Reaction to Pastor’s Statement

* Re “Baptist Statement,” letter from the Rev. Valerie De La Torre, July 26.

As members of Oxnard First Presbyterian Church, where the Rev. De La Torre is a pastor, we found it ironic that she felt the need to defend the Southern Baptist statement on wives’ submission, because she would not be allowed to be ordained as a pastor (or elder or deacon) in the Southern Baptist church.

She is young enough to take for granted the opportunity of being called to the ministry in the Presbyterian church and apparently is unaware of the struggle and sacrifices of many “liberal left” women and men who made that position a reality for her.

It is too bad she feels the need to use such inflammatory phrases as “as usual by the liberal left.” We feel good about being a part of the “liberal left” and feel she is misinterpreting “conservative majority.”

Among our friends and acquaintances at First Presbyterian are many liberal left and a few conservatives, which is what we feel makes for a vital, nurturing and informed faith community and country.

Since Valerie De La Torre is not married, we’re not sure she realizes the full impact of the Southern Baptist statement, which incidentally was voted on by an all-male assembly.

Whatever our feelings about her statements, we will always defend her right to say whatever she chooses so long as we can assure people who read her letter that not everyone at First Presbyterian agrees with her or is even required to, or to be male in order to be a voting member of the congregation.

LOIS and JEAN STORY

Members

Oxnard First Presbyterian Church