Lamentable Slander

Responding to "A Call to Prayer & Lament"

To the leadership of pcaprayerandlament.com,

I remind you, unsubstantiated accusations violate the Ninth Commandment by harming truth and neighborly reputation, constituting sins like slander, false witness, or prejudicial speech. Our standards call for charitable esteem, defense of innocence, and evidence-based testimony instead.

As an elder in Christ’s church, I will not tolerate unsubstantiated claims, even when couched in the language of “lament”. I will not lament untruth. I will not respond favorably to baseless accusations which have no ground in reality.

If the signers want change, they must go through the church courts. This letter shows no evidence of following Christ’s commands regarding offenses in Matthew 18, and it appears to be a means of prosecution by public appeal. In other words, this letter was not written in good-faith.

Here is what I am praying for. I pray that everyone involved in crafting and signing this letter would either:
1) Provide proof of their claims (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1).
2) Charitably express their discontent without implying wrongdoing.
3) Remove their name from the list.

-TE Charles Stover
Redeeming Grace Presbyterian
Owensville, Missouri

Below is the list of accusations made by the “Initial Signatories” of pcaprayerandlament.com

“We have seen a deepening culture of suspicion, gracelessness, self-righteousness, and relational dysfunction within the denomination.”

Accusation: Blames the PCA for cultivating negative relational dynamics that erode community.

“Too often, faithful leaders in good standing are subjected to unchecked slander and baseless innuendo on social media, which has begun to function as an unofficial court of the church.”

Accusation: Accuses the denomination (or its members) of allowing or failing to prevent slander and unfair judgment via social media.

“Many of us have experienced or witnessed racial microaggressions, unnecessary theological gatekeeping, and a pervasive mistrust that corrodes gospel ministry and healthy community.”

Accusation: Directly points to racial insensitivity and exclusionary practices within the PCA, implying harm to ministry and relationships.

“Some have described the denominational environment as emotionally or spiritually abusive, particularly toward leaders from marginalized and/or minority backgrounds.”

Accusation: Labels the PCA’s environment as abusive, especially toward minorities, suggesting systemic mistreatment.

“Many of us and those we serve have been persistently excluded, questioned, or sidelined because of our race, gender, or cultural background, and because of the way our convictions and ministry methodologies are at times discordant with the white and male-dominant culture that is normative in the PCA.”

Accusation: Accuses the PCA of racial, gender, and cultural exclusion rooted in a “white and male-dominant” norm.

“We lament the denomination’s lack of progress around racial reconciliation and unity since our corporate repentance in 2016, and around our commitment to become a more robust and gracious complementarian denomination in 2017.”

Accusation: Faults the PCA for failing to follow through on past commitments to racial reconciliation and gender-related graciousness.

“We are grieved that public figures who have denigrated racial minorities, immigrants, and women find widespread sympathy and support in our denomination.”

Accusation: Implies the PCA harbors or tolerates support for figures who engage in denigration (belittling or disparaging) of vulnerable groups.

“We remain discouraged by the absence of leaders of color at the national level in the PCA. The denomination’s structures continue to leave little room for genuine mutuality or reciprocity.”

Accusation: Blames structural issues in the PCA for lacking diversity in leadership and failing to foster equal relationships.

“However, we are deeply concerned by the PCA’s narrowing definition of doctrinal and ministerial faithfulness.”

Accusation: Criticizes the PCA for overly restrictive standards that limit faithfulness.

“Rather than fostering a generous, confessional catholicity, the denomination has increasingly prioritized doctrinal gatekeeping and judicial processes that drain energy from mission and ministry.”

Accusation: Accuses the PCA of excessive control and legalism that harms broader ministry efforts.

“Rather than allowing room for charitable disagreement on secondary matters without fracturing fellowship, the denomination has become increasingly inhospitable to those who share our convictions.”

Accusation: Portrays the PCA as unwelcoming and divisive over non-essential issues.

“The political and cultural battles within the PCA have taken a heavy toll in our local contexts. Rather than fueling mission in our cities, the denomination increasingly hinders it.”

Accusation: Blames internal conflicts in the PCA for obstructing external mission work.

“The very neighbors we are seeking to love — secular, progressive non-Christians, LGTBQ individuals, immigrants, people of color, and more — are publicly belittled and demonized, if not by our words then by our legislative actions.”

Accusation: Directly accuses the PCA (through its actions or legislation) of belittling and demonizing specific groups, implying hypocrisy in its outreach.

“Some of us are exhausted from fighting internal battles that distract from the work of gospel proclamation and community transformation.”

Accusation: Implies the PCA’s internal issues are burdensome and distracting, faulting it for causing fatigue among leaders.