NR #1995-047: For Immediate Release
Presbytery Reconsiders Ecclesiastical Charges Against Minister Following
Multi-Million Dollar Civil Lawsuit

[[CLARIFICATION, 10-26-95 IMMEDIATELY BELOW:
NR #1995-047: Clarification
Clarification on Previous News Release

United Reformed News Service has received a request from the editor of PCA
News Service to clarify an item in NR 1995-047, dated April 21, 1995
("Presbytery Reconsiders Ecclesiastical Charges Against Minister Following
Multi-Million Dollar Civil Lawsuit"). The following two paragraphs were
written by the editor, Dr. Frank Smith, and not by the correspondent whose
name appears on the byline of the article:

 Clark, son of former PCA Mission to North America Coordinator Dr. Phil
Clark, led a group out of the Presbyterian Church in America but still
retains PCA credentials. The 1994 General Assembly upheld his complaint and
ruled that the presbytery had no jurisdiction in ascertaining that a
congregational meeting to vote on withdrawal from the denomination was
legally conducted.
 The cases have spilled over into the civil realm. Clark had filed a
multi-million dollar lawsuit against several presbyters and their wives
because of ecclesiastical actions taken with regard to him.
...END CLARIFICATION, 10-26-95]]

by Henry Fernandez, Correspondent, PCA News
Distributed by United Reformed News Service

GLENDALE, Ariz. (April 21, 1995) PCA/N - The Presbyterian Church in America's
Southwest Presbytery, at its April 20 and 21 spring stated meeting hosted by
Metro Presbyterian Church in Glendale, Arizona, voted to establish a
committee to review the propriety of trying Rev. John P. Clark, Jr., a second
time. This action follows the decision of the General Assembly Standing
Judicial Commission (SJC) which, based on technicalities and purported
irregularities in procedure, remanded the original case against him back to
presbytery for possible retrial.

 Clark, son of former PCA Mission to North America Coordinator Dr. Phil
Clark, led a group out of the Presbyterian Church in America but still
retains PCA credentials. The 1994 General Assembly upheld his complaint and
ruled that the presbytery had no jurisdiction in ascertaining that a
congregational meeting to vote on withdrawal from the denomination was
legally conducted.

 The cases have spilled over into the civil realm. Clark had filed a
multi-million dollar lawsuit against several presbyters and their wives
because of ecclesiastical actions taken with regard to him.

 Rev. Mike Biggs, campus minister at New Mexico State University, is chairman
of the Administration/Judicial Business Committee that brought the
recommendation. After lively discussion, presbytery decided to submit to the
latest ruling and hear from its committee at the fall stated meeting.

Editor's Note: PCA News is an independent source of news on the Presbyterian
Church in America operating under the auspices of Affirmation PCA, Somers,
NY.

Cross-References to Related Articles:
[No related articles on file]

Contact List:

Rev. Mike Biggs, Chairman, Administration/Judicial Business Committee,
Southwest Presbytery
 532 N. Lindell Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701 * H/O: (501) 521-3236

Rev. John P. Clark
 3108 N. Longmore Street, Chandler, AZ 85224-1384 * O: (602) 820-4885 * H:
(602) 897-8068

Rev. Henry Fernandez, Correspondent, PCA News
 333 Bryce Avenue, White Rock, Los Alamos, NM 87544 * O: (505) 672-3364 * H:
(505) 672-3918

Rev. Kris Lundgaard, Stated Clerk, Southwest Presbytery
 2010 Wisconsin Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88001 * O: (505) 522-0828 * H: (505)
527-8778



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file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-047.txt
[clarified 10-26-95]

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