A Clarification from the Alliance
The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is an alliance of many speakers and writers (contributors) standing on Reformed confessionality and biblical fidelity, and desiring nothing more than to serve the Church.
This post is motivated by the recent action of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Board of Directors to part ways with our long time contributor, Aimee Byrd. Some online commentators have speculated, even outright asserted that an Alliance contributor — perhaps Carl Trueman, Todd Pruitt, or any other contributor or editor — is personally responsible for this change. No Alliance contributor or editor ever has such authority. There is no longer an Alliance Council speaking for the Alliance, nor are these difficult calls the result of pressure from any outside group. Decisions of this importance are made solely by the Alliance Board of Directors.
We host many contributors, yet none speak on behalf of the Alliance. Many contributors have served together over the years and some no longer do so. All have provided some excellent input, fought common causes, and deserve thanks for the good they offered. Some have left on their own and a few have left at the Board’s direction. Those asked to leave have one thing in common; they have caused our audience to respond in a largely negative way. They have caused other contributors to either speak up, to sit out, or to leave altogether. And these situations often and recently have kept other contributors from joining us.
By our very nature, as an alliance, we do not hold a monolithic perspective on theology. That is by design. But we do expect contributors to defend their views in a gracious and ready manner. We do not always expect to agree with their views even after explanation. But when they can’t or won’t provide clarification, we must part ways.
Again, we are not opposed to providing for conversations we don’t perfectly agree upon. That seems to be in keeping with iron sharpening iron. Yet it must be a conversation, a two-way dialogue, and done so graciously. When that is not possible, when contributors will not or cannot define or defend what they believe, continuing together is no longer viable.
Moreover, the Alliance is not manipulated by other organizations or groups. We want to be careful in what is taught, said, and how it is said. We work very hard simply within our own orb and cannot imagine monitoring everyone else. There are many great ministries, but there are also small groups with a few hateful, ill-spirited folks simply looking to create trouble. They are the last folks with whom we’d ever want anyone to come into contact.
We understand these types of decisions might cause others to depart as well, and that has to be accepted. Grace ought to drive all we do as Christians. And, grace ought to be afforded to others, just as it is given to us. We want to be slow to speak, slower to act, but also gracious once we do act. We have wonderful evidence from Paul and Barnabas that it is fine for each to take ministry in different directions. Perhaps, even best, if it reduces internal strife and doubles the opportunity for Gospel proclamation!
