This is a good resource for Presbyterians who have to try to explain where they are from and why their church was never connected with the PC (USA).* The promoting of this map does not mean that I promote schism of any kind, nor does it justify why the Presbyterian churches are in such a state of chaos. Remember- the Lord prayed that we would be one as the Father and the Son are one. Much shame is on the Presbyterians for their schismatic ways.
4 comments:
One of the things that strikes me about the map is that in the last few unions, there doesn't seem to be a continuing church. Unlike the usual situation in Scotland.
Wow. That's just sad. It is, however; a good incentive for us to strive for unity whenever possible.
Ecumenism regardless of the cost!!!
How often does that seem to be the overriding principle among the mainstream? The Lutheran and Roman Catholic effort at striving for unity is a perfect example of how ecumenism fails. While there may be some reuniting in that nice map (PCUSA and UPC), such "unity" does no good without the Holy Spirit. If ecumenism is what unifies, what a shallow unity!
Was the OPC schismatic or the PCUSA? What is schism anyway? Would you agree that it's a departure from following or teaching God's Word? Or perhaps it's more technically a persuading of others to leave a denomination because of some perceived error while not having left the denomination yourself? If so, is it schismatic if a church chooses to leave a denomination after the denomination's governing body makes a bad decision? Or, is it schismatic for the church to stay in the denomination and continue to fight that decision?
Obviously we shouldn't put ecumenism above all else, but we shouldn't put purity above ecumenism either. We're called to strive for unity and purity, not one or the other. This doesn't necessarily mean an organizational unity, but the various denominations should at least get along. Something which a lot of P&R denominations don't do very well.
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