“Genderqueer” PCUSA, Sexual Abuse, and More
EDITOR’S NOTE: From time to time we will publish letters and emails we get from readers, sometimes with a response, sometimes without comment. If you would like to share your thoughts about any of our stories or podcasts, please email us: [email protected] 
Presbyterian Church (USA) Adds ‘Genderqueer’ Members
I’d also like to hear the actual attendance numbers for the PCUSA.
I grew up in that denomination. Once out of seminary, I realized my views would not be acceptable in my own denom. You don’t have to be a fundamentalist to have fundamentals. Their fundamentals are things like: no to inerrancy; yes to women’s ordination, gay marriage and LGBTQ affirming. Sad. Very sad.
By the way, kudos to the author, who simply used the facts as THEY state them. No need to say anything damning — except what they themselves are saying.
Chuck Walton, Pardeeville Wis.
Reporting on Sexual Abuse
I would like to thank you for reporting on the cases of sexual abuse within the church and how to prevent them.
I am a preacher’s kid and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a national church leader. I have witnessed first-hand the damage that this abuse causes. I have been sharing publicly about this since 2000. In all these years of sharing I can still count on one hand the number of times I have shared that someone comes to me afterwards and says that they too were abused and it was tied to a church leader or member.
I have also heard from many church leaders saying that it is not as bad in the church as it is in the general public. To that I say I don’t believe so. I have personally worked with hundreds of survivors of abuse within the church. I have heard several times that a survivor was told that abuse is not that bad in churches by church leaders and they hearing this is like being raped again.
Please let me know if I can be of any help in curbing this harm from being carried out.
Keith Morris, Anderson, Ind.
Bill Hwang Sentenced for $10B Fraud
Why do you focus on the downside of the church? For every “bad” pastor you report on, there are thousands who serve God with stellar character and are making a difference. You would be wise to be more balanced if your desire is to lift UP the name of Jesus.
Dr. Tom Kinnan, Marion, Ind.
Warren Smith responds:
We do publish a great many positive stories of Christians and churches making a difference. In fact, we have a weekly column called “Ministries Making A Difference.”
That said, we are called MinistryWatch. We are unapologetically a watchdog group.
We take seriously the admonition of Ephesians 5:16, which says, “Have no fellowship with the evil deeds of darkness. Instead, expose them.” That’s what we do. I can understand that this might not be your cup of tea, but what you are asking us to do would require us to abandon our fundamental mission.
I would also add that any time you tell the truth, you lift up the name of Jesus. I love Easter, but the day on which Jesus was crucified, three days earlier, is also a part of that story. In fact, we call that day Good Friday, and we do so unapologetically because we know the end of the story.
Bonhoeffer and Metaxas
The article “Bonhoeffer Relatives and Scholars Issue Warning to Eric Metaxas, Project 2025” struck me as a helpful analysis. Thank you.
I also read several of the Letters to the Editor and realized that I’d also had background opinions in my mind that were influenced by my political inclinations.
This helped me “repent” back to a position I try to maintain of separating “church and state.”
Jesus gives that guidance in Mark 12:17, but like those on both sides in the opinions, that is difficult. Still, His teaching is something I try to keep under consideration in the environments of media, politics and social influences.
Bill Thoel, via email
