The Corporate Witness Bearing of the Church, Presbyterian Church

Machen says the corporate witness bearing of the church is carried on especially through the pulpit. Under Presbyterian law, no man can permanently occupy a pulpit of the church without the church's endorsement. The preacher therefore speaks not only for himself, but for the church. So you have a con, you have a congregation that's conservative. You are also in a presbytery that is conservative. A presbytery known to be so conservative that chances are if it had to try Machen it wouldn't do it or it would exonerate him 10 years later. There may be some liberals there, but still generally speaking this is a wholesome presbytery environment.