Vernon Broyles, the associate for corporate witness in the PCUSA National Ministries Division publishes a regular column in Presbyterians Today, a column I regularly take issue with. I emailed him once and disagreed with him only to learn he does not take criticism well. He latest column on American values appears in the August 2004 edition of the magazine.

Mr. Broyles obviously reads news that I never see. He, like most liberals, continues to harp on the Abu Ghraib prison abuse (he calls it a scandal but I see only deplorable behavior, not a “scandal”) and talks about how it is becoming obvious “that these atrocities are not isolated incidents” but, in his typical fashion, he fails to offer any proof of this. Sure, he goes on to say that “Some are calling for full investigations that go ‘all the way to the top’.” Well, Mr. Broyles, since when did “calling for full investigations” constitute wrongdoing? If that is indeed the standard we use, then there is obvious corruption in the PCUSA for many have “called for full investigations”.

Calling for full investigations is a typical ploy used by those without proof. If there was proof that these were not “isolated incidents” then why investigate? If you have proof then the next step is to prosecute, not investigate.

Later in his column, Mr. Broyles cites a long list of sins that he believes we should “boycott” he leaves out gay marriage. Now, I have no desire to debate gay marriage right now but I find it very interesting that in his sin list he leaves out the very topic that is currently being hotly debated at this very time within this very church. Could he perhaps be more interested in not stirring things up within the church than in presenting a list of sins?

I can’t say he is all wrong, however. He does mention that “as Christians we have a unique privilege and responsibility to call people into a community anchored in the gracious promise of God that we can be different if we are willing to be changed.” When he cites that our current “City on a Hill” is Las Vegas, he loses me. I certainly admit that our coutnry has problems but to say Las Vegas is our city on a hill is a bit extreme. Obviously the America Mr. Broyles lives in is very different from the on in which I live. But that is not really news either. I’ve often said that the church in Louisville is very different from the church in America.

I am still waiting to read an article on Condoleezza Rice in Presbyterians Today, she is after all, a Presbyterian, but I doubt that day will ever come. I’ve asked the editors about doing such an article but am told that when they ask for an interview, Dr. Rice is always too busy. Is should say so! Given the leftist leanings of the magazine I doubt Dr. Rice really thinks she would receive a fair shake anyway. Yes, the PCUSA claims to desire more women and more African-Americans in the church yet are hesitant to profile the who is arguably the most powerful African-American female in the world who just so happens to be a Presbyterian. It is, after all, much more fun to talk than to deliver.