Letter from the Overseeing Session to Misty Irons

May 24, 2002

Dear Misty,

At our most recent Session meeting, we spent a good deal of time considering the issues that we discussed in your presence at our previous meeting considering your views on homosexuality as expressed on your website.

We do want you to know that we appreciate and know your desire to present the gospel lovingly and otherwise minister the word of God to homosexuals. We are deeply aware of the serious thought you have given to their painful situation and spiritual needs.

A majority of the Session does believe, however, that the views expressed on musingson.com are such that they are in danger of threatening the peace and purity of the church. It is for that reason that we passed a motion directing you to shut down your website.

We did pass a related motion at our last meeting as well. We share that with you now so that you will perhaps be better able to understand the reasons for our action regarding your website. (In fairness to [Mr. P--], we should inform you that although he did support the motion below, he did not support the motion to shut down your website.)

"We the undersigned members of the overseeing session of Redeemer Orthodox Presbyterian Church of San Fernando Valley affirm our belief in the Bible as the only infallible rule of faith and practice. We deny that it is ever appropriate or allowable to call any behavior 'good' that God calls an abomination. We believe that homosexual activity is an abomination in the sight of God, and therefore ought never to be given support. We therefore believe that government sanction of same-sex civil unions is contrary to God's Word, and that Christians have no warrant from God's Word to call for such government sanction. We believe that even the unfulfilled desire for homosexual activity is sin. We believe that the power of God is able to change homosexuals who repent of their homosexuality and put their trust in Jesus Christ."

The majority of your Session believes that many of the views expressed on your website run contrary to the Word of God and are therefore inappropriate to express in a public forum. We are further convinced that although you did try to avoid making your identity and connection with the OPC known on the internet, now that this connection is known, it is impossible for you to continue your website without calling into question our denomination's doctrinal distinctives and its adherence to our primary and secondary standards.

We recognize that the action we are directing you to take is not an easy one for you to accept. You are in our prayers as we earnestly seek to follow Peter's injunction to elders - "Be shepherds of God's flock - that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:2-3.

For the Session,

[Mr. T--]