For years, liberal Christians of various stripes have been accusing the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) of trying to “subvert” the mainline denominations. The IRD has done this by making public stuff that mainline leadership would rather its members not know; by advocating a return to biblical and historical theological and ethical standards; and by shining a light on the almost exclusively left-wing political agenda that dominate the “peace and justice” ministries of the mainline churches. The Institute is made up of people who are members of the denominations they are working in, but mainline leadership keeps portraying IRD as some kind of right-wing political conspiracy attacking the mainline from outside.
I bring this up because of a news release that I saw on the Web site of the Witherspoon Society, a PCUSA outfit that fits the political, theological, and ethical profile of what the IRD has been standing against almost to a tee. This is the release:
Representatives of various progressive Presbyterian advocacy groups, assisted by the Carpenter Foundation and Plowshares Institute, met last weekend at Stony Point Conference Center in Stony Point , New York, to inform and support each of the various groups in their work towards a more inclusive Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The Witherspoon Society was represented in the meeting by Board members John Harris and Mitch Trigger.
Through discussion and collaboration, the representatives agreed that it is important for all of the groups to continue to educate and inform the members of the PC(USA) of our hope for a church that will eliminate the barriers to full participation by all people to ordained service in our church and Jesus Christ. Each group brings with it a different approach and a diverse membership, but our unity lies in our vision of a welcoming and inclusive church.
The upcoming General Assembly in San Jose will offer commissioners the opportunity to make significant strides in that direction and it s the hope of each group to offer a variety of resources, both individually and collectively, that will aid the commissioners in sharing our vision.
When I saw this I got curious. Who are these people that “various progressive Presbyterian advocacy groups” are being “assisted” by as they seek to change the theological, ethical, and constitutional standards of the PCUSA?
The first reference, to the “Carpenter Foundation,” is ambiguous. There’s a Carpenter Foundation in Oregon, but it looks like its work is restricted to that state. So I’m guessing this is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, which doesn’t seem to have a Web site. It is described in the newsletter of Moravian Theological Seminary (which got a grant from them recently) this way: “based in Philadelphia” it “supports museums, health care, and graduate theological education on a national basis.” It does so non-denominationally. Among its projects is an endowed chair at Vanderbilt Divinity School (United Methodist) and the establishment of a Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, CA, natch), a UCC seminary. So here you’ve got a non-Presbyterian foundation, and one at least possibly with an agenda, “assisting” various PCUSA organizations to press their agenda for change.
Then there’s the Plowshares Institute. It describes itself this way:
Plowshares Institute is a catalyst for social change that has been addressing social risks and conflicts for nearly 25 years. In partnership with an international advisory council and collaborative agencies on five continents, the Institute staff designs and implements projects that identify and address emerging social needs in order to build a more just and peaceful world community. In the last decade many of these programs have provided skills in mediation and conflict transformation, and have empowered civic, religious, and political leaders to work together to deal constructively with emerging conflicts.
Though it’s executive director is a Presbyterian minister, the board of directors is mostly non-Presbyterians. Its partners include the left-wing advocacy outfit Global Exchange and a Methodist organization called JustPeace. Most of its work seems to be done overseas, though there is also some in the U.S. Once again, you’ve got a non-Presbyterian organization “assisting” those who are trying to change the PCUSA stance on crucial issues.
Witherspoon has been among those who have accused the IRD of “meddling” in PCUSA affairs. Looks like it thinks two can play at that game.
Posted by David Fischler 
