A Church Falters-Further Division in Bible Presbyterian
Church
The 48th General Synod held in 1984 saw a further sad
parting of ways as Dr. Carl Mclntire led 16 other commissioners to walk out and
hold separate synod meetings at another location. Although this group
represented only a small percentage of the churches, Dr. Mcintire claimed this
was the true synod, Efforts at reconciliation proved fruitless and the majority
continued the work of the church until there were apologies and a reuniting in
the synod of 2001, meeting in Tacoma, WA.
In 1983-1984, several Bible Presbyterian missionaries were
faced with the dilemma of chOOSing to declare unreserved support for the lCCC
or they would not be returned to their fields of service abroad under the
IBPFM. The compromise within certain church bodies of the ICCC in various
countries overseas was well documented (and later publically admitted) so a
partition took place with the Raymond Carlsons (Africa), Judith Collins
(Africa), and the Irwin Steeles (South America) resigning from The Independent
Board. A number of board members either reSigned or were not reelected to their
positions on the board.
In view of this development, the Presbyterian Missionary
Union was formed in a meeting of Bible Presbyterian ministers, elders, and
missionaries on January 15-16, 1985, in Media, PA. Dr. G. Thomas Proctor was
elected president and Dr. Morris McDonald was asked to serve as the missions
coordinator. A Missions Council of 20 was elected to serve. The ministry of PMU
was seen as that of supporting the work of missions abroad and church planting
at home.
Over the years, God blessed in assisting ministries
overseas, sending forth missionaries, and assisting churches at home. Bibles
and theological books were shipped to 15 countries overseas, valued at over
$300,000. The Missions Banner became a monthly missions and church update
newsletter.
The end of July 2002, Dr. Morris McDonald retired from his
position as PMU's field representative and the Missions Council appointed Dr.
Len Pine to fill that post. The headquarters was then moved from Palm Harbor,
FL, to Grand Island, NY.
Over the past decade and a half, these agencies, among
others, have gained approval by the synod: Fundamental Presbyterian
Publications (Charlotte, NC), Cohen University and Theological Seminary (Los
Angeles, CA), and Western Reformed Seminary (Tacoma, WA).
Western Reformed Seminary opened for classes in October 1983
in facilities in the Bible Presbyterian Church of Tacoma, WA. Dr. John Battle
assumed the office of president.
A first for the Bible Presbyterian Church was the 2003
meeting of the General Synod in Canada. The Synod accepted an invitation from
the Bible Presbyterian Church of Edmonton, Alberta, to host the 67th Synod
meeting.
ABOVE ARTICLE CAN BE RETRIEVED FROM:
https://bpc.org/?page_id=646
My observation: Bible Presbyterian Churches are militants,
they like to have infighting, and they like to shoot their own comrades. WHAT A
JOKE!