To the Editor,

Now we see it starkly. No further doubts can remain that the witch hunts have begun.

I refer, of course, to the PJC case in the Presbytery of Central Florida. Opponents of the Confessing Church movement, having lost (again) the polity battle over Amendment A and having lost (again) the denominational theological discussion, now turn to their one remaining source of power: court.

The loose coalition of people promoting the ordination of self-affirmed, unrepentant gays and lesbians are bullies. When they cannot have their way by appropriate means they resort to intimidation. This pattern has clearly manifested itself to those who have eyes to see it. Perhaps now it will become clear to enough Presbyterians that it will be called out and stopped.

But I doubt it. The bullying has been going on for years. No other course of action presents itself to these folks. They will therefore behave as crusaders always have: believing themselves to be called by God to win their self-identified prize, they will run rough-shod over any whom they perceive to be standing in their way. They will cut a wide swath of destruction through the church and they will not stop unless and until they either "win" or are defeated utterly.

I pray that somehow God might reveal to the Presbyterian Church (USA) some--any--way of averting the devastation people like the plaintiffs in the Central Florida case will likely wreak on the church.

Mike Riggins
Pastor, Northern Lakes Community Church (PCUSA)
Traverse City, Michigan