Now that we know what we know, it is time to let the rotten fruit go.
One of our loyal readers sent this letter to the Midway Guardian and asked for us to pass it on. The Editorial Board is happy to oblige.
I hope my fellow congregants, my brothers and sisters in Christ, will join me in asking every Elder, ruling or teaching, that did not actively oppose the wrongful treatment of Elder Dudt to voluntarily step down from their position, offer a personal apology to the Dudt family, and then publicly apologize for the damage they have personally done to this church, the damage they have done to the church’s public witness, and the dishonor that they have brought on the name of our Lord. These men, through blindness, corruption, and/or deceit mis-used the courts of our Lord to oppress their brothers.
When the Israelites were establishing their early Government following the Exodus, it was said of leaders in Exodus 18:21-22: “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.” Even in that early period it was clear that our leaders should fear God, seek truth, and hate dishonest gain. The majority of the Session clearly seeks to further their own agenda over that of our Lord. They clearly suppress truth to their own gain. They clearly use dishonest gain to smite those that oppose the Senior Pastor’s personal agenda. If we look further at the qualifications for an elder in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:8, we see that our elders should be sober-minded and self-controlled. They must be able to, with biblical wisdom, judge truth from error. The majority of the Session has now been unequivocally shown to have no ability to discern between the two and demonstrate a clear lack of self-control in the execution of the secret trial. We further see that elders must be able to relate to others well and demonstrate honesty in their impersonal relationships. Again, the majority of the Session has been shown to be unable to honestly relate with anyone that holds a viewpoint counter to their own. We then see that elders should demonstrate a spirit of gentleness. The majority of the Session has shown nothing but a vindictive spirit against their brothers, resorting to premature and improper church discipline, underhanded dealings, and manipulation. The last qualification that I will touch on is the ability to teach the Word of God and provide faithful interpretation of the Scriptures. What we have been subjected to from the pulpit, sadly for months, is political posturing and grasping at vague and remote linkages to further the never-ending train of reminders that we sheeple must submit to our all-wise session, lest we sin.
It is time for a change; time for a fresh start to renew and revive this church. If things continue as they are, this church will falter, fade, and ultimately die. I, for one, do not want to see that happen. That is why I feel compelled to call my fellow members to demand that those who had a hand in the disgusting trial against Phil Dudt and those that felt it necessary to extend the virile hatred to Elders Barnett, David, and Scott, to voluntarily step off the session for the good of Christ’s church.
I would remind everyone of BCO 31-9, which says that any prosecutor who fails to show probable cause of the charges is himself subject to censure as a slanderer of his brethren. While Scott Keesee was formally the prosecutor against Phil Dudt, the spirit of BCO 31-9 extends to all who willingly sought to falsely indict Phil Dudt.
I would like to personally thank the Midway Guardian, the Elders that stood against the Session’s corruption, and the Standing Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Church in America. Without them, David Hall and those who blindly follow him would be otherwise unrestrained, unaccountable, and would continue to bring shame and disgrace upon the name of our Lord.