“No Contradiction” Between Evolution and Bible—PCUSA

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has passed a resolution, by a lopsided vote of 353-150, reaffirming its support of evolutionary theory and encouraging the teaching of “reliable scientific knowledge” in public schools. The resolution states:

That the 214th General Assembly (2002) do the following:

1. Reaffirms that God is Creator, in accordance with the witness of Scripture and the Reformed Confessions.

2. Reaffirms that there is no contradiction between an evolutionary theory of human origins and the doctrine of God as Creator.1

3. Encourages State Boards of Education across the nation to establish standards for science education in Public Schools based on the most reliable content of scientific knowledge as determined by the scientific community.

4. Calls upon Presbyterian scientists and science educators to assist congregations, presbyteries, communities and the public to understand what constitutes reliable [scientific knowledge].”2

The resolution is obviously aimed at both young-Earth creationism and “intelligent design” (a view—held mostly by “old-Earthers’—that we need to posit a Designer in order to explain some of the complex intricacies of the living world). The resolution was prompted by nationwide debate over whether the state of Ohio should include intelligent design in its science standards3 (see Teach “Intelligent Design” for the latest developments in Ohio’s debate).

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the US, with around 2.5 million members. Typical of other “mainline” churches, most of the leaders in the PCUSA deny the inspiration of the Bible and other cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, and they support radical social causes, such as abortion and homosexual rights. This recent resolution on teaching evolution does not come as a surprise—it is just more evidence of the continuing slide of major denominations that have capitulated to Darwinist/humanistic thinking.