INTERVIEW: Rev. Dr. Wayne Pearce (CoS) & Rev. Donald Veitch (WCF-BCP-TFU)
REV. DR. WAYNE PEARCE (CoS): 2/15/2023 at 10 AM EST.
Dr. Pearce and I discussed the Christocentrity and Word-centered faith of the Scots and English Reformed, George Wishart, Patrick Hamilton, and John Frith, all martyrs for Christ’s Church, Christ’s witness, Christ’s Gospel, and Christ’s Word. There was a strong connexionalism and international catholicity for Christ, His Church, His Gospel and His Word. Wayne opened in prayer and cited WSC 4 amongst other petitions for aid, strength and blessing. Wayne noted that his church will be introducing catechetical work from the Westminster Shorter Catechism into the divine services. Notably and refreshingly, Dr. Peace evinced and evinces a strong Christo-centricity that is communicative, energizing and re-orienting. We discussed the historic practice of catechesis in Scottish churches, public schools and academies before the last generation. The Scotsmen did this until they didn’t. Zeitgeist theology, a competitor to His Sovereign Majesty, filled the vacuum resulting in Biblical and theological illiteracy. Dr. Pearce noted that CoS Elders must acknowledge the Westminster Standards but they have an exit ramp, a relativizing clause, committing them to the “substance” of the Standards which is not defined and not confessional or controlling. Dr. Pearce has focused on ministry in his local CoS parish. He takes history tours with his people to teach them their theological and religious history. Names like Wishart, Hamilton, Frith (these last three as martrys), Spottiswoode and others were introduced. One question was not answered based on a lecture he has already given, to wit: the charismatic movement as a DE-FORMATION of the Reformation. Perhaps next time. Also, we did not have time to ask or develop a plan of outreach, a strategy, of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland. I suspect the answer would be, for individual believers, to “Confess the Faith” as the forbears did in difficult and dark times. The Westminster Confession is not just a paper-document, although it is that. It is also a verbal idea—“Confessing” the faith of the heart and mind, “Confessing” what the Bible teaches. We hope to expand on earlier conversations, including Archbishop John Spottiswoode and appropriations for the current context. Many thanks for this brother’s life, work and testimony in Scotland, the land of someone’s forbears on the Veitch-side.
