It is ironic that he was chosen to speak on “Why Stay?” at the Presbyterian Coalition’s annual gathering in Newport Beach, Calif., Mark D. Roberts said today (Oct. 15). He isn’t tied to considerations like pension, employment, and medical plan. Some of the oft-cited reasons don’t fly with him.

            But he is staying and he has his reasons.

Roberts, senior director and scholar in residence for Laity Lodge, began

with the reasons that are not keeping him in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “I’m not staying in because I believe that the PC(USA) is the only true church,” said Roberts, noting that there are many churches outside the PC(USA) that are a part of the true church. “I’m not staying because we’re a family,” he continued, noting that the family of Christ is much bigger. “I’m not staying because I minimize the problems or the challenges we face,” Roberts added, noting that those are serious and they are difficult.

But he also had reasons to stay. “My church is part of the PC(USA), and for many of us this is more significant than we realize,” he said. Some Presbyterians are such because of an intentional choice, admitted Roberts, but many are in the PC(USA) because that is where they happen to be. Roberts added that he stays also because of the friends and colleagues and ministry; because he has not yet had to do anything that is contrary to his conscience; because there is no perfect denomination; and out of gratitude to that denomination and to the presbytery in which he worked as a pastor.

Beyond these personal observations he cited deeper considerations for his decision.

“I’m staying in obedience to Scripture as I understand it,” said Roberts, acknowledging that for some of the gathered that might sound a bit weird.  “I have friends who say that if the PC(USA) changes the Book of Order and removes amendment B they are leaving,” said Roberts. “I say to them, can you give me the Biblical grounds for that?”

He acknowledged he might not speak for all those gathered, and was not condemning those who have already left, He emphasized his own conviction. “I believe that God has called me, for now, to the PC(USA), and I need to be worthy to the call to which I’m being called.”  This call may not be for everyone.  Perhaps, he suggested, God is using this inability to get along to make the kingdom larger and stronger and more diverse. “I think we have to be very careful how we talk about what is going on with us,” cautioned Roberts. “I am deeply grieved by what went on at the General Assembly, but I don’t think there was apostasy or heresy.”

But perhaps the biggest reason to stay in the PC(USA), according to Roberts, is “in the Lord our labor is not in vain.” He admitted that sometimes it feels as though the work of ministry is in vain and things don’t go as one would like them to go. But even times of such discouragement do not excuse decisions to leave the denomination.

“So I stay in, and you stay in, not necessarily because we think things are going to go our way, certainly not because it is fun or the easy road,” he concluded. “But in the end because we are convinced that in the Lord our labor is not in vain.”

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Mariam Touba
written by Mariam Touba, October 17, 2008

I’m no expert or theologian, and I have come to respect Dr. Roberts very much, but I would think there would be plenty of grounds for leaving this denomination on a Confessional basis. I thought I was taught that a mark of the true church is “ecclesiastical discipline uprightly ministered.” Can anybody honestly say that would characterize the current PC(USA) on any level? A reading of the bizarre and Kafkaesque rulings on the conduct of same-sex marriages would only be one example of this massive failure at the highest level of this church.

Senior Director, Laity Lodge
written by Mark D. Roberts, October 16, 2008

Erin, thanks for this accurate summary of what I said yesterday. Some of my reasons can be found on my website at http://www.markdroberts.com/ht...leave.htm. Peace.