Something Rotten in the Church?

This was first published on my substack here 

Something Rotten in the Church?

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” so said Marcellus in Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 4. He said this in response to seeing the ghost of King Hamlet. I have a great deal of empathy with Marcellus. I too have seen a ghost – or at least a reminder of the past – and it prompts me to reflect on the responses both to my dialogue with a wonderful female elder and my comments on the Assemblies offer for counselling ahead of the coming Assembly…. https://ap.org.au/2026/07/01/counsel-culture-and-the-church/

I wonder if there is something rotten in the state of the NSW Presbyterian Church? Now before people reach for their pens and their pills let me just clarify a couple of things. Firstly, all churches have something rotten in them. It’s part of being made up of fallible human beings. And secondly the Church of Christ, no matter how ugly, is always being beautified by the One who loved Her and gave himself for Her (Ephesians 5:25). But what I am concerned with here is what I would call a systemic problem. For example, a systemic problem within an institution can lead to institutional racism where not every member of the institution is racist – but the institution itself is – systemically. In a similar manner the institutions of the church can become systemically corrupt or weak without every member of those institutions being corrupt or weak.

I saw this back in Scotland – in both the Free Church and the Church of Scotland. Individually you would meet people who were really nice and who you could get on with – but somehow when you put them together in a committee, or gave them power within the institution, something seemed to go wrong. They became loyal to the institution which empowered them, as much as to the Christ who saved them. To call that out was a dangerous thing to do. You would be personally attacked. Someone within the power structures would ‘have a wee word’ with either you or your friends. Attempts would be made to silence and cancel you. And all the time there was the never-ending processes, often instituted by anonymous complaints, which wore you down and made you want to give up. We fought some bloody battles, from which I still have the scars – and there were some defeats and well as, thanks to the Lord, some great victories.

Now I am NOT saying that I have come across exactly the same here in New South Wales. But I am saying that I have seen the ghost of the past and it is disturbing me. Let me explain why.

When you read my article on Counsel Culture you may disagree with it – that’s fair enough and I do not mind that – it depends on your reasons. But is there any heresy in it? Is there any personal abuse? Or indeed any abuse at all? And yet it has been some time since I have written an article with such a reaction. I have taken a real battering.

There seems to be a general playbook that gets used in these cases.

1) Misrepresent what you are saying and then in the social media pile on, others comment on the misrepresentation, rather than what was actually said. For example, one person commented that he realised that I was not making the argument he was going on to critique – but he went on to do so anyway! Another goes on to comment about how I was against counselling despite the article stating clearly that I was supportive of counselling in the right circumstances and for the right reasons. I wrote that I was against the Assembly offer of counselling when we were discussing women elders, because it demeans real counselling. But what the critics do here is subtle and dangerous. They tell anyone who is a counsellor, or who has had counselling, this article is attacking you. This is the tactic of the world. If someone questions immigration, then they must be against all immigrants and therefore a racist.

2) State that you are causing harm. In making such an accusation, they don’t have to demonstrate any actual harm – they just have to allow the possibility of it. So, no one has at yet demonstrated that people have been harmed because of the Assembly discussing women elders – but because, as one man put, there might be someone there who has mental health issues and could need counselling then we should provide it. It’s the same kind of simplistic argument that the trans activists use – don’t you care about trans suicides? If you do not accept our ideology, then you are responsible for them! It is a reductio ad absurdum. But you would be amazed how often it is used in the church. And usually used inconsistently. As in the world – some are more equal than others. If we were to be consistent on this then I would have to offer professional counselling after every one of my sermons. I’m sure there are numerous trigger points. You may be interested to know that, according to one commentator, apparently my article could be ‘catastrophic’. The fact that someone actually wrote this in public makes me despair!

3) Play the hurt card – Make a long list of personal hurts and harms that they or others have been part of. You cannot help but feel appalled at the harm and hurt they have experienced. You cannot question it because to do so would itself be harmful and indeed much, if not all of it, may be true. And you can empathise with it. But then they go a step further. Because of the hurt they have experienced they then demand that you agree with them, otherwise you are just on the side of the hurters. It is a form of emotional blackmail – which is very powerful and invariably works. You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. You either agree with them and have to apologise and repent for what you have said – or you disagree and prove them to be right in regarding you as toxic, insensitive and cold hearted. Meanwhile those on the sidelines tick their like boxes and, in their minds, set you aside as one of the untouchables. And those with an axe to grind pick up the hatchet that has been so kindly provided for them and take great delight in burying it in your skull!

Another example which I have just seen, and which I can’t respond to (because to be frank the ‘loving dialogue;’ was just becoming a pile on) was this gem “I’m so discouraged that when women speak up, your concern is not for the sheep but the shepherds.” The kindest words I can say about such a statement is that it is a vicious lie – one that is designed to cause maximum harm. I never stated, nor implied, that I was more concerned about the shepherds than the sheep. Why would anyone make such a claim – and why would others like it? Because they want it to be true and they know it harms? I will however say that my concern as an undershepherd for the sheep is to warn about the wolves that seek to devour the flock – and that is what I was trying to do in my article. And will continue to do.

4) Accuse – of being right wing (in ye old days it used to be left wing!). Or not quite right. Or unchristian. Or not being careful enough with your words. Or proud. Or ignorant. It was amusing to learn that apparently because I am Scottish, I am not in touch with my own feelings with the implication being that I need some counselling to help me! Believe me when I read that remark I was very much in touch with my own feelings and had to pray for grace to overcome them and not go full Braveheart!

I think the one that gets me most of all is when people declare that you are not ‘seeing with the eye of Christ’ or ‘listening with the heart of Christ’ – the implication being that they are. There can hardly be more condemning words to say to a fellow Christian. I have noticed that it is often those who claim to be the most compassionate who do not see how their words are like barbed arrows into the hearts of those they condemn so sweetly.

5) Strain at gnats and swallow camels. There was some debate about me having to apologise to a committee I didn’t even know existed, and I still don’t know if it does – (the WHS committee) for accusing them of putting out the offer of counselling. Few people engage with the substance of what is being said – and instead they either exaggerate (you are opposed to all counsellors) or they nit-pick. This works on the irrational assumption that if you can prove your opponent wrong in one thing, then obviously you cannot trust him for others.

6) Demand that you be silenced. Apparently, there are a group of people in the NSW presbyterian church who are writing to the GAA (the general assembly of all the Australian presbyterian churches) seeking to get them to reprimand the AP editorial board for the great sin of publishing my articles. I say apparently because if this true, like all cowards and bullies, rather than contact me directly, as per Matthew 18, they run to tell tales to Nanny. Again, this is a pattern I am familiar with in the kind of secularist progressive authoritarian culture that Scotland has become. Say this and we will tell on you! (I should point out that this current article was not offered to AP – it’s a more personal reflection). Incidentally its why so many stay silent within the Church- dare to speak and the dogs of war are let loose against you (I should point out that that happens across the board – I have witnessed people I disagree with being treated really badly and that depresses me as much as being personally attacked – surely we can do better than this?).

If someone is offended by what I write, and they are a Christian brother or sister, they should contact me directly and not seek to get me cancelled through roundabout means. And then if they are not satisfied, they can go through the process of the Church Courts.

Can I say to those who want to make a formal complaint about me, in the words of Clint – “go ahead, make my day!” But of course, it rarely comes to that. Usually those who seek to intimidate hide behind the anonymity of a keyboard, or the connections of a network, and hope that even the threat of trouble will cause a committee to cancel or yours truly to back down. But you have the wrong person. As Tom Petty sang “I won’t back down…. you can send me up to the gates of Hell…but I won’t back down”. I have never given into cowards and bullies, and I don’t intend to start now! (Sadly, again I have to explain that this does not mean that I am claiming infallibility or will never change my mind – but I need facts, and evidence – and above all Scripture. Many times, I have had to repent and apologise – because as someone once said ‘I am the chief of sinners. However, threats and emotional blackmail just don’t work).

Again, I have experience of how this works. I have in effect been cancelled from writing for a couple of Christian publications because of external pressure brought from outside. Recently I have had to withdraw from Rhema radio because of one complaint (to do with the content of my Beauty for Ashes – playing secular music on a Christian radio station….and not offering trigger warnings). It’s the process that is the punishment.

But of course, not everything was negative. Again, as in Scotland, many people, including many women, wrote to say that they were grateful for someone speaking up.

Another man reminded me of this from CS Lewis – which is apposite to what I fear the Church is trying to do.

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber barons cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be “cured” against one’s will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.” CS Lewis – God in the Dock.

Let me put it this way. I don’t need a counsellor or the threat of people being offered counsellors at an Assembly, to make me moderate my behaviour (someone actually suggested that this would be a good reason for having counselling offered). I am not an infant, an imbecile or an animal. I am a Christian pastor and all that I need to moderate my behaviour is what the Word of God says – whether reading it myself, hearing it preached or having a brother or sister remind me of it. Even this morning reading Colossians 3 makes me ashamed and encourages me to change my behaviour and speech. Is the Church really saying that the Word of God is not enough?

Please understand what I am saying – and what I am not saying.

I am not denying the deep feelings or strong passions associated with the discussion on women elders.

Nor am I denying that women have experienced misogyny and ill treatment within the church. Those who have read my article as such are misreading – whether inadvertently or intentionally.

Nor am I denying that counselling can be helpful for some people in the right circumstances.

But I am saying that the offer we received of counselling at the Assembly is symptomatic of a church which is in danger of losing its bearings and its foundations. We must determine things by the Word of God – and we must behave in accordance with that Word.

As one woman wrote to me – “You nailed it! One more instance of the church accommodating itself to worldly ideas, methodology and bureaucracy. Elders and pastors should be able and willing to counsel their sheep. Even if they disagree with the issues of concern.”

That is what I think is rotten. I have already experienced one brother saying to me at the Assembly ‘never mind the Bible, what does the Code say!’ (If anyone needed counselling it was yours truly after hearing that!)

I also want to stress that my concern is pastoral. In my church there are people who think that there should be women elders. There are also people who are not Presbyterian and haven’t a clue what an elder is. I am happy to care for and pastor those who disagree with my view on this – it is not a first order issue. As I tell my congregation there are some things that you NEED to believe in order to be a Christian – male only eldership – or even eldership at all – isn’t one of them. Imagine then how difficult the Assembly bureaucracy could make this for me. Apparently, this is such a vital and important issue that we need to offer counselling for anyone who is affected by the Assembly decision. What message do you think that sends to my people? What if someone even takes it as an encouragement to make a big fuss – because this is what the Assembly expects? What if manipulative people start playing the ‘hurt/harm’ card? I don’t think the real pastoral implications from a biblical perspective have been well thought out.

I anticipate that there are some who will get upset at even the implication that there might be something rotten in the state of our church. These are the very same people who say that our Assembly is so toxic that we need to offer counselling even before it has happened! I would actually go much further – I would suggest that the only hope for the Presbyterian Church in NSW is repentance, renewal and reformation. (And that begins with me – and my small congregation). I am reminded of the great solemn invite of Christ to open the door to Him. It was not given to those outside the Church – but to those within….”

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

A Real Consultation with a Female Elder – Part 3 – Where do we go from here?