Resolution 80:03: PCUSA General Assembly and Its Muslim Prayers to Allah

Whereas, the Presbyterian Church (USA), at its 222nd General Assembly; and Whereas, an Islamic prayer was one of the first orders of business for the Assembly and was arranged for by the PCUSA Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministry staff (note the text of the prayer below); and

Whereas, this is an example of the continuing apostasy; and

Whereas, Mateen Elass, a former Muslim who now works with a ministry for Arab-speaking individuals called Voice of the Truth, called the event one which “denied the gospel and Lordship of Jesus Christ” and criticized the PCUSA for inviting “a practicing Muslim … to lead the worship of Christians.” Elass pointed out that Said asked “Allah to convert the assembly” during his prayers.  “Praying to Allah … he was pleading that the Presbyterians gathered there would be converted to the straight path, i.e., become Muslims.”

Whereas, the Bible is clear that “there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Islam (along with all other non-Christian religious systems) rejects Jesus Christ as the God-man, the necessary Mediator, and attempts to approach unto God apart from the mediation of Jesus Christ;

Therefore, be it resolved that the 80th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church, meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 4-9, 2016, hereby calls upon all the faithful Christians to abhor the pluralistic idolatry of the PCUSA and to affirm and propagate the truth that Jesus Christ as the only and necessary Mediator between the one, true, holy God and sinful humanity.

Footnote:  “Allah bless us and bless our families and bless our Lord. Lead us on the straight path – the path of all the prophets: Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Peace be upon them all Amen. “In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful, let us praise the Lord. The creator of the universe, the most merciful, the most compassionate and the Lord of the universe who has created us and made us into nations and tribes, from male and females that we may know each other, not that we might despise each other, or may despise each other. Incline towards peace and justice and trust in God, for the Lord is one that hears and knows everything and the servants of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful, gracious are those who walk in the earth in humility and when bigots and hateful and Islamaphobes address them, they say peace. Peace be upon them and peace be upon Allah;”