Paul's Passing Thoughts

Susan and I read the letter posted on the Southwood website that was written by the “elders” of Southwood. We were undismayed by certain parts of it because of what we know of like situations, and didn’t know how much of the letter would be perceived as normal among Presbyterians. Now we know. Not very much would be deemed normal and our déjà vu (no pun intended) inklings were confirmed.

I’m not going to say how we know, but we are not totally on the outside looking in, and it’s bad.  Bottom line: New Calvinists are mean people. As I have said before and I will say again, “They are terrorists dressed in the demeanor of Mr. Rogers.”

The beginning of the letter was indicative of the usual heavy-handed leadership style of New Calvinists:

Following months of discussion about concerns and questions brought before our church last Fall, particularly regarding our Senior Pastor and his continued service at Southwood, the Session has voted to call a congregational meeting on Sunday, January 29, 2012 for the purpose of voting on the following motion:

“The congregation of Southwood Presbyterian Church requests that Providence Presbytery dissolve the pastoral relationship between Jean F. Larroux, III and Southwood Presbyterian Church.”

The motion is written in the negative because our constitution does not allow for a ‘vote of confidence’ or re-affirmation. The call of a pastor is considered binding until such time as it might be rescinded. During the same Session meeting where this congregational meeting was called, our Elders also voted on the issue of their support for Jean Larroux. All men voted by secret ballot to allow each and every Elder to freely vote his conscience. The result of their vote was a clear and decisive majority in support of our Senior Pastor and against this motion. The recommendation of the Session to you as a congregation is that you should vote against this motion and in doing so you will be voting in favor of Jean Larroux remaining as our Senior Pastor.

This is a big change from a couple of months ago when things seemed to be moving away from a vote on dissolving Southwood’s relationship with Larroux, and those in favor of such a movement seemed to have been shamed by the Session:

Last evening the Session of Southwood Presbyterian Church met again to consider the matters before the church. After much prayer from both the members of the Session and members of the congregation the Lord provided a decision with no dissension or abstention. The UNANIMOUS motion reads as follows:

With repentance and conviction over our own personal and corporate sin, particularly for having stirred dissension with a premature motion delivered after Monday night’s meeting, the Session has met and deliberated further on the issues before our church. Having considered the breadth of the situation and our unified desire for the peace and purity of the church, the Session does hereby revise the purpose of the called congregational meeting to begin addressing the myriad of issues brought before us, including Jean F. Larroux, III, but we are not recommending the dissolution of the pastoral relationship with him at this meeting. Furthermore, we are in need of, thankful for and desirous to have further prayer from the congregation in all our deliberations.

In other words, some of the Southwood parishioners have an intestinal fortitude that would enable them to eat jalapeno peppers straight from the vine. It is amazing that this thing has gotten this far without outside help from the Presbyter and local pastors. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. Trust me, parishioners who dare raise a stink about truth are expendable for the sake of comfortable lunches at Applebee’s and golf outings. That’s why they get together for therapy sessions every now and then to convince themselves that they really care about the truth—it’s called a pastors conference.

Much could be discussed here, including some paragraphs in the letter that seem to be designed to deliberately cause confusion about the vote, but it is clear from the letter that some elders and several parishioners have serious problems with Larroux’s theology. The Session is clearly using this letter to brush all of that aside and bully the congregation. Much could also be said about the procedure that will take place in regard to the vote; it is obviously designed to intimidate. Look, I’m not going to bang a lot of keys on this—the Session knows that there is a big difference in Larroux’s theology and orthodoxy—his sermons are obviously first degree theological felonies in broad daylight. The Session thinks they have the votes—truth isn’t the issue.

I don’t know what’s going to happen on January 29, but I hereby offer my blog to all Southwood parishioners to comment on the record, off the record, anonymously or otherwise, as guest writers, etc. There is a “SGM Survivors.com,” there can just as well be a “Southwood Survivors.com.” Their vote will either turn the tide against New Calvinist takeovers, or their loss will stand as a monument and warning to other churches. I can go away on January 29^th, or I can add a page to my blog—either way.

Why I’m I doing this? Because I don’t like bullies, liars, and false teachers. That’s why. I just have no tolerance for them. And besides, one legendary Presbyterian said that this doctrine “must be exposed and halted.” Just doing my part.

paul