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Christ Covenant Church |
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Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church NOTE: Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church has made their own public statement concerning their relationship with Grace Covenant Church and the CREC. That statement can be found here. Grace Covenant Church of Nacogdoches, TX recently agreed to receive Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church [AAPC] as a Mission Church under our care. We believe it helpful to provide an explanation for and some background concerning that decision. We have known and been associated with AAPC for about fourteen years. AAPC and its session have been, and remain, our Christian friends—we love them. We have shared Bible studies, pulpit supply, celebrations, baptisms, weddings, and much more during these years. My three grown children (and their families) have been members of AAPC for several years and the church has graciously served them with many Christian kindnesses. We hope that every Christian knows the joys of such godly and faithful friends. As we have watched the so-called Federal Vision controversy unfold over the past few years we have been saddened by much of what we have seen and heard. The degree of controversy that arose was unexpected and disappointing in many respects. We should remember that it is inevitable that differences arise within families, local churches, denominations, and between denominations. This should not make us enemies but rather should call for humility, abundant Christian charity, wisdom, grace, and respect toward one another. In any controversy there are those who delight in exacerbating the situation and in fanning the flames with the fuel of vitriol. In such an inferno justice is not well served. Because the internet has provided both anonymity and amplification to any who want them, this tempest in our little teapot has been intense at points. Undoubtedly, both parties in this controversy have been ashamed of the conduct of some ostensible supporters. While many sincere and godly people hold their opinions in good faith and out of love and concern for Christ’s Church, controversies often become complicated and complex, with a swirl of information and misinformation, politics, friendships, biases, and pressures pushing and pulling everyone involved. Our desire is for the peace of the Church. At the end of the day, we have real Christian people who are hurting and in need of love and mending. It is our hope that GCC and the Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches [CREC] can provide this for AAPC. We know that AAPC has been well served over the years by the Presbyterian Church in America [PCA] and more particularly by the Louisiana Presbytery. For this, we are grateful. It has been argued that Pastor Wilkins is not in accord with the PCA standards (as a minister) and not within the pale of historic Reformed theology. Without initiating a theological debate here, we assert that AAPC and her pastor do fall within the standards embraced by GCC, the CREC and the historic Reformed Christian church. Therefore, we are glad to welcome them into our communion. The following statement appears on the CREC website: In light of the current controversy among some in the Reformed community—a controversy that has come to be known as “The Federal Vision”—the CREC affirms the following: Our desire is for peace with the PCA. Many of us in the CREC have exchanged pulpit supply and members, shared conferences, missions, ministries, celebrations, baptisms and communion with our sister PCA churches. We sincerely hope this will continue and grow. We long to work and worship with our brothers and sisters in the PCA so that we might honor Christ by our love for one another. On behalf of the GCC session, |
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