CHICAGO — The Presbyterian Church (USA) has issued the highest-level response to controversial comments made by a Chicago pastor in July that Christianity may not be the only path to salvation.
At a July Presbyterian Peacemaking conference, the Rev. Dick Ficca stirred controversy by suggesting Christianity may not be the only true religion and “God’s ability to work in our lives is not determined by becoming a Christian.”
Several factions within the church have asked church leaders to speak out against Ficca’s remarks, but the church has been largely hesitant to openly reprimand him.
In a letter dated Oct. 25 to the entire church, the executive committee of the General Assembly Council — a 93-member elected body that oversees the church between annual meetings — reiterated Ficca’s right to his opinions but reaffirmed the historic teaching that faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation.
“Biblical faith continues to be the Christian faith, the church’s faith, our faith,” the letter said. It added that “our own faith is unambiguous.”
The letter quoted from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, saying there is “one calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
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