Westminster Presbytery has endured a considerable amount of criticism because of our stance.  Certainly, in regard to Creationism or Cessationism, we do not represent mainline Presbyterianism in the PCA or other Reformed denominations (such as the OPC).  We have been labeled as Old School, Strict Subscriptionists, and even as Mountain TRs.  We have been called narrow-minded and unreasonable. I believe that Westminster Presbytery has been unfairly criticized.  Few people understand the history that led Westminster Presbytery to adopt this stance on Creationism and Cessationism. 

Westminster Presbytery consists of PCA ministers and churches in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia (mainly in the Central Appalachian Mountain Region of the United States).  She was created back in 1973 before the PCA came into existence. Most of the churches came out of the old PCUS (Southern Presbyterian Church).  There was much hurt and hard feelings in leaving the PCUS.  There were civil lawsuits, locked doors on church buildings, and divided covenant families.  It was often father against son and mother against daughter.  Considering our difficult experience in the PCUS, the PCA held out the promise of being a Paradise on earth.

Little did we know at that time that the greater conflicts lay ahead.  I was a charter member of Westminster Presbytery and served as stated clerk for 23 years in her early days.  I am presently honorably retired and still a member of the Presbytery.

Yes, the rumors are true! Unless you hold to the view of Six Day – 24 Hour Creationism, you need not apply for membership in Westminster Presbytery.  Unless you are a Cessationist, you need not apply. You will not be received.  All of the Sessions of the various churches in Westminster Presbytery have agreed to these parameters and take them into account when looking for pastors.  Candidates for pastors of our churches are informed up-front of our position adopted in a document under the title of “Report of the Conflict Resolution Committee.” This document and a number of other parameters used in screening candidates can be found here.  We inform candidates (including ordained ministers seeking a transfer) that there is no need in wasting their time or our time in applying if they cannot agree with these position papers.

Westminster Presbytery has endured a considerable amount of criticism because of our stance.  Certainly, in regard to Creationism or Cessationism, we do not represent mainline Presbyterianism in the PCA or other Reformed denominations (such as the OPC).  We have been labeled as Old School, Strict Subscriptionists, and even as Mountain TRs.  We have been called narrow-minded and unreasonable. I believe that Westminster Presbytery has been unfairly criticized.  Few people understand the history that led Westminster Presbytery to adopt this stance on Creationism and Cessationism.

Over the first thirty years of her existence, if you had been a part of the Presbytery you would understand why we did what we did and why we continue to hold that same stance today.  For much of those first thirty years, Westminster Presbytery was greatly divided.  Going to a Presbytery meeting was like going off to the front lines of a war.  Rancor and acrimony were common in the meetings.  Theonomy was a major issue that precipitated much of the trouble.  I remember the time when every committee of Presbytery was chaired by a theonomist.  Of course, as in every conflict, personalities also contributed to our difficulties.

In the late 1990s, most men in Presbytery decided that it was impossible for us to live together. In January 2000, Presbytery overtured the General Assembly to divide the Presbytery into two theological presbyteries.  Actually, the Overture requested that Presbytery be divided into two geographical presbyteries, but men of differing theological views could become a member of the Presbytery of their choice, regardless of where they lived. The Overture went to the General Assembly and was defeated by a very narrow margin.  I personally was opposed to this Overture and spoke against it at the GA Meeting.  I was a theonomist, but dearer to me than theonomy was the unity of Christ’s Church.

To resolve the division, Presbytery appointed a Conflict Resolution Committee in 1999 to develop a statement that would be agreeable to the elders of Presbytery and be a basis for unity.  I was a member of that Committee.  Almost four years later after much endurance and prayer in many meetings, in October 2002, Presbytery adopted a statement that restored unity, and that unity has been maintained now for over a decade.  The issues surrounding theonomy were settled by a reference to the PCA General Assembly Paper on Theonomy.  The two issues regarding Creationism and Cessationism were resolved by statements in the Conflict Resolution Document.  Since the adoption of the Report from the Conflict Resolution Committee, actually there has been much harmony and peace in Westminster Presbytery.

It is important to note that Presbytery made it plain in the document itself that the Report of the Conflict Resolution Committee did not rise to the level of our confessional standards.  We were not adding to the constitution of the PCA.  We also knew that any one of our adopted positions ultimately could be appealed to the General Assembly by a member of our own Presbytery.  Basically, the document was a Gentlemen’s Agreement.  The power of the document depended on the integrity of the men in Presbytery to abide by the agreement.  If we were to maintain peace in Presbytery, everyone must uphold these positions.

In judging the restrictive nature of Westminster Presbytery in receiving new members, it should be remembered that she did not adopt her position in order to “preach” to other presbyteries or denominations.  It did not arise from a superior mind-set.  Such attitudes were not even in our thoughts during this time of conflict.  The goal was self-preservation.  We had one concern – that we must seek unity (not just spiritual unity, but ecclesiastical unity) in order to honor Christ. We sought peace and God gave us peace. To God be the glory!

Larry E. Ball is a Honorably Retired Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and a CPA. He lives in Kingsport, Tennessee 

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