Communication from the Session of Redeemer OPC to the Presbytery

October 10, 2002

Dear Brothers,

In the course of presbytery debate, there are times that we overextend ourselves, saying more than we have a right to say in fact. Sometimes this is done to the detriment of another’s reputation.

Such was the case during the debate at our second adjourned meeting of July 20, 2002. During debate, it was suggested by at least one of the presbyters, that Misty Irons, Lee’s wife, was not being submissive to her session.

It has come to our attention that those remarks wounded Misty, a sheep under our care. She was quite taken by surprise, since her attitude has been sweet and reasonable in her relationship with each of her elders separately, as well with the session as a whole. A defiant spirit is not a charge that any one of us is willing to level against Misty—certainly not at this point.

We believe it was one of those cases when the speaker was privy to some information, but not all. It is true that the session has directed Misty to discontinue her website, “MusingsOn”. It is also true that this website is still up and running. But it is quite premature to draw the conclusion that she has a rebel spirit. In our estimation it was reasonable for Misty to ask the session to demonstrate how we concluded that maintaining this website is a violation of her membership vows. She believes that when she does not agree with the session’s directive, she has the right to ask for us to prove that what we are directing is required by good and necessary consequences from the word of God. We recognize Misty’s reluctance to shut down this web site, but that is not the same as defiance.

It is our opinion that someone stepped over the line of propriety and may have sullied the reputation of Misty Irons. Having failed to elicit the repentance of the brother in question, this session determined to bring these considerations to the attention of Presbytery.

For the session,

[Mr. K--]