Explaining the Opposition to Zach Garris in the Rio Grande Presbytery (PCA)

The Rio Grande Presbytery Trial and the Presumption of Guilt

Pastor Zachary Garris, a minister in New Mexico, will likely be on trial in the Rio Grande Presbytery as they just approved a majority report which noted the committee found a strong presumption of guilt.

This is connected to a controversy last June when Zach was under trial on social media following an interaction with Lamont English, an assistant director at the Presbyterian Church in America's mission agency Mission to the World, MTW, and a national diversity and mobilization specialist for MTW.

English questioned Garris' historical opposition to American slavery abolitionism, though Garris clarified he would have stood against abuses and unbiblical practices that took place in association with American slavery and adopted a gradual approach to ending the practice.

The PCA, Diversity, and Social Justice Conflict

I argued that this controversy reflected a deeper cultural and ideological conflict within the PCA where conservative theological perspectives are often challenged by those pushing for diversity and social justice.

I'm particularly concerned about the PCA's direction with figures like English, who I saw, based on other things he said, like implying President Trump was dangerous, racist, misogynistic, and treasonous, people should not be influenced by Jonathan Edwards, and Tucker Carlson was racist, that English was aligned with a woke ideology potentially steering church policy and discourse.

I discussed the fallout from Garris' statements, including his subsequent apology, which aimed to clarify his position without retracting his theological stance. However, despite this, there's been a swift move to judge, including the removal of an article by Garris from the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood's website, which I see as a sign of capitulation to cancel culture.

Procedural Irregularities in the Presbytery Investigation

I critiqued the lack of courage among conservative church leaders in this scenario and called for a more intelligent understanding of both history and theology. The Rio Grande Presbytery has now examined two investigative reports on Pastor Zachary Garris.

The majority report alleges his online advocacy of a biblical view of slavery breaches the PCA's constitution by not exemplifying Christian character, suggesting he should be prosecuted. The minority report argues there's no merit to these accusations.

The premature disclosure of the majority report's details by Eli McGowan and the revelation that the Sons of Patriarchy podcast also had access to it potentially violated procedural norms, possibly skewing the decision-making process.

Trial, Appeal, and the Punishment of the Process

The presbytery's adoption of Pastor Garris' case means he will go to trial where these procedural irregularities could be considered in evaluating the trial's fairness. If convicted, Pastor Zachary Garris could appeal to the standing judicial commission of the PCA, but he could also be suspended from ministry during their investigation.

However, the commission would only address this appeal after the trial concludes, which could extend over a year. In this scenario, the process is the punishment.