Weird News: The Wall Street Journal Called!

This has been a strange morning indeed. I just got off the phone with a journalist at the Wall Street Journal! Wow.

Now, over the last year I have spoken to reporters in San Antonio, and even one with the Religion News Service and Beliefnet, but never in my life have I had the opportunity to speak to someone at a national newspaper. It feels really strange, let me tell you!

The journalist who called was interested in knowing the reaction of Presbyterians to the release of the new Westminster/John Knox 9/11 conspiracy book that will go unnamed. The reporter wanted to hear our concerns and whether or not we feel that the publisher was doing us a service by publishing the book. What do you think I said?

Interestingly, the reporter also wanted to know about churches that might leave the denomination or that already have, post GA and whether or not the GA spoke on behalf of all Presbyterians. The reporter really wanted to hear how we felt and especially wanted to know if evangelicals would leave the denomination over the controversy that we are having.

I told the reporter that what will happen remains to be seen. I alerted her to Kirk of the Hills and the two congregations in Iowa, but told her that we are in a period of discernment. I hinted at our divisions over how to respond to our denomination's troubles. What else could I say?

Basically, I tried to be open about the deep concerns of evangelicals with our current trend and also to be clear that we have no idea whether we can change the denomination or not.

I hope that the Wall Street Journal will get out the 'news' soon: Presbyterians are in turmoil and the decision of W/JK to publish this book just adds fuel to the fire.

As I told the reporter near the end of the interview: "This is not the straw that broke the camel's back...but it certainly doesn't help."