Pastor Kane was an active Presbyter in the South West Presbytery and ministered at several Bible Presbyterian and Bible believing churches. Those in California included Brea, Fullerton, San Bernardino and Long Beach. His theme was always to “Preach Christ Crucified, Risen and Coming Again!” He did much of his ministry while working full time as an engineer at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company and later at Northrop Grumman, which enabled him to devote himself to ministering to congregations which were not able to support him full time.

Pastor Kane had a heart for missions and served as a council member for Presbyterian Missionary Union until the time of his death. He also supported missionaries from the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions. For several years he filled the office of treasurer of the Bible Presbyterian Synod.

Right before Reverend Kane passed from this life into the presence of His Lord on September 3, 2008, he whispered these last words to his wife, “Find Jesus. That’s where I’ll be.” Pastor Kane “fought a good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith… There is laid up for (him) the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to (him) on that Day, and not to (him) only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

We the members of the Bible Presbyterian Church General Synod, meeting at Grace Bible Presbyterian Church in Sharonville, Ohio, August 5-10, 2010, are grieved in spirit that the only authority of our faith and practice, the Holy Scriptures, continues not only to fall on deaf ears among so many in the PCUSA, but is held in outright disdain even among its leadership. We find no delight in decrying this continuing blatant act of apostasy (Acts 20:29-30; I Timothy 4:1-2; II Timothy 3:1-9) that unrelentingly eats away at this once faithful denomination. But with all humility of heart, we call upon those in the PCUSA who believe this to be a matter of fundamental righteousness, those who are born-again and love the Truth, to plead for God’s mercy and to leave that denomination in obedience to the Scriptures (II Corinthians 6:14-18).

Our forefathers stated that part of their purpose in coming to this continent was the propagation of that Gospel.

To ensure this liberty, while protecting the rights of others, they included in the very fabric of our founding documents both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. They did this because they had no need to silence others, believing that the truth, unlike deception, has nothing to fear from the free market of ideas.

The first official visitor received, without prejudice, at Independence Hall (called the Pennsylvania House at the time), was a Muslim sheik, a demonstration of the spirit of freedom our forefathers believed in though they were predominantly men of a Christian world view.

Recently, a disturbing trend has been developing across North America in general and in the United States in particular. Random, but continual examples of the restriction of Christians in the exercise of their rights to free speech and the freedom of religion keep making their way into the news. Whether it is the seemingly unwarranted arrest of Christians at a recent Muslim festival in Dearborn, Michigan, or the prohibition of quiet, private prayer in schools, or the public areas of the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., or attempts in New Hampshire to force students into the public school system because parental instruction too strongly imposes the Christian faith of the parents on the children, there is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates a hostility toward Christianity on the part of government authorities in a way that is not evident in regards to other religious bodies.

We, the 74th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church, meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 5-10, 2010, call on Christians everywhere to boldly exercise their liberty in matters of speech and faith; fulfilling Christ’s command in the spirit of the Apostle Paul: requiring government officials to honor the freedom guaranteed to them by the law of the land (Acts 16:37), while rendering honor to whom honor is due, and submitting themselves to every legitimate ordinance for Christ’s sake.

We also call on our government officials to protect the rights of all citizens—favoring none and respecting all equally.

Claremont School of Theology is pursuing a new “University Project” that is bringing together Jewish Rabbis, Muslim Imams, and Christian theologians to train ministerial students at Claremont. The published purpose is to “…recognize the legitimacy and integrity of the other religious traditions.”

Claremont Seminary President, Rev. Jerry Campbell, defends the program stating, “We want our future religious leaders to understand the landscape in which they will be leading. We want them to be able to see the other as neighbor, friend, and co-worker.” By their studying together in school he asserts that religious leaders from competing traditions can “…learn to work together to address the problems that face humanity today and that can only be solved if religions work together across their boundaries.” Claremont’s Muslim professor for Interreligious Education explained, “Our goal is not to dilute our faith but rather to be better Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Hindus, Protestants, Buddhists… and by being so, together we will tear down walls of hate that seek to separate us.”

