I wanted to make readers aware that there have been further developments in the situation in Paola, where First Church is facing one of the, if not the most, hard-line presbytery in the PCUSA. You can find the pertinent documents at the church’s Web site. The presbytery’s administrative commission has rejected all claims and proposals from First members who wish to be dismissed and move with property to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It appears to simply be a summary decision (“off with their heads!”), and gives members a month–less now, since the deadline is November 24–to clear out if they are planning on doing so. Presumably, if they decide to stay but don’t like the way the denomination or presbytery are acting they have to sit down and shut up, pray, pay, and obey. The AC concludes its letter to the congregation, “with grace and friendship toward all and rancor toward none,” which is a funny way to end a letter from the governor saying he doesn’t want to listen to any more appeals before having you executed.
(Hat tip: Ryan.)
The Reformed Pastor 
November 14, 2007 at 1:18 am
I’ve just received a similar letter from the Presbytery Committee that oversees my candidacy for ordination: Complete a unit of CPE (and magically pay to feed, house, and insure your family while you’re doing that instead of working) or be removed from the process.
Apparently, in Holston Presbytery, the essential tenets are CPE and stuff like resurrection, or inspiration and authority of the Scriptures, or the Trinity are just, well, adiaphora.
November 14, 2007 at 6:58 am
What’s CPE? A curious Anglican wants to know….
November 14, 2007 at 8:08 am
CPE is Clinical Pastoral Education. It is training in pastoral care, important stuff for most pastors. There are a variety of settings to do it in, from hospitals to nursing homes to prisons. Some have (quite modest) stipends with them, and very often units are done over the course of a year so other school work (or real work) can be accommodated.
It is not a particularly egregious requirement from a committee that is overseeing the preparation towards ordained ministry. If THAT is what sets Chris off, he’s going to have a really interesting time in the parish…
And not particularly germane to the stuff happening at Heartland Presbytery…
November 14, 2007 at 8:25 am
I rather suspect that there might be more to it than that. My (very orthodox) parish has produced about half of the priests in the diocese over that last few years – a couple of years ago, the bishop decided to stop ordaining people from St. Alban’s. You can bet that there was more of politics than Holy Spirit in that decision.
November 14, 2007 at 8:47 am
I suspect what set Chris off was a tone of command in his communication with his presbytery. Just a guess.
November 14, 2007 at 9:16 am
Very possibly so…
November 14, 2007 at 9:58 am
It is the absolute refusal to seek a compromise that reminds me of my own experience. I have a large family and am the only breadwinner. It’s not really possible for me to take off two days a week from the job and still keep my family off the government dole (assuming we could get on in the first place…I am able to work and have a master’s degree).
As to training: I’ve been an active church worker for 10+ years (everything from children’s ministry to senior care) and during my time as a deacon (not to mention during my TWO years of student-pastor internship), I’ve made a plethora of hospital and home visits. CPE is useful, but the committee (and largely the denomination) has put too much faith in it while making things that have long fueled Christian ministry (like an esteem for the Word, a relentless pursuit of obedience to Christ, and an understanding of the gospel of free grace) secondary at best. And yes…it hurts.
November 14, 2007 at 11:04 am
CPE is most decidedly NOT about pastoral care! It is about non-religious psychobable.
CPE is the new shibboleth for liberals. There’s a reason why more and more presbyteries are req
November 14, 2007 at 11:05 am
..are requiring it of their candidates…it keeps good family people out.
Somehow the church of the last 1900 years grew pastors without CPE. I wonder how…
Oh yeah, with THE GOSPEL!
My three cents…
November 14, 2007 at 11:22 am
I saw a comment from Mac McCarty who implied that many of the 80 or Paola members who voted to stay in the PCUSA have been irregular attendees at First Paola. How the “stay in the PCUSA” folks expect to payoff a $950,000 mortgage and pay the bills is a real issue.
But then I suspect the Heartland Presbytery could care less about the “stay in the PCUSA crowd’s” future financial plight. It seems the only objective of the Heartland Presbytery is to make it is miserable as possible for the majority members of First Paola who voted to leave the PCUSA.
In today’s soft real estate market the Heartland Presbytery may just end up with a piece of property that will cost them thousands to dispose.
November 14, 2007 at 1:34 pm
As someone else whose Presbytery (West Virginia) is requiring 400 hours of CPE I can empathize wih Chris. I also would have to quit school practically to complete CPE. CPE is more important than the promulgation of the Gospel according to my liaison.
November 17, 2007 at 10:53 pm
The final documents have been posted on the website of the First Presbyterian Church of Paola, KS. These letters convey Rev. Kirk Johnston’s mandatory leave of absence, sessions dismissal from office, and the Administrative Commission’s implementation of original jurisdiction over our church. As of today, I will no longer maintaintain and update the church website. At noon today I resigned as FPC Paola Youth Pastor and I will be transferring my membership (and my “career”) in the coming weeks to the new church. (www.churchatevergreen.com).
January 31, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Seems to me those who elected to stay have also put their money where their faith is. Almost 500,000 of the 900,000 in a very little time span. That says a lot right there! The Book of Order has always read the same….if there is a small group wanting to stay that group will be supported by the Presbytery. News alert….the Presbyterian Church is not a pure democracy government! That means minorities sometimes inherit the property! If those who opted to leave didn’t take time to read the Book of Order, or respect the beauty of the polity of the PCUSA….oh well. I observe all this from Texas, and I do say I am proud of those who stayed in the Paolo congregation.
January 31, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Another note. I am one of the few ministers that didn’t take CPE. I regret that. However, I have had multiple opportunities through the years to learn about myself. CPE may seem like a pain today…..but tomorrow it will make sense. Bite your lip and stick with it. You will be a better person for it.