Integrity is defined by Webster as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values”.
Google defines it as “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness”.
Dictionary.com says this “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty”.
My father put it to me this way “Integrity is doing the right thing even when it hurts or no one is watching”.
With the current actions of the MPC Session, I see a severe lack of integrity, humbleness, and honesty of these men. Multiple times they have been reprimanded by denominational leaders over them for not following the rules, and sometimes Scripture, in their dealings with the flock at Midway Presbyterian Church. The lies that have been told by TE David Hall concerning his authority to extend the call to three pastors without ever receiving the authority from the congregation, show his dishonesty and lack of integrity. In extending this call, and having REs Richardson, Hawley, Whitaker, Talley, and Wolf sign all three Terms of Call, TE Hall has brought more people into his dishonesty. To further support the dishonest actions, TE Whitaker has written an overture, after the session violated the BCO, to make a change to the BCO so their dishonest actions might not be found out.
The dishonesty and lack of integrity extend even further. Has anyone from Midway Presbyterian Church heard anything from the session or pastors about how all the rulings from the SJC have turned out? Has anyone publicly heard from the session or pastors about what they are doing to RE’s David, Barnett, and Scott? Has anyone publicly heard from the session or pastors anything concerning the over turning of the invalid conviction of RE Dudt? I don’t think we have. Maybe individually some may have heard something from their shepherding elder, but none of this has been made public. There has been no public apology to RE Dudt for besmirching him and the wrongful attempt to dishonor and humiliate him and his family even though he has been reinstated by the SJC’s overturning of his conviction. This reinstatement was demanded by the SJC.
The only way any congregant would know about the lies being told by our session is through the 40-5 credible report. Has the session or pastors notified the congregation of the 40-5 credible report? Has the session or pastors notified the congregation that the General Assembly of the PCA has found the 40-5, which calls out deficiencies in the session at MPC and the NWGP, a worthy report? How many congregants know that this very report, signed by 13 ordained men of MPC, is the very reason RE’s David, Barnett, and Scott are being charged and tried? These men merely stood up for what was right. Ten other men agreed with them, one of them actually drafting a complaint to the higher courts. Because three active elders thought what was happening was wrong, and they spoke up, now they are being charged. Elder Dudt was also charged and wrongfully convicted because he disagreed with the session.
The session and pastors at MPC have proven to lack integrity and are dishonest. Their written attack sent to the congregation about the secrecy of the authors of midwayguardian.com is even more proof. The session and pastors will not give the flock at MPC any information, but the midwayguardian.com does. And then the website supports their findings with facts.
If the session and pastors at MPC were open to the congregation about what is going on in their church, and apologizing when they are proven wrong, perhaps MPC would not be falling apart. Even the secular world gets this. Here is a link to 10 Traits of Someone With True Integrity:
The TE’s and RE’s of Midway Presbyterian Church all need to be replaced. Whether they decide to resign on their own or the congregation removes them. The leadership has proven themselves not worthy of the office.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Isaiah 1:11-12 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?” says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?
Titus 2:7-8 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us Luke 6:31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Deut. 10:12-13 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?”
Integrity is a dying trait, even among Gods people.
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