HOW THE STEERING COMMITTEE CAME TO BE

When the presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in the United States voted down union with the more liberal Presbyterian Church in the United States of America in 1954, those who were determined to have union at any cost began working to effect union by varied, and sometimes unconstitutional, means.

These radical ecumenists greatly deflected the teachings of the four seminaries of the denomination away from commitment to the Bible as the verbally inspired Word of God and from the defense of the Westminster Standards of our church. Mostly by a faulty interpretation of the seventeenth chapter of John, young ministers were taught organic union of church organizations as a great Christian ideal and changing of the social and political order as the mission of the church. The radical ecumenists by 1960 had taken control of most of the church and were continuing a steady well-planned drive towards a "watered down" theology and the ultimate in church union as expressed in the Consultation on Church Union (a kind of American super-church).

There were, however, those within the denomination who still believed that the Bible was the Word of God, in constitutional church government and the great Reformed doctrines set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith. The Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Journal has constantly stood for the faith "once delivered unto the saints." [The Journal, originally The Southern Presbyterian Journal, was formed in 1942 by L. Nelson Bell as a means of fighting the encroachment of liberalism with the Presbyterian Church, U.S.]

About sixteen years ago [1958] ministers and lay people recognizing that the denomination had forsaken its mission in evangelism, organized Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship. Having now some dozen evangelists, PEF has constantly furthered the spiritual mission of the church.

Christian laymen, concerned because the church had deviated from the faith, organized Concerned Presbyterians approximately seven years ago [1965]. This great lay organization has been dedicated to the formation of a continuing church true to God's Word and loyal to historic presbyterian doctrine and polity.

Approximately four years [1969] ago between six and seven hundred ministers signed a Declaration of Commitment pledging themselves to do whatever was necessary to maintain our presbyterian faith. They were joined by the sessions of many churches. These ministers and church sessions organized themselves as Presbyterian Churchmen United.

Thus, over a period of time God raised up a witness for His Word and the Reformed Faith in these four conservative groups.

Since they had the same beliefs and goals, it was quite natural that these four groups came together in coalition and organized in [the summer of] 1971 a Steering Committee for a Continuing Presbyterian Church. The Steering Committee consists of three representatives from each of the member organizations.

Recognizing that the radical ecumenists have divided the church and are determined to liquidate the Presbyterian Church U.S., the Steering Committee is determined by God's help to continue in America a Presbyterian Church faithful to Scripture and the Reformed Faith and obedient to the Great Commission.

Any ministers or laymen who feel in their hearts a like dedication are invited to contact the Office of the Administrator, Post Office Box ____, Perry, Georgia, ______.