Contrary to the interreligious efforts at Claremont School of Theology, the Bible makes exclusive claims by Christ and for Christianity. Jesus insisted that He Himself is “the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes unto the Father except by [Him]” (John 14:6). This was Peter’s understanding when he asserted to the religious leaders of the Jews, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus made very plain that religious people who live apart from Him are lost: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Competing religions cannot all be true, and while some religions may be willing to dialogue with others, orthodox Christianity indicts these false religions and calls upon sinners to turn “…from idols to serve the true and living God” (I Thess 1:9).

The 74th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church calls upon Christian believers to recognize and resist present day efforts that blur the lines of biblical Christianity in favor of false cooperation among religions. “For what concord has Christ with Belial? …Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you …saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor 6:15,17,18).

By the grace of the Lord he received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in 1958 in the city of La Paz.

In the year 1970 He decided to reside in the town of Caranavi Nor Yungas, for reasons of his personal health and that of his wife, in the “Colonia Alto Bolivar” area. He was convinced of his faith in Jesus Christ and he decided to open his home for Bible studies. Eventually on Sundays formal worship services were established, and Félix was ordained as an elder in that congregation in 1986. After 30 years in Caranavi, he came back to La Paz city where he and his family attended the Bible Presbyterian Church. He was elected as a Ruling Elder of the Church in November, 2000. Félix Irusta helped to guide the church in the development of its ministry and position without regard for material things, living an example to his neighbors of continuing faithfully in service to our Lord. Elder Félix worked hard in the effort of building the new sanctuary. The congregation truly appreciated Félix’s service as an Elder. He was also recognized by the city as an exemplary citizen who contributed to the construction of the Street Huyustus in La Paz. Today this street posts a plaque in memory of his name and contributions.

His favorite Bible verses were John 1:12, Haggai 2:8, Psalm 23:1, Corinthians 15:58, and Psalm 67: 1-7. This last Psalm he memorized and taught in his prayers.

Félix was a faithful Bible believer, and stood against the apostasy of the age.

Finally, we can say that he left a legacy of faith and love in the ministry of Gospel of God. His teaching of the Bible communicated a joy in it for all who knew him, but especially to his sons, daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He was married to Asunta Calle for fifty-eight years. Their children are Alejo, Angelica, Jaime, Hilarion, and Martin. They also have nineteen grandchildren.

On February 26, 2010, at the age of eighty-seven, Elder Félix Irusta went home to stay with the Lord, after fifty-two years of being faithful to Jesus Christ.

Now President Obama intends to throw open the floodgates by shelving the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for a wide-open policy that invites open homosexuals.

It is biblically acceptable for singles not to be interested in the opposite sex. However, it is wrong in the Creator’s eyes to be sexually interested in the same gender (Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9-10), and this sin is aggravated before God (Gen 18:20-21) when any society treats sodomy as normal, and when rebels against heaven are allowed to openly flaunt their homosexuality.

President Obama’s proposal will do more than bring homosexuals into the military. By granting legitimacy to homosexual relationships in our armed forces, this deleterious imposition will corrode morale by inviting unwelcome advances against heterosexuals; it will promote on-going radical attempts to re-define marriage as homosexuals in the military push to dilute traditional heterosexual marriage; and it will dangerously and unnecessarily confuse and compromise military programs designed to promote stable military families, the first line of support for any warrior.

Military chaplains are on the front line of promoting morale and morality in the armed forces. They are a ubiquitous reminder of God’s holiness and of the sanctity of human life. For chaplains with the conviction that homosexuality is a sin, President Obama’s initiative is a direct assault on their message regarding sin and redemption. Chaplains serve as the conscience of the armed forces, and any attempts to muzzle their ministry will have a chilling effect. President Obama’s using the military as a social laboratory will push chaplains into the closet when homosexuals are brought out.

