Parker T. Williamson
Encyclopedia
Parker T. Williamson is editor emeritus of the Presbyterian Layman newspaper. He earned the Master of Divinity
at Union Theological Seminary
in Richmond, VA (where he studied under John H. Leith
). While there, he joined two classmates in marching
with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to Selma, AL in order to encourage Civil Rights
legislation. Upon graduation from seminary
, he matriculated at Yale Divinity School
, where he earned a Master of Philosophy
in Christian Ethics
.
A minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
, Williamson has advocated against liberation theology and accommodation of the church to post-modern cultural mores. The Committee on Ministry (COM) of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina voted on December 9, 2003 to withdraw its validation of the ministry of the Rev. Parker T. Williamson, prompted by Williamson's writings against what he considered to be unorthodox practices and policies of the denomination. That decision was subsequently overturned by the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) at the synod level.
Williamson is the author of four books: Essays from Zimbabwe, published in 1999; Standing firm: Reclaiming Christian faith in times of controversy, published 1996; Vanishing Point, published 2006; and Broken Covenant, published 2007.
In November 2009, Williamson signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration
calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
at Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education
Union Presbyterian Seminary, located on the near north side of the city of Richmond, Virginia, is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church...
in Richmond, VA (where he studied under John H. Leith
John H. Leith
John Haddon Leith was an important Presbyterian theologian and ordained minister who was the Pemberton Professor of Theology at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia from 1959 to 1990...
). While there, he joined two classmates in marching
Selma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to Selma, AL in order to encourage Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
legislation. Upon graduation from seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, he matriculated at Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
, where he earned a Master of Philosophy
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
in Christian Ethics
Christian ethics
The first recorded meeting on the topic of Christian ethics, after Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Great Commandment, and Great Commission , was the Council of Jerusalem , which is seen by most Christians as agreement that the New Covenant either abrogated or set aside at least some of the Old...
.
A minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
, Williamson has advocated against liberation theology and accommodation of the church to post-modern cultural mores. The Committee on Ministry (COM) of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina voted on December 9, 2003 to withdraw its validation of the ministry of the Rev. Parker T. Williamson, prompted by Williamson's writings against what he considered to be unorthodox practices and policies of the denomination. That decision was subsequently overturned by the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) at the synod level.
Williamson is the author of four books: Essays from Zimbabwe, published in 1999; Standing firm: Reclaiming Christian faith in times of controversy, published 1996; Vanishing Point, published 2006; and Broken Covenant, published 2007.
In November 2009, Williamson signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration
Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience is a manifesto issued by Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian leaders to affirm support of "the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty". It was drafted on October 20, 2009 and released November 20, 2009,...
calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.
Publications
- Williamson, Parker T. Standing firm : reclaiming Christian faith in times of controversy. Springfield, PA : PLC Publications, c1996. 209 p. ; 23 cm.