PCA elects its first African American General Assembly Moderator
Is he doctrinally sound? Does he believe in six-day, young-earth Creationism? Does he support the Regulative Principle of Worship? These are meaningful things. The other is just window dressing.
[C. D. Cauthorne Jr.]Precisely. I’m growing so tired of grand, symbolic gestures as if they were indicative of authentic health and growth. If this guy isn’t a sharp, theological conservative, his appointment is frankly an insult to the majority of our African-American brothers and sisters in the PCA. If he is, I celebrate with them.Is he doctrinally sound? Does he believe in six-day, young-earth Creationism? Does he support the Regulative Principle of Worship? These are meaningful things. The other is just window dressing.
Here is his twitter feed, here’s his LinkedIn, here’s a link to some of his thinking. My gut feeling is that I can’t answer CD’s questions, but that his denomination is holding him to Westminster. He certainly has pretty good PCA credentials.
For the significance, it’s worth noting that a fair number of people have noted that racist attitudes among the old Southern Presbyterians (forerunners of the PCA) are quite persistent in the PCA. So if you can have some symbolism against that without throwing out theology, I’m good with that. Worth noting is that AIG and CRI both make quite a point of this; we’re one race as created. No?
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
[Bert Perry]Like the election of a black president so effectively improved racist attitudes in the States, right Bert? ;) Another problem with that, of course, Obama wasn’t exactly the best President. “Historic day” aside. Really smart, lovely family, gave incredible speeches… Leftist ideologue with some terrible policies. I.e., I don’t like it when eagerness for a symbolic gesture helps brings a poor candidate into a position of power.Here is his twitter feed, here’s his LinkedIn, here’s a link to some of his thinking. My gut feeling is that I can’t answer CD’s questions, but that his denomination is holding him to Westminster. He certainly has pretty good PCA credentials.
For the significance, it’s worth noting that a fair number of people have noted that racist attitudes among the old Southern Presbyterians (forerunners of the PCA) are quite persistent in the PCA. So if you can have some symbolism against that without throwing out theology, I’m good with that. Worth noting is that AIG and CRI both make quite a point of this; we’re one race as created. No?
More to point, this guy does look OK from what I can tell from what you shared. He’s also a Linkedin connection with my former PCA pastor, which is good to see. Nonetheless, I do have some overall concerns for the denomination. There are some strongly progressive congregations that are gaining influence.I understand a great deal of tension is building up right now, esp. over egalitarianism, attitudes toward homosexuality, and critical race theory. Parallel to current issues in the SBC, interestingly enough.
Like I said, without throwing out theology. :^)
Regarding egalitarianism, suffice it to say that Mr. Patterson made the defense of complementarian theology a lot harder, to put it mildly. That noted, perhaps that’s a good thing, because thinking is often sharpened (e.g. Nicea, gnostics, indulgences, Trent) when it is challenged.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
Discussion