Whatever Happened to James Pothen Joins the Deek Squad? ⛪️
How I Became Ex-Presbyterian
Wednesday, August 10th, 2022. 5:30 p.m.
Hi all,
after prayer, deliberation, and counsel from PCA elders I have decided not to pursue this matter any further. Instead, I will be officially leaving Redeemer Downtown, effective immediately.
I will follow up with someone in church leadership for an exit interview.
Yours respectfully,
James Pothen
…Yeah.
That happened.
I can’t spill all the tea. Not here. But you know, if you want all the deets maybe hit me up in person. I gotta respect this bully pulpit.
TL;DR
Back in the spring, I was nominated to be a Deacon at Redeemer Presbyterian Church Downtown (RDT). Around that time I got into a dispute with a member of the pastoral staff. I spent the spring and summer seeking to resolve the issue. But by August things had only escalated and the conflict had taken a physical and mental toll. So I formally left RDT, effectively ending my nomination.
I’m Sorry, What?!
Now if you read these emails and of course, you don’t, then you’ll know that back in May I got all excited and announced that I was starting a spinoff newsletter: James Pothen Joins the Deek Squad:
I had plans. I was going to write twice a month about the deacon-y books I was reading to become a church officer. I was going to explore how different strains of Christianity view this role. I was, if I’m honest, also trying to build up public support for my nomination. See, I’m a Brown man who wouldn’t keep his mouth shut. And the leadership and culture of Redeemer Downtown were mostly white.
So when I brought up concerns about race, a member of the pastoral staff attempted to silence me. I mean, that’s my side of things. There are at least two sides to the story. But I did seek counsel from a Pastor and Elder who are part of the same denomination as RDT. They said the pastor I had a problem with was whack.
What Has Changed
I have formally left Redeemer Downtown. And the denomination it belongs to: the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
I have recanted the PCA’s views on women’s ordination. I now believe that it is both Biblical and healthy for women to serve as pastors, elders, deacons and other roles in the church.
I have changed from being Pro-Life to Pro-Choice. The overturn of Roe v. Wade this summer deeply affected me. And this article by the great Jia Tolentino helped me change my mind.
I am reconsidering the PCA’s views on same-sex relationships. To that end, I am reading and re-reading “Changing Our Mind” by David P. Gushee.
What Has Stayed the Same
I still attend church on Sundays.
I still read the scriptures and pray daily.
I still hold to the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, two of the oldest and most important statements of the Christian faith.
I still consider myself an evangelical Christian.
Aftermath
“Has this triggered any self-reflection?” asked my college pastor when I told him what had gone down. And it has. I did learn something, after all this is the second time in five years that I have painfully left a church.
I learned white evangelical churches, the kind I grew up in and have attended all my life, are not built for me. They are not places where I can bring my Indian culture and customs, they are not places where I can speak the truth about race in America, they are not places where I can find a mate, they are not places where I can use my gifts and they are not places where I can thrive.
Deacon Rōnin
So I’m not a deacon. I’m a rōnin. A wanderer without a church to call home.
.
Eh, never wanted to be a deacon anyway.
