Presbyterian Church stands at crossroads

WHILE I agree with Rev David Clements( Write Back, December 17) that the constant sport of “Presbyterian-bashing” is unfair, there is no hope of the present debacle in the Church going away anytime soon, because it shall take many years to sort out.

I note that he is not a Presbyterian and, therefore, was able to sign his letter with his name, unlike many knowledgeable and well-meaning Presbyterians who subscribe to the Belfast Telegraph but too frequently leave their names with the Editor.

I am sure David was not intending to stifle healthy discussion on such matters as the Church coming up to speed on subjects such as equality, abortion and marriage, but I agree that no one man is to blame for where we stand at present.

The teaching of the Presbyterian Church has changed so much that some of us do not recognise a Christian message of love and kindness in which we once had complete faith, but it is still our Church.

Readers will be asking if there is a Christmas message from the Presbyterian Church. I want to assure them that the message of love and kindness is still there at ground level.

We simply have to go back to basics and pay heed to what we should be doing: namely, loving God above all others (not clerical power based on doctrine interpreted centuries ago) and loving our neighbours as ourselves (not just people who identify as men and women but everyone and all genders).

I believe that the Presbyterian Church needs to become inclusive if it is to continue to exist. To this end, the Church Code needs to be rewritten to recognise not just the place of men but the importance of women and especially those who could moderate this continuing discussion about all who live in different images of God’s planned evolution of mankind.

This argument will not be silenced and now is the chance for the Church to prove it is listening, demonstrate its democracy and publicise how it will change to embrace all of God’s children with love.

JENNIFER ARCHER Bangor, Co Down