The 74th Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church goes on record of favoring the U.S. military’s strong family support programs led by chaplains, while we oppose any change in the military that would promote open homosexuality and threaten the traditional ministries of evangelical chaplains.

The Rev. [sic] Katherine Ragsdale, newly appointed president of the Episcopal Divinity School, has declared:

“When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing.

“And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion — there is not a tragedy in sight — only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing.

“These are the two things I want you, please, to remember — abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.”

For a woman to stand up, in Christ’s name and insist that abortion is a blessing from God is diabolical and cruel.  Merely saying that something is a blessing does not make it so and the continuing ministry among those women who are dealing with guilt and sorrow as a result of this matter demonstrates the tragic character of Ragdale’s message.

God says in Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for
darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefferts Schori, recently called “the evangelical notion that individuals can be right with God a ‘great Western heresy’ that is behind many problems facing the church and the wider society.” She made this contention at the church’s triennial meeting in Ahaheim, California.

The report on her message further states:

“It’s caricatured in some quarters by insisting that salvation depends on reciting a specific verbal formula about Jesus,” Jefferts Schori, the first woman to be elected as a primate in the worldwide Anglican Communion three years ago, said. “That individualist focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my words in the place that only God can occupy, at the center of existence, as the ground of being.”

Jefferts Schori said “heretical and individualistic understanding” contributes to problems like neglect for the environment and the current worldwide economic recession.”

To claim, in Christ’s name, that the doctrine of individual salvation is heresy is itself heresy.

God says in Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

God says in Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than whatyou have received, let him be accursed.

In Seattle, the Rev. [sic] Ann Holmes Redding has stated:

“I am both Muslim and Christian, just like I’m both an American of African descent and a woman. I’m 100 percent both.”

“At the most basic level, I understand the two religions to be compatible. That’s all I need.”

“It wasn’t about intellect,” she said. “All I know is the calling of my heart to Islam was very much something about my identity and who I am supposed to be.”

“I could not not be a Muslim.”

God says in 2 Cor 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

These women are representative of a growing loud and public army that is defying the Word of God and distorting truth.  The Bible requires us to “earnestly contend for the truth.”  We believe that part of our duty to obey that Scriptural command is to call attention to the purveyors of error and their deceptive messages.

Therefore, we, the 73rd  General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church meeting in Bristol, Virginia August 6-11, 2009, call upon all those who willfully misrepresent the Word of God and orthodox Christianity to either cease and desist, or confess publicly their departure from the orthodox faith and their determination to teach another Gospel.

We also call upon those who sit under the ministries of these false prophetesses to emulate the Bereans and search the Word looking to find God’s will, that they will discover the true message of the Gospel and the diabolical source of these attempts to lead men and women away from the truth.

73rd  General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church
R E S O L U T I O N
Bristol, VA • August 6-11, 2009

Ken joined the military in 1939 and because of a disability, he was honorably discharged.  He was later drafted into the army air core in 1943.

Ken followed in his fathers footsteps and went into law enforcement.  He walked a beat in the inner city of Buffalo and served there for 8 years.  He then went on to serve as a State Highway Patrolman and a Parole Officer in Colorado.  He worked for Phillips Petroleum in the state of Mississippi.  He then moved to Ohio where he worked as a bailiff at the Warren County Court and then as a prison guard at the Lebanon Correctional Institute.

Ken and his wife Barb began attending Grace Bible Presbyterian Church in 1981.  Barb passed away in 1985 and Ken married Brenda Becker in 1986.  He served as an Elder at Grace and also led the Keenagers Sunday School.  Ken has been a Godly father and a faithful husband always insisting that his house would serve the Lord.  He was a man faithful to prayer and he loved God’s word.  We rejoice in his salvation and know that he is with the saints.

73rd  General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church
R E S O L U T I O N
Bristol, VA • August 6-11, 2009