UNION HEAD ALSO ATTACKS GOVERNOR’S SPENDING CUTS
The Presbytery of the Yukon has spoken: State government should not make unChristian cuts to state spending.
In a letter to Gov. Michael Dunleavy, the organization that represents Presbyterian churches from Anchorage north, including Utqiagvik, Delta Junction, and St. Lawrence Island, told Dunleavy that “Christ’s teachings and his living example lead us to care for all people, especially this vulnerable populace. If we are to follow this example, then funding for education, healthcare, prisons, and assistance to those experiencing poverty should be the last things cut.”
On KTUU last month, First Presbyterian Church’s The Rev. Matthew Schultz, whose wife was a senior member of the Bill Walker Administration, called the Dunleavy budget unChristian.
“Any act that hopes to be considered ‘Christian’ must take care of those who are the most vulnerable, and if we look at this budget, what we see is a budget that targets and impacts the most vulnerable,” Schultz told the reporter. “Those who are already hurting are going to be hurt even more. If you don’t want the label of being ‘un-Christian’ you have to start those cuts at the top with the people who are wealthy and powerful and comfortable.”
The Presbytery’s letter advised Dunleavy: “We also collectively and with one voice pray for your discernment realizing the state of Alaska’s economic situation. Like the church, you with the state legislature, are called to be good stewards of God’s resources, regardless of the scarcity or the plenty. As good stewards, we have the duty to make decisions that are sometimes hard, painful, and unpopular, and so we collectively pray for our state, its people, and our elected officials.”
The letter was signed by Sharon Rayt, the clerk of the Presbytery of the Yukon, which represents 21 churches across Alaska, with the exception of Southeast Alaska.
Read the entire letter here:
03-04-19 PRESBYTERY OF THE YUKON LETTER
The Presbytery leaders may not realize that the Legislature is the appropriating body for the state.
CHURCH BECOMES POLITICAL
The politicization of the left-leaning PCUSA has led to a steady leakage of members, and a changing base for the church’s membership.
In December, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), sent a letter to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, speaking against his position on companies that participate in boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.
Bevin had signed an executive order to ban the awarding of state contracts to companies that support the boycott Israel movement.
It’s one of numerous letters the national Presbyterian Church has issued on political issues — from immigration policy to talks with North Korea — in recent months, as the church becomes more engaged in political movements.
UNION BOSS WEIGHS IN
In a similar news report last month, AFL-CIO Alaska President Vince Beltrami spoke out against the Alaska budget on KTUU:
Beltrami and his union was a supporter of Gov. Bill Walker until he decided to not run for re-election. After spending tens of thousands on that failed reelection effort, Beltrami quickly pivoted the union to support gubernatorial hopeful and well-known Democrat Mark Begich, who fell short in the November, 2018 General Election.
Losers!!
Because our government spending far exceeds the revenue we take in. Kicking the can down the road for years, wiping out billions from savings, and then taxing the PFD, all the while just hoping for another oil boom — it simply doesn’t work.
We must protect the Permanent Fund dividend for generations to come. Alaskans’ PFDs should be paid in full using the law that has worked for decades, and the PFD should be protected in the Constitution, now and for the future.
There should be no change to the PFD without a vote of the people.
Blessings and Gratitude to Governor Dunleavy!
Without a vote of the people…100% agree.
Another example of a non profit religous organization using non taxable income/ donations to further a political agenda. Maybe that should be considered “unChristian”.
No pun intended, but “AMEN!!”
There’s nothing sadder than a liberal christian who thinks the government is really God.
I’m one of the people that believe it’s not a biblical correct thing to spend more than you have….
We need to start the budget process over….
Exactly e
What the Gov is doing.
GOD is not materialistic! Grow up, all you so-called Christian’s who love money. Money is the root of all evil. Remember THAT one? And the LOVE of money makes man evil. Get by on less. Pray. And kwitcherbichin. Kids are starving in Venezuela, your socialist paradise.
Careful Tim, the quote you refer to reads: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1Timothy 6:10
Beltrami…bad guy. I was a fed for 37 years in Alaska, and in 2010 our national union president (AFL-CIO) came to our facility and met our members. First thing he said was “we need to re-elect Obama. Whereas I asked if any of my union dues were going to political parties…he said oh no, only voluntary donations..how stupid do they think we are?
I’m a Christian and don’t know anywhere in the Bible that says the Government is to take care of the poor and needy? That actually is suppose to fall on the Church to do that. Also the story of the 3 servants who were given the talons each to their own merit. We are called to be responsible to what is given to us.
diddling native school children was unChristian as well, but it happened.
The first duty of civil government is to put fear into those that do evil. But with SB91 and taxpayer supported infanticide……government is being an accomplice to evil.
Romans 13 King James Version (KJV)
13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Our elected officials need to create a budget based on income coming in. They should not spend into a deficit. If they cannot make the “hard” decisions to live within their means, they should not run for re-election. Creating/raising taxes is the last resort, not the first–and at the vote of the people.
The other side of the coin is that a Christian should be first to volunteer to make sacrifices for the society, even if he/she is poor, as an example to all of his/her Christian brethren to do likewise. The idea that being a Christian exempts one from social responsibility is bankrupt in and of itself and would lead the State, which includes other Christians, to bankruptcy. The administration of the PFD has been impartial, regardless of anyone’s religious affiliation. It was set up this way for good cause. Not everyone comes to the Lord at the same time, yet are still residents of Alaska. Christian affiliation or economic status in life should have nothing to do with the handing out of the PFD money. Churches and synagogues and the people in them are not a sacred golden calf. This minister has got it all wrong. ✝️
Ah yes … Now I remember why I left the Presbyterian church years ago. The Presbyterians have done a lousy job of tending to their own congregations by trying to hand the church over to the democratic socialists and thus creating chaos and division… so the rev. Schultz schooling Alaska’s Governor on his unChristian Economic policy is so rich in its hypocrisy. As has been pointed out in other comments… It is not the role of government to provide for the needs of the less fortunate but Christ certainly directed Christians to fill that role. Rev. Schultz should spend more time studying the Word of God and less time making a fool of himself.
Thankfully we still have the 1st Amendment to protect us from religions and religious people like this who would have government be an arm of their chosen church. It’s not much of a stretch to see people like this demanding that all citizens follow their ideology. He wants government to spend the way he wants and he wants to tax other people to do it.
Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto God that which is God’s.
Who is this Schultz clown? I instantly thought of Swaggart, Bakker, et. al. televangelists begging for money. And to imply the Governor is “unchristian” in his attempt to implement responsible budgeting is insane. Perhaps the good Rev. can pass the offering tray around each of those 21 churches and ask the flock to tithe to assist the “vulnerable populace” within their communities. I wonder if they would all agree? I wonder what all of the attendees of those 21 churches feel about the position the church has taken.
Not sure what ‘Bible’ they are reading but their ‘social gospel’ is way off the mark from Truth. I am too weary at the moment to get into a big scriptural lesson but the First Presbytery is speaking for a tiny, very liberal social gospel minority. God’s Word is very clear on issues if stewardship, prudence, the ‘body’ which is the church, helping those less fortunate, those able to work and help themselves should do so, wisdom, work ethic, etc etc etc. It seems the good Rev. Schultz suffers from selective reading.
The good Rev, Matt Schultz routinely attacks many others whose understanding of Christianity is line with Biblical teaching… rather than their own invented understanding. A search of ADN.com would unearth a lot… and a review of his sermons would reveal an odd focus on himself.
Perhaps he would do well to let Christ define Christianity, and argue his political points and demands for government funding from some other rationale. Right or wrong, he would be at least be intellectually coherent.
I used to be a member of a Presbyterian Church in Fairbanks that was part of the Presbytery of the Yukon and the Presbyterian Church USA. My wife and I resigned our memberships because of the constant leftward political movement of this church and its parent organizations.
Rev. Schultz, who is the reason I left First Presbyterian, obviously has his mind set on entering politics. I expect him to run for office in the near future. He spends more time getting his name/face in the public eye than he does working on his sermons.
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