The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) voted Thursday to launch an investigation into Sarah Young’s best-selling prayer book, “Jesus Speaks,” and the denomination’s possible decision to ban the book. according to The Christian StandtThe PCA General Assembly on Thursday morning approved Proposition 33, which calls on the two denominational bodies to study the book. Young, a member of the PCA, died last year at age 77. He published the book in 2004.
The revised proposal specifically called for the Discipleship and Mission Committee to prepare a report evaluating “the appropriateness of this book for Christians in general” and “outline the reasons why this book was previously removed from stock and has not been available for sale since.”
The revised proposal also asked Mission to the World, the PCA’s missionary organization, to investigate its “relationship to the book” and to consider what action “it and the General Conference should take in light of this investigation into the book and its relationship to the book.”
The bill passed Thursday with 947 votes in favor, 834 against, and 20 abstentions.
The revised proposal received mixed reactions from PCA leaders.
Jerid Kurlish, a teaching elder at Faith Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, Alaska, spoke out against the proposal, calling it a “fishing expedition” that would “waste the commission’s time.”
“This is a book that, as far as I know, nobody in the PCA has read. 99.9 percent of us didn’t even know that Sarah Young was a member of the PCA,” Krulish said. “This book is not used by the PCA. It has not been published by any body in the PCA.”
Meanwhile, the Rev. Zachary Groff of the Antioch Presbyterian Church supported the proposal, claiming, “There are many people I know in the PCA who are reading this book, including ordained teachers and wives of ruling elders.”
“Our committee exists to help us as an assembly evaluate matters of national importance that affect the entire church,” he added, “and this book is probably the best-selling book of any member in the PCA.”
Reports say Christianity today, PCA pastors have warned that Young’s claims of divine inspiration in writing the book undermine the concept of Scripture alone and may amount to heresy.
Young’s husband defended his late wife and her book during debate on the bill.
“Her writings did not add to the Bible, but explained it,” Steve Young said. “She stood with Martin Luther and declared that her conscience was held captive by the Word of God.”
“Sarah was a sister in Christ and a wife who delighted in the Lord’s law and meditated on it day and night,” she continued. “She was led to share her meditations with the world.”
Young, meanwhile, encouraged people to read her book, which is meant to get people to “open their Bibles” and read it.
The success of Jesus Calling has led to further productions, including a 2021 Prayer Prayer Book. Jesus Is Listeningchildren’s prayer books, Bible story books, journals and more.
Photo credit: ©Facebook/The Call of Jesus by Sarah Young
