What’s Wrong With The ARP Church?
[Read and view the following before reading ARPTalk (185): “Questions Answered Regarding ARP Seceders” and paying close attention to the video of Andy Putnam speaking at General Synod. ]
If you were to ask most ARPs what is wrong with the ARPChurch, they would probably answer, “Nothing!” Their answer reveals the insular, xenophobic, and inward-looking attitudes of most ARPs. To illustrate: at a meeting of the General Synod a couple of years ago, in a discussion regarding ecclesiastical hinderances for conservative PCA congregations considering transferring to the ARPChurch, Rev. Clint Davis, said, “If they don’t want to be like us, let them stay where they are! We’re fine!” Yes, Clint, you’re “fine” and so are the 100 congregants who attend the Chester Church.
There can be no renewal without self- examination; however, in the ARPChurch there is a fear of self-examination. The attitude is the ARPChurch is “the church on the hill.” It is the attitude of: “Let them come to us! We don’t go to them!” The result is unhealthy congregations; the result is decline and collapse (as illustrated by the photo to the right). As a friend in the ARPChurch once said to me, “Two out of three of us is dumber than all four of us!”
IF THE STATED GOAL IS TO GO NOWHERE,
IT WILL BE ACHIEVED!
Well, what are the plans for growth in the ARPChurch? One thing is for sure, none of the present leaders has taken on the challenges of church planting, evangelism, or renewal. None of the present leaders has been nominated for an award for church growth.
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POPE KYLE SIMS
Pope Kyle Sims, his Fatness, blessed be his name forever, has left three congregations in decline. According to his Facebook site, his present plan is to eat his way across America, for he is the “Hungry Preacher.” I’m sure as the representative of Erskine Seminary to congregations, this will attract a swarm of obese students to the seminary.
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PATRICK MALPHRUS
According to his Facebook site, Patrick Malphrus is a great white hunter who is also an intrepid traveler. If you ask him, Malphrus will inform you he knows more about church renewal and church planting than anyone else in the ARPChurch. If you ask him, he will delight in telling you that Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia listened in on his livestream during Covid. Well, I’m sure Youngkin is using this on his political resume. However, as far as church leadership is concerned, he split the Devenger Road Church in Greenville and left the congregation in steep decline. According to the statistics in the Minutes of General Synod, his ministry at the Old Providence Church has reached the great height of plateaued. But never fear, according to his Facebook account, he is attempting to visit every state in the United States. I suppose he is planning for another bear hunt. The bear skin rug in his office is getting old, it’s too small, and it needs replacing. So, for all those with wanderlust to see the USA and the desire to hunt bears, the ARPChurch is for you. Notwithstanding, Patrick Malphrus has recently hired as his associate/assistant the son-in-law of Pope Kyle Sims, his Fatness, blessed be his name forever. In the past, Malphrus was unable to get along with anyone who worked with him. I wonder if this portends family drama. Whatever!? This certainly frees Malphrus to do the important things of ministry: travel and hunt.
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ANDY PUTNAM
Andy Putnam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, on the floor of General Synod, worked hard to earn the high ecclesiastical accolade of “THE LIAR” (see the site at the beginning of this article). With full knowledge, with willful and malicious intent, with premeditation, and with every intention to deceive and mislead, he showed himself to be a loathsome liar. And, he became more than a liar; he became a “damn liar.” Having identified himself as a former Parliamentarian and Moderator of General Synod (and one who also has earned certification as a parliamentarian), and a contributor to the present Form of Government, in the debate as to whether General Synod has the authority to dissolve a presbytery, in order to prove his point that General Synod has such authority, he read from the OLD [wrong!!] Form of Government instead of the recent Form of Government. (And he got away with it, because he was trusted; it wasn’t until his speech was reviewed that his duplicity was caught and seen for what it is: A LIE.) You see, it doesn’t matter what General Synod has done in the past, nor does it matter what is written in a past Form of Government, the only relevant and authoritative Form of Government is the present Form of Government (or that is the way it once worked!). And the present Form of Government does not allow for General Synod to dissolve a presbytery unilaterally. A presbytery cannot be dissolved without its permission. However, as Putnam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, once said to me, “There is what is written, and there is what we do!” So, what about “damn liar”? A “damn liar” is one who lies purposely and for sport, to achieve a political end. To make himself more of a “damn liar,” in his article, In the ARP: Crisis of Conscience, Not Constitution, he is so arrogant as to argue that conscience triumphs over constitution. That is, “Let us do evil that good may come of it!” That is the argument Nazis, Communists, and other totalitarians use. Simply put: MIGHT MAKES RIGHT! The Bible calls it “lawlessness.” Well, if you’re a liar (and think of yourself as a political operative), the denomination for you is the ARPChurch.
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MATT MILLER
Matt Miller, the Flake, was the senior pastor of the Greenville ARP Church in Greenville for 10 years. For 10 years, he attempted to out shine his predecessor, Neely Gaston (a man he said he despised), and he never achieved his goal. Under his leadership the congregation plateaued. Today, he is the Director of the S. Lewis Institute, Greenville. Matt Miller, the Flake, has no plan for growing the ARPChurch. HE COULDN'T CARE LESS! He and his family do not even worship in a congregation of the ARPChurch. They worship in a PCA congregation. The only thing he can say is: “Let’s read another C. S. Lewis book and see if we can find something new!”
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MARK MILLER
When Mark Miller, the Wannabe, was first introduced before General Synod to preach, his bud, Matt Miller, the Flake, said Miller looked like Stonewall Jackson and preached like Charles Spurgeon. Well, NO! No on both counts! He does not look like Jackson — and today he is too fat to sit a horse. And he doesn’t preach like Spurgeon. When Spurgeon preached, he filled the Tabernacle to overflowing. At Shiloh (Lancaster, SC), unlike Spurgeon, Mark Miller, the Wannabe, did not fill the sanctuary to over flowing. At New Albany (Mississippi), unlike Spurgeon, Mark Miller, the Wannabe, did not fill the sanctuary to overflowing. Now, at Clover (South Carolina), unlike Spurgeon, Mark Miller, the Wannabe, has not filled the sanctuary to overflowing. Also, unlike Puritan ministers who had long ministries in one place, Mark Miller, the Wannabe, has bounced around like a Mexican jumping bean from one congregation to another. I don’t know how to describe his plan for church growth. He doesn’t have one. Perhaps, it is don’t stay in one place too long.
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BEN GLASER
There is no one in the ARPChurch who knows more about jackasses than Ben Glaser, equus asinus, may he bray forever. He has much to say about things he knows nothing of and much to bray about that which makes him look like a bellowing fool. He is the pastor of the Bethany ARP Church, Clover, SC. Before taking his position at Bethany, he was a FAILED church planter in Mississippi. A couple of years ago, he was heard bemoaning housing development around the Bethany Church. Instead of looking at new houses as filled with people and rejoicing in the challenge of evangelism , he saw development as an intrusion and a nuisance.
He often posts photos of his congregation on Facebook (see the photo to the right). Is the congregation half empty or half full? Well, it certainly isn’t overcrowded. He fancies himself a modern Puritan. So, as with most neo-Puritans, I suppose the congregation is half empty, for it has been cleansed of the riffraff. That’s the goal of neo-Puritan pharisees! Half full or fewer is good enough! You know, too many new people present a danger. His plan for growing the ARPChurch is xenophobia. Indeed, new people are dangerous!! Do you think he will put up a sign saying, “Visitors NOT Welcome”.
Many other names could be added to the list of pastors of declining or plateaued congregation (for example, Rhett Carson, Clint Davis, Andrew Di Iulio. and Nathan Frazier). The point is the leadership of the ARPChurch has no idea how to grow congregations. They simply don’t know how to evangelize, to plant congregations, to renew congregations, or to attract unaffiliated congregations.
HE WHO LIVES IN A GLASSHOUSE SHOULDN’T LOVE ROCKS!
Andy Putnam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, and others argue that Second Presbytery had to be dissolved because Chuck Wilson was a “cult” leader who had “bewitched” the members of the presbytery, and the presbytery could not be saved from his evil influence.
Good grief! Chuck Wilson is not a “cult” leader. Even his friends are wary of him. He is a “joker.” He has no “sacred cows.” He’s a critic. He is a “whistleblower.” At one time or another, he has offended most everyone in Second Presbytery. However, when there was a hard job needing to be accomplished, he was called on. This is why Second Presbytery had 5.5 million dollars in liquid assets and another million dollars in mortgages being serviced when the presbytery was dissolved.
If there is corruption in the ARPChurch, look no further than Andy Putnam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, and his friends. The real reason Second Presbytery was dissolved is MONEY — as far as the ARPChurch is concerned, 5.5 million dollars is a lot of cash.
Andy Putnam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, has worked hard to earn the sweet sobriquet of “THE LIAR.” Just a cursory look at the reports, interviews, and videos conducted by the Minister & His Work Committee of Second Presbytery makes it clear Chuck Wilson and his wife were NOT protected; rather, all parties were treated equally. It seems that Andy Putnam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, and his comrades did everything they could to suppress the reports of the Minister & His Work Committee. Also, if Chuck Wilson did the things alleged, why has he not been arrested? Why has his wife not been arrested as his accomplice? Well, the use of innuendo and groundless allegations are an effective way to destroy. See, you can’t unring a bell. So, a well done to Andy Put nam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, and all his compatriots in the Catawba Caliphate for they have transformed wickedness into righteousness! Not too many people can do that!
For ten years, Andy Putnam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, has looked for a way to get at Chuck Wilson. Indeed, that is what he said on the floor of Synod. The fracture in the Wilson family (with the two eldest daughters estranged from their mother and father and from the other three siblings of the family) presented an opportunity too good not to be seized. Well, it wasn’t hard to manipulate two women who were disowned by the rest of the family.
Speaking of coverups! Andy Putnam, THE LIAR, may his mendacity be remembered, is the only man in the history of the ARPChurch to go through a very nasty divorce while serving as Moderator of General Synod. The Minister & His Work Commission of Catawba Presbytery circled the wagons for him. Well, what was his part in the divorce? Poor Andy, according to the Minister & His Work Commission of Catawba Presbytery, played no part in the divorce. However, we all know it takes two to dance out of a marriage and into divorce court! You know, as I remember, 1 Timothy 3 has something to say about a pastor having control over his wife. Well, that’s a small thing! The Moderatorship of General Synod was too sweet to walk away from.
Indeed, men living in glasshouses shouldn’t fall in love with rocks. Yes, Rev. Phillip Mayberry, you should be careful in throwing rocks, too. Yes, I have read your musings. Having never spoken to me (and only read the report of a Kangaroo Court which was sent forth to avenge and destroy), may I suggest you go home and rectify the issues which caused your wife to leave you multiple times. What did you do to contribute to her departures? Yes, she’s back, but how long will she stay? Yes, the stories are too spicy not to be discussed over cigars and cognac in the evenings at Bonclarken after an evening session of General Synod!
Political Intimidation
Below is a copy of the letter sent by the Clerk of Second Presbytery to the Lower Long Cane, Newberry, Troy, and Unity congregations. The letter is signed by David Griffin; however, he is not smart enough to write the letter himself. The letter sounds like that of a lawyer. I’m sure the letter was written for him by Dan Eller (attorney), the political hit man at the last two meetings of Second Presbytery.
I am writing to let you know that I received your communication (attached) regarding your congregation’s vote to leave Second Presbytery and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination. However, be it advised that a Complaint has been filed against Second Presbytery’s actions, accusing Second Presbytery of violating the Standards of the ARP Church. As such, I would advise you to refrain from any legal action until such time that the appropriate church court can act upon this Complaint.There may be legal ramifications given the constitutionality of your actions, based not on the actions of Second Presbytery, but instead on the Standards of the ARP Church. As such, I cannot remove your congregation from the roll until such time that the matter is adjudicated.
Give a hand to Dan Eller! This sweet note is priceless! Imagine a lawyer insisting someone not to seek legal advice. This is going to be fun if it goes to a court in Anderson County or McCormick County.
Below is a copy of a letter Ben Glaser, equus asinus, may he bray forever, sent to NAPARC.
Greetings in the name of our common Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This letter is to inform our NAPARC brothers that the following men have demitted their office due to their failure to transfer their credentials by the September 1st date allotted through actions of the 220th ARP General Synod in June of 2024 and are no longer to be considered ordained ministers in Christ’s Church.
Jonathan Cook, Eldredge Kelley, Peter Waid, Craig Weiberdink, Mark Wright, Seth (Soku) Yi.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your leisure.
Below is a copy of a letter Ben Glaser, equus asinus, may he bray forever, sent to the congregations which departed the ARPChurch to form Veritas Presbytery,
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the pure hope of His gospel grace we greet you in the beauty of His love. Catawba Presbytery in its dedication to serve our common Savior welcome you to the fellowship which has only been broadened in blessing to now encapsulate all of the State of South Carolina. As we seek to find ways to grow in mutual beneficence I wanted to send this letter as a word of welcome and provide you with contact information if you have need or have any particular questions when it come to our new bond.
As part of this witness it is our duty to inform you that it is the position of Catawba Presbytery that your pulpit is considered vacant due to the failure of your pastor to follow the proper transfer procedures as provided for in submission to our Form of Government (FOG 9.62A-B, 10.3A, 10.3S). Because he has failed to maintain his ministerial credentials in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church or a recognized denomination it is our understanding that he is now not an ordained minister and therefore unable to fulfill the requirements of his duties, including overseeing the sacraments. While we understand that your congregation voted to join another group, and while we have no desire to hold anyone captive, we must strive to follow the spirit of 1 Corinthians 14.40 and do all things decently and in order in the keeping of the vows we took as officers in Christ’s Church.
We look forward to working with you in order to name an interim moderator and be of help in this time of transition.
Well, Mr. Glaser, if you and Catawba Presbytery are of a mind not “to hold anyone captive,” let them go! Stop insisting on procedure. You have demonstrated you don’t care about procedure — unless it suits you, of course.
I don’t know about you, but I’m aways thrilled by the arrogant and self-righteous pomposity that ecclesiocrats use in their communications. Why do they think they have to resort to virtue signaling in the opening address? That arrogant pomposity and self-righteousness is also displayed when Ben Glaser, equus asinus, may he bray forever, brays, “no longer to be considered ordained ministers in Christ’s Church.” “In Christ’s Church” reveals what they think of the ARPChurch. It ’ s somet hing like Pope Leo X who excommunicated Martin Luther!
His ignorance is also on display in his communiqué to NAPARC. Where is the name of Dr. John Paul Marr, a founding member of the Veritas Presbytery? By the way, how is it he doesn’t know Craig Weiberdink lives in Georgia and not in South Carolina? Does he not know where to look in the “Directory” in the Minutes of Synod to find names and addresses?
Now, please understand, the ecclesiocrats are not punitive churchmen who are little more than pompous asses seeking to hold ministers and congregations captive. No, not Pope Kyle Sims, His Fatness, blessed be his name forever, or Ben Glaser, equus asinus, may he bray forever, they are loving shepherds of the ministers and congregations of the ARPChurch, and these ecclesiocrats would not even harm a fly.
I was at a loss to illustrate their deep affection for their brethren until I remembered these words of King George III as portrayed in the Broadway play, Hamilton. King George III says,
You'll remember that I served you well Oceans rise, empires fall
We have seen each other through it all And when push comes to shove
I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love!
Then King George III, with a heart filled with love, says this:
And I'll love you 'til my dying days When you're gone, I'll go mad
So don't throw away this thing we had 'Cause when push comes to shove
I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love
(See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np87z67evwE. The video is a hoot, and it reveals the deep love the ARP ecclesiocrats have for their brothers — their desire to be shepherds in Jesus’ name!)
Mr. Glaser, do you know the word “skibidi”? In an email, your son introduced the word to me. He asked me if I knew the word. I didn’t. I had to look it up. In looking “skibidi” up, I also found the phrase “skibidi toilet.” It reminded me of a younger you. That is, when you were thiner and had hair. So, thank Owen (aka, “Big Boy”) for giving “skibidi” to me.
Mr. Glaser, on the day when Jesus asks you, “What did you do for Me?” Will you say, “I was clerk of Catawba Presbytery, I was one of the ecclesiocrats of General Synod, and I was a persecutor of old men who were more noble than I am and who accomplished much more than I did!?” Is that what you will say?
Dumber than a big bag of dirt!
ORDINATION IDOLATRY —
You boys in the ARPChurch are dumber than a BIG bag of dirt! You live in a fantasy world! Do you really believe your ordination in the ARPChurch means much? Have you made a golden calf of your ordination? Truthfully, it’s just a certificate you can hang on the wall in your office beside your RTS/ETS degree. It’s just a union card — a piece of paper!
In the eyes of the IRS (and that’s what really counts), your ordination is no more sacred than the ordination card of a Baptist, a Methodist, an Anglican, an independent, or that which is purchased online for $25, plus tax. All the IRS wants to know is this: are you using your ordination to do what you say you’re doing in order for you to qualify for ministerial exemptions on your tax forms?
God has given you eyes of stupor to be so stupid!
NOT THE BRIGHTEST AND BEST —
Over the years, I have watched men come into the ARPChurch out of RTS/Charlotte. I came to this conclusion regarding most of them: these are the men who can’t get a call in the PCA! Most of the time the ARPChurch gets the dregs of the barrel.
HISTORICALLY CLUELESSNESS —
Once upon a time, the history of the Scottish Church was important to ARPs. Men who couldn’t parse the history of the Associate Presbytery or conjugate the story of the Reformed Presbytery were sent back to the books. They were told to read and learn “our history” until they could dazzle the presbytery with their knowledge.
In the present environment, would Ebenezer Erskine or Ralph Erskine or William Wilson or Alexander Moncrieff, or James Fisher be welcome in the ARPChurch? Probably not! Nor do I think they would want to be a part of the ARPChurch!
CULT-LIKENESS —
One of the distressing aspects of the ARPChurch is it’s cult-like nature. It has become very much like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. What I mean is this: the Jehovah’s Witnesses can’t make converts easily out of non-churched people, so they go out and steal weak members in neighboring evangelical congregations. Goodness, it is embarrassing to hear an ARP pastor say, “Our way of evangelism is to let the Baptists lead people to Christ, and then we lead them to the Reformed faith.” That is, the ARP way of evangelism is sheep stealing from the Baptists.
Of course, this cult-likeness has led to a form of ghettoization. In the past, legacy-ARPs were accused of thinking they were better than other Presbyterians. In the old days, I heard ARPs say, “I was born ARP, I will live ARP, and when I’m dead, I’ll be ARP dead.” Well, that mainly had to do with family connections. Interestingly, the old guys who befriended me were uncomfortable with that sort of superiority thinking. In many conversations, I heard them agonize over the insular nature of their church. They saw it as a weakness. They were unhappy the ARPChurch wasn’t growing. They feared the demise of the church. The neo-ARPs, however, are different. They do not have a legacy connection. Many of them are foreigners and refugees from the PCA and elsewhere, and they bring their baggage and agendas with them. They come as repristinationists. They seek a pure theology and a pure ecclesiology to inflict on someone. They are attempting to be “THE CHURCH.” Some of them have this idea: “US FOUR AND NO MORE!” Presently, the neo-ARPs and the ecclesiocrats are working together in an uneasy peace; however, there is tension under the surface. In order for the ghetto to be pure, there can’t be too much diversity. Nor can there be criticism. In a pure church, there is nothing to criticize, nor is there room for respectful disagreement.
Conclusion
The title of this article is “What’s Wrong With the ARPChurch?” In conclusion, maybe these are the questions that should be asked: (1) IF THE ARPChurch WERE TO DIE TODAY, WOULD ANYONE KNOW? (2) Would anyone attend the funeral? Yes! A very few! And all of them would be watching their watches or sleeping!
These are my thoughts,
Charles W. Wilson
You should look into to how Andy Ward destroyed Mooresville ARP. Sold the church for 2.4 million to evangelical church.
Dear Angie Brawley,
Thank you for the comment.
I know noting of this incident.
What happened to the money?
Can you give more information?
Regards,
Chuck Wilson
ARPTalk