Issue Made of Texas Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate's PCA Church

[rlvaughn]

I think that the discussion has gotten sidetracked. The point isn't whether or not White could win, it's about whether or not it's appropriate for an elder in the PCA (a generally conservative denomination) to have such views regarding abortion and remain an elder in the PCA.

I think what you mention is a valid point. But considering this post is in the "Political Debate & Discussion" forum, and the OP cited an article about White taking heat from other Democrats (not the PCA), I assumed the point of the discussion was about politics more than White's church affiliation. But it would be interesting to know how well White fits in his own PCA congregation (e.g., is it more on the "liberal" side, compared to the denomination as a whole) and the denomination itself.

 

[Jerome]

I assumed the point of the discussion was about politics more than White's church affiliation.

It's about both, the collision between his political and church commitments, as the title of the thread says. Local Democrats have picked up on the glaring disconnect between Andrew White's public pronouncements and what his church believes. A few distant voices in the PCA are sounding the alarm, but so far the church has taken no action.

 

[Jerome]

From Andrew White bio last year:

uth.edu/media/story.htm?id=e382ca2b-79b2-487d-b13c-feafd48f70b7

He has a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies...He and his wife chaired the 2012-2013 River Oaks Baptist School Annual Giving campaign, and he is an ordained elder at Christ the King Presbyterian Church

 

[Jerome]

Planned Parenthood board member Sally Dunning promoting Andrew White's candidacy yesterday:

tribtalk.org/2018/02/28/a-pro-choice-vote-for-andrew-white

"I recently spoke to Andrew....I asked specific questions about what he plans to do for women’s health when he is governor. Andrew is a pro-choice Democrat who supports fully funding Planned Parenthood. He will veto any bill that interferes with a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions. He will veto any bill that restricts access to reproductive healthcare including abortion."

 

[rlvaughn]

A few distant voices in the PCA are sounding the alarm, but so far the church has taken no action.

I'd be interested in reading what some of these voices have to say. White is clearly at odds with the PCA on several important moral issues.

 

[thatbrian]

I think what you mention is a valid point. But considering this post is in the "Political Debate & Discussion" forum, and the OP cited an article about White taking heat from other Democrats (not the PCA), I assumed the point of the discussion was about politics more than White's church affiliation. But it would be interesting to know how well White fits in his own PCA congregation (e.g., is it more on the "liberal" side, compared to the denomination as a whole) and the denomination itself.

You're right. I assumed incorrectly.

 

[Jerome]

A few distant voices in the PCA are sounding the alarm

I'd be interested in reading what some of these voices have to say.

Didn't you read post #7?

Here it is...again:

"I am praying for you Mr. White," wrote PCA Pastor Todd Pruitt in an open letter for alliancenet.org. "I am praying that the Lord will open your eyes and grant you repentance from your current views. I am praying that, should you harden your heart and maintain your current position, your church and presbytery will … exercise proper discipline in your life."

 

[rlvaughn]

You're right. I assumed incorrectly.

No, I assumed incorrectly, based on Jerome's post #22 above. Either way, it's open for discussion. I was explaining why I thought we went mostly down the political road.

Didn't you read post #7?

Here it is...again:

That's one voice. By "voices" I thought you meant more.

 

[thatbrian]

No, I assumed incorrectly, based on Jerome's post #22 above. Either way, it's open for discussion. I was explaining why I thought we went mostly down the political road.

That's one voice. By "voices" I thought you meant more.

The average PCA congregant is against abortion. White should join the PCUSA, or better yet, repent.

 

[Jerome]

Dallas News

"As an adult adviser to a Young Life group at Richardson’s J.J. Pearce High, he met Stacey...Raised as a Baptist, he joined her family’s church."

"the Whites' family foundation in 2015 gave $3.5 million to their PCA church, Christ the King Presbyterian"

"The PCA has denounced abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage...Asked about such church teachings, White said he supports 'marriage equality'....'My faith is important to me, but I don't agree with members of my church on everything,' he said. 'I believe discrimination of any kind is wrong, and as governor, will actively fight against it. All Texans must be treated equally under the law -- no matter race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.'"

 

[rlvaughn]

Sounds like he gave 3.5 million to a church he believes is discriminatory.

In Houston, the Whites' family foundation in 2015 gave $3.5 million to their PCA church, Christ the King Presbyterian.

The PCA has denounced abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage and women in the military. In 1989, the denomination named a task force on AIDS. It concluded the disease "is God's judgment on a society."

Asked about such church teachings, White said he supports "marriage equality" and granting work-related fringe benefits to same-sex spouses.
"My faith is important to me, but I don't agree with members of my church on everything," he said. "I believe discrimination of any kind is wrong...

 

[Jerome]

That's one voice. By "voices" I thought you meant more.

Such quibbling!...what's up with that? What I said was a few distant voices in his denomination. The same post #7, the World magazine website joined Pruitt's criticism, calling White "compromised" (World magazine was founded, and is edited by PCA elders).

 

[rlvaughn]

I'll quibble if you will.

Didn't you read post #7?

Here it is...again:

(World magazine was founded, and is edited by PCA elders).

You could have just mentioned that.

 

[Jerome]

Harry Reeder, senior pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Birmingham, Alabama, and a Council member of The Gospel Coalition, does not mince words regarding all this:

Today in Perspective radio broadcast

The PCA has a position paper that clearly states any PCA member who is a civil magistrate...is called upon to stand for the sanctity of life in their office...if this was a member of the congregation I pastor and they were running, there would be sessional action...Why this church doesn’t do it or hasn’t done it, I have no idea

they ought to start Matthew Eighteen with him and then move to church discipline. If they don’t ...then two churches from that Presbytery could initiate a process into that church....I’d just march up in front of the session and I would say, “Why is our church silent on a holocaust?"

 

[Jerome]

Lupe Valdez was the top vote getter in Tuesday's Democrat primary with 43%, followed by Andrew White (27%). The two will continue their battle to a May runoff election, as she fell short of the required majority.

Among the assurances Andrew White gave voters in an election eve profile filed by Dallas political reporter Jack Fink:

"I believe in a strict separation from church and state."

"I’m not running for the pastor of Texas. I’m running to be the Governor of Texas.”

 

[Jerome]

The controversy was mentioned this week on Breakpoint:

Too many politicians say things like, “I’m personally against abortion, but I believe in the right to choose.” People like Democratic vice-presidential candidate and Catholic Tim Kaine, for example. And now Texas gubernatorial candidate Andrew White, a longtime elder in the conservative Presbyterian Church in America, has earned LGBT endorsements for promising not to bring his religion into office....he would respect so-called “marriage equality” and Roe v. Wade if elected.

 

[Jerome]

A religion and politics analyst with a Masters of Theology in Christian Ethics from The University of Edinburgh weighs in today:

patheos.com/blogs/hedgerow/2018/03/texas-democratic-gubernatorial-candidate-two-faced-pro-choice-pca-church-elder/

Although White belongs to a "conservative" Presbyterian denomination...his campaign website initially stated that he "didn’t know when life begins" and that he respects the law.

About a month ago I unknowingly met with a longtime friend of White’s from Christ the King Church. We were primarily discussing issues related to the PCA denomination and I asked his friend how a PCA church elder could support killing children when the Bible prohibits it?

I followed up to our meeting in an email on February 12 in which I wrote:
"I wanted to follow up with you re Andrew White; here’s his page where he appears to affirm abortion and explicitly does not oppose it.
His position is interesting....I don’t understand how any PCA elder could claim the following: 'I can’t understand when a human life actually begins. It’s a mystery known only to God, and, as such my faith tells me to protect the beginning of life'."

This friend or someone he knew relayed the message to White, since after my email of February 12 White’s campaign clarified its position on abortion. It now states: "I support Roe v Wade. I believe women have the right to make their own medical decisions without interference from the government. As governor, I’ll veto legislation that places an undue burden on women. In my personal life, I accept that life begins at conception. However, I will not impose my personal belief on other Texans because I’m proud to live in a country that both separates church and state, and respects a woman’s right to control her own body."

Either he’s lying to himself or he’s lying to everyone else.

 

[rlvaughn]

Andrew White was beaten like a small drum in the Democratic primary by Lupe Valdez -- about 42% to 27%. But since there were 9 candidates to split the vote and Valdez didn't get a clear majority, there will be a runoff between Valdez and White. If White were to pick up the supporters of the other candidates, he still has a chance to win.

 

[Jerome]

Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals — Andrew White PCA scandal discussed:

MOS - Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

 

[carpro]

Andrew White was beaten like a small drum in the Democratic primary by Lupe Valdez -- about 42% to 27%. But since there were 9 candidates to split the vote and Valdez didn't get a clear majority, there will be a runoff between Valdez and White. If White were to pick up the supporters of the other candidates, he still has a chance to win.

Abbott will trounce either one. But it will be interesting to see if democrats select a sanctuary sheriff like Valdez.