On January 7, Charles F. “Chuck” Burge began service as executive director of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, which publishes The Layman newspaper, the Layman Online, and Reformation Press books.
He succeeds Parker Williamson, who retired as chief executive officer on Dec. 31, 2005.
Burge worked with D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries for the past ten years, including serving as interim executive vice president. Coral Ridge ministries is based at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. CRPC is in the Presbyterian Church in America, a denomination that split off the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. in 1973. Prior to his move to Lenoir, N.C., to assume his new post, Burge served on the session of the CRPC and was a certified trainer in the church’s Evangelism Explosion program.
According to the press release, Burge oversaw Kennedy’s syndicated radio broadcast Truths That Transform, which received the National Religious Broadcasters 2004 Program of the Year Award. He also oversaw development of two television documentaries: The DaVinci Delusion and Darwin’s Deadly Legacy.
He earlier worked at the Moody Broadcasting Network and Bible Broadcasting Network.
While serving at Coral Ridge, he earned a master’s degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from Knox Seminary, which is affiliated with the church. He also has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications from Pennsylvania State University.
Outlook editor Jack Haberer talked recently with Burge about this new role.
JH: Clarify your title and functions at the Lay Committee. The news report announcing your appointment said you are the “Executive Director.” That same report says you are succeeding Parker Williamson, who — it says — served as Chief Executive Officer. Is there a difference? Or is it just a matter of form?
CB: You know, you’ll have to ask somebody beside me, Jack. I was hired as the executive director for the Layman, and that entails, at this point anyway, just that: giving direction on the staff level to the Layman.
JH: Are you also editor-in-chief?
CB: I have not been given that title as of yet.
JH: Do you know if you will be doing reporting itself?
CB: Yes.
JH: Do you anticipate reporting at Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) events?
CB: For any events that we deem the Layman needs to cover, myself and, of course, the staff of writers.
JH: What are your hopes for your tenure at the Layman?
CB: To continue the great work that has been started; since the 60s — ’64, ’65. And most recently what Parker Williamson has done. That’s to stand boldly and confidently for the faith once delivered.
JH: Any long range plans as of yet, or is it too early? Are there specific objectives or anything of that sort?
CB: We have. Actually there’s been some long range plans that Steve Brown our chairman has announced in a column last summer, and I am sure that I will be executing many of those. With my background there’s hope for greater Internet presence and reporting and trying to do, as you well know, Jack, to get our hands around this new medium that God has provided.
JH: The Layman acknowledges itself to be both a news reporting service and an advocacy organization. How do you hope to separate those two functions?
CB: That’s a good question. I’m not sure that I remember seeing the advocacy part in our statement.
JH: Let me correct that [question]. Jack Adams [the Layman’s recently retired editor-in-chief] once said to me in a conversation, “Obviously we’re an advocacy organization.” I’m not quoting anything in print that I recall.
CB: Well, the advocacy that the Layman has always possessed is an advocacy for the gospel of Jesus Christ as rediscovered by the Reformation. The way I’ve described it in shorthand to people who know nothing about the Layman is, very simply, we stand for the authority of Scripture, the lordship of Jesus Christ, and the gospel that was rediscovered by the Reformation. That’s my own shorthand. It’s not a committee statement.
JH: In an exchange of letters with Casey Jones [on Presbyweb], in responding to him on line, you mentioned that your ” … background actually includes serving with a PC(USA) church.” Can you tell me more about that … where, when, how, and in what capacity?
CB: Certainly. I had the opportunity to assist in worship-leading at North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. I did it for a few months. My family and I worshiped there. We were never members, but we got to appreciate fully the church there, and Scott Weimer — he was new in his pastorate there — and I got to appreciate his approach. … This was back, prior to my tenure at Coral Ridge, back in the mid-90s. I actually got to know North Avenue Pres folks there because the Moody Broadcasting Network, with whom I was employed, broadcast from the church during the Olympics in 1996. And we were very much involved in the outreach there at the church.
JH: The Layman used to publish almost exclusively news about and for the PC(USA). Over the past year or so the Layman has not been covering as many events in the PC(USA), or at least, as automatically. And it has picked up quite a bit of news of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and some for the PCA and others. In fact, during the EPC’s General Assembly last year, their own denomination’s Web site directed those interested in news to go to The Layman Web site. Is the Layman moving in the direction of being a more multi-denominational magazine or newspaper?
CB: Well, I think that’s safe to say from history, sure. I think there is an affinity for anybody that believes the core tenets of the Reformed Christian faith. And any way we can support people in doing that, that’s what God has called us to do.
JH: Are there any particular denominations you have in mind in that? Or is it just those that are Reformed?
CB: Well, certainly, again, anybody who has an affinity for Reformed faith we would be sympathetic with and to; I can confidently say that. I know that there’s an interest in broadening the base. And, apparently the Committee would agree with that, which is why they would hire me.
JH: The Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) has repeatedly extended the right hand of fellowship to stated clerks of other Presbyterian and Reformed denominations in our country. The EPC’s Stated Clerk has historically reciprocated, as have others. However, the PCA’s Stated Clerk has not ever responded positively to that on the grounds that from his perspective the PC(USA) apparently is not truly a Christian denomination or, at least, partners in the gospel. Can you comment on that? And, frankly, if that [PC(USA)] stated clerk were to extend the right hand of fellowship to you, would you reciprocate?
CB: I can’t speak for the Stated Clerk of the PCA, Jack, any more than you can. No, I can’t comment on that at all.
JH: Would you welcome that right hand of fellowship? That’s really the major point [of my question].
CB: We will reciprocate with anybody who has the stand, that shares the same stand that the Lay Committee does. So, I mean, that’s a broad question. You’re correct. If they would share our values and our statement of faith, absolutely.
JH: You know that, coming from the PCA, one of the biggest issues between our two denominations regards the ordination of women. How do you anticipate covering that issue in the PC(USA)? You will certainly encounter a lot of women elders, women ministers, and you have even had women board members on the Lay Committee, including a woman chair of the board in recent years. How do you anticipate engaging with that matter in the future?
CB: In the way that I always have. As you may know, my immediate predecessor here, the chief executive officer prior to my arrival, was Peggy Hedden, who was a longtime board member, who interviewed me for the job, and whom I respect greatly, and I have complete confidence in working with. Just prior to this, my supervisor was a woman at Coral Ridge Ministries, so I’ve had no problems at all working with women, believing them to be gifted by God.
JHH: What have I not asked you that you’d like to comment about?
CB: Well, I look forward to what God’s going to do through the Lay Committee. These are great days, Jack. God has cut a swath for evangelism in the past 50 years. Men like Billy Graham, D. James Kennedy, Bill Bright, just to name a few — I believe — God has used uniquely to grow his church to make it larger than it ever has been in the history of the world. However, we don’t see as much evidence as we should for the existence of all these Christians. I believe the reason for that is very simply in one word, the lack of discipleship. And I believe that, in the days ahead, our generation, our great challenge is to grow up these members of God’s house and help them understand who they are in Christ. And I really think that God has positioned the Lay Committee for such a time as this.
