Letter from the Session of Beverly OPC to the Session of Redeemer OPC

March 16, 2002

Dear Session Members,

We are writing to you in order to urge you to take swift and decisive action to correct the scandalous behavior of Mrs. Lee (Misty) Irons in connection with her website,

www.musingson.com and her publicly distributed articles regarding Christianity, Homosexuality and the Bible.

Mrs. Irons has indeed caused a scandal both inside the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and in some churches with which we have ecclesiastical fellowship.  As you are no doubt aware, there are many calls for disciplinary action to be brought against both Mr. and Mrs. Irons.  At the recent meeting of the Western Classis of the RCUS our Fraternal Delegate, the Reverend [Po--], was asked by some of the delegates what we intended to do about the situation.  He tried to assure the Classis that we would “handle it.”  The Fraternal Delegate from the Presbytery of Northern California stated in his address to the Western Classis that the men of the presbytery were reacting in horror to the article, A Conservative Christian Case for Civil Same Sex Marriage.

Dr. Nelson Kloosterman (URC) of Mid-America Seminary has also written a short response which closes with these words:  “… finally, to point out the inherent contradiction in the essay’s title: ‘A Conservative Christian Case for Civil Same-Sex Marriage.’  It is the adjective ‘Christian’ that, in the present context, proves quite ambiguous, to the point of alarm.”

While the Session has taken a few small steps to distance itself from the material on Mr. Irons' website, www.upper-register.com, the article that has caused so much controversy in the church of Christ is still available.  Other articles, which are equally or more disturbing, are still available on Mrs. Irons' site.  Since the aforementioned article came to light almost three weeks ago, further information regarding Mrs. Irons’ views have become known.  On her own personal website she has several articles detailing her views on Biblical law, same sex marriage, Biblical interpretation regarding the issue of homosexuality, etc.  She also writes a log of her journey into the world of homosexual literature and how she began to accept the validity of arguments put forth by homosexual writers.  Needless to say, the scandal has increased and continues to threaten the peace and purity of the church.

We appreciate the steps that the Session of Redeemer Chapel has taken to this point, though we believe that they are minimal and do not sufficiently deal with the scandal.  Therefore, we urge the Session to be much more active in taking away the offense which is disturbing the church.

We would point out that an underlying problem with the views expressed by Mrs. Irons is that she, an unordained person, is presuming to teach (both non-Christians and Christians) about the Scriptures, morals and Biblical interpretation.  She is openly critical and defamatory toward Christians in general and challenges the Biblically and Confessionally based position of her own denomination regarding the moral law and the sin of homosexuality.  She advocates a re-interpretation of Scripture in order to fit the "reality" of the homosexual orientation.  Yet, since she is not ordained, she cannot be held accountable as a teacher, say, as a minister could be held accountable because he has taken vows that govern his teaching ministry.  The root of the problem, then, is that Mrs. Irons is teaching.  She is acting in violation of the apostolic restrictions that place the function of authoritative teaching in the hands of men who have been equipped, called and ordained to that office.  In addition to that, she is teaching contrary to the Word of God and the secondary standards of the church.

What, then, should be done?  We believe the Session needs to take action in the following areas:

1.   Mrs. Irons should be instructed to take down her website and cease her attempts to influence and teach others regarding these matters.

2.   Mrs. Irons should be counseled regarding the dangers of immersing herself in the writings (fiction and non-fiction) of those in the homosexual lifestyle.  It is obvious that she has become somewhat obsessed with the issue and has uncritically accepted much of the propagandistic literature that is available.  As has also become obvious, this is not only dangerous from an epistemological perspective; it is also morally and spiritually dangerous to Mrs. Irons herself.

3.   Mrs. Irons should repent for her consistent denigration of her fellow Christians and, as evidence of her repentance, she should publicly apologize. 

4.   The Session should make a public statement repudiating the views of Mrs. Irons and reaffirming the Biblical and Confessional teaching on the sin of homosexuality as well as the full and true power of the gospel to save from judgment and deliver from the bondage of sin.  Reaffirming and distributing the Presbytery of Southern California’s pamphlet Homosexuality …a Right? … a Wrong? would be a good way to reaffirm Biblical teaching on this issue.

Should the Session so instruct Mrs. Irons, and should she refuse to heed its instructions, Mrs. Irons needs to be reminded that she would be in violation of her fourth membership vow:  “Do you agree to submit in the Lord to the government of this church and, in case you should be found delinquent in doctrine or life, to heed its discipline?”

In our opinion she has already by her actions disturbed the peace and purity of the church and, so, could be disciplined under the provision of Book of Discipline III:7 which states:  "An offense which is serious enough to warrant a trial is:  (1) an offense in the area of conduct and practice which seriously disturbs the peace, purity, and / or unity of the church,…"  While Mr. Irons might take responsibility for putting A Conservative Christian Case for Civil Same Sex Marriage on the "upper-register" website, the fact is that the same article and others continue to be available for public distribution through "musingson."

We hope that the Session will fulfill its duty to “watch diligently over the people committed to their charge to prevent corruption of doctrine or morals.” (FoG X:3.)

Thank you.

For the Session of Beverly Orthodox Presbyterian Church,

[Mr. P--]

Clerk