
Rich Lusk is an American author, minister, and theologian. His book ''Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents''
[Rich Lusk,]
Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents
'' Athanasius Press, Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the parish seat and largest city of Ouachita Parish. With a 2020 census-tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolitan statistical ...
(2005)'' is a book-length discussion of
Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
infant faith. He is currently the pastor o
Trinity Presbyterian Churchin
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, Jefferson County. The population was 200,733 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List ...
.
Education
He received his B. S. in
Microbiology
Microbiology () is the branches of science, scientific study of microorganisms, those being of unicellular organism, unicellular (single-celled), multicellular organism, multicellular (consisting of complex cells), or non-cellular life, acellula ...
from
Auburn University
Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...
and a M.A. in
Philosophy
Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
from
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public university, public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 stud ...
.
Career
In early 2005 Lusk came to pastor Reformed Heritage Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, from
Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church in
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the parish seat and largest city of Ouachita Parish. With a 2020 census-tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolitan statistical ...
.
Peter Leithart, a Cambridge-educated theologian was a former pastor of the church. Yet Lusk's transition affected the Church's denomination, name, and liturgy.
The church moved out of the
Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is the second-largest Presbyterian church body, behind the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the largest conservative Calvinist denomination in the United States. The PCA is Calvinist, Reformed in theolog ...
(PCA) and into the
Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) in October 2005 (see
Douglas Wilson;
Peter Leithart),
since the Evangel Presbytery would not accept Lusk's transfer from the Louisiana Presbytery based on the "status and nature of covenant children
hich
Ij () is a village in Golabar Rural District of the Central District in Ijrud County, Zanjan province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq ...
was the real focus of the discussion".
One elder from the church spoke to the examining body and: "pointed out that these doctrines were not new or strange for the congregation even if they were unique in the presbytery; indeed, they had been believed and taught for quite some time at Reformed Heritage (going back to Peter Leithart’s tenure as pastor in the late 1980s and early 1990s, if not before). It was also pointed out that this was a transfer exam, not an ordination exam, and all
usk'spositions had been acceptable in Louisiana presbytery. Catholicity and intra-denominational brotherhood demanded they receive
usk"
The Evangel Presbytery declined the transfer. The elders from the church asked for a formal reason for the decision but this request was denied them.
Lusk states: "I think the Evangel committee’s decision against recommending me was borne out of a lack of confidence to play the part of judge in the so-called “Auburn Avenue” or “
Federal Vision” controversy."
He went on to state, however: "I regarded, and continue to regard, all the men who served on Evangel’s committee as exemplary Christian men. They are faithful pastors and servants in Christ’s kingdom. Our disagreement over covenant children does not outweigh the many truths we hold in common."
After Lusk's arrival the
church session voted to change its name to Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Personal life
He is married and has four children.
Works
Books
*''Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents'',
171 pages,
Athanasius Press (November 16, 2005) , .
*''I Belong to God: A Catechism for Covenant Children'', 78 pages,
Athanasius Press,
Contributions
*''Ruth Through New Eyes: Under His Wings'',
Athanasius Press,
References
External links
Pastor's Page at Trinity Presbyterian Church
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lusk, Rich
Presbyterian Church in America ministers
Living people
Auburn University alumni
University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts alumni
Year of birth missing (living people)
American Calvinist and Reformed theologians
Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches