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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Garamond>In March 2000, Jack Van Deventer (JVD), living at 759 Conestoga Drive, Moscow, ID, cast a “no” vote against Bob Hieronymus becoming an elder at Doug’s Church. But, Jack asked the elders not to tell Hieronymus that he (JVD) voted against him, because he and Bob had been longtime friends going back to a church in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Boise</st1:City></st1:place> and JVD wanted to hide behind anonymity rather than let Bob Hieronymus see his disloyalty. The Doug’s Church elders honored Jack’s wishes so that he could continue pretending to be Bob’s loyal friend.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Garamond>In October 2004, the music minister at Doug’s Church and fellow at NSA voted against promoting Nate Wilson to fellow at NSA. Within three months, Doug Wilson, pastor of Doug’s Church, forced the music minister to resign from both Doug’s Church and NSA by demanding that he sign a pledge of loyalty to Doug Wilson. (It’s ironic that Nate Wilson voted against Chris Schlect being an elder at Doug’s Church, and now Schlect is Academic Dean of NSA. Did Nate Wilson sign a pledge of loyalty to Doug Wilson? Would Jack Van Deventer sign a pledge of loyalty to Doug Wilson? Or perhaps voting against Schlect and Hieronymus is not as weighty a matter as voting against Doug’s son? One does wonder.)<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Garamond>From the April 5, 2001 Doug’s Church elders’ minutes, we read: “Jack Van Deventer joined the meeting. Jack described his conversion and spiritual pilgrimage. He explained he became reformed and post-millennial. He has lived in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City> seven years. His marriage is good, and his children are doing well. They are good students and they all love the Lord. He is in full compliance with the church’s statement of faith. He was thankful for the opportunity to work through the elder questionnaire with Lisa, and is aware of no scandals which could come to light in his life. Jack left the meeting. Motion (DW/JN) to put Jack on the ballot for elder candidate. Passed.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Garamond>But a few days after this elders’ meeting, Doug Wilson heard that Jack Van Deventer had loose lips and that he would not send his children to NSA because NSA failed to provide adequate vocational training. Doug Wilson investigated this matter and actually contacted JVD’s veterinarian (now a former member of Doug’s Church) to ask him if Jack Van Deventer would ever send his daughters to NSA. The vet said, “Jack would never send his children to NSA.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Garamond>This explains why the April 19, 2001 elders’ minutes read as follows: “Doug Wilson encouraged the elders to table the motion to put Jack Van Deventer on the ballot. Doug explained that Jack does not appear to be on the same page as the elders regarding a liberal arts education. . . Motion (DW/RA) to table the motion to put Jack on the ballot for elder. Passed.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Garamond>Since then, JVD has sought to rehabilitate his standing with Doug Wilson, which probably accounts for this 180-degree turn around in a 2003 edition of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Credenda/Agenda</I>: “My daughters receive a classical education (including vocational training) in preparation for college at NSA. . .”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A href="http://www.credenda.org/issues/15-6sharpeningiron.php"><FONT face=Garamond>http://www.credenda.org/issues/15-6sharpeningiron.php</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Garamond>Jack, a word of advice: either change your pastor or change your vet.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV><p>
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