiction over a minister is his Presbytery. Following the provisions of Book of Church Order (BCO) 31-2, the Presbytery sent its request for an investigation to Missouri Presbytery which has oversight of TE Johnson.

The Report offered a number of areas to be considered and investigated by Missouri Presbytery: Public statements made by TE Johnson on homosexuality; biblical bases for their concern; and the meaning and relevance of Confessional statements, such as Westminster Larger Catechism questions 138 and 139. They concluded, “We encourage you to consider that these views of sexual orientation strike at the vitals of the Christian faith (BCO 21-4).”

[Editor’s note: Southeast Alabama Presbytery on August 24, 2019 also adopted a resolution requesting that Missouri Presbytery conduct an investigation of TE Greg Johnson regarding his views and teaching on homosexuality, alleging they are contrary to the PCA’s Confessional Standards.]