Presbyterians and Baptist pastors (the worlds I am most acquainted with) are dealing with Moscow fans in their congregations. I know this because I receive questions from such parishioners regularly. 99% of them do not want to cause friction in their local churches, but they are tired of direct attacks from the pulpit about the CREC or Douglas Wilson or some supposed boogeyman called the Federal Vision. Most of them have read a few things I’ve written (though I am far from the most prolific in our group). Still, lots of them have come across the Canon+ app, Crosspolitic, or the various high-quality publications from Canon Press, and invariably something from Pastor Wilson.
My recommendation is rarely, if ever, to encourage them to leave. In fact, my encouragement is that they find peace within the body and not raise their convictions to issues of first importance. However important their issues may be, there is a greater right than being right. They should speak with the pastor. Build a history of peace-making within the body. And if there should be an opportunity to leave, leave peacefully and quietly without internet noise. We have enough growing pains not to desire additional turmoil, which is why we don’t waste time selling our agendas in private meetings with members from other churches. We invest in our calling as local bodies and shepherd those under our care, and God gives the increase.
The reaction of high-profile pastors to the supposed threat of Moscow/CREC is, first and foremost, pastoral. Kevin DeYoung is genuinely seeking to protect his flock from what he perceives as a danger to the long-term well-being of his congregants. Others speak out from a position of defensiveness and even react aggressively, which exemplifies a lack of confidence in the ministry of the Gospel. These churches/pastors become watchdogs, constantly looking for trouble where there is none, thereby creating congregants suspicious of everything and everyone who does not uphold identical dogmas.
My suggestion to pastors is to draw these questioners close. Engage the topic with concerned parishioners and grant that their interest in healthy families, a strong political backbone, and a high view of worship (things our Communion cherishes) are good things to pursue and that you share these pursuits, though from a different perspective. But don’t act defensively or aggressively. I guarantee you will find much more agreement if you carefully engage rather than overreact.
