Second letter to Stated Clerk
November 7, 2002

Paul Rolf Jensen
Attorney and Counsellor at Law
Post Office Box 9171
Reston, Virginia 20195
fax (703) 319-7794
paulrolfjensen@yahoo.com

via email: kirkpat@ctr.pcusa.org
The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
100 Witherspoon Drive
Louisville, KY 40202-1396

Dear Dr. Kirkpatrick:

Yesterday, I wrote you to inform you of instances where certain presbyteries were not abiding by the Book of Order in certain disciplinary cases I have filed. I write you again, further to that letter, to likewise call to your attention a much more serious interference in the disciplinary process. As I wrote you yesterday, the Baltimore Presbytery PJC has not issued its ruling on my petition for review of the Investigating Committee’s decision not to file charges against the Rev. Don Stroud. Now I learn one possible explanation why there are procedural problems in Baltimore Presbytery. As reported today by the Layman Online, the Presbytery of Baltimore is unconstitutionally interfering in what should be a sacrosanct disciplinary process. I enclose a copy of their article for your convenient reference. Unbeknownst to me, that presbytery, at its June meeting, passed a resolution calling on the Investigating Committee and the PJC not to enforce the constitution in the Stroud case!

As I wrote yesterday, you are the one single person in our denomination charged with upholding the constitution and insuring that the disciplinary process is fairly managed. It is therefore incumbent upon you to take sufficient action such that no person or entity subverts the constitution. I therefore call upon you to discharge this solemn duty and protect the integrity of our disciplinary process by stopping the Baltimore Presbytery’s unconstitutional interference. Since the PJC has not yet ruled on my petition, it is not too late for you to act. Please do so now while you still can!

Sincerely yours,