The Rio Grande Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has reportedly suspended the Rev. Zachary Garris, a New Mexico pastor, over what it deemed “unwholesome speech.” The charge stemmed from a pair of interactions in 2023 on the social media platform X. In one, Garris implied a subject was too complicated for Dr. Anthony Bradley. In the other, Garris suggested Bradley was too arrogant to “tolerate banter.”
Bradley is a prominent African American theologian with strong connections in Reformed evangelical circles. While the charge for which Garris was found guilty didn’t involve racialized beliefs, the initial charge brought against him did.
In a 2024 exchange on X, Lamont English, an official in a PCA mission agency, repeatedly pressed Garris on whether the historic practice of chattel slavery in the U.S. was “absolutely sinful.” Garris suggested that, although “abuses” within the chattel slavery system were wrong, the Bible never supported the abolition of slavery, and so neither did he. Garris appeared to draw a distinction between being against slavery, which he claimed to be, and being for the abolition of slavery, which he said was not a historic Presbyterian belief.
According to reports, Garris was cleared of the charge regarding his comments on chattel slavery.
Neither Garris nor the Rio Grande Presbytery has released an official statement regarding the action. However, Garris reposted a summary of the findings that another PCA pastor shared on X.
The incident involving Garris reflects broader tensions within the conservative denomination, pitting younger, more hard-edged pastors against an older generation seeking to soften the PCA’s theological messaging to appeal to a wider audience. Much of the conflict has resulted from a 2016 PCA declaration of confession and repentance for the church’s involvement in racial segregation.
The PCA is the nation’s second-largest Presbyterian denomination. It was formed in 1973 as a conservative offshoot of the mainline Presbyterian tradition in the U.S.